The record-union., 1898-05-17
REAR-ADMIRAL DEWEY.
How He is Seen Through the Eyes
of His Son.

II am the first Commodore to COM
mand the United States Asiatic squad
ron since Perry, and 1 think that will
mean something"
These were Commodore Dewey S
last words spoken to his only child
George Goodwin Dewey, when father
and son bade each other good-by last
December.
Those were very significant words,
said young Mr.. Dewey, when I saw
him at his apartment at No. 43S West
Fifty seventh street, last week. They
did not impress me when spoken, but
have very much since, in the light of
the events of this week. L was grasp
ing fathers hand and had said, I wish
you may have a successful cruise,
when he spoke these words.
How true they have been! Since the
days of brave Perry Admirals have
commanded our Asiatic squadron, but
not a Commodore until father took
charge. And then it has meant some
thing. 1t meant the opportunity of a
lifetime. of which advantage was taken
with grand results.
when father left here for his COM
mand, after trying the Iowa in his ca
capacity of President of the Board of
Inspection and Survey, he said nothing
about expecting hostilities, but showed
he looked forward with pleasure to TAX
ing command of the squadron. He
never says much about what he ex-
poets, but is always prepared for ev-
erything possible. Knowing of his thor
oughness in preparation, and the fact
that he was always master of the sit
uation, l had no fear of the result when
I knew he would lead his squadron in
battle against the Spanish forts and
ships.
unfortunately, I have been much
separated from my father, for he has
been off on long cruises, and in recent
years while he was home 1 was at col
lege and afterward entered the COM
mission business here in New York, so
I know of but few of the interesting
events of his life, but I do know his
character, habits of thought and ac-
ton"
While Mr. Dewey was speaking he
showed in every expression of counte-
nance and voice the commendable pride
he felt in his fathers achievements,
and when / asked what sort of a man
his father was, as he viewed him, he
answered quickly, and with quite evil
dent show of enthusiasm:
He is deliberate, COOL buSineSSlike,
without fear, gentle very fond of chill
dren good hearted and good to every
one. He is most thorough, determined
and energetic He is a disciplinarian,
and everything under his control must
be as near perfect as possible. You can
easily imagine why I have such faith in
fathers ability, when I appreciate
these strong points in his character.
He is so very kind hearted; yet
nothing can stop him in the perform
ance of his duty, no matter what the
results may be. He loves a good horse,
and is particularly fond of horseback
riding. vet he always considers the
comfort of the animal he rides. He
will not allow his horse to trot on a
hard road or to be hurried up steep
hill. Then he has always been quite
fond of society. or club life, and has
been devoted to children, and always
enters into their pleasures.
THAT is one side But when it comes
to the necessity Of fighting, he be-
lieves in being most thoroughly pre-
pared, and striking quick, hard and
with QellDefate Intent Oh accomplishing
the purpose of war-that is, putting the
enemy in a condition where he cannot
fight
II was very much impressed by his
last letter, received a month ago" con-
tinued Mr. Dewey. He said nothing
about expecting war, but said he was
very busy Now, busy is a little word,
but I knew what it meant with him.
He meant he was practising his crews
in every duty. That they were hand
ling the ships and guns, firing at tar
gets and doing everything that would
bring them to the maximum of perfec-
ton in case they We're called into ac-
ton. The result of the battle of Manila
shows that 1 was right. He was busy
when he wrote, and busy for a good
purpose.
He believes that our ships and men
are the best in the world. He is right,
and has proved it. Farragut is his
ideal of a naval commander, and we
all know what Farragut was. s."-New
York Herald.