The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-16
.WAS WITH DEWEY.
But John King, a Veteran Salt, was
with him Years ago.
.AR INTERESTING Parsonage.
King, who IS en- Route to tho Dayton
Soldiers Home, also Knew schlcy
and .BOb,r Evans, and Has a Fond
Regard for His Former Command
ers--Finy Years Of Varied Ezperi-
enccs on the Sea.

A typical "old tar" who spent half a
century OF his life on almost every sea
of the known globe, much of that per-
Tod being in Uncle Sans service, was a
guest OF the city, at the lookup last
night-John King, who was With Dew
eg. schIey and Fighting Bob" Evans,
and now en- route to the Soldiers Home
at Dayton.
The veteran seaman applied for shell
ter and received It. He is the genuine
article, and his honest, rugged features
won the hearts of Captain Bennett and
Lieutenant suppler and all with whom
he came in contact. His railroad ticket
came to finish at Wheeling, but 1t Is
likely he will have little trouble In get
ting TO Dayton, as he has good creden-
tlals with him. and among his papers Is
a note from Admiral W. S. schley, writ
ten recently at the Hotel Everett, rec
ommendlng his old shipmate, King, for
a position In the navy yards after King
had called on him in Washington.
King has but one year to sail iife's
journey TO reach the allotted three score
and ten, and story OF his wanderlngs
would make a readable and fascinating
book. Born In Philadelphia, he took
to the sea quite young and entered the
navy, May S. 1919. After three years of
service for Uncle Sam, ne was VITA
merchant ships, but when the civil war
broke out he shipped in the navy again,
being aboard of the Wabash, first
class frlgate. forty-flve guns mounted.
and he was In the engagement on Port
Royal. S. c., on the Wabash, and later
figured IN the siege Of Charleston,
aboard the monitor, Montauk,
HIS next experience with the navy
was in the exciting times following the
Virginius affair, he shipping at New
Orleans. He was on the Kearsnrge In
the China station, and of the African
coast and South Atlantic with the Es-
sex, with Commander Schley. King
sailed under Dewey on the Pensacola,
from 1885 to 1888, and his service under
Captain Evans was during the trouble
at Valparaiso, Chilli in 1892 or 1893. In
1894 he was honorably discharged and
his attempt to enter the navy in the
WAR Will DGAlu Adhk SPAAhea hh' - AAaA-
ure. owing to his age, much to his re-
greet.
Last night, King was awakened from
his sleep to talk to an Intelligencer re-
porter, and the old fellow modestly dis
claimed his ability to spin a yarn" for
the papers. After he had loosened his
joints and filled his pipe, he generously
yielded to a bombardment OF questions.
though much of his vernacular was
puzzlIng to land lubber." King glor-
les in the achievements OF his former
commanders. and says he knew there'd
be trouble at Manila when Dewey got
there. He spoke with a certain pride
in having served under the naval he
roes, and to him Captain Evans Is more
Familiarity known as "Gimple," the sail
lors' nickname for the captain. The old
fellow related a little incident In which
he thinks he got the best OF Dewey.
While the Pensacola was being put In
to commission at Portsmouth, Va. King
was on board splicing ropes and Mt
tending to other preparatory details.
Dewey. then captain, came off shore to
see how matters were progressing. He
was dressed in civilian style, wearing a
black suit Of clothes and looking cler-
icai gentleman for all the world. APP
preaching King, said the hero OF Ma
Mia:
"well, my man, what are you going to
do?"
"Me, slr?" replied King, looking Up
innocently. "Why. Mr.. HitcholS. our
executive officer says I'm to be cap'n OF
the fo'e'sie. Are you goin' with us,
slr?"
Yes quietly replied Dewey.
You're our new chaplain, suppose"
said the innocent-appearing tar.
At this juncture, according to King.
Dewey laughed uproarlously, and later
told the story of one OF his men at
tempting not 10 recognize him WITHOUT
Uniform King gives the recital With
considerable animation. His varied ex-
perlences include sperm whaling in the
tropics, and Aiibustering under Walker
in Nicaragua, and trips to all the ports
worth visiting He walks lame as re-
suit OF two wounds In his left leg re-
ceIyed In the Eicaraguan affair. King
will leave for Dayton to-day, and spend
"a spell at least" he says, at the SOL
diers' home there.