Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-06-08
pEWEYS FIRST BATTLE.
Future Great Naval Commander Laid
Low by His Teacher.


Low by His Teacher.
The following incident in the early
New England school life of Commodore
Dewey Is taken from the New York
Sun:
Early in the sos, when Dewey was
boy, Maj. Y. X. Pangborn, now resi-
dent of New Jersey, and for thirty
years the editor of the evening Journal
of Jersey City, being then fresh from
college, undertook the management of
district school at Montpelier, VT.
The school had been In rebellion for a
long time, and the boy Dewey was the
leader of the antl-teacher brigade. Sew
eral previous teachers had been "re-
moved" one had been stood upon his
head in snowbank, and it was gener-
ally said at Montpelier that nobody
could govern that school.
When Mr. Pangborn appeared at
school the first day of the session he
noticed Dewey up a tree throwing
stones at small boys. He told him quiet
ly that he must stop that. The reply
was that the teacher could "go to" the
place reserved for a certain class of
departed mortals, and Dewey did not
come down. School went smoothly that
day, but there were indications that
showed the teacher that trouble was
coming. So he provided himself with
a nice rawhide whip, which he tucked
away over the door, and then placed
several sticks of good hickory on the
top of the pile in the old woodbox.
Next day the fun began. Another
boy who was disorderly was told to
take his seat He did so, and seven Of
the big boys joined him on his bench.
Then Dewey stepped up and coolly in
formed the teacher that they were "go-
ing to give him the best licking he had
ever had"
go to your seatr' commanded the
teacher who was not so big man"
physically as either of the two boys
mentioned
Dewey struck out, and the next In
slant the rawhide was playing catch
and-go all over him. The other big
gest boy" entered the fight. and was
promptly laid low with a blow from
one of the hickory sticks. Dewey was
by this time lying upon the floor howl
ing for quits" and the other boy lay
near him unconscious. The rebellion
was over, and Mr.. Pangborn had no
further trouble with that school.
He took Dewey home to his father,
and reported that he had brought him
;S hot
but ready for school work"
Thank you," replied Mr.. Dewey. 81
guess George win not give you any
more trouble. He will be at school to-
morrow"
The father of the other boy tried to
get a warrant for the Arrest of the
schoolmaster, but there was not mag
istrate in the county who would issue
one. They said that If anybody had
been found who could govern that
school he was the man for the place.
Young Dewey remained at school. He
soon became a good scholar, and, I'M
der his friends tuition, fitted for the
Annapolis Academy. Years after these
events he was wont TO visit Maj. Pang-
born at his home in Boston, where the
former teacher was .edito- of tie old
Atlas and Bee. On on lesF visits
he said to him: 81 shat never cease to
be grateful to you. You made man
Of me. But for that thrashing you gave
me should probably now be in the
State prison" Dewey was at this time
a young lieutenant In the navy, and g
chum of Maj. Pangborn's brother, who
was also young naval officer. The
two spent much time at Maj. Pang-
born's home. and he always speaks of
Dewey as zone of his boys and is nat
urally proud of him.
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