The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-29
STORIES TOLD OF DEWEY.
The Admirars Traits as Seen by
Fellow Officers.
Ills Dislike OF Swearing and Rebuke
TO an Admirai-A Fine swordsman--
Love OF Mischief when schoolboy
Snake Tricks Played ON Him by a
Sailor.
IN. Z. sum-,

| WatniHHtoub aug Nu.-u you Hnoulu
happen to join a group Of retired naval
officers at the club after they get talking
about Admiral George Dewey. you would
hear some very interesting things con-
corning him. One feature OF the talk
cannot but attract attention. There is
not the slightest disposition to carp at
his good fortune, or talk about some peo-
them think that they would have done
IT just as Dewey did under similar con.
diticns none Of them say so. They are
content to praise him, and keep silent as
to the what 1 would have done"
While Dewey has always been well
liked By those In and out of the service
who knew him we'll. he has always pos
sesssd a SORT Of reticence, that has prevent
ed him from being very popular, as the
term is generally understood. He Is cool.
rather taeiturn, especially when in a
company where he Is not very well NC
quainted. And then, he Is fastidious to
a degree. While be may swear to the ex-
tent of a "big. big d. he never uses the
form Of objurgation which involves the
sacred name. And as for obscenity he
detests 1t with a. loathing that cannot DO
expressed in words. Many years ago
while he was watch officer. he hap
pened to be serving under an admiral who
was distinguished in his profession for
his bull dog courage and his rough Ian
guaGe. lie was Of. class that is known
as "a jacky cfiicer," meaning one whose
manners saver more of the forecastle than
the quarter deck. One Gey "the old
man." as the chief 10 known in sailor
parlance, became upset about something,
and turned loose upon every thing iD sight
IN his characteristic way. Well. Dewey
was In sight. and after standing 1t few
minutes. he walked up to the raging COM
msnder Of the tiset and saluting said:
Admiral 49,, I will not allow y3u or
any man living to address me in the
language you are using.'
| The captain of the flagship and nearly
all his officers were present and heard the
conversation. The.old admiral turnedired,
and then purple. He did not utter a
word for some minutes Meantime Dewey
had left the group and returned to what
ever 10 was he had In hand.
"Tell MIR. Dewey wish to speak to
him, said the Admiral to an ensign.
"Dewey's going to catch it now" whis-
pered the officers who heard the order.
In moment up came Lieut.. Dewey.
'You sent for me, STRIP said he salut-
Ing.
II wanted to say TO you that i WAS not
addressing you in my remarks few
minutes ago. That Ia all, SIR" And the
old terror of the seas resumed his promo
made.
And SO the incident ended. But 1t was
noticed that Admiral ---- treated the
quiet lieutenant with unusual respect and
courtesy all the rest OF the cruise.
It has been charged against Dewey that
he was bowling swell. In SO far as
that may mean one who has the pest that
money can NY among his personsi be-
longings the expression Is true. He Ia the
most carefully tailored officer In the
United States Navy. 1t is really an oh
lect lesson In the art OF dressing we'll to
observe Dewey's daily method ashore.
While Admiral Dewey ALWAYS main
tains q well flled sideboard and some.
times takes drink when he wants one,
be Is n t a tippler II he could have his
way. when In command OF ship he
would never have ffiocrs who habitually
drink sent TO serve under him. "Apy-
thing but drunkard. said he passion
ately once when he and some others were
talking of a captain who had just been
put on pledge, You can never tell what
harm n drunken man will do. l would
much rather be COMPELLED to be shipmate
with lunatic. Him | could restrain,
but not the drunkard. II had my way
no officer in either army or navy who
had been court-martialed and dismissed
tie service for drunkenness should
ever be restored TO the active list unless
his reformation was absolutely sure"
Dewey Is perhaps the best small swords
man among the senior officers of the
navy, indeed, the best In the service ex-
cepting possibly Commander
Luc.en Young, whose skill with the three
cornered duelling sword Is a matter of
note all through the service. Standing
about feet Ia or 10, 1.-THE, and with
cat-llke quickness, the American Admiral
would be o dangerous antagonist with the
glittering blade in his hand IL he meant
business. DE has liking for the sword.
1t has been the weapon par excellence Of
the knight and the gentleman for a thous-
and years. " he once said. talking of the
arme blanche to comTade. with 1t,
kings bestowed the nccclade. it liz the
knightliest and nobIess OF weapons. With
its record Of chivalry, the white arm
comes down through the ages. the last
teauty to the twentieth century"
1he early life OF men OF force and mark
is generally interesting Admiral Dewey |
spent his younger days at Norwich, VT. |
All the cid residents CT that placid New |
England village remember the American
4
of Dswey as boy are related by the old |
Inhabitants. AS q lad Dewey had o
most congenial companion in his sister, |
who Is now Mrs. Greeley. They were |
fine, vigorous children, with a large
amount Of courage and Imagination. In
their play the realistic was very much in |
evidence. They particularly delighted
in dangerous adventures. They were
fond of masking believe that the boy WAS
some mythical warrior and the girl
forlorn princess about to be devoured by |
a sen monster. 1ney put into their play
some very realistic acsion. A neighbor
who watched the sceLe sn!d; saw
Mary wsde out into the river where the
water WIS up to her knees, and then
George. with a wild yell, dashed out after
her. hrandishing a big stick with which
be beat the water In every direction. He
threw his left arm around her and es-
corted her to the shore. When they came
up the bank asked what the matter was
and the little girl with charming lisp
said; i was being rescued from fero-
cious alligator by my brother George. who
came just in time to save me.
In his earliest school days, Dewey dis
plaVfd mn oreat f,Ferrcifv mr. any ffnrEeG