Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-05-27
DEWEY ALL RIGHT.
sickness Not Serious and Nerve Is
Good as Ever.

Washington, May o5.-Surgeon Page
of Admiral Dewey's flagship the Olym-
pia, has arrived here on leave. He
came ahead of the Olympia to avoid the
long delays of the sail via the Suez
canal. Up to the date of his departure
from Manila. Surgeon Page had been on
the flagship ever since Dewey took
command. seeing him daily and hav-
ing general charge of medical affairs,
so that he is in a position to give an
intelligent view of the admirals health
and general condition. He says:
Admiral Dewey is in no sense sick
man, but is as we'll as any man could
he after spending year in the tropics.
! was on the Olympia at the time he
came aboard. and from that time to
The present l do not believe there has
been any appreciabe change in his ap-
rcarance. weight or general condition.
Anyone who thinks he is a physical
wreck should hear the admiral on the
quarter deck when he gets aroused. He
is the gentlest man living. and yet he
expects every man to do his exact duty,
and when there is any shortcoming the
admiral will be heard from in no feeble
in the fleet has suffered in health more
or less during the last year, owing to the
terrific and long sustained heat and the
enervating climate. 1t takes all the
life out of a strong man. and weakens
his energy and ambition. In that
Dewey suffered with all the rest of us.
II was particularly arduous during
blockade duty, when for IL long stretch
no man could get ashore"
Surgeon Page was asked if Admiral
Dewey's responsibilities had not
weighed heavily on him.
Il think not" he answered. and |
believe ii will be found that he has just
aS much nerve as on the morning he
fought the battle of Manila bay. He is
a man who carries responsibility light
Is, and does not let it break him down.
On the morning of the battle he was
perfectly cool, and only once throughout
the action did he show signs of anxiety.
That was when the head gunner re-
ported that our ammunition was run
ring short. This was about the time
we pulled off for breakfast, and it had
rather a depressing effect. But it was
quickly offset when the officer of the
deck reported that the Reina Christina
and Casti.i. were aiiie. That was the
turning point, and the admiral had no
anxiety after that
Asked if he had prescribed for Dewey
of late, Surgeon Page said:
mo. he has no need for prescriptions.
During the last year he has not once
asked for Il prescription or taken medi-
cal advice. except in casual way. If
he wants anything he sends down to the
ships apOthecary and get it. His
habits are so regular that he needs little
o" no medicine. His smoking and
drinking are in perfect moderation. lie
eats well and sleeps WE'LL and it is one
Of the recognized OffenseS on board ship
to tramp heavily over the admral's
cabin after he has retired"
1T has needed a pretty calm man
at the head of affairs said Surgeon
Page, when asked as to the reports of
friction with German naval officers. II
know nothing OF any differences. but
we all felt that much reliance was to be
placed in the adniiral's tact and con-
servatism as a means of avoiding any
possible difference. Throughout the
fleet he was universally admired, no:
only as naval commander, but also
for his statesmanship and discretion"