The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-29
''Gridley, You May
Fire When You Are
Ready"
ON THE BRIDGE At MANILA.
The Most Critical Moment
in Admiral Dewey's
Life.

"Gridley, you may fire when ready. II
Grldley did fire, and with what result
all the world knows. And now the man
who ordered him to fire, and 10 whose
Skill tact and admirable courage tbs
great victory that was won by Ameri-
can ships in Manila is due, comes homo
to receive the homage and gratitude Of
the nation whose flag he upheld SC
splepdidly in the distant east.
An admiral he is, Admiral George
Dewey, L. S. N, but the people who
love him think not of his title or rank,
To them he is plain George Dewey. the
fearless fighter and the true American
patriot. His doughty deeds have won
their admiration and his charming per-
sonality has won their love. Hence
there is but one sentiment in the cOun-
try today-a sentiment which, if ut
tered by the lips of the American peo-
pie, would find expression in the words
Welcome home, George Dewey!'
Persons who believe in blue blood may
be interested in knowing that George
Dewey is credited with being of Royal
descent. However this may be, he GER
tainly comes of good old stock, among
his ancestors being members of many
prominent Vermont families. He was
born in Montpelier, VT, Dec. 26, 1887, his
father being DIR. Julius Yemans
Dewey, weil-to-do country physician,
and his mother being Mary Perrin.
George Dewey was the third son. His
eldest brother Charles, was born March
"a, 1926, and three years later to a day
his brother Edward was ushered into
the world. The admirals only sister,
Mary Perrin, named after her mother,
was born Oct. 26, 1889.
DR.. Dewey the admiral's father, had
good practice in small town, and the
little house in Montpelier in which
George first saw the light knew all the
comforts of those early days. The ad-
miraPs father aud mother We're devout
Episcopalians. and their children We're
all received into that faith, which they
profess today.
His childhood was like that of most
country boys. He went to the district
school. where he held his own with the
best OF them, as well in the playgrouni
as in the classroom, and later he at
tended Morrisville academy and Nor
witch university a military training
school. His father wanted him TO SO
into the army, but the lad, very wisely,
as the result shows, preferred the navy
and he did not rest until he had secured
an appointment to the naval academy
at Annapolis.
There he fought more than one fistiC
battle, and on one occasion he promptly
accepted 9. challenge to duel with pis-
tolls, which one of his fellow students
sent him. The authorities, however
heard of the affair, and consequently
| the duel did not take place. He gradU-
ated in 1858, ranking fifth on the list OF
IA, and Immediately afterward he was
attached to the steam frigate Wabash
of the Mediterranean squadron. From
this time until the civil war broke out
he saw much sea service and developed
those sterling qualities which have ever
| since served him so well.
During the civil war, though he was
serving in a subordinate capacity he
made an excellent record, distinguish
ing himself by his bravery in several
engagements. He was present at the
capture Of New Orleans in April, 1852
and he displayed much gallantry at
Port Hudson, In March, 1858.
At Fort Donelson and Fort Fisher he
won fresh laurels, and when the Mis-
sissippi was destroyed by the confeder-
ates after stubborn fight, he was the
last man to leave the vessel, an act of
to say, shortly afterward, when COM
mentlng on this incident: 1T is in such
trying moments that men show of what
metal they are made, and in this ir-
stance the metal was the best"
AS reward for his services the
young officer was commissioned lieu
tenant commander, and for the next
few years he served on different ships
of the European squadron.
In April, 1872, he was commissioned
commander, and subsequently he
served for a time on the government
lighthouse board, mainly in the ca
pacity of secretary
We next find him in command of the
Juniata under orders to join the Asiatic
squadron. This was a critical time for
him. While on his way to the squadron
he became so i'll that he was obliged to
stop at Malta. The physicians found
that it would be necessary TO remove a
part of his liver and though a very
delicate surgical operation this was
done successfully. Dewey bore the OBJ
Grafton with his usual courage, and his
comrades never let him forget the in
cident, for they straightway nicknamed
him the man without liver"
His health completely restored, he
left his kind friends and soon after.
ward was promoted captain and was
placed in command of the dispatch boat
Dolphin.
His next appointment was as chief of
the oureau Of equipment and recruit
ing, with the rank of commodore, a DO
sition which he held for nearly four
years.
Feb. 20, 1896, he was promoted to
commodore, and two years later the OBJ
portunity Of his life came to him. for
he was then assign ed to the command
of the Asiatic squadron.
A farewell banquet was given to him
at Washington on the night before he
started Cor the east and he was toast
ed in verses that have since become ia
nous. Spirited, and in a sense pro-