Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-06-01
Surgeon on DeweY's Health.

WASHINGTON, May 25.-Surgeon
]. E. Page of Admiral Dewey's flag
ship, the Olympia, has arrived here
on leave. He came ahead of the Olym-
pie to avoid the long delays of the
sail via the Suez canal. Surgeon Page
has been on the flagship ever since
Dewey took command, seeing him dali
ly and having general charge of med
ical affairs so that he Is in a position
to give an intelligent view of the ad-
miral's health and general condition.
He said today:
Admiral Dewey is in no sense a
sick man, but is as we'll as any man
could be after spending a year in the
tropics. | was on the Olympia at the
time he came aboard and from that
time to the present | do not believe
there has been any appreciate change
in his appearance, weight or general
condition. Anyone who thinks ne is
a physical wreck should hear the ad.
miral 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 or sickly
manner. OF course, everyone in the
feet has suffered in health more or
less in 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, kills mis-
energy and ambition. In that way
Dewey suffered with all the rest OF
us. it was particularly arduous To-
ing blockade duty when for long
stretches no man could get ashore"
Surgeon Page was asked If Admi-
raj Dewey's responsibility had not
weighed heavily on him.
Il think not" he answered. land 7
believe it will be found that he has
Just as much nerve as the morning he
fought the battle of Manila bay He
is man who carries responsibility
lightly 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 excitement. That was when
the head gunner reported that our
ammunition was running short. This
was about the time we pulled off for
breakfast and it had a rather depress-
ing effect. But it was quickly offset
when the officer of the deck reported
that the Reina Christina and Castalia
were afire. That was the turning point
and the admiral had no anxiety after
that"
Asked IL he had prescribed for Dewey
of late, Surgeon Page said:
mo, he has no need for prescrip-
lions. During the last year he has not
once asked for prescription or taken
medical advice, except in casual way.
If he wants anything he sends down
to the ships apothecary and gets 1t. His
habits are so regular that he needs
little or no medicine. His smoking and
drinking are in perfect moderation.
He eats we'll and sleeps well, and it Is
one Of the recognized offences on board
ship to tramp heavily over the adj
miral's cabin afte' he has retired"
at has needed pretty calm man
at the head of affairs" said Surgeon
Page. when asked as to the reports of
friction with the German naval officers.
Il know nothing Of any differences,
but we all felt that much reliance was
to be placed on the admiral's tact and
conservatism as a means of avoiding
any possible difference. Throughout
the fleet he was universally admired,
not only as a naval commander, but for
his craftsmanship and discretion"