Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-09-29
IN A BLAZE OF GLORY.


Now that all eyes are turned to-
wards New York harbOr and the Olym-
pia, there is an intense interest in
everything relating to the man who is
receiving evidence of the devotion felt
for him since that memorable May
day in 1898 when he sunk the Spanish
fleet III Manila bay.
George Dewey was born in Montpe-
lier. VT. on Dee IS, 1897. The adj
miral is the ninth generation in this
country
The admiral's grandfather Simeon,
moved from Hanover. y. H.. to Berlin,
near Montpelier, where julius c. Dew
ey, the father OF George, was born in
1901 In 1922 the father removed to
Montpelier, and three years later mar
ried Miss Mary Perrin. who became
the mother OF four chiidren-Charles.
Edward, George and Mary.
After attending school for year at
Morrisville, George Dewey went to the
famous Norwich Military academy to
complete his education, as it was sup
posed at the time. The Norwich uni
versiIy, which has been located at
Mortified, VT, for many years, has
been called the nursery of heroes"
Dewey entered it in 1851 and remained
for three years. At the university he
was given the nickname of Doc" for
the irrelevant reason that his father
was a physician. He was one Of the
most popular cadets in the institution
and added to his reputation as a stu
dent, an athlete and fighter. He led
the university forces in one historic
battle of the torn coats" against the
cohorts of Dartmouth college, and dis
played both bravery and strategic
Skill
Dewey entered the naval academy
on Sept %, 1854. and when he was
graduated four years later he stool
fifth in a large class. He excelled in
the study of seamanship, however, and
after year on the training ship his
rank in the class was fourth.
The life OF cadet Dewey at Annapo-
lis was not particularly eventful.
There was considerable hot blood be-
tween the northern and southern ca
diets toward the close of his term. and
Dewey did not escape his share Of en-
counters with the southerners, nor
did he seek to. He always gave as
good as WIS sent, whether in blows or
words. One day stalwart south
erner made an insulting remark to
him across the dinner table. Dewey
waited for him outside Of the mess
room, and when he appeared, prompt
~ knocked him down. This precipi
tated a general fight, ont of which
Dewey and his companions came first
best.
Dewey's first assignment to active
duty in the navy was to the old steam
frigate Wabash, then on the Mediter-
ranean station. At the end of year
he returned to Annapolis for his final
examinations. He was at his home in
Montpelier when the frs; shot of the
civil war was fired at Fort Sumter,
and one week later he received his
commission as lieutenant and was
assigned to duty on the slOCp-of-war
Mississippi of the West Gulf squadron,
then operating under Admiral Farra-
gut. The Mississippi was side
wheeler and was commanded by Me
lancthon Smith
Dewey received his baptism of fire
al Forts Jackson and st. Philip, below
New Orleans, ard not at Port Hudson.
as has been repeatedly declared. 1t
was during a dash past the forts, and
little damage was Gone on either side.
Dewey's first meeting with Farragut
took place on the sloOp Mississippi, in
which the admiral was making
reconnaissance up the river. The con-
federates had a disagreeable habit of
running their field pieces up to earth
works along the bank, firing point
blank at the steamer and then scut-
thing away before their shots could be
answered
Farragut was seated on the quarter
deck and Lieut.. Dewey was standing
near him when a shot shrieked past
the latter's head, and he invOluntarily
lodged.
why don't you stand firm, lieuten-