The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-17
SAYS DEWEY IS DYING
British Army Captain Talks of
the Hero of Manila.
LOOKS A CENTURY OLD
ShriveIIed as a Mummy and
Almost Never Sleeps.

! Vancouver to the World says: Under q
tropical sky that saps the energy of Amer
leans and leaves them only indomitable
courage with which to do battle against
the restless insurgents of the Philippines
Admiral Dewey, hero of Manila, is slowly
dying.
This is the purport of an emphatic state
made to the World correspondent yester-
/ dayafternoon by Captain Z. Fraser, of her
majesty's imperial forces, who came here
direct from Manila.
Captain Fraser was at Manila for a
period of three weeks during which time
he saw much of the great American naval
strategist and dined with him aboard the
! Olympia.
! Like all English officers. Captain Fraser
/ is exceedingly conservative in all his opin-
| ions and statements.
During a half hours chat with Captain
| Fraser on the deck of the Empress of
| India-a chat arranged by military friend
if his now residing here-he reviewed the
situation at Manila and the work of the
man on whom the eyes of half the world
| are fixed.
During the first week of his arrival at
Manila, Captain Fraser was introduced to
Admiral Dewey by the British consul, and
dined with him on the Olympia at the GUS
tomary Saturday evening gathering
Speaking Of his banquet. Captain Fraser
said:
1T was a unique affair. Admiral Dewey
occupied the seat of honor, but, despite
his effort at cheerfulness, appeared TO me
ike a man on whom deadly lethargy
a Jfc ,, &c
skin seemed TO be drawn over it like
wrinled parchment. His hair was white
a. snow and was thin and struggling,
particularly over the forehead. AS he
nervously handled his wine glass, the con-
tents of which, 1 noticed. he scarcely
touched, could not help observing that
his hand was thin and clawlike, the skin
presenting the same unhealthy appear
ance as that upon the face.
An officer sitting next to me said that
the Admiral had changed terribly in a
few brief months and had lost nearl
twenty pounds in weight. This same Of
ficer said that Dewey was about sixty
years old. I thought I was looking at a
man past threescOre and ten. OF course,
when I saw him then it was after a
fatguing days work in the broiling sun,
and this may have accounted for his al
most entire lack of energy and apparent
Indifference to the gay scene around him.
Gan officer on the right of the Admiral
whose name I forgot, took the part of
chairman, and the usual toasts were right
merrily made. The banquet broke up at
an early hour and we all. including the
Admiral, retired to the smoking room. 1t
-v4-ni Ia I'M &c hot L baJ .I,a4
with the great naval officer.
''He asked me a few questions about my
self and 1 hazarded some questions in re-
turn as to his health, the prospects of
the close of the war and its ultimate re-
suit. He said that his health was none too
robust. but that when at work he scarcely
noticed his indlsposition. Climatice in
f1uences, he said, were against his noble
boys.
1t makes my heart bleed he said,
when I see my men dying like dogs while
waiting for soma decisive action which 1
an sure would end tits var as We would
wish This was during the period OF I'M
certainty at Washington.
when I intimated as delicately as I
could that possibly it would not be unwise
on his part to take a rest for month or
two in some less dangerous climate he
said almost roughly:
g Tut, tut, tut, Captain; my work is not
finished here yet. It's at a stage when I
believe no other man can handle it. II I
thought otherwise I should perhaps feel
prompted TO take a rest
What Admiral Dewey told me in pri-
vats conversation in regard to the pros
"a gr n ri 1r l,a 7
justified in divuging.
For a few brief minutes he talked ami
matedly on military life in India as
had experienced it, but collapsed like a
man Of straw just before the time Of
breaking up. A respectful and, it seemed
to me, almost plying silence fell on the
lonS room as he slowly rose and, bidding
all courteous ana quiet good night, left.
accompanied by his a a.
Turning TO an ofiicer-I believe he was
Lieut. SmithSon, of San Francisco I re-
merlled on the Admirars enfechled con-
dition. He said. Yes. we have all no.
toed it, more particularly during the past
month. Some of the boys say he never
sleeps. and I yarly believe il. I hope to
God that the war VIII soon end or that
il VIII at least get in such a shape as TO
permit Admiral Dewey 10 take a rest
In his resting moments h appears L. me
like man not long for this world
During my stay ut Manila" continued
/ Captain Fraser. II learned much about
this remarkable man whose never. ceas.ng
activity is q marvel even II officers who
/ have b5en with him for years. was told
that ne rose with the sun. and after a
cold bath waded through piles Of CORE
spondence with his secretary. This strain
was usually kept up iii a. m. when he
took light breakfast. At 2 a. m. he
usually held an hours conversation U.-h
/ his chief officers. and then came the ter
/ rible strain Of the day.
The Olymuia's largest steam launch
/ was ordered ou5. and accompanied by a
/ few officers. his tour of the feet and ba--
Dor was made under The hroiling sun.
/ This tour generally lasted tin moor. VIE,
/ the return was made 20 the flagship for
/ lunch. \ rest OF two hours followed. al
/ though the officers say the Admiral never
/ 3v3-led himself Of this. hu worked over
! Plans in his private cabin. At 2.ao his
/ first visit was made 70 the shore. where
! unceasiag followed untI dusk.
Sometimes the Admiral vas induced -,
/ take hand al whist waen Ms RETURN o.,
J the ship Was made in the evening. bl,-
/ latterly he refused ne refused 10 f5.1 even
/ in this recreation. and generally -l5s--ss
/ himself with his private secretary mini
/ late at night.
six hours hard work in a trap.csl ,ii-
! mate = considered a sood days work 7
WAS told on the hes, authority ,ha- A
n,ira- Dewey works sixteen hours . dav.