The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-23
DENEY'S DALYD|)|NGS
Where He Lives on Board His
Flagship, and How
HOMECOMING A PICNIC
All Kinds OfCreature Comforts
and Nothing to Do.


spondent: 1t would seem odd to a civil
ian to have five-inch breech-1oading rifles
IN ones bedroom, but Admiral Dewey
does not mind such articles OF furniture
sn his cabin on board OF the Olympia
side of the globe he has the same quar-
ters that he occupied when he went to
attack Manila and in which he has lived
ever since-two big cabins aft. on the
port side of the ship. One OF these,
which he uses as a dining and living
room, Is irregular in shape and twenty
eight feet in length; the other, twenty
feet long, is his bedroom, and, in adj
dition to a very comfortable berth-fash-
toned couch, contains a bureau and a
locker.
The admiral, having done all that his
country demands of him, may take
things henceforth as easy as he likes.
On the Olympia. during her homeward
trip. he is practically a passenger trav-
cling in semI-royal state. While every
thing on board is at his command he
Issues no orders except to his own per-
sonal attendants; he has no duties to
perform-not even to signing the official
maitland he makes no reports. No
longer. as when the other Ship were by
is the Olympla's deck his battle plat
form from which to direct the fleet Cap
tain Lamberton is in command for the
voyage. and Dewey would never think
OF interposing authority. except to ar
range the itinerary.
The admiral is not obliged to get UP
at any particular time in the morning:
ne might lie abed all day IL he choose
He rises about eight bells-s a m.-and
takes his tub, which is quite con-
Feniently at hand. inasmuch as a bath
room is attached to his cabin. If he
is his body servant, IL he so desires, but,
rs rule. the hero of Manila prefers to
WELD his own razor. His toilet is very
carefully made. for 1t is not without
cause that Dewey has been called the
dandy of the navy" He has often
been heard to xpress the opinion that a
gentleman's dress should be the outward
hnd visible sign OF inward and spiritual
grace.
While he Is dressing the steward lays
the cloth fir his breakfast, which he
eats in solitary state. No one ''messes''
with the admiral unless specially in
vited II he chooses 10 alike his meals
at irregular hours nobody is incon-
venienced.- for a separate range IS pro-
vided for his exclusive benefit and he
has his own cook. The latter. in Gull
nary matters. is under the direction of
the chief cook Of the vessel, who is a
sort of chef, but he prepares meals only
for the admiral All of the latter's food
IS purchased by the steward, who acts
rs butler. When the ship happens to
be in a port he goes ashore and buys in
the market whatever is desirable in the
way Of fresh provisions. Other things,
such as sugar. rice, beans, pork. cook
ing butter and canned meats. he pur-
chases from the paymaster on board
paying for them in cash. Such articles
he gets at cost price.
After breakfast the admiral devotes
two or three hours to answering letters.
This occupied a good deal of his time
during his busiest days in Manila Bay.
lie has begged people not TO write TO
him but they persist in doing So and.
ever since the famous fight off Cavite.
he has been receiving immense numbers
of communications from all parts of the
world. Many OF them are from cranks.
but Dewey Is an extremely punctiIlious
man and makes 1t a rule to reply to
every letter. debating the answers 10
his office clerk
The letter-writing is done in the adj
mirars private office. This Office is one
or three little rooms just outside OF his
cabin. The other two are the bathroom
and the pantry. The. pantry. which is
much ike any other pantry. with lock-
ers a china closet and an ice chest in
which are a few bottles Of wine. Two
''cahIn boys" who are enlisted men over
q years of age, assist the steward, a
part of their duty being to keep the ad-
miral's room i'm order. The admiral pays
for all provisions consumed by his stew
ard. cook and cabin boys on the same
as that which governs in a gen.
tleman's household.
After luncheon the admiral has his time
much to himself II the Olympia happens
II be in a port he is more than likely to
receive a number Of visits. some Of which
are official and have TO he returned. These
are often a bore, but Dewey Is the pink
OF courtesy and there is always cham
payne in the ice chest ready for such
occasions. Ii is customary to offer cham
f.rt# haa
will serve. Dewey, though no teetotaler,
IS exceedingly in his potations. He al
ways has a box Of sood cigars at hand.
lie could not offer a guest whisky or
any other spirits. even II it were asked
for. as the regulations do not permit
them 10 be kept on board ship BY any
body but the medical officer.
Under ordinary circumstances the home
warl voyage OF the admiral would be
runctuated by series Of dinners given in |
mis- cabin in return for similar courtesies |
offered to him by dignitaries and per
sons of prominence ashore. Admiral |
Dewey is not in good health and is re- |
fusing invitations. while retaining from |
the giving Of entertainments. Occasion |
ally he invites Captain Lamber,on or one !
Or two of the wardroom officers to take |
lunch or TO dine with him II he gave |
a large dinner party the partition that |
separates his cabin from the captains |
quarters would be removed temporarily |
and the captains dining table would be |
Joined TO his own, provision having been |
made for such an arrangement. The |
Olympia was built originally 20 serve as
a flagship and its cabins are very CON-
nodious-