The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-28

father was notified and the doctor took the
boy to task and told him he'd never amount to
as much as row OF pins II he did not stick to
what he had started out to do and devote all OF
his energies to It. Dewey was 10 years old then
and he had the horse sense to take the advice
He went back to Annapolis. began stick inG-to-it
in his studies and was graduated from the
academy third in his class. He was entitled
to and received the appointment OF midshp-
man In the Navy.
The lesson 30 far In Deweys life was that he
had no better show OF being great up to the
time that he reached his majority than any
other American boy has to-day. Once he had
been graduated from Annapolis he settled
down. The serious sido OF life appealed to
him. He served a year I'm the Wabash and
then he came home for vacation. Under
home influence he developed interest in re.
ligion and In year he was baptized and was
received into the Episcopal Church at Mont
peller. He became something OF model
young man and a great favorite with the
young women.
1t was not until 1861 that he saw any really
active service in the Navy. The war started
then and he was com missioned q lieutenant
and was assigned to the Mississippi. which was
ordered to join the West Cult squadron under
the command OF Admiral FarraRut. thelast Adj
mIral Of the American Navy but one before
Dewey earned the place. The captain OF the
Mississippi; was Commander Melancthon
Smith. The first fight in which the Mississippi
was engag>1 after Dewey went on board OF
her was the assault OF Farragut on the city OF
New Orleans, and In that flgh.the Mississippi.
which by the way was more like ferryboat
than a warshp, was assigned to sink the Con-
federate ram Manassas. which was coming
down toward the feet Capt Smith on
that occasion did exactly what Dewey did
on MAY !. 1893. 1t was dollars to
cents that the ram was the stronger OF the two
boats Ignoring that fact entirely. Capt. Smith
turned his boat and made at her. and In almost
less time than II takes to tell it. he had rammed
the ram and had showed her up on the mud and
was pouring shot into her. To think with
Cant Smith was to act. and 1t was perhaps on
that day that Dewey learned a lesson that fol-
lowing always afterward brought him fame.
the lesson OF Think yourself and don't give
the other fellow time to think before YOU act"
1t was nearly year later that Dewey got into
his second big naval fight. and 1t was then that
his boat was lost He was tho executive officer
Of the Mississippi in the fight at Port Hudson.
In the excitement that attended the trip
up the river to the port. the navigating on
Ger OF the Missi ysippi lost his bearings
and the first thing he knew the Mis-
sissippi had stuck her nose deep into
the mud. and was held fast there In Just tho
position that made her the best target for the
rebel guns ashore. In this position. her bat
terry on one side was available. and with this
battery she fought until twenty-five In her
crew had been killed and twenty inc wounded
It was suicide then 10 stand by her longer.and
the order was given to abandon ship. The
cowardice OF some OF her mon. once they were
ordered to retreat. gave to Dewey an oppor-
tunity to distinguish himself and he took It.
The men were deserving the ship. leaving the
wounded to their fate. Dewey faced them about
forced them to look after the wounded first.
and he and the captain were the last mon to
leave the ship. They jumped overheard. Be-
fore doing this. they set fire to the ship so that
by no possibility could she fall into the hands
OF the enemy and become q prize Of war. On
the way to safety. Dewey again distinguished
himself. This time he rescued @ wounded
sailor who was was drowning. He towed the
sailor ashore after him.
Again in the same year Dewey had a chance
to distinguish himself. 1t was at Donaldson
Vile After the loss OF tho Mississippi Dewey
was assigned to an old tub OF a boat hardly
more than cookie shell. and like Fremont on
the dinky torpedo boat Porter at the battle OF
Ban Juan. he kept the boat in the thick OF the
fight. popping away with little gun and Ia
momentary danger OF being sunk by the nrSt