Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-09-18
A SOCIAL LION IN WASHINGTON
DIDN'T LIKE SOCIETY, BUT WENT
FROM A SENSE OF DUTY.
The First Ruler Dewey Became Ac-
quainted Wfth-WOuldn't Parade
His Men for n Foreigner
How He Won $50 on
Boat Rnce.

Dewey al Washington, the city he loves
better than all others, and his resumption
of his residence here naturally inspires
many memories to recall incidents in his
career. Nearly all the stories being re-
counted at the clubs and hotel lobbies con-
tain points that indicate in no uncertain
manner the real character of the hero of
Manila, both as boy and man. All of
them. interesting at any time, are particu-
larly so at the present.
Il want to- visit all the countries on
earth" said Dewey one day while defying
n teacher in a Vermont school, land get ac-
quainted with all the rulers
Here's one ruler I'll make you acquaint-
ed with right now" grimly remarked the
teacher. exhibiting n heavy twenty-four
inch stick. and he kept his word, but fall
ed TO subdue the boy.
Dewey. as boy, was rebellous in school,
and not until Major z. X. Pangohorn
became his teacher and fogged him se-
verely did he subject himself to discipline.
II shall never cease to be grateful to
you. SIR he said in later years to Major
Panghorn, you made a man of me. But
for that thrashing you gave me at Mont
pelier, should probably have been in the
state prison by this time
When Dewey as a naval officer remained
In Washington, he went great deal In So
ciety and was a social lion. He is a MEM
ber of the Metropolitan and Army and
Navy Clubs. and in speaking of the ad-
miral, fellow member recently said:
George Dewey dislikes society in its
ordinary sense very much. I have known
him ever since he was a boy. Then he
was shy, not fond of the girls and easily
embarrassed. He is not any more fond of
the women to-day as a man than he was
M hn frIc =
care for the round OF social gayeties any
more than he did in the early days in Mont
pelier, when wild horses could not drag him
to n dance, church festival, or any merry
making.
yet Dewey has gained the reputation
OF being a great social man because one
sees him at every high social function in
washington, and in foreign capitals. He
goes because 1t is his idea of duty He
does not want to go to anything social,
but he goes because he is invited He
thinks If anyone is kind enough to invite
him 1t Is courtesy to respond to that in
vitation in person. He has the highest
sense of duty of any man I ever knew,
and carries it into the smallest details of
his life.
Where other men who are more used
to society and are not in the least shy,
SLOW or I don't like the people,, or they
are not worth while Dewey has no such
reasons. He simply puts on his dress suit
and goes. He may stay but a minute or
he may stay the whole evening IL he finds
the hostess gives him the wall flowers
and dowagers to take care of. He always
got along with the older women because
they did not expect him to talk much"
A member Of the Army and Navy Club.
while recalling "reminiscences of the ad-
miral, recently said:
II was with him when he was the ex-
ecutive officer Of the Colorado, and I re-
member one incident which shows the
manner of man he is. We had fine crew,
some of them as powerful men as 1 ever
| saw. Four or five of them went ashore
one day and came back fighting drunk.
"The order was given to put them in
irons. and 1t was found difficult to carry
out the order, for the men were danger
Gus. Dewey was notified of the situation
He was writing letter in his room at
| the time.
'He went to the place where these giants
were. and he told them to come out and
submit TO the irons. They did not stir. Then
| Dewey said quietly to an orderly: Bring
me my revolvers.' When in possession of
the revolvers Dewey again called upon
the men to come out and they did not
| move. Then he said in the same quiet
tone: am going to count three: if you
are not out here with your hands held UP
| on the third count, you won't come out of
| that place alive
"He counted one, then he cooked the
revolvers, and counted two. We all expect
| ed to hear the report for we knew that
Dewey meant what he said. The men knew
1t, too. They stepped out just In time to
save their lives, and held UP their hands,
and they had been partially sobered by
their fright and the moral effect of
Deweys glance. Dewey went back to his
room and finished the letter he was writ
| ing"
While Captain Dewey was in command
| of the flagship Pensacola of the European
| squadron in 1885, a number of sailors went
! on shore at Malta and engaged in a street
brawl. The next morning the captain OF
| the port came out to the Pensacola to COM
plain to Captain Dewey of the actions OF
his sailors.
what can l do?' asked Dewey.
why. your men raised a riot on shore,
| and you can assist me in arresting and
Furnishing them," was the reply.
Captain Dewey expressed regret for the
occurrence, but said that he did not see
| how he could aid the captain of the port
who with a show of anger retorted:
before me in order that the rioters may
| be Identified
Looking aloft and pointing to the stars
and stripes waving at the masthead. Dewey
THE deck of this vessel is United States
| territory, and I'll parade my men for no
foreigner that ever drew breath
| Although a thorough discplinarian, Dew
! ey loves his men. and his devotion to them
was made apparent when disaster came to
| the old Mississippi in 1868. Dewey was then
a lieutenant. lie was The last man TO
leave the vessel, and was hardly out of
swimming reach of the ship when the
magazine exploded.
! Dewey could have escaped easily, as he
| was a bold. powerful swimmer, but he was
too unselfish TO think of himself so long
as any of his comrades were i'll danger.
Not far from him he spied seaman who
| was trying to keep above water after his
right arm had been paralyZed by a bullet
| Dewey struck out for him and gave him a
lift till they reached floating spar. Then
the wounded man was towed ashore in
| safety.
When the admiral has leisure for it he
| enjoys athletic sports. and while his fleet
was at Hong Kong q short. time before
! war with Spain was declared. he became
| much interested In a boat race. The event
had been arranged between a crew from
the Raleigh that had won several victories
| and n crew from the Olympia that had
| never raced before.
The crews OF both cruisers were much
| excited over the proEpective contest but
the boys of the Raleigh were the favorites
in the betting. A few days before the race
| was TO come Oft n certain Mr.. Harper g
popular hotelkeeper at Hong. Kong, board
| ed the Olympia and. loaded with money
| which he wanted TO bet on the Raleigh's
| crew.
The sailors of the Olympia were timit
and asked odds that Harper would mo-
along the deck at this time. The mer
stood "attention" and the admiral inquired