The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-16
ONE OF DEWEY,s FIRST FIGHTS.
II Was us MILDLY Aboard the POwha-
tan During the Autumn of 1890.


tan During the Autumn of 1890.
DR.. James Laws, late Surgeon OF the
United States Navy. tells the following
story OF one OF Admiral Dewey's first
fights:
During the fall OF 1860, word was re-
ceived from MIR. Mclean. our Minister to
Mexico, that Comonfort had revolted
against Juarcz, the President OF Mexico
and had driven him and his adherents into
the old walled city of Vera Cruz, which he
threatened to lombard, and requesting that
a man Of war be sent there to protect Anne
rican interests
AS was usual in those days, no suita
bic ship was available. The old frigate
Powhatan was lying at the Philadelphia
maynard. She had Just returned from
long cruise in the East Indies, was alive
with rats and reaches, her boilers a mass
OF soft patches and her timbers afflicted
with dry rot. No other vessel could be
found, so she was hastily fitted out, officers
detached from the various stations and
placed on board, and she was hurried off to
her destination.
For six long months we remained at
anchor at Vera Cruz with nothing to vary
the monotony save an occasional norther,
for Comonfort was backward In making his
threatened attack. We were all dreadfully
tired Of the monotony, tired Of the city, the
ship, and almost tired OF each other, and
grOwls long and loud went up INCREASINGLY.
Each officer had told all his stories to his
shipmates, telling all he knew, and some
times more than he knew, and all were
longing for change Of ship, station. or per-
sonnet.
I'VE had two midshipmen in the steerage,
George Dewey and J. B. - (now re-
tired commander in the navy. They had
been classmates at Annapolis. and we're
bosom friends: both Of them were excellent
officers and very popular on board ship.
THE starboard steerage. which they oc-
cupied. was just outside OF the ward room.
and only separated by a bulkhead surmOunt-
ed by lattice work hung with curtains, so
that nearly all that went on in the steer
age could be heard in the ward-room. and
vice versa.
"One evening, as the officers were seated
around the mess-table in the ward-room,
reading. talking, etc, the sound Of scuffling
feet, rapid breathing, and heavy blows was
heard proceeding from the steerage. We
rushed out, and to our establishment found
the bosom friends clinched and pegging
away at each other for all they were
worth.
"'You have been spelling for licking for
long while, and now you'll get it, said
Dewey, as he planted a blow on BIS
nose which staggered him.
" You take that, you beggar! said b
as he landed his starboard fist on Deweys
port eye, causing him to see more lights
than he ever saw in Manila Bay, and then
they clinched again and were soon rolling
over on the floor of the country, as the
space between the two steerages is called.
The officers soon separated the young game
cocks, and demanded an explanation, when
1t appeared that they had been fighting
over a candle.
1T seems there was but one candle on
the steerage table, and Dewey had drawn It
over to his side, leaving b in com
parative darkness B thought it would
look better on his side, and so drew 1t
back, and in the struggle for the possession
tallow burned BIS fingers and aroused
his ire, that he went for Dewey, and
the fight followed. Fortunately, the First
Lieutenant John Rutledge Of South Caro-
lina) was on shore. so no official notice
was taken OF this naval engagement, and
the participants were not promoted to be
admirals, or to that higher position at the
masthead-a four hours watch-as they
might otherwise have been.
Nearly forty years have passed and gone
since that battle took place. The majority
OF the officers of the old ship have passed
to the other side The great commander on
high has made their number and they have
obeyed his signal Fortunately for us, Dewey
is still left and the impetuous youngster
who was so ready to fight for the possession
OF penny dip was equally ready to fight
for an island empire.n