The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1899-03-26
written for the ARDMNREIrE.
ADr1IRAL DEWEY.

Until yesterday was unknown to fame;
Rnr whose name from henceforth on his
tory's pages
will go echoing down thro' the corridors Oh
ages,
THAT unborn generations may rise to pro-
claim
The fame and glory of Admiral Dewey's
name.
Well, twas at Hong Kong-war had been de-
clared
Between America and Spain-each soldier
and sailor shared
with feelings of envy as to who should fire
the first gun,
when in fact and indeed the fight should
our ships in the quiet smooth bay lay at
anchor
Not in the least did there seem TO lay in
their bosoms a rancor
OF hatred 20 human kind. The hags to the
breezes were streaming
And the men on board, down in the hold lay
dreaming
OF home and mother. When suddenly there
flashed from washington message by
wire.
Which stirred the mems souls and set them
on fire
The message was to Dewey. 1t read Go to
Manila
Search out. capture or destroy the Spanish
hotilla."
Then a wild cheer rose in the air Then
there was hurrying to and fro
AS the men on board ship, preparing for the
journey, went up or went below
Then came the orders: Load the bunkers
well with coal
See that the ships are well filled with goods
for both body and sonl;
See that everything is in its place" Then
all was ready.
Calmly and gently Dewe remarked, Boys,
be steady.
Fling the flag to the breeze. Head for the
mighty deep.
We go to make a name for self and country,
or else in the briny waves to sleep,
Slowly but proudly the big monsters turned
around.
Then proudly in line went forward with a
bound
The grand Olympia in the lead.
Bearing on her bosom the great man who
carelessly watched the sea weed
AS it idly noated by. In her wake followed
the rest
OF the fieet-the men on board all showing
by their zest.
How warmly each had entered into their
Determined that our nag should wave Ger
all our foes,
All went we'll Twas Sunday morning at
break of day.
When four proud ships sailed quietly into
Manila baV.
The SpaniardS seemed to be sleeping. On
theirIships no life
To give sign or warning Of the dread i'm
pending strife
Now hanging o'er them. Alassfor many, II
was their last sleep on earth,
For ere tomorrow's SUI should rise to give
birth
To another day. they would be sleeping that
long last. dreamIess sleep,
Ger whose watch none but the angels their
lonely vigils keep.
Calmly and gently our ships wentiinte line
and rested on the sea.
Then from the flagship came this SIGNAL:
Clear your ships for action and fol-
low me"
Into the very jaws of death they went. On
they sailed.
Never man faltered. never a imam auaIIed:
They knew the dread torpedoIlay only a
few fatboms
Down in the water. They expected each
ship to be blown into atoms.
bul Ou liit4 fTdNttS went.
Only on dut* and on glory and victory bent
The guns were primed and ready. Camly as
an officer to his couch retiring,
Dewey gave the cool command: "Gridley
you can commence firing"
Then, forth from the cannons mouth was
hurled
A shot, whose opening roar reverberated
around the world
Proclaiming to all the nations o'er land and
sea,
That America still stood for human liberty.
Then from all the ships the gunners aim
ing we'll.
Flew fast and furious both shot and shell,
Until from out the Spanish ships there burst
the fiames,
Consuming them TO the waters edge. Even
their names
Were obliterated. And from out those ships
came wild screams of despair, -
Which rent the earth and rent the air.
AS the poor creatures plunged headlonG
into the oceans waves.
There to find but watery graves.
One by one the Spanish feet went down
carrying their load of human freight.
Who for the monsters of the deep formed
but human bait
Prom the grand Olympia's bridge brave
Dewey surveyed it all.
The deed was done. Then he ordered, lie
not another shot fail;
Sponge out the guns; let the men rest Thei
cody taking his glass from his face
And quietly putting il back in its case.
He exclaimed The day is ours But hole
tell the Petrol and the Concord to q
close into shore,
And save what they can of human life an'
more.
Tell them 70 bring back the proud flag O
Spain.
That may nail it up there fast under tina
of the Maine;