The Indianapolis journal., 1899-08-25
TALK ABOUT DEWEY.
What Retired Naval Officers Have to
Say About Him.
Washington Post.


Say About Him.
Washington Post.
If you should happen to be a member of
group of retired naval officers, at the club
where they get to talking about Admiral
George Dewey, you will hear some very
interesting things concerning him. One
feature of the talk cannot but attract at
tention. There is not the slightest dispo-
sition to carp at his good fortune, or talk
about some people always being lucky.
While it is true that probably any of them
would have done just as Dewey did under
similar conditions, none of them say Sc.
They are content to praise him, and keep
silent as to the what would have done"
While Dewey has always been liked by
those in and out of the service who knew
him well, he has always possessed source
of reticence-a "dene sails pas quoi," as
the French say-that has prevented him
from being very popular, as the term is
generally understood. He is cool, rather
taciturn, especially in company where he
is not very we'll acquainted. Then, he is
fastidious to degree. While he may swear
to the extent of big, big 3D." he never uses
the form of objurgation which involves the
sacred name. And as for obscenity, he de-
tests it with loathing that cannot be ex-
pressed in words. He was always so. Many
years ago, while he was a watch officer, he
happened to be serving under an admiral
who was distinguished in his profession for
his bull-dog courage and his rough lam
guage. He was of a class known in the
service as "a jackey officer" meaning one
whose manners savored more of the fore
castle than the quarter deck. One day 1.-The
old man. the chief is always known in
o.
thing, and turned loose upon everything in
sight in his characteristic way. Well, Dewey
minutes, walked up to the raging com
mander of the feet, and, saluting, said:
Admiral -, 1 will not allow you or any
man living to address me in the language
you are using"
Tue captain of the flagship and nearly all
his officers were present and heard the con-
then purple. He did not utter a word for
some minutes. Meantime Dewey had left
the. group and returned to whatever it was
he had in hand
'"Tell Mr.. Dewey 1 wish to speak to him."
said the admiral to an ensign.
"Dewey's going to catch it now" whis-
pered the officers who heard the order.
In a moment up came Lieutenant Dewey.
You sent for me, sir?" said he, saluting.
''Yes, l did. sir" the other answered. Il
dressing you in my remarks few minutes
ago. That is all, SIR" And the old terror
of the seas resumed his promenade. And SO
Admiral - treated the quiet lieutenant
with unusual respect and courtesy all the
rest of the cruise.
1t has been charged against Dewey that
he is "a bowling SWELL In so far as that
may mean one who has the best clothes
that money can buy among his, personal be-
longings the expression is true. He is the
most carefully-tailored officer in the United
States navy. Admiral Raymond Rogers in
his prime was called ''the swell of the sea-
Including the six kinds of uniforms pre-
scribed by the naval regulations Dewey's
valet declared that he had fifty suits or
clothes. His civilian outfits were made for
scissors into the material that did not cost
SO a suit for the cheapest. This artists
evening clothes-coat, vest and trousers:
clothes. They were the best of their kind.
This tailor made Dewey's things for years,
and when he retired from the business with
of his other first-class customers to his
successor.
II is really an object lesson in the art of
dressing we'll to observe Dewey's daily
methods when ashore. At breakfast he
either appears in a sack suit Of "dittoes''-
all garments being of the same material
ers of different lighted colored material.
After luncheon he dresses either in Prince
Albert frock or three or four-button cuta-
way, with dark gray trousers. Just before
dinner he dons the regulation evening
clothes that are recognized by all Christen-
dom as the proper evening garb of the gen
While Admiral Dewey always maintains
well-f1lled sideboard, and sometimes takes
a drink when he wants one, he is not
in command of ship he would never have
officers who habitually drank sent to serve
under him. Anything but drunkard,
said he passionately once. when he and
some others were talking of captain who
had just been put on pledge" ''You can
never tell what hs harm I'd drunken S man win
be shipmate with a1unatic. Him could re-
strain, but not the drunkard. If had my
way no officer in either army or navy who
had been court-martialed and dismissed
from the service for drunkenness should
ever be restored to the active list unless
his reformation was absolutely sure"
man among the senior officers of the navy.
indeed the best in the service, excepting,
possibly, Lieutenant Commander Lucien
or three-cornered dueling sword is a mat
ter of note all through the service. Standing
about 5 feet 91a or TO- 1.-the, and with cat
like quickneSs, the American admiral would
be mighty dangerous antagonist with the
glittering blade in his hand-if he meant
business; He has liking for the. sword:
the knight and the gentleman for a thou
sand years" be once said. talking. of the
arms blanche to comrade. With it kings
and noblest Of weapons. With its record Of
chivalry. the white arm comes down
through the ages, the last legacy Of the
twentieth century.
Dewey has always had a strong aversion
to his men getting drunk. On one cruise a
sailor had delirium tremens. and his case
was used as an object lesson by the admiral
to his men. Once or twice. when the sailors
got shore leave, Dewey admonished them
not to bring any snakes on board when
they returned. One day while in one of the
East Indian ports sailor came up the side
looking a good deal the worse for liquor
Dewey's eagle eye rested on him a moment
and then he said: $50 you've brought some
snakes back with you, have you?" The man
saluted very respectfully. and said: yes
sir. here ii is,' and putting his hand in his
shirt drew out squirming rock python
about eight feet long, which he had secured
from a native. who had caught it ashore
The admiral realized that he had been
caught and dismissed the man. But he
made no more illusions to snakes on that
cruise The forecastle-the place where the
sailors bunk-felt that they had ii on the
old man" for once that time.
On DeweyS return from a cruise on the
East Indian station some years ago. he was
attacked with tropical abscess of the liver
and obliged to stop over at Malta where
he underwent surgical operation. Some
days afterward one of the surgeons said:
ut was too bad. commander, to rob you of
your liver, did"
Dewey answered quietly: Don't mention
IL. II gives me great pleasure to think I
shall never be so bilious again as / have
been"