Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-08
MANY TO DO HIM HONOR
THE ADMIRAL SENDS REGRETS TO
SEVERAL CITIES.
Naval Hero Wrote a Letter Twenty
six Years Ago Asking Permis-
sion to Demolish Manila
His Early Dream
Came True.

WASHINGTON, Aug. T. - Chairman
Moses. of the committee of 100 having in
charge the reception to Admiral Dewey on
his arrival in Washington, which includes
the presentation of the sword voted him
by congress, has received from the admiral
the following letter, approving the plans
under consideration for the affair:
Flagship Olympia,
Trieste, July %. 1899.
Messrs. w. H. Moses and w. p. Van
Wyckle, Chairman and Secretary of the
Reception Committee, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sirs:-I have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt Of your letter of the Sth
inst, informing me of the arrangements
proposed for my reception in Washington,
also of a telegram of similar import sent
by the secretary of the navy. I am deeply
sensible of the high honor your committee
proposes to confer upon me, and have
telegraphed to the secretary that the ar
rangements approved by the president and
by him are entirely agreeable to me- l
note with pleasure that 1t is proposed to
make the exercises as simple as possible.
1t is impossible at this time to fix the date
of my arrival In Washington, but I will
not fail to give you the information on that
point as soon as possible.
Thanking the committee for the great
honor it has paid me, and you personally
for your courteous letter, am. very truly
yours, GEORGE DEWEY.
An interesting historical fact. dating back
to 1873, has come to light in which Admiral
Dewey was the central figure. Dewey, then
a commander, was in command of the Unit
ed States steamship Narragansett on the
Asiatic station. having taken charge of the
vessel on March l. 1878. The vessel was on
surveying duty when the Virginius trouble
was precipitated and war with Spain
seemed imminent. Commander Dewey
wrote to the navy department requesting
that in case war was declared he should be
assigned to the duty of capturing Manila.
The peaceful settlement of the controversy
with Spain avoided the necessity for a hos
tile demonstration. but the interesting fac,
is that the doughty officer had his eye on
Manila over a quarter of a century ago. A
search will be made for the letter in the
files of the navy department. and, if found
it is expected an effort will be made by the
citizens committee to have it reproduced
as souvenir of the reception.
CHICAGO. Aug. 7.-Acting Mayor Walker
to-day received a letter from Admiral
George Dewey, addressed to Mayor Harri-
son, declining the latter's invitation in the
name of the Illinois Manufacturers Associ-
alton to visit Chicago on his return from
Manila. The letter was mailed at Triest
but was written at sea. 1t is as follows:
Flagship Olympia,
At Sea, June 30, 1899.
Mayor Carter H. Harrison, Chicago.
Dear Sir:-I have the honor to acknowl-
edge the receipt of your letter of May 10,
extending, at the request of the officers
of the Illinois Manufacturers Association,
| an invitation to be the guest of the city of
Chicago upon my return to San Francisco.
AS you Will have seen, for many reasons
decided to return by the way of the Med
iterranean, and will therefore not land in
San Francisco, but at New York. While
l, therefore, will not pass through Chicago
and cannot accept the kind offer of hos
pitality. 1 am most appreciative of the
kindly sentiments that prompted the offer
and am highly honored. Thanking you per-
sonally for the trouble you have taken, /
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. Mayor Ash
bridge to-day received from Admiral Dew
ey a letter. in which he regrets his inabil-
lity to definitely accept a reception on the
part of this city. In his letter Admiral
Dewey says:
1t is with regret that I cannot at this
time accept the offer of a reception, foI
the future. My health has not been very
good, and besides, the Philippine commits,
probably meet in Washington shortly after
my return. In that case 1 should feel
bound to break off all engagements:
John II TO-DAY resaxea Asg
| from Admiral Dewey dated Triest, July
q, In reply to the city's invitation to visit
his native place.
council for their kind expressions of re,
gard and says 1t would give him much
| pleasure to meet his old friends and towns
men. He states that he is unable to fix
Montpelier, but hopes to come here soon
after his arrival in the United States