Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-05-25
BOSS OF THE QUARTERBACK.
The Olympia Surgeons Estimate OF
the Worlds Greatest Naval Hero
Physical Condition Good.

WASHINGTON. May 24.-Surgeon J. e.
Page, of Admiral Dewey's flagship the
Olympia. has arrived here on leave. He
came ahead of the Olympia TO avoid the
long delays of the sail via the SueZ canal.
Surgeon Page has been on the flagship ever
since Dewey took command, seeing him
daily and having general charge of med
ical affairs. so that lie is in position to
give an intelligent view of the admirals
health and general condition. he said to-
day:
admiral Dewey is in no sense sick
man. but is as we'll as any army man could
he after spending a year in the tropics
was on the Olympia at the time he came
aboard and from that time to the present
do not believe there has been any ap-
prcciabe change in his appearance, weight
or general condition. Anyone who thinks
he is a physical wreck should hear the ad-
miral on the quarter deck when he gets
aroused He is the gentlest man living,
and vet he expects every man to do his
duty and when there is any shortcominS
the admiral will be heard from in no feeble
| or sickly manner. OF course, everyone IN
| the fleet has suffered in health more or less
during the last year. owing to the terrific
! and long-sustained heat and the encrvat-
| ing climate. 1t takes all the life out of
strong man. and undoeS his energy and
ambition. In that way Dewey suffered with
all the rest of us. 1t was particularly
| arduOuS during DlOCRade nuly. "llen loT
/ long stretches no man could get ashore
| Surgeon Page was asked II Admiral Dew
ey's responsibilities had weighed heavily
! on him.
| II think not" he answered, and | be.
lieve ii will be found that he has just as
much nerve as the morning he fought the
battle of Manila bay. He is man who
carries responsibility lightly and does not
let it break him down. On the morning
of the battle he was perfectly cool, ana
only once throughout the action did he
show signs of anxiety. That was when
the head gunner reported that our am
munition running short. This was
about the time pulled off for breakfast.
and il had depressing effect. But it was
quickly Offset when the officer of the deck
Castalia We're atirc. That was the turn
ing point. and the admiral had no anxiety
after that"
Asked If he had prescribed for Dewey
of late, Surgeon Page said:
No, he has no need for prescriptions
During the last year he has not once asked
for a prescription or taken medical advice
except in a casual way. If he wants any
thing he sends down to the ships apothe
cary and gets it. His habits are so regular
that he needs little or no medicine. III:
smoking ard drinking are in perfect mod
Grafton. He eats well and sleeps well. anC
, il is one of the recognized ofTcnscs on boart
, ship to tramp heavily over the admiral:
: cabin after he has retired
1T has needed ii pretty calm man at th
asked to the reports of friction with th
German naval officers. Il know nothing o
r any differences, but we all felt that mucl
reliance was to be placed on the admiral
( ing any possible difference. Throughout
= the feet he was universally admired no
= only as 4 naval commander. but for hi
= craftsmanship and discretion"