Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-30
THE MEN WHO DID 1T.
Sketches of the Admiral and OthcI
Officers of the EIcct.

stantly brought to Commodore Dewey the
thanks of congress. promotion to the rank
of rear admiral and a sword Of honor.
Later on congress, in response to public
sentiment and as a further signal tribute
to bis worth, revived the grade of admiral,
to which he was nominated by the president
and confirmed by the senate.
Born in Vermont, George Dewey was cd
ucated in the public schools and in the Nor
witch Military academy. In 1854, when in
his seventeenth year, he was appointed "
cadet to the Naval academy at Annapolis.
From that point the record of George
Dewey has been kept on the public scrolls.
He graduated in 1858 near the head of his
class. His first active service was on the
Wabash, attached to the Mediterranean
squadron, as a passed midshlpman. He was
commissioned a lieutenant In 1861, April 10,
and from that time until 1863 he served on
the Mississippi in the west gulf, and saw
hot fighting. The example of Farragut was
one that could not but have a good effecs
on Sc intelligent an officer as Lieutenant
Dewey. When tue old Mississippi ran
aground under the guns of the confederate
forts at Port Hudson in March, 1863, and
was riddled with shot and set aire Dewey
was the last officer, with the captain, to
leave the ship.
He was next assigned to the steam gum
boat Agawam, and was attached to the
north Atlantic blockading squadron. Here,
too, he saw blood and carnage, being in the
two attacks on Fort Fisher in 1S64-65.
March 3, 1865, he was made a lieutenant
commander, and a year later he became
executive officer of the famous old Kear-
sarge.
joys and sorrows.
1t was in 1867, when a seasoned naval
officer, that he met tho daughter of Gov
erncT Goodwin. He was at the navy yard at
Portsmouth, and, as a matter of course,
he called often at the house of the governor,
where he was welcomed by all, and espe-
cially by Susie Goodwin, who was a beau
tiful girl, much admired for her character
as we'll as for her many charms.
At the time the young lieutenant COM
mander was calling on Miss Goodwin Com
modore Rhind was also a caller at the house
of the governor. He was in of
the Narragansett, which was at the Ports
mouth navy yard, fitting for a cruise. The
commodore was said to be susceptible to
tho smiles of Miss Goodwin, and his calls
alternated with those of young Dewey. But
tho young lover won the hand of the girl
and on October "a, 1867, they were married.
Dewey's next command took him aboard
the Colorado, flagship of the European
squadron. He sailed away with regret,
leaving his young wife at Portsmouth.
After an absence of two years he returned
and was given ommand of the old ship of
Commodore Rhind, the Narragansett. He
was on her until 1870.
1t was in 1872 that the great sorrow Of
his life came upon him. He was made a
commander in April of that year. Fortune
Saanna6 m Smila on every hand. His yOlnR
wife was in Newport that summer and in
the fall preparation was made for the event
that seemed likely to crown with joy his
married life.
On December % a son was born. Five
days later the mother died. TIL child, who
was named George G.. Dewey, was taken
to Portsmouth, and was reared In the home
of his mother's parents. Now grown to
mans estate, as q graduate OF Princeton
university, he is starting on a business
career in New York. AS he has plenty Of
the Dewey grit there can be little question
as to his future.
The years that followed the death of his
wife were somber ones to Commander
Dewey. His health was not good, and in
1876 he was given shore duty as secretary
of the lighthouse board. In the early SOS
he was again afoat, this time as COM
mander Of the Juniata on the Asiatic squad
ron.
Later on he was commander of the Pensa-
cola, of the European squadron, and while
on this duty, in 1884, it appeared as If his
end was to come. Suffering intensely from
an affection of the liver, he was put ashore
at Malta, and at the hospital there under
went a serious operation at the hands of
several Italian doctors. He had what is
known as "tropic liver" and the only
chance of saving his life lay in taking
out part OF the organ. This was done, and
after that he was sometimes referred to in
the navy as "a man with half a liver
Being on sick leave a year he came to
this country, and went to California, where
his health gradually became better. He re-
sumed his command, and kept it until 1883,
when he became commander of the Dolphin,
and later chief of the bureau OF equipment
and recruiting, with the rank of commodore.
This place he kept until 1898, when he was
again put on the lighthouse board. In
1896 he was given IN Of the Asiatic
squadron.
Such is the record of Dewey, the man
who made 'the fighting Montojo," Spain's
| redoubtable admiral, feel as II he had been
struck by the business end Of a cyclone.
There is no fuss in anything that Dewey
does. He never stood on ceremony. In the
navy he has earned the record of a stern
disciplinarian.
Characteristic Stories.
All the stories told OF Admiral Dewey
give him credit for affability and a kindly
disposition. While a strict disciplinarian
the generous traits Of his character have
made him the most popular of naval officers
with the sailors. An admirable story is sent
TO the San Francisco Chronicle from Cor
regidor island as proof of his present ex-
IRENE kindness and affability. 1t is told
by Ernest tombstone, who sends to the
Chronicle a couple of snap shots of the
admiral. and it relates the manner In which
the photographs We're obtained. He says:
Admiral Dewey visited this island (Cor.
r~egidor), whore / am stationed. the otheI
day to inspect the old dismantled Spanish
Qualifications A private in the hospita.
corps met him, snapped the first photograph
on aim and then said; Would you gentle,
men mind standing still a moment,
would like to take your Pictures?'
Certainly, my boy he dewey said
and he buttoned his blouse, requesting tn,