The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-27
LONG FISHING TRIP
Frank Kennedy Has Been
Gone From Home 10 Years,
DEWEYS CHIEF GUNNER
Has Been With the Great
Admiral Eleven Years


Frank Kennedy OF Fairfield, Iowa. who
has been a gunner on Admiral Dewey's
ship for eleven years, the last two years
Of which he has been first gunner, passed
through wichita yesterday on his way
home for a visit. He has not seen his
father or mother for eighteen years.
Eighteen years ago one fine summer
, morning young Kennedy, who was only
a chunk Of boy. wanted to 20 fishing.
His father, who is devout Scotch Pres
byterian. said:
mo Frank. you must 20 to Sunday
school Run along now and get ready"
, Young Kennedy did not reply, but got
ready and started, presumably for Sun
day school. He did not come back that
day nor that summer. Seventeen full
summers have blossomed AMI died since
Frank Kennedy left home that morning
Cor Sunday school. He went on by the
little church where Sunday school was
held. He landed in tho navy bye and bye.
lie has been gone eighteen years. in
which time he has seen every sea and
every shore on the face OF the globe. He
stayed in Wichita only short time, not
Dong enough to tell anything Of his adj
ventures particularly, but he has not for
gotten his home while away. He has
sent money home, little allowance for
every month ne has been gone, till the
total reaches above 5000. He never
crank "grog'' - the sailors call whisky.
nor used tobacco and out Of his grog AMI
tobacco money he has sent homo more
than $500. Every week of the time when
inc has been where he could dispatch
letter, he has written home to his roth
or, but some times he would be Cor tve
or six months out on the sea where he
could not mail letter.
When the Spanish war broke out Mr..
ESennedy, with two other expert gun
s1ers. was transferred from the Hong
Kong feet to the Flying Squadron. Mr..
Kennedy was put on the rear 1S-inch gun
of the Oregon. At the battle of San
4iago Kennedy was the first man that hit
the Maria Teresa.
eft took me thirty seconds to get the
range Of the Maria Teresa" said Mr..
Kennedy. I'm that time I had fired
thirty shots. When I struck her ]
rounded her I'D with eighteen shots and |
never missed her once. The shots weigh |
SO pounds each and at a distance Of one |
mile you can imagine what that would |
10. It was half an hour then before I
rot another shot at the Spanish ship. |
when I got started again 1 put twenty
elk shots against her, and according to |
The law Of all nations, had to stop. for |
-he old ship was afire and sinking. Oh |
hose were great lads on the Oregon.
They fought like sharks
Asked about the noise Of the big guns, |
1Ir. Kennedy said that the conclusion |
would kill a man IL he stood nat on the |
deck by his gun.
I'VE stood on platforms made Of cork |
and rubber. Even then 1 was so deaf for |
7hree days after the battle Of Santiago |
Ihat 1 couldn's hear command"
Mr.. Kennedy was very dlfhdent. He |
wouldn't continue his story about his |
navy life without constant questioning |
But he liked to talk about Admiral |
Dewey. Dewey is the greatest man in |
The world" he said. ''He Is the strictest |
Glscipliaarian in the army or navy prob |
world when on duty When he is OF duty |
and has his coat of he Is like your best |
neighbor./ Do you know that Dewey was
Ike a father TO all of us. I've been in |
scraps many a time when / was younger /
in the navy, but always got out by 60
ing to Admiral Dewey and explaining to |
rim the circumstances. He was just as
Kind, just as gentle as he was severe. All |
nan. he's got heart like the sunlight
AT Manila? Yes, sir. Admiral stood |
IN the bridge with his coat of and his |
glass to his eyes al 1.-The time. The shells |
vent whistling through the air fast and |
close, but Admiral Dewey never took his |
glass from his eye, nor lodged, nor |
changed his position. You've seen Pixies |
Peak? Well that's Admiral Dewey in a !
right. The world never had any greater |
nor more immovable."
when do you think the Philippine re- |
1ellion will be put DOWN.
when they change commanders. Otis |
5 good nun. I mean a CAPABLE mill !
airy man, but he's lost his courage some !
way. He seems to be afraid. That's all /
hats the matter. You understand. 1 /
don't mean 10 crlticlse the campaign All |
he boys need to wipe out the Philippine |
trouble Is 70 be turned loose
Here Kennedy broke loose again for |
Dewey.
y never voted in my life. he said.
i don't know whether I'm a Repubn- |
can or 4 Democrat or Po2ulist or Pro-
aihitionist, but I'm for Dewcy-oh, there'I
l.oes my traiu. Goodbye. Don't put this !
the paper And he ran for the Mis-
souri, Pacific train that was Just pulling
out for Hutchinson. FROM Hutchinson
ne took the Rock Island for Fairfield,
iOwa
Mr.. Kennedy visited DR.. Fordyce while
here. He Is a distant relative Of the doc
tor. Kennedy has a cousin somewhere
n Kansas by the name Of Fordyce and
when he saw DR.. Fordycc's name on the
Office sign he walked In. He was routed
his way by the government. He says he
Hill buy . string Of fish before he gets
CHICAGO SsySIcAL COLLEGE