The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-01

notorious for Its want Of study and
lack of discipline.
Sharper point is given to the moral
by the relation of meeting in after
years between the teacher and the
pupil. Il shall never cease to be CRATE
full to you" said Dewey, then lieu
tenant in the navy. You made man
of me- But for that thrashing you
gave me In Montpelier I should prob
ably have been in state prison ere
this
Thus by rawhide skilfully applied
was the career of "that Dewey boy
turned from the road that ends in pris-
on to the path that brightens at it's
end with the stars of an admirals
pennant.
The pleadings of the boy to go to
sea urged his father, much against his
inclination. to use his influence to Sc
cure his appointment to the naval
academy. The father had chosen for
the lad an army life, and sent him to
Norwich university, a military train
ing school, in preparation for the
course at the West Point military
academy. Young Dewey was sorely
disappointed when the appointment to
the naval academy was given to a
schoolmate. George Spaulding, instead
or to him. Dewey was named an al
ternate, and after the examinations it
was the alternate who entered the
academy, while George Spaulding turn
ed from war to theology, and in May,
1898, addressed to his congregation at
Syracuse, N. Y, thrilling pulpit dis
course upon the splendid achievement
of his alternate.
The authoritative of the admiral
declares that in the academy, while
not quarrelsOme, young Dewey knew
when he was insulted,'' and that while
he would rather study than fight, he
could do both equally WE'LL From
these remarks Dewey evidently used
his fists frequently. He was once chal-
lenged by a fellow student to a duel
with pistols, and promptly accepted the
challenge. The duel certainly would
have been fought had not some stud
ents Informed the officer of the day of
the meeting arranged. Dewey stood
fifth among the fourteen of-his class
that were graduated.
When Farragut sailed away to open
the mouth Of the Mississippi river
Dewey was lieutenant on the frigate
Mississippi. Among personal remini-
SCIENCES" recorded in this book Is this
story from the lips Of .'Saxty' Fisher,
veteran now in the Naval home: 'The
Mississippi had to be burned to escape
capture, and the crew were told to save
themselves. Lieut. Dewey could have
erful swimmer. but he was too I'M
selfish to think only of himself so long
as ally of his comrades were in danger
Not far from him he spied a seaman
Whe was trying his best to keep above
water after his right arm had been
paralyzed by a bullet. Dewey struck
right out for him and gave him a lift
till they reached a floating spar Then
the wounded man was towed ashore
III safety"
Another veteran who was on the Mis-
sissippi at Port Hudson describes
Lieut.. Dewey as the coolest man on
the ship. and tells of an order that
signifies the genius Of this officer:
The order to attack Port Hudson
came at night. Dewey, on his own re-
sponsibility, ordered us to whitewash
/ the decks so that the gun crews would
have a chance to see the running gear
of the guns. Such an order had never
been given before TIC the crew Of a man
| of-war.''
An interesting bit of history relates
to the assignment Of Dewey, then COM
modore, to the command Of the Asiatic
squadron. His health was poor and
| he had been on shore duty for many
| years. BY his friends he was urged
| to take cruise for the benefit Of his
| health, before reaching the age fixed
l for retiring officers from active service.
Zone story told is that his assignment
| to command of the squadron in Asia
I tic waters was strenuously opposed by
some. men high in authority, and that
| it was only when his friend of a life
time, Senator Redfield Proctor called
on President Mckinley and made per-
sonal request that Dewey be thus as