The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-25
No SIGNS OF PHYSICAL
WRECK WHEN AROUSED
0lympia'S Surgeon Says the Ad-
miral Is In Good Health.
He Has Suffered From the Effects of
the Climate As Have All Others
Who Have Been Confined at Man
lila For the Past Year, But Will
Rapidly Regain His Strength and
Spirits With the Change of Gil
mate at Home.

Washington, May 24-Surgeon ]. 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 flag
ship ever since Dewey took command.
seeing him daily and having general
charge of medical affairs, so that he is
in a position to give an intelligent view
of the admirals health and general con-
dition. He said today:
admiral Dewey is in no sense a sick
man. but is as well as any man could
be after spending Il year in the trop-
les. 1 was on the Olympia at the time
he came aboard, and from that time
to the present I do not believe there
has been any appreciable change in
his appearance, weight or general con-
dition. Anyone who thinks he is a
physical wreck should hear the ad-
miral on the quarterback When he gets
around He is the sentlest man living,
and yet he expects every man to do
his exact duty and when there is any
shortcomings, the admiral will be heard
from in no feeble or sickiy manner
As Much Nerve As Ever.
"Of course, everyone in the fleet has
suffered in health more or less during
the year. owing to the terrific and long
sustained heat and the enervating eli
mate 1t takes all the life out of
strong man and undoes his energy and
ambition. In that Dewey suffered with
all the rest of US. 1t was particularly
arduous during blockade duty, when
for long stretches no man could get
ashore"
Surgeon Page was asked if Admiral
Dewey's responsibility had weighed
heavily on him.
Il think not" he answered. .and I
believe it will be found that he has
just as much nerve as the morning ne
fought the battle Of Manila bay he
is a man who carries responsibility
lightly, and does not let 1t break hin
down.
ION the morning of the battle he
was perfectly cool. and only once
throughout the action did he show any
signs of anxiety. That was when the
head gunner reported that our ammu-
milton was running short. This was
abou: the time we pulled off for break
fast, and it had depressing effect
But it was quickly offset when the
officer of the deck reported that the
Reina Christina and Castillo were atire.
That was the turning point, and the
admiral had no anxiety after that
Asked if he had prescribed for Dewey
of late, Surgeon Page said:
No Need For Prescriptions
NO; he has no need for prescrip-
tionS. During the last year he has not
once asked for a prescription. or taken
medical advice, except in a casual way
If he wants anything he sends down TO
the ships apothecary and gets it His
habits are so regular that he needs
little or no medicine His smoking and
drinking are in perfect moderation He
eats we'll and sleeps well, and it is one
of the recognized OffenseS on board
ship TO tramp heavily over the adj
mirals cabin after he has retired
1T has needed pretty calm man at
the head of affairs said Surgeon
Page, when asked as to the reports Of
friction with the German naval Off
GERS. II know nothing of any differ
ences. but we all felt that much re-
lance was to be placed on the ad-
mirals tact and conservatism as a
means of avoiding any possible differ
ence Throughout the fleet he was uni
versally admired. not only as a. naval
commander. but for his craftsmanship
and discretion"