The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-03
Aud the jolly "Old Sea Dog" slyIy
wfnks and Tells Them s"There's
Nothing on the suex Like It."
FLAG WITH THE UNION DOWN
DEWEY SAW 1T AND SAID "HELLO,
THAT FELLOWS IN DISTRESS"
Part of an Artil1eryman's Hand Blown
On-The Admiral Sings Songs
and Tells Stories.

CHICAGO. May 2-'There's nothing on
the Suez like it, was Admiral Dewey's
verdict tonight on the Chicago drainage
and ship canal. Inspection of the great new
artificial channel cut through the CONT
mental water shed that for centuries sep
arated the waters of the great lakes from
the tributaries of the Mississippi was the
great feature of the last day of Admiral
Dewey's visit TO Chicago.
The admiral was particularly struck with
the size of the canal. saying he had had
no idea of the magnitude of the work. He
imagined 1t was simply drainage ditch,
and was surprised to see a channel big
enough for a ship. Admiral Dewey inquired
closely about the details of the work and
remarked on the amount of labor involved
In building the drainage canal. larger. pro-
portionately, than the work required on
the Suez because of the refractory earth
material and sand. that had to be moved
In cutting the channel, of the other. What
particularly impressed the admiral was
what Is popularity called the rock section"
from the fact that for miles and miles the
canal is cut through solid rock. Fifteen
miles of craving dock" Is the way Ad-
miral Dewey expressed IT.
The ship canals future working greatly
interested the admiral. and he inquired
about the efforts to induce Congress to
make an appropriation to complete the
proposed waterway for ships from Chicago
to the Mississippi river, using the canal
part of the way, and informally accepted
an invitation to open the proposed ship
canal whenever an opening of such work
shall take place.
During the trip the admiral and his aids
were the guests of the sanitary district
canal trustees. A special train on the Atch-
ison, Topeka & Santa Fe took the party
to McCook. ILL.,, short distance from Chi
cago, and from there to Lockport, ILL.,, the
end of the canal proper, the trip was made
In the yacht Kinda. number of other
along the canal had prepared a reception
of their own for Admiral Dewey.
THE UNION DOWN.
At Willow Springs a railroad bridge
crossed the canal and it was literally filled
with people and flags. AT another point a
crowd had raised flag on the bank. UNI
fortunately getting the union down, how
ever. and when Admiral Dewey saw it,
he said:
Hello. that fellows in Distress for that
Is what union turned down means on
the sea- Nevertheless the admiral climbed
over a hatchway. two anchors, a pile of
cameras and a capstan in order to raise
his hat to the people on the bank.
Beyond Willow Springs the canal is
crossed at intervals by railroad bridges,
and these were invariably. filled with spec
tators and often decorated with flags. This
was especially noticeable at the small towns
along the canal. Some times cannon salutes
supplemented the other greetings. At
-
the admiral and children's chorus sang
America
Battery ID. of Chicago, was stationed at
Lockport TO fire a salute A vent which had
not been closed air tight caused one OF the
pieces TO discharge, blowing off part of the
right hand and several fingers of the left
hand OF Sergeant William Popp. who was
holding the ramrod The right hand had
to be amputated later.
Admiral Dewey was much distressed bv
the accident and sent his flag lieutenant to
inquire after the comfort OF the injured
man.
A shower of rain interfered with the
programme of the trustees OF the drainage
board 10 show the working of the canal s
four big controlling gates and the inn
mense bear trap dam, the largest of its
kind in the world.
When the return trip was started the
party on the Kinda sought the cabin be-
cause CT the rain Admiral Dewey and
Mayor Carter H Harrison Joined i'm the
singing OF Dixie and Marching through
Georgia TO the music OF an orchestra, but
the admiral refused TO try 1.-The Star
spangied Banner" both he and Mayor Har-
rison confessing that their voices could
not go that high"
The admiral entertained the party by re-
telling the story Of the battle of Manila I'm
response to many questions
LIKES THE GERMANS.
Although Admiral Dewey has not dis
cussed politics or International relations
on this trip. personal estimate that he
gave OF the Germans or rather OF the Ger
man individually Is interesting in view of
the relations between the admiral and the
German admiral who was I'm Manila bay
after the battle. two years ago. without
In any way referring to any incidents IN
Manila bay. Admiral Dewey said en-
phatically: II like the German; ne il
good fellow
An incident occurred al the station be-