The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-28
OSCAR KING DAVIS TELLS OF MS
MANY VExATIoNs


zine published yesterday. The following
is an extract.
The period ef delay after his MAY day
victory. when the admiral was waiting for
the army 10 get ready 10 occupy Manila.
WAS very trying 20 him Complications
arose which placed a heavy strain on his
intensely nervous organism, The actions
Of the German squadron Of observation
and the attempt to send Camara 10 re-
lieve Manila, are familiar history but it
Is doubtful il the sheltered people here
at home ever realis ed. or can realize, the
anxiety that an this caused Admiral
Dewey. Yet there wasn't a moment when
his confidence was shaken. His plans
were made for every contingency, and
when he sent word TO Won Diedrichs that
the Germans could "have a night here and
now. or al any time and any place, ho
meant just exactly what be said More
over the disposition Of his ships IN case
Of battle with the Germans, wac ar
ranged. There can be no doubt whatever,
no matter what denials or aisaVowala the
Germans may make Or have made, that
the situation for q time was very critical
iu Manila bay j have heard II said Of
DeWey's talk % the German flag lieuten-
ant on the Olympia, that day he laced
OUT Won Diederichs stan officer and
brought the whole matter 70 a focus.
that Il was very undiplomatic. We'll.
suppose it was undiplomatic; it was also
tremendously effective. The admiral lost
his temper and he said what was in bis
heart with the clear-cut emphasis Of an
unusually plain-spoken man. That prac-
ucAly settled the German Incident,
One afternoon on the Olympia. when he
had been talking 70 me about the German
Incident he pointed 10 the wrecks Of the
Spanish ships lying about Cavite, and ex-
claimed. "fhat was one Of the least OF
my difficulties here
After all Il was perfectly characteristic
Of Dewey that he should lose his temper
The wonder Is rather that he kept 4 50
long He IS very high-strung His nerves
are constantly on q hair trigger. and his
temper Is their admirable match. II Is
a strong mans temper, but as general
thing this strong man holds Il in complete
control. Once IN a while Il gets away
from him for a little time and then
things hum But il Is just like an electric
storm II is soon over and the air "
the clearer for the outhursL
During his long watch before Manila
almost the only recreation the admiral
took was In the navy yard at Cavite.
Nearly every fair morning be went ashore
a little before 10 o'clock. and for an hour
or So walked about with Capt Wood
Of the Petrol. who was commandant Of
the yard He talked very freely with
Capt Wood, as he did. IN fact, with al
most all his officers and it Is simple Truth
and Justice 10 sa5 that more loyal and
devoted support could not have been given
him. Except for this walk in the navy
yard the Admiral spent his time on the
Olympia very rarely leaving her. He
appeared on the quarterdeck early Ia the
morning and there be sat or walked
about nearly an day There he met the
captains or others who came 20 see him
there he transacted the business that
came up for his personal attention; there
be Rad studied. visited. lived, during
the tedious trying months II the day
was pa A. weather-dodgers were spread.
and be still sat there keeping a diligeni
lookout on the whole squadron. II some
thing happened on another ship that De
didn't understand. he was quite likely 90
have signal made 90 lnd out about II.
He knew completely what was going on
in the squadron. and there wasn't an
officer 81 man who didn't understand the
hopelassncss Of trying 70 fool him.
Every afternoon az o'clock he turned
in for his siesta and. during q nothing
was permitted to disturb him. no one
eouM See him That time was sacred. Tie
is not "a good sleeper and very often spent
restless nights. Ii was not uncommon for
him TO he up for hours in the middle
watch reading or walking about or SIT
ding alone on the quarterdack. So. when
~ turned in Tor his siesta. ail the ship
did ifs best to give him a quiet nap. lsu'
ailr the sicsfa was over ry 4 o'clock. and
than DE would sit on the quarterback and
ltad and smoke and see callers There
were half a dozen wicker chairs out
thfrc-hiE widc-armed fclows-Weh cal
cu'alod tor comfort Sometimes be would
have his orderly bring the little mascot
monkey down from the superstfucture
deck and De would play with 81 as a
child would. holding 81 Ia hls arms and
fOnding n. cOnxinE A 20 show OF tricks.
persuading if To jump and run about. say
ine. "Oh. YOU little beauty. and giving
himself % completely 20 the relaxation.
Until q week after Manila surrendered
the only means Of communication with
the rest of the world was hy dispatch
hoal 10 one of the Aslatic ports. HuIg.
kong was By far the most available of
these nlaces for many Reasons. and there
the dispatch beat usually was sent 10
took some clever work on the part Of
oar agents az hongkong and our officers
nu the dispatch boat TO avoid violating
nirsh neutrality but they were always
successful The little merchant ship N.
frs which Dewey had bought in Hong.
kong before re set out for ile Philippines.
was the vessel usually employed ln this
work. She was commanded by Lieut..
Walter Mclean who did more good solid
work for American SUCCESS in the Span
ish war than many man whose more
spectacular field got him public acclama.
iion or special reward uf honor and pro-
motion.
The method 81 getting things out Of
Hongkong was very simple. 10 consisted
principally in constructing q huge fence
Of ignorance uround everything that went
or board the Zafiro while be was n
the vicinity Of lIolEkong. Lieut.. Mclean
nlwat carried the admiral's dispatches
in the government. and attended person-
aiiy 90 cabling them from Horgkong.
waiting there rnti ~ had received the
replies and had answered such questions
from Washington as were ir his province.
The lasl thing before leaving Manila bay
for uoncfnnf he always went to The ad-
uiHal for his dispatches and bis final
instructions. and always ls De was lc1r-
ms The fazship Tor fhe Iafiro the admiral
would say. IN hts most emphatic manner
"Sow. don't you bring thing back
from HCrekonE. sir-nQt thing. not q
pound 81 anythinr sir not d single pack
age
ARD Mclean would say rAy. ay. sir.
and obey absolutely. He never brought
back = pcund of anything or a single
F."