Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-23

for long cruise on the Wabash. The
civil w5ar came on, and gave him his
first opportunity for actual fighting and
with it came quick promotion. In April
1861, he was commissioned lieutenant,
and assigned to the Mississippi, of Far
agut's west gulf squadron. While on
duty at Portsmouth, N. H., he met and
married Miss Susie Goodwin, their life
together was cut short in 1873, when she
died within few days after giving birth
to son. George Goodwin. He now lives
in New York City. Dewey received his
captaincy in 1884, or twenty-six years af-
ter graduation. In 1889 he began his long
and faithful service of special assign
ments as head of boards and chief of
bureaus connected with the navy.
His record for the ensuing nine years
is unsurpassed. in variety and respon-
'sibility of work and in extent of achieve
ment, by any other naval officer Dur
ing his protracted stay in Washington
he was one of the most popular naval
officers at the capital.
The metropolitan club was his favor
lite rendezvous, such well known MEM
bers of the club as Richard Weightman,
of the Washington Post, and II. L. Nell
son, of Harper's Weekly. have a fund
of anecdotes about him. incidents that
show that happy side of the man which
was so much in evidence at the Metro
| 'politan club.
On Nov. y, 1897, he was appointed to
the command of the Asatic station; on
April oath he went to Mrs bay; on April
Goth he sailed for Manila; on May LIST he
commanded in the greatest naval battle
since Trafalgar, completely annihilatng
II.
This battle will go down in history as
one of the greatest victories in the nav
| al history of the world. The effect of
| the remarkable victory at Manila upon
| the American people and upon the for
tunes of war was instant. A prestige
| of invincibility was thereby attached to
| American arms, which continued
throughout the struggle. In less than
| twenty-four hours George Dewey be-
came the popular hero of two continents.
| There is perhaps no parallel instance in
| American history of a great reputation
| so quickly made. Other military and
naval commanders in other wars have
| come rapidly to the 'front.' but with
' them there has never been a comman-
der. who iii single day, sprang to
| fame. In the United States the name
| of Dewey was upon every tongue.
The Vermont family became at once
| the one great genealogical tree of anx-
ious offsprings. Admiral Dewey not only
made history at Manila bay, he awoke
among his fellow countrymen a dormant
power of national poesy. He created a
million bards, and established Dewey
an era of American verse. The senate
on February 10. 1899, took the first step
toward rewarding Dewey for his victory
in Manila bay. A bill was passed by
| the house and the president appointed
| George Dewey admiral of the navy his
pay was thus increased from Sc, 900 per
year to $4,000, and he will be premit-
ted to remain on the list as long as he
desires.
In viewing the admirars life from the
days of his maturity to the present, we
are impressed with the logical sequence
of events and the natural evolution of
the man, which make his career sing,-
larly we'll rounded and harmonious. Up
to May list there had been nothing &C.
sentric. extraordinary or meteoric about
what he had done. but a gradual climb
ing up the ladder, until, when he came
TO the dizzy top, he did not lose his head.
out met successfully the mighty respon-
slbilitles that he saw about him.
II Is most interesting to start in with
~ ii'' oaSS When ne went away to
| school at johnson, w. and follow down
the record of his life through Norwich
university. The civil war, the yarious
commands from lieutenant to CAPTAIN
at home and in foreign ports; as commo-
dore or the Asiatic station until at last
! we find him the commander of the first
| great battle with Spain.
! Mrs. Slater read the following inter-
esting extract from the New York
| World of recent date:
| lou cannot drown. Shipwreck is i'm
possible-that is. II the latest theory and
device of inventors i'm Paris will do ali
that Is claimed.
Neither human being nor any kind Of
boat can sink If the most simple and
powerful Of life preservers be promptly
and properly employed