The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-15
Says Pacific Voyage Is Great Exploit In Maya! History
 of the World
REMARKABLE INCIDENT
 TOLD OF THE CIVIL WAR
Admiral Dewey Relates Story of Bat tie of New Orleans, When Guns
 of Burning Vessels Were
 Fired By Dead Crew. .ax.

Washington, D. C., March 14.-(Special.) 'It was a notaole performance, a great exploit in naval history over which we should be very happy and of which we should be exceedingly proud The achieve ment of sending so successfully this splendid fleet already distance of more than half way around the globe is as- suredly something on which our nation should congratulate itself. This under taking which has been so happily achieved has shown the world that we can have such well trained officers, such fine sea- men and that we have built sixteen such magnificent battleships.
 Tt is a particularly pleasing thought that the ships of this fleet should have ar- rived in better condition than when they started on the cruise around the world. I don't think you could say anything more, because the history of the cruise is now known everywhere.'
 These are the sentiments expressed to- day by Admiral Dewey upon the great work done by Admiral Evans in getting his ships safe and sound from Hampton Roads to Magdalena Bay.
 As soon as the fleet was reported at Magdalena Bay Admiral Dewey visited the White House. Nothing was made public about this visit except that there was mutual felicitation, the President be- Ing about as happy as the admiral.
 Admiral Deweys discussion of the rec ord made by Rear Admiral Evans put him in reminiscent mood. Talking about the notable achievement of Rear Admiral Evans fleet, the admiral trav- eled back half century during the civil war. He referred specifically to the new battleship Mississippi and said it was on the old battleship Mississippi that stood up against the batteries at the battle Of New Orleans fifty years ago that he got baptism of fire.
 In discussing the fight, the admiral made the sensational statement that some of the guns on the old warship were fired literally by dead crew. Ex- piaining this statement, the admiral con- tinued:
 Admiral Barker was an ensign on the cid warship Mississippi at the battle of New Orleans in the civil war l was the second in command. The recent comple- ton of the new battleship Mississippi re- minded me of the terrible time we had in that engagement. It was just 45 years ago today that we went into the action with about $50 men and 1 don't suppose that we brough out of it more than 125.
 ''We were pounded by the batteries and everybody thought of course, that the vessel was lost when she grounded. After being at standstill for some time she suddenly began to move. We thought she was sinking, but it happened that the current had swung her around and she pointed down stream The guns, of course, had been abandoned, but all of a sudden some of them began to fire. This astonished us and I said at the time why, this firing is being done by a dead crew.
 Tt was discovered 1terward that it was the heat e tie burning vessel that fired off the guns and I am told that some good hits were made.
 Admiral Dewey also recalled an inter- esting incident of the time when several of the women of the state of Mississippi came here to make inquir ,s about the launching of the new Dattleship Mis- sissippi.
 T recalled" he said, ito these women the exciting time just before and after the battle I have told about. They were all very much touched by the references ito those days and some of them wept."