The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-12-26
18TH BIRTHDAY OF
ADMIRAL G, DEWEY
High Diplomatic and Naval
Officers Paid Him Their
Respects Today.
tNational News Association

WASHINGTON. u. C. Dec. s6.-An
almost continuous stream of messen-
gers climbed the stone steps of a
handsome residence at the corner of
18th and X streets today, while
through the portals of the big house
there passed AT frequent intervals men
whose furrowed brows and dignified
/ bearing stamped them as diplomats,
| judges, senators or high officers OF the
army or navy.
The house, as described by the
megaphone men on the "ruhber-neck'
wagons, is the home of Admiral
! George Dewey. hero OF the battle of
Manila bay" Admiral Dewey reached
his seventy-fifth birthday anniversary
today and was the recipient of a flood
of congratulations, oral and written.
from his many friends in official as
we'll as private life. The Admiral and
his family remained at home the great
er part of the day, and gave a cordial
welcome TO the many friends who
called TO pay their respects.
Admiral Dewey is in good health.
considering his years and arduous
services. and is still able TO attend TO
his duties as president OF the naval
general board. He is rather proud Of
old. for few men have reached his age
retaining their good looks. the vigor
: OF mental and physical youth. and.
last, but not least, the natural opti-
mism OF a schoolboy.
The Admiral is a native of Mont
pelier, Vt. He began his remarkable
career early, and could he live his life
over again, he says, he would not
change the course il has taken. After
| a course at the Norwich Military acad-
envy, experimenting the valuable per
! sonal instruction of his father, who
was one of the best known physicians
of his day. the future sea fighter enter
ed the Naval academy at the age of
sixteen. Immediately upon leaving the
academy, four years later. in 1858. he
was ordered TO active service and.
lacking only few months space of
time, he has now been fifty-eight years
in the navy. For the Admiral is still
on the active list OF the navy and will
remain so until the end of his days.
: This is in virtue of the act of Con-
c gress creating him full admiral. the
only officer of his rank in the AmeTi-
: can navy. and which insures him the
i full pay of his grade. s13.50O a year.
u during his lifetime.
Admiral Dewey says that, excepting
i the too close proximity of the bullets,
d the most interesting training he re-
= ceived after leaving school was under
Admiral Farragut, from 1861 to 1868,
in the Mississippi river squadron. He
happened to be at his home in Mont
pelier when Fort Sumter was fired up
on. One week later he obtained his
commission as lieutenant and was or
dered to the west gulf squadron. Ad
c miral Farragut conceived great lik
ing for the dashing and coolheaded
young officer and distinguished him
by making him first lieutenant of one
OF his gunboats.
- The story of how Captain Dewey
:, and his squadron of American war
:. ships sailed into Manila bay on tina
:, historic Sunday morning in 1898 anC
! wiped out the Spanish fleet there, ii
familiar to all. A fact less generally
8 known, however, is that of Dewey'i
= captains" in the Manila bay engage
= ment, who in later years made il 4
habit to join in a dinner as the Ad
- mirars guests on the battle anniyer
=. sary, the only one still living Is Real
;, Admiral Asa Walker. whose home is il
: Annapolis.
For the past twelve years Admira
Dewey has held his present position
as head of the general board. the high
|, est in the gift of the navy, and hai
made his headquarters in Washington
II Though seeking always to avoid pub
licity, Admiral Dewey has become /
familiar figure in the capital through
= his daily drives through the parks ii
an open carriage. While he is not quit
so robust as he was before his lines
of a year ago he may be said TO be II
good health. and he continues to per
form his duties as president of tn
~ general board with as keen interest a
u officers young enough TO be his sons
IS His position keeps him in touch wit
IS all that the navy does. IL is work tina
o. he likes; it keeps his faculties sharT
o. ened; it gives him a zest in life