The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-26
CELEBRATED HIS
18TH BIRTHDAY
Admiral Dewey Recipient of
Flood of Congratulations
During the Day.


continuous stream of messengers
climbed the stone steps of a handsome
residence at the corner Of 10th and X
streets today. while through the por-
tails of the big house there passed at
frequent intervals men whose furrow-
ed brows and dignif1ed bearing stamp
ed them AZ diplomats. judges, sena-
tors or high officers of the army OF
navy .e4-.
The house. as described by the
megaphone men on the "rubber-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 flood
Of congratulations. oral and written,
from his many friends in official as
his family remained at home the
greater 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
the fact that he is seventy-five years
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 optim-
ism 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 it has taken. After
a course at the Norwich military acad-
emy, supplementing the valuable per-
sonal instruction Of his father, who
Of his day, the future sea fighter en-
tered the naval academy at the age Of
16. Immediately upon leaving the
academy. four years later. in 1858, he
was ordered to active service and,
lacking only a 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 80 until the end OF his days.
This is In virtue Of the act of con-
gress creating him a full admiral. the
only officer Of his rank in the Ameri-
can navy, and which insures him the
full pay Of his grade, $13,500 year,
during his lifetime.
Admiral Dewey says that, excepting
the too close proximity of the bullets.
the most interesting training he re-
ceived after leaving school was under
Admiral Farragut, from 1851 to 1853,
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-
miral Farragut conceived a great lik-
ing for the dashing and yet coolhead-
ed 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 that
historic Sunday morning In 1898 and
wiped out the Spanish fleet there, 10
familiar to all. A fact less generally
known. however, is that Of Dewey's
captains" in the Manila bay engage
ment, who in later years made It a
habit to Join in a dinner as the ad-
miral's guests on the battle annivers-
ary. the only one still living is Rear
Admiral Asa Walker. whose home is
In Annapolis.
For the past twelve years Admiral
Dewey has held his present position
as head of the general board, the high
est in the gift Of the navy, and has
made his headquarters In Washington.
Though seeking always to avoid pub
llcity. Admiral Dewey has become
familiar figure in the capital through
his daily drives through the parks in
an open carriage. While he liz not
quite SO robust as he was before his
illness Of a year or SO ago he may be
said to be in good health, and he
continues to perform his duties as
president Of the general board with az
keen interest as officers young enough
to be his sons. His positions keeps
him in touch with all that the navy
does. 1t is work that he likes: 1t keeps
his faculties sharpened; It gives him
a zest In life.