Evening star., 1916-12-26
ADMIRAL DEWEY 79
YEARS OLD TODAY
Is Congratulated by Secretary
Daniels and Officials
of the Navy.
INCIDENT OF '66 RECALLED

Admiral George Dewey, the hero OF
the battle of Manila bay, was seventy
nine years old Cor young) today. and
observed the anniversary as usual by
a strict attendance on his duties as
president of the general board of the
navy and receiving the personal and
epistolary congratulations of his legion
of friends. Following an almost un-
broken practice. he appeared at his Of
flee in the naval annex building on New
York avenue at 9 o'clock and plunged
at once into the consideration of the
mass of correspondence, but soon was
compelled to suspend business to re-
ceive an almost constant stream Of vis-
itors desiring to pay their respects and
congratulate the naval hero on his good
health and spirits.
Among the throng were Secretary
Daniels and the chiefs of bureaus and
other officials of the Navy Department
In extending his personal congratula-
tions Secretary Daniels called attention
to an incident In the life of Admiral
Dewey exactly fifty years ago yester-
day, while he was serving on the old
frigate Colorado. and described by First
Assistant Engineer Henry Brown, one
of his associates on that vessel, in his
diary under the date of December IS,
1866. A copy of this entry was given
to Mr.. Daniels by DR.. w. S. Gibson,
chief clerk of the bureau of medicine
and surgery. who got 1t from Engineer
Brown during a recent meeting at
Nantucket.
Joyous Day Fifty Years Ago.
Secretary Daniels read the entry in
the diary to the assembled company, as
follows:
mo Christmas perhaps passed off
pleasanter on a man-ofwar than this
one. Mr.. Dewey, our first lieutenant,
as well as captain in the absence of
Capt. Wyrnan, succeeded in making all
on board happy and contented.
The day before he gave permission
to all the caterers of the messes to go
on shore, that they might prepare
their Christmas dinners. and also that
! all the night, so as not to interfere
with the officers meals. Each man en-
deavored to outvie his neighbor in the
good things appropriate for the day.
THE first lieutenant made each man
a present of a bottle OF wine. or in that
proportion from the money obtained
from the tslush fund At an early
hour all the men were active arranging
the tables and dressing the ship be-
| tween decks with fiags, pictures and
green's
Seven Hundred at Dinner.
"The tables extended from the cabin
to the forward gun deck and were cap
able OF just holding the ships company.
At noon all was ready and the 700 men
commenced eating no doubt one of the
! most happy meals on shipboard. The
whole affair showed excellent taste.
.All the officers paid visits to the diff
ferent messes and were cheered with a
welcome known only to the sailor. The
ship was in manner given up to the
crew SO that after their dinner, which
lasted two hours, all commenced smok-
! ing. Throughout the whole day all was
, perfect order with the exception of
here and there a loud voice from one
who had probably taken more than his
allotted share.
membered for his endeavor to make
the crew comfortable"
Admiral Dewey's Response.
Admiral Dewey showed evident pleas
ure in having the old days recalled to
him. and was very happy in his reply
in expressing his appreciations. He
said: Il remember that day very we'll
in this country. / went in to play
backgammon with Admiral Colds
borough. which we did for an hour or
so every evening. While l was in the
cabin with him he said: Mr.. Dew&
your men seemed to have a happy time
today-what was all that cheering
about?' ! said: They gave you nine
cheers
They did" he replied and he was de-
lighted. 1t was a happy snip. Gentle
men, / appreciate this. and I hope
will be here next year. I have that in
rrah hle d sease which John Hay call
ed Ammo Domini.' Well, we all have it,
In the afternoon Admiral Dewey took
I a long drive through Rock Creek Park
in an open barouche, his daily recrea-
| tion for years past.