The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-17
ADMIRAL DEWEY, HERO Of NATION,
DIED YESTERDAY At WASHINGTON
END CAME AFTER A
VERY BRIEF ILLNESS
Collapsed Last Thursda and.
End Came Rapidly Very
Remarkable Career Closed.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16-AdmiraL
Dewey; the nations Spanish War hero:
and by priority of grade the ranking
naval officer OF the world, died at his.
home here tonight in his eightieth:
year. He had not been conscious.
since yesterday, when he lapsed into
coma still believing that In a few.
days he wo@'d be back at his desk IN.
the Navy Department.
A general breakdown accompanied;
by arterio sclerosis incident to old,
age was the cause of death. The dis:
ease had been grad-,ally spreading its
hold upon the powsrful, body for O.
year and a half. but the admiral,
proud Of his physical vigor had fought
it off and even kept tits existence .
secret from most of his intimate
friends. Last Wednesday he, was ut
his office apparently hale and hearty.
The next day he collapsed as he was;
preparing to leave the house. and the
beginning of the end was at hand. 80
Mrs. Dewey and the admirals only
son, George, were at the bedside TO-
night. They had known since yes
terday there was no hope. -;
The admiral died at 5:56 O'CLOCK
President Wilson and Secretary Dam;
iels were notified at once and the
news was flashed by wireless to
American. naval vessels and stations!
all over fhe world. The message car
ried orders that all flags be half mast
ed. ~
The President will confer tomorrow
with Secretary Daniels and Rear Adr.
miral Badger and arrange for the M;
neral, which probably will take place
CotNrdoy The hndr xuill he hurled. af
Arlington National Cemetery on tho,
Virginia shore OF the Potomac river
where many of Admiral Dewey's for
mer comrades have been laid to rest
before him. ~!
Only Two Of Same Rank. ~
Only two other men-Farragut and
Porter-have held the rank OF the. ad-i
nliral of the American navy, and sipcol
Civil War days no military figure has:
held such a place as Dewey In the af.
fection and admiration Of the American
people. His death ended 62 yeau of;
active service. His baptism Of ire
came in the Civil War, through which
he served with distinction. Promotion
followed promotion during the years
following, and he was a. commodor1
commanding the Asiatic fleet whSn 4os
orders Capture or destroy the enc:
my's fleet gave him the first peME
of hostilities with Spain and sent bin
into Manila Bay for the feat that Won
him undying fome and mad lar reach
ing effect upon the position Of. tAesI
United States as a world p0Wefsl ~
mediately Dewey was advanced 3
rear-admiral, and then CoAKfesssAsls
special act made him admlfat Of IT,
navy, q grade that died With him
Since 1900 he had been ON duty at the
Navy Department as president Of the
General Board, constantly in touch;
with all the activities of the navy, a.:
wiser Of secretaries and a mighty
champion Of a greater fleet. Year NJ;
ter year the General Board urged the
building Of more ships than CongreeSa
would agree to, until at the last see.
sion a great building program based I
upon its recommendations finally HaaSs
adopted. :.
It was because of the adniiral's keen
aversion to any suggestion that his
health and strength were falling that
the naval physicians attending him
agreed with the family to make no IN.
OF his condition after the
attack Thursday 1t was given out
frontinuaA. m para ranN