The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-17
AN INTERESTING STORY.
Born in Vermont, Dewey Turned His
Steps Toward Navy When Young.

! American naval battle against a forcig
Zoe since the war OF 1912.
His whole life was full of HONORABLE
achievement from the days OF the Civ
war down 10 the time when, as the hea
! of the general board, he began the las
chapter of his work by laying plans TO
the defense of his country in time Of wal
His life was a striking exemplidcation o
the possibilities of a career based upol
the exact and intelligent performance o
every routine duty which molds MAJ
on inflexible lines of duty and honor.
Smashed Spanish Fleet
One of the curious freaks of fortune IL
Dewey'5 case was that for perhaps th'
first and only time in his naval career hC
was disposed to protest against the edict
of the navy department which carried
him into the far East, where he was dcs
tined 20 perform the greatest feat ri
his life and to win imperishable renown
| That was back in 1898 when the war
clouds were gathering and Dewey felt
| that he was being "shelved"; that the
war with Spain was to be fought ont in
| the Gulf of Mexico and in the Caribbean
sea and that he. distant by half the cir
conference of the globe, would stand no
chance of winning glory, for at that mo-
ment no thought whatever had been Civ
en- to the Philippines. But he took his
orders and like a true sailor obeyed them.
The result is page of history under
date of May ], 1908.
Contrary TO Spanish expectations,
Dewey sailed into Manila bay on the
night of April 30 and in the morning Of
the next day he annihilated Admiral
Montojo's squadron, destroying II war
ships and capturing all other vessels and
all the land batteries without the loss
of man on the American side.
Upon his triumphant return to the
United States he was feted by the ma
ton. His admirers presented him
beautiful home in the national capital.
Congress gave him an engraved sword,
and raised him from the rank OF commo
dore to rear admiral and then to the full
rank of the admiral of the navy.
Admiral Dewey was the third Amer
lean to reach that pinnacle of naval
rank. Farragut was the first and Porter
the second. 1t was under Farragut that
Dewey received his first baptism OF war.
valuable as the training OF Annapolis
was, it was poor schooling beside that of
serving under Farragut in time of war,
Admiral Dewey once said. Whenever |
have been in a different situation or in
the midst Of such confusion OF details |
that the simple and right thing TO do
seemed hazy | have often asked myself, |
What would Farragut do?' In the /
r. LaN. \
often asked myself this question, and ! |
confess was linking OF him the night we
entered the bay and with the conviction /
that was doing precisely what he would
have done"
Born Under Shadow of vermont's State
House.
George Dewey was born in the shadow
If Vermont's state capitol at Montpelier
IN the day following Christmas in 1887.
At the age of " he reached the cross
-oads of his career: one road led to West
Point, the other to Annapolis. Young
Dewey favored the former but
"There was no vacancy for West Point
rom Vermont" explained the admiral in
eviewing his life. otherwise | might
ave gone into Manila bay on an army
instead of on the Olympia. But
{ happened that there was vacancy at
so ] entered the navy.
In the Civil War.
At the outbreak of the Civil war Dew.
V was % years old. He was commits
toned lieutenant and guided the Mis-
issippi as its executive officer in Farra !
- go 10 ri u
Is forts. He was not so successful at
'ort Hudson. Farragut won through, +
ut Dewey and the Mississippi ran
ground under, the guns OF the forts. The
hip was set afire and during the trans
sr of the crew under fire, the young Off
pr "lived five years in an hour" >
From the close of the Civil war until
he opening of the Spanish American, the
fe of the American naval officer was ]
Iade up of routine duty at sea and a
shore During this period the future /
imiral cruised taught class at Anna Q
ois; surveyed lower California and
art of the west coast of Mexico; car
ed supplies to the survivors of the siege
Paris; performed duty at Boston navy v
ard and the naval torpedo station at O
export; inspected lighthouses and n
rived as naval secretary on the light
,use board; spent two years travelling !,
a sick leave in search of health; four v
,ars as chief of the bureau of equip
emf; and at the age of 80 was serving {
president of the board of inspection !.
ID survey with the rank of commodore. q
was in this important naval Office !
at he presided at the trials of all the
ttleships. except the Oregon. which
IRE to demolish the Spanish squadron :
Santiago. q
Shortly after his return from Manila
V, Admiral Dewey found himself in
e fire of popular criticism over the
1T house incident" American citizens
d raised $4,000 by public subscription
a testimonial to the hero OF Manila
d they presented him a house in
Arlington Dewey, who had been a
dover since 1879, had just married
s. Mildred Mclean Hazen of Wash.
Tton and he turned over the gift house
her. Shortly afterward the admiral
4 Mrs. Dewey left the gift house and
ed in the wife's former home.
Might Have Been President.
N 1900 Admiral Dewey was seriously
ked of as a candidate for the Republi-
nomination as president, but the adj
raj preferred to remain in the naval
ks rather than TO seek such a ven
e in craftsmanship. His admirers
re since often spoken of him as the