The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-17
Nations Spanish War Hero
and Ranking Naval Officer
of the World
NEWS FLASHED TO
ALL L. S. VESSELS
End Came from General Breakdown
Born in Montpelier Dec. 20, 1887 -
Body VIII Be Buried in Arlington
National Cemetery.
National Cemetery.

WASHINGTON, Jan. H. Admiral
Dewey, the nation Spanish war hero
and by priority Of grade the ranking
naval officer of the world, died at his
home here last night in his S0th year.
lie had not been conscious since Mon
day, when he lapsed into coma. #
\ general breakdown accompanied
by arterio sclcrosis incident to old
age was the cause of death. The dis
ease had been gradually spreading its
hold upon the once powerful body Cor
a year and n half, hut the admifal
proud OF his physical vigor, had fought
it ofgcend even kept its eXistenco a
secret from most of his intimate
friends Last Wednesday he was at his
office apparently hale and hearty. The /.
next day he collapsed as he was pre- /
pairing to leave the house and the be- F.
ginning of the end was at hand.
Mrs. Dewey and the admiral 5 only
son, George, were at the bedside last
night They had known since early
Monday there was no hope.
The admiral died at 500 o'clock.
President Wilson and Secretary Dan
icls were notified at once and the news
was flashed by wireless to American
naval vessels and stations all over the
world. The message carried orders that
all flags be half masted
The President will confer today with
Secretary Daniels and Rear Admiral
I Badger and arrange for the funeral
which probably viii take place Satur-
( day. The body viii be buried in the
Arlington National cemetery ON the
4 Virginia shore of the Potomac river
where many Of Admiral Dewey's for
mcr comrades have been laid to rest
before him.
Admiral George Dewey, "hero Of Manila
Bay fought and won the first great
American naval battle against a foreign
foe since the War of 1912.
His whole life was full of honorable
achievement from the days of the Civil
war down TO the time when. rs the head
of the general board. lac began the last
chapter OF his work by laying plans for
the defense of his country IN time Of war,
His lie was q striking complication Of
the possibilities Of a career based upon
the exact and intelligent performance of
every routine duty which molds a man on
uileNible lines of duty and honor
one of the curious freaks of fortune in
pcwey's case was that for perhaps the
FIRST and only time in his naval career lac
was disposed 10 protest against the edict
ot the navy department which carried him
into the Far East where he was destined
90 perform the greatest feat of his life
and 10 win impcrishable rcnown. That
was back in 1893 when the war clouds
ii. IA 4 Il
being "shclvcd' that the war with Spain
WAS to be fought ont in the Gulf Of Mex
| ico and in the Caribbean Sea and that he
distant by half the circumference of the
| globe, would stand no chance ot winning
| glory, for az that moment no thought
| whatever had been given TO the Philip.
| pines. But hc took his orders and like a
| true sailor obeycd them The result is a
| page Of history under date of May /. 1898
/ Contrary To- Spanish expectations Dewey
Il sailed into Manila Bay on the night oI
II April 30 and IN the morning of the next
II day he annihilatcd Admiral AIontoio'.
squadron, destroying II warships and cap
turing al other vessels and all the LAND
n batteries without the loss ol "a man on tht
n American side.
III Jpun hia triumphant return TO the Unit
v al States he was fcted by the nation Iii.
I admirers presented him with bSautifu
home IN the National capital. Congress
gave him an engraved sword, and raised
him from the rank of commodore to rear
/. admiral and then to the full rank Of thu
admiral OF the navy
Admiral Dewey was the third American
n to reach that pinnacle Of naval rank Far
1agut was the first and Porter the second
1t was under Fauagut that Dewey re
cclved his first baptism in war
Valuable as the training of Annapoli
was, 1t was poor schooling beside that 0
g serving under Fargagut in time of war
Admiral Dewey once said Whenever
have been in a difficult situation or i
the midst of such confusion of detail
that the simple and right thing to d
seemed hay have often asked myself
What would Fanagut doT In the cours
Of preparation for. Manila Bay, [ ofte
asked myself this question, and / confes
q ! was thinking Of him the night we eI
n tered the bay and with the conviction tina
r, was doing precisely what he would ha,
;. done
George Dewey was born in the shade
'of Ncrnont's state capital at Montpelie
= on the day following Christmas in lS3
a At the age Of II, lac reached the eros
q roads OF ms career; one road led to We
8 Point, the other to Annapolis. Your
@ Dewey favored the former, but
~ "Thcrc was no vacancy for West Poi
q from Vermont, explained the Admiral
- reviewing his life otherwise | migl
- have gone into Manila Bay on an arm
:. transport instead Of on the Olympia b
- II happened there wasaa vacancy at A
l9 napolis, So | entered the navy"
- Before he received his appointment
y. Annapoli, he attended Norwich universit
Du At the outbreak of the Civil war Dew,
ia was - years old lie was commissioned
OIL lieutenant and guided the Mississippi
40 It's executive officer in Farraguts histor
gu dash past New Orleans and its forts. /
ve was not SO successful at Port Hudso
er- Farragut won through but Dewey al
at the Mississippi ran aground under t
rs guns Of the forts The ship was set ati
u. and during the transfer OF the crew und