The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-17

A box social will be held next Satur-
day evening, in the Valley Grove school
house.
ADMIRAL DEWEY
that the admiral had cold, and until
Sunday even the doctors hoped that
he might master the disease. Yester-
day his condition had become 80 Sc
rious that tho facts no longer could
be withheld
Touching Tributes.
When news of the admiral's death
was received at the White House,
President Wilson authorized the fol-
lowing statement:
in expressing his grief at the death
Of Admiral Dewey the President sail
the whole nation will mourn the loss
of its most distinguished naval Off
Ger, a man who has been as faithful,
as intelligent and as successful in the
performance Of his responsible duties
in time OF peace as he was gallant
and successful in time Of war. 1t is
just such men that gives the service
distinction and the nation a just pride
in those who serve It,"
Secretary Daniels paid this tribute:
up TO the very last Admiral Dewey
kept in touch with every movement
Of progress not only in our navy but
throughout he world. On Wednes-
day afternoon last, just before ! left
the department, he paid me call and
looked hale and hearty. thought he
would be spared to us for many years.
His death is an irresparable loss 10
our country, but the American people
vii cherish his memory.
His counsel has meant more to ME
than words can express. His advice
to ME since l have been secretary or
the navy was more like that Of a
father to a son than Of high rank
ing navy officer TO a government or
fetal"
Despite the aged officers youthful
appearance, it became known during
the past few days that the. first evil
dence Of a weakening of his splendid
constitution came about IS months ago
when he suffered a slight paralytic
stroke. At that time the physicians
who was called to the house found
him sitting in his easy chair In some
distress. and showing slight Thick
ness of speech and dilatei pupus
which were at once diagnosed as
symptoms of paralysis
The attack yielded 10 treatment but
it was deemed unwise TO permit the
admiral to make lis usual summer
visit to the New England Coast be-
cause of the strain Of the long rail-
road trip. Secretary Daniels placed
the naval yacht Mayflower at the ad-
mirars disposal and he returned TO
Washington after a cruise up the
CT Ch0ra rpSnTI
APPARENTLY in his usual health.
Won Great Battle.
Admiral George Dewey. hero OF Ma
Mia Bay" fought and won the first
great American naval battle against
foreign foe since the War of 1872.
His whole life was full Of honorable
achievements from the days of the Civil
War down to the time when. as the head
Of the General Board, he began the last
chapter of his work by laying plans for
the defense of his country in time OF
war. His life was n striking exemplifi-
cation OF the possibilities Of career
based upon the exact and Intelligent per
formanco of every routine duty which
molds Il man on inflcXihle lines Of duty
and honor.
One of the curious freaks Of fortune
In Dewcy's case was that for perhaps:
the first and only. time in his naval
career he WAS disrosed to protest
against the cdict OF the Navy Depart
iment which carried him into the Far
East where he was destined to perform
the greatest feat Of his life and to win
imperishahlc renown. That was hack
in 1898 when the war clouds we're gath
cring and Dewey felt that he was being
"Shelved:" that the war with Spain was
TO be fought out in the Gulf Of Mexico
and in the Caribbean Sea and that ne.
distant by half the circumference or the
globe, would stand no chance OF winning
glory. for at that moment no thought
whatever had been given to the Phillip
pines But he took his orders and like
4 true sailor obeyed them. The result
is Il mage OF history under date of May
II, 1888.
Contrary to Spanish, eXpectations,
night of April 80 and in the morning Of
the next day he annlhilated Admiral
Montojo's squadron. destroying eleven
warships and capturing all other vessels
and ali the land batteries without the
loss Of 4 man on the American side.
Teted BY Nation.
Upon his Irumphant return 10 inc
United States he was fctcd by the ma
ton. His admirers presented him win
| n beautiful home in III" National Capt.
| tai. Congress gave him an engraved
sword. and raised him from the rank
Of Conrmndorr tn Rear ADMIRAL and then
| Ia the full rank of the Admiral OF the
ADMIRAL Dewey was the third Amcri-
/ can to reach that pinnacle Of naval
rank Farragut was the first and Fort
or tho second. II was under FarraRut
that Dewey received his first baptism IN
war.
"Saiuahlr rs The training OF Anna
POLLS w:lS, it, was poor Schunling beside
that Of serving under Farragut III Time
OF war" Admiral Dewey once said.
"Whencvcr I hay" been in 4 difficult
situation or in lhr midst If such a con,
fusion Of detail: that the simple and
right thing I" do seemed haZy ] have
often asked myself, what would Farra-
gut do IN tn" rnurS" of preparations
for Manila BAY. | often asked myself
! This question. and l confess l was
thinking nf him III" night We entered
The nay rid with tn" conviction that
was doing precisely what he would have
done.
George Dewey was born in the shadow
Of NcrmuntS state capitol ut Mnntpcl-
Ter. on the day following Christmas in
1877 At thu age Of II. he reached tho
crossroads nf his career: one road led
10 West Point. the uther 10 Annapolis
Young Dewey favored the former, but
There was M vacancy for West
Point from Vermont" explained the Adj
mira1 in reviewing his life. "Othcrwiso
I might have gone into Manila Buy on
Olympia Rut il happened that there
was II vacancy al Annapolis, so L enter
cd the navy"
AT the outbreak Of the Civil War;
Dewey was 81 years old. He was COM
miSSinnrd lieutenant. anc guided the
Mississippi ~ its executive officer In
Farragut'S historic dash past New Or
leans and It's forts He WAS not so sue
ccssrul at Port Hudson Farragut won
through, but Dewey and the Mississippi
ran aground under the guns Of the
forts The ship was set atire and dur
ing the transfer OF the crew under fire.
he young officer "lived FIVE years IN an
hour"
Routine Duty.
From the close Of the Civil War: un-
Ill the opening of the Spanish AmerL-
can. the life Of tho American naval Of