Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1917-01-19
ADMIRAL DEWEY
HAS PASSED OUT
Famous Naval Hero, Who Won
Fame at Battle of Manila
Bay, Will BE Buried in Ma
tiOnal Cemetery.

1
and by priority of grade the ranking
naval officer of the world, died mt his
home here tonight, in his eightieth
year. He had not been conscious since
yesterday, when he lapsed into coma,
still believeing that in IL few days
he would be back at his desk in the
navy department..
A general breakdown, accompanied
by artcriosclerosis, incident to old
age, was the cause of death. The dis
eases had been gradually spreading
its hold upon the powerful body for n
year and Il half, but the admiral
proud of his physical vigor, had
fought it off and even kept its exist
ence II secret from most of his init
mate friends. Last Wednesday, he
was at 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
VISA at hand.
Mrs. Dewey, and The Admiral's only
son, George, were at the bedside to-
night. They had known since yester-
day that there was no hope
The admiral died at 5:55 O'Clock.
President Wilson and Secretary Dan
iels were notified at once, and the
ncws was flashed by wireless to Amer
lean naval vessels and stations all
over the world The message carried
orders that all flags be half masted.
The President will confer tomor-
row with Secretary Daniels and Ad-
miral Badger and arrange for the
funeral, which probably will take
place Saturday. The body will be
huricd at Arlington National Gene
terry, where may Of Admiral Dewey's
former comrades have been laid to
rest before him.
When news OF the Admirals death
was received ut the White House
President Wilson authorized the fol-
lowing statement:
"In expressing his grief at the death
of Admiral Dewey, the president said
the whole nation will mourn the loss
of its most distinguished naval ofli-
Ger, man who had been as faithful
as intelligent and as successful in the
performance of his responsible duties
in times of peace as he was gallant
and successful in time of war. 1t is
just such men that gave the service
distinction and the nation just pride
i'll those who serve it,"
Secretary Daniels paid this tribute:
"Up to the very last Admiral Dewey
kept in touch with every movement
if progress not only in our navy bu.
throughout the world On Wednesday
afternoon last just before ! left the
department, he paid me n call and
looked hale and hearty. | thought he
would be spared to us for many years.
His death is an irreparable loss to
our country, but the American people
will ever cherish his memory.
ellis counsel has meant more TO me
than words can express. His advice
to me since l have been secretary of
the navy was more like that of a
father TO a son than of high rank
ing navy officer to government Off
cial."
Admiral George Dewey, "hero of
Manila Bay" fought and won the first
great American naval battle against a
foreign foe since the war of 1872"
His whole life was full of honor
able achievement 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 striking eXemplifcation of the
possibilities of career based upon
the exact and intelligent perform
ance of every routine duty which
molds a man on flexible lines of duty
and honor.
One of the curious freaks of for
tune in Dewey's case was that for
perhaps the first and only time in
his naval career he was disposed to
protest against the edict of the naval
department which carried him into
the far east, where he was destined
to perform the greatest feat of his
life and to win imperishable renown.
This was back in 1898 when the war
clouds were gaehering and Dewey
felt that he was being "she!ved;"
that the war with Spain was to be
fought out in the Gulf of Mexico and
in the Caribbean Sea and that he, dis
tant by half the circumference of the
globe, would stand no chance of win
ming glory, for at that moment no
Thought whatever had been given to
the Philippines. But he took his or
dcrs and like true sailor obeyed
r L