Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-01-17
hero OF MANILA BAY
LOSES HIS FIGHT FOR LIFE
Continued from Page One.

pOrt instead Ol on the olympia. bul III
happened that there was 4 vacancy ut
Annapolis, 80 ! entered the navy
Al the outbreak of the civil war, Dewey
was 23 years old. lie was commissioned
II lieutenant and guided the Mi-si>Sippi "a
its executive officer in farragut'- histor-
lie was not "a successful at Port liud-
son. farragut won throu.ht. but Dewey
and the Ali~>l>~ippi ran aground under the
guns of the forts. The ship wa> set afirc
and during the transfer Of The crew under
tire. the young officer lived five years in
IN hour
From the close III the civil war until
the opening OF The Spanish American, The
life Of the Amri!c,n naval officer was
made up Of routine duty ut sea and
ashore. During This period, the future
admiral cruised. taught a class III Annap-
Oils: surveyed lower California and part
of the West coast of Mexico; carried sup
plies 10 the survivors of the siege of
Paris: performed duty ut Boston navy
ward and the naval torpedo station ut
Newport; inspected lighthouses and serv-
eel a. naval secretary on the lighthouse
board: spent two years travelling ON a
sick leave in search of health; -four years
a chief of the bureau OF equipment: and
III the age OF 80 was serving as president
of the board of inspection and survey with
the rank Of commodore. Ii was IN this
important naval office that he presided
al trials Of all the hattleships, except the
Oregon, which were to demollSh the Span
i-h squadron nj Santiago.
Shortly after hiS return from Manila
Bay. Admiral Dewey found himself IN the
fire uf popular criticism over the gift
house incident American citizens had
raised S50.0Oo BY public subscription a.
Il testimonial 10 the hero Of Manila and
they presented him wah a house in Wash
ington. Dewey, who had been a widower
-r.r. .~.-. had Just married Mrs. Mil
dred Mclean IIazen of Washington, and
he turned over the gift house 10 her.
Shortly afterward the admiral and Mr..
Dewey left the gift house and lived IN his
| wife'S former home.
In 1900 Admiral Dewey was seriously
talked of a. "a candidate for the Republ-
can nomination as president. hut the adj
miral preferred 10 remain in the naval
ranks rather than 90 seek such a venture
in craftsmanship. Ills admirers have since
often spoken Of him - the man who could
have been 4 president ii had wished.
Early in 1914 Admiral Dewey again be-
came conSpicuou, in the current news IN
revival If the long standing controversy
with Admiral Won Diederichs Of the Ger
man navy regarding the conduct of the
German squadron during the blockade a
Manila Bay, rs wears before. In his auto
biography. Admiral Dewey criticized won
Diedericie for failing 10 observe the ncn
~trality laws and told how 4 shot was fired
across the bows 81 one Of the German
| ships 10 impress il with the fact hat the
American navy had established q blockade
and would countenance no undue activity
on The part of the German ships. suspect
ed AT the time Is friendly to Spain.
a difference of opinion about inierna-
tional law had been adjusted" said Dewey.
without adding 10 the sum of President
Mckinley worTies.'
! Dewey Wa alWNNN " great Hiuu'hl VI
history: he knew every naval campaign
that had been waged from the days Of
ancient Greece and Rome. had analyzed
them and knew why defeat or victory had
come from certain movements and this
without doubt was one Of the factors that
contributed Ia hi~ own success in warfare.
One Of the finest estimates Of Adlmarl
Dewey'- character j. contained in a trib-
ute rendered 10 him by his old-time ship
mate, Admiral Sampson, who was fight
ing the SpaniardS IN the Caribbean while
Dewey was lying in Manila Bay. resting on
the laurels he had won in the famous
battle of the FIRST Of May. Tie said:
"The service knows Dewey n san ideal
head of a fleet. Perfectly courageous. of
thoroughly balanced judgment. and quick
of decision, he has the qualities which
carry one To fame if opportunity he CIV
en-. The man and the hour fortunately
came together and the country i richer
in another brilliant page of history and
another heroic figure. Ills career has
given n lofty impetus to the Young which
win bear fruit IN nobler aspirations. tie
has become one Of the most valued pos
sessions which = nation can have-a ma
iional hero.