The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-01-23

erwise might have gone into Manila
Bay on an Army transport instead
OF on the Olympia. But it happened
that there was a vacancy at Annapo-
lis, so | entered the Navy"
At the outbreak OF the Civil War,
Dewey was % years DID, He was
commissioned q lieutenant, and guild
ed the Mississippi as its executive
officer in Farragut'S historic dash
past New Orleans and it's forts. He
was not so successful at Port Hudson.
Farragut won through, but Dewey and
the Mississippi ran aground under
the guns of the forts. The ship was
set ahre and during the transer Of
the crew under fire, the young officer
"lived FIVE years in an hour"
From the close of the Civil War
until the opening of the Spanish
American, the life of the American
naval officer was made up of routine
duty at sea and ashore During this
period, the future admiral cruiseo;
taught class at Annapolis; surveyed
Lower California and part of the west
coast of Mexico; carried supplies to
the survivors of the seige Of Paris;
performed duty at Boston Navy Yard
and naval torpedo station at New
port; inspected lighthouses and served
as naval secretary on the Lighthouse
Board; spent two years in travelling
on sick leave in the search OF
health; four years as chief of the Bu
reau of Equipment and at the age
of SO was serving az president Of the
Board of Inspection and Survey with
the rank of Commodore. 1t was in
this important naval Office that he
presided It the trials of all of the
battleships, except the Oregon whicn
were to demolish the Spanish squad
ron at Santiago.
Shortly after his return from Ma
Mia Bay. Admiral Dewey found him
self in the FIRE of popular criticism
over the gift house incident Amer
lean citizens had raised $4,000 by
public subscription as a testimonial to
the hero Of Manila and they present.
ed him with house in WASHINGTON.
Dewey, who had been widower since
1872 had just married Mrs. Mildred
Mclean Hazen of Washington and he
turned over the gift house to her.
Shortly afterward the admiral anu
Mrs. Dewey left the gift house and
lived in the wife's former home.
In 1900 Admiral Dewey was seri-
ously talked of as a candidate for the
Republican nomination as President,
but the Admiral preferred to remain
in the naval ranks rather than to
seek such venture in craftsmanship.
HIS admirers have since often spoke
OF him as the man who could have
bsen President if he had wished.
Early in 1914 Admiral Dewey again
became conspicuous in the current
news by revival of the long standing
controversy with Admiral Won Died
erichs of the German navy regarding
the conduct of the German squadron
during the blockade of Manila Bay,
Is years before. In his autobiography
Admiral Dewey criticised Won Died
erichs for failing to obsoyve the neu-
trality laws and told how shot was
fired across the bows of one of the
German ships to impress it with the
fact that the American Navy had es-
tablished blockade and would coun-
tenance no undue activity on the
part of the German ships. suspected
at that time as friendly to Spain.
"A difference of opinion about in
ternational law had been adjusted"
said Dewey, without adding to the
sum of President McKinley's wor-
ries"
Dewey was always great student
OF. history; he knew every naval cam
paign that had been waged from the
days of ancient Greece and Rome,
had studied and analyzed them and
knew why defeat or victory had come
from certain movements and this was
without doubt one of the factors that
contributed to his own success in
warfare.
One of the finest estimates of Ad-
miral Dewey's character is contained
in a tribute rendered to him by his
old time shipmate, Admiral Sampson,
who was fighting the Spaniards in the
while Dewey was lying IN
Manila Bay, resting on the laurels ne
had won in the famous battle of the
first of May. Sampson said:
The service knows Dewey as an
ideal head for feet Perfectly cour
ageous, of thoroughly balanced juds-
m3nt and quick of decision. he has
the Qualities which carry one to fame
if opportunity be given. The man and
the hour fortunately came together
and the country is richer in another
brilliant page of history and another
heroic figure. His career has given a,
lofty impetus to the young which will
bear fruit in nobler aspirations. He
has become one of the most valued
possessions which nation can have
"a national hero"