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TAKING MANILA
IN THE PHILIPPINES WITH DEEY
IN THE PHILIPPINES WITH DEWEY


GIVING THE LIFE AND EXPLOITS OF
ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY, U. S. N.
BY
HENRY L. WILLIAMS
NEW YORK:
HURST & COMPANY,
PUBLISHERS.




I:             I. Ii I -.
i
I
i I


COPYRIGHT, 1899,
BY
THOMAS P). HURST.




THE LIFE AND CAREER
OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.
CHAPTER I.
HOW THE PLANT MAY BE SEEN IN THE GERM.-ESTIMABLE FORERUNNERS.-BOYISH SCAPES AND
SCRAPES. —THE SCHOOL REVOLT AND THE NOBLE
APOLOGY.
THERE is an old saying, and it is often true, that
"As the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined." It
is always interesting, therefore, to trace back the
forerunners of a great man, just to see if there
were tokens of the future in the past members of a
race.
Without attaching the weight to a family line
which is done in the Old World, where entailed
property causes a pedigree to be of value, the Dewey
family have reason to be proud, in a really American
way, of their ancestry.
If they want to boast of "blue blood," that is,
knightly or royal, the genealogists claim that the
first Dewey (the name is variously given, but was
something like De Ueuea, probably De Vevay) won
fame in attendance on Charlemagne, or Karl the
Great, if not that little King Pepin, whose bravery
5




6


THE LIFE AND CAREER


gave a significance to the word "pippin," in the
sense in which boys use it to this day.
Be this as it may, the first spelling of the name in
English documents is " Duee."
The wearer was one Thomas Duee, who left England to make a home il the Colonies il the middle
of tile seventeenth century, and became known as
" Dewey the Settler " from the thriving of his family
ill the land wrested from the savages of New England.
In the summer of 1633, Thomas Dewey was living
in Boston, where he was working to obtain a land
grant, as, like most of the Dissenters (those who
dissented from the State Religion of England), he
sought to dwell afar in the wilds, rather than be
within possible reach of the annoyances bristling
against foes of the Established Church. The Massachusetts Colony sold him a tract in Dorchester, in
December of the following year, and as he had a
clear idea of the capability of growth in the virgin
territory, he added another portion to it in July,
1635.
To go upon the location, he had to cut his way
through the primeval forests of maple, pine and oak,
and with the felled and hewn logs, build such a
cabin as one now sees, in that region, in pictures
alone.
The musket went besides the ax, for the natives
did not always confirm the decrees of the Land Court
of the Colony, and they had a sweet tooth which did
not disdain the English fruit and vegetables struggling with the luxuriant wild weeds in the garden
patch as if all nature resented the 'cross-sea intruders'
coming.
'Ihomas's immediate descendants bear those Scriptlrial names which alone would tell of the Puritanical,tlrain: MIercy, Mehitable, Simeon, Hepzibah, etc,




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


7


Being beset by that fever of change causing the
"Bostons," as the Indians nicknamed the Yankees,
to permeate the whole of the Americas, Thomas
had scarcely more than cleared his lots, before he
wanted to dispose of them, and he is next found in
the Colony of Connecticut, where, at Windsor, he
found a site more to his taste than that at Dorchester, of which he relieved himself to one of the Jones
family. In this transfer he simply puts down his
mark. It appears that a mark was not always a
proof of lack of letters, as old documents were reckoned valid even if the signer only used his family
crest and motto, and the attesting clerk wrote his
initials. Dewey might have used a proud one, for
he had an eminent French general among forbears,
and the house motto is: ' To the Conqueror the
Crown!"
The Dorchester land amounted to thirty acres,
cleared of the woods so as to be pasture, which stands
for a good piece of ax-work and stump-pulling.
Besides, the American woodsman's ax was not invented then, and to hew a tree down with a broadax was decidedly hard labor.
His son, Thomas, showed the valor of the blood;
he was a cornet of horse in the war against the
Indian chief, called, grandly, " King" Philip. His
tomb was to be seen at Westfield, Mass.  His son
Samuel was a soldier in the regular corps defending
Westfield and the neighborhood, in 1725.  Other
Deweys appear in the front in all the military affairs
which kept the farmers inured to weapons of war
and fitted them not inadequately to cope with the
French or the British and their German hirelings
during the troubles of the Colonies and the Revolution.
The Paladins of Pepin and the Chevaliers of Charlemagne have no cause to blush, unless with pride,




8


THE LIFE AND CAREER


if they should know of their descendants' behavior
as " Green Mountain Boys " and " Minute Men."
Cradled in the Bay State, the rising Deweys soon
spread their wings for a wider range. In 1761, a
party of explorers obtained a land grant from the
Governor of New Hampshire to locate in the Green
Mountain State. They belonged to Massachusetts
and Connecticut.   The place had been surveyed,
after a rough way, some ten years before, alnd so the
road-what a road!-was indicated by cutting off
slices of the tree bark so that the inner whlite showed
up clearly, being the " blazes," often alluded to as
"signs " in early rustic story.  Thus the inlmigrants, riding horses-for no vehicles could traverse
the wilderness-reached what is since Bennington.
The town was then in suspense, having been ten years
waiting to fulfil the grant for fifty families to make a
town, when a fair could be held and a market. Education and religion went hand in hand with the Puritans,
for one lot of the sixty odd was devoted to the school,
and another to the minister. Now this minister
was Jedediah Dewey, the source of the Vermont
Deweys.
(Another branch, be it mentioned by the way,
plunged still farther into the " strange countrie," and
settled in New York.)
The traits of these heads of families are independence, that acute and alert mental arithmetic which
distinguishes "lightning calculators," and the New
Englanders in particular, and choice of friends and
those more intimate still, without regard to kin or
clan.
Simeon Dewey was born in 1770; he was grandfather of our subject. He was of New Hampshire,
belonging to Hanover; but, when a young man,
bought a homestead at Berlin, a few miles from
Montpelier (" On the Onion," as we used to chant in




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


9


our geographical lessons, before the folks there became nice and took the vulgar name from the river
and bestowed that of its confluent, the Winooski, on
the two streams). His son, the admiral's father, was
born here, in 1801. His mother was Pauline Temons,
and the latter name becomes the middle one for Dr.
Julius T. Dewey.
Simeon was dubbed "the Captain." lie was exceedingly hale and long-lived, like the old iron-sided
settlers' stock.
When the admiral's brother was visiting England,
not so long ago, he overheard, in company, a gentleman who derived his impression of Americans from
the type in the comic press, that is to say, a sort of
Lincoln and Sam Slick, tall, ungainly, sallow, hollowcheeked, and consumptive:
" These ' cornstalks' die early because they try to
live on ice-water and fried pork! "
3Mr. Charles Dewey could not let this pass. He
rose to thank the slanderer for explaining the mystery
of his (Dewey's) grandfather having been cut off
untimely at four score and eighteen by too much
ice-water and fried pork, to which dainties the old
pioneer had been addicted from childhood!
Dewey's father was made happy by his son, the
hero, being born to him on the day after Christmas,
in 1837. George was a robust, sturdy child, not at
all after the pattern of the elongated Yankee fed on
ice-water and scrapple.
The birthplace cottage-utterly unlike the "cottages" which are villas, to be seen in the Green
Mountains nowadays-has not only been made modern, but removed from its old site where it stood
opposite the Capitol building, to another spot down
the street.
When our hero was a boy, the Onion River ran
close behind the dwelling, which naturally attracted




10


THE LIFE AND CAREER


the youth, and was the scene of his aquatic adventures.
A younger sister was at the first his companion in
sports, which comprised fishing and "scow "-ing on
the water.
George became the best swimmer in the town, an
accomplishment which the critics were too much
inlanders to censure, for it was an article of faith
among the old-time mariners that a seaman should
not know how to swim, so that nothing should induce
him to leave a ship going down while it was likely
that clinging to her would serve to keep her longer
afloat.
Dr. Dewey was a great favorite in the town, being
of the new school opposed to the blunt, rough Dr.
Abernethy's. The Deweys have always been leaders
in the society of Montpelier, and the doctor was
especially so. Versed in music and poetry, with a
library not all of scientific works, he was one of those
ministrants of medicine whose smile and address
helped to banish sharp malady as well as dull care.
In his leisure, if a country practitioner can be said
to have leisure, he built up an insurance company
which prospers after his quitting the helm, in 1877.
Besides the course of the regular physician, as is
allowable in a country town, the doctor was a dentist.
One day, as George was playing before the house
with a mate (who relates the following occurrence),
a woman came up and alighted from a buggy. By
her agonized expression and the swollen cheek done
up in the gorgeous bandana handkerchief, held as
a sign of a certain rank in those days, the boys surmised it was a patient. But when the neighbor's
boy diagnosed the matter as "mumps," George demurred and more scientifically adjudged it to be an
aching tooth.
The doctor came forth upon his son calling, and




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


II


as the woman, more faint with apprehension than
even with her pain, sank on the nearest seat, namely,
the doorway step, he hastened to save her from
farther trouble by proposing to relieve her of the
molar upon the spot. Besides, there was a better
light in the broad day than indoors, while the street
was at the moment-as it is at any hour when " the
House is not sitting "-quiet and unpeopled.
Still, the patient was uneasy without a head-rest,
such as the sharp-edged doorpost badly afforded.
The doctor called the boy playmate to the aid,
stationing him so as to support the patient's head,
with his hands holding it between them. The fashionable extracting instrument at the period was a
sort of turning-key, the sight of which usually paralyzed the victim into calm; but, on this occasion,
whatever the sight of it did, the first turn and wrench
drew from her, not the tootl, but a scream whlich
echoed up and down the elm-lined street and died
away in the Capitol corridor with mournful echoes
in the granite niche where stands the colossal statue
of Ethan Allen.
The poor youth, who had never heard such an
outcry except in dreams of the Pequots and Algonquins, was shaken with horror, and dropping the
woman's head and all ideas of duty, fled up the street,
vaulting over the white picket fence rather than
delay to find the gate.
Not so his companion, who might be thrilled but
not set to flight by a simple yell. He flew to the
woman's side, caught the sinking head "on the
bounce," and replaced the fugitive so quickly and to
the better that his father was enabled to finish the
operation with his wonted success awaiting such
affairs.
When next the two playfellows met, George rather
sneered at one who had proved delinquent for so




12


TI-E LIFE AND CAREER


little, since, le propounded, a woman's screams could
not hurt. Alas! when he was older, he must have
read that shrieks of the gentler sex have undone
worlds, as witness those of Thais, Cassandra and
Lucretia.
The cycle of sports for juveniles at Montpelier is
limited. At that time, with that zest for fruit in
other folk's gardens, so far the sweeter than those
growing under our own outlook, of course, the young
Green Mountain boys went " hooking apples."  They
did not disdain cherries, and those peaches which
resist the terrible black frosts of New England.
Tradition has it that George was the leader in this
game of "dare-devil,"   otherwise,  "follow-myleader."
But boys will be boys, and these freaks, which
would be held as infringing on the statutes against
purloining, do not count against those who take in
sport and not for gain; besides, much is to be forgiven in a future hero. These flights were no more
marked with black than young Clive's, afterwards
Viceroy of the East Indies, climbing his village
church-steeple.
In the summer, too, were those wondrous strolls,
with the proviso that whoever first suggested a return should suffer the kicks of the rest of the party!
But George's earlier wanderings were in the company
of the young sister referred to, with whom they surmounted what hills were Alps to them, and peered
into crevices in whose black depths, no doubt, they
fancied to see wolves like Old Put's.
In his scant library were the inevitable "Robinson
Crusoe" and a Life of Hannibal. It was to outdo
the Lonely Man of the Ocean and the enemy of Rome
that his dashes into the outer zone around home
were projected.
But if the rustic sports at summer-tide are re



OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I3


stricted, it is different with those of winter in the
North.
The snow piles up in the erst verdant vales and
the rivers run under thickest ice.
It is stated that the daring couple ended one
attempt to cross their Alps in a snow-drift; when
the children were rescued, Mary had such an unromantic cold that she was a week in bed, though the
hardier little Carthaginian escaped, as the ringleaders often do while the followers are less lucky.
At the close of winter occurs in this region the
great spectacle of the breaking up of the frost-bound
rivers. The ice-gorges blow up, the natural dams
burst, the firm surface, over which an artillery train
might have passed at a gallop, becomes " pumpy,"
or leathery, and only a snow-bird would, one thinks,
care to flit along the treacherous skin.
This is the very time, because it is fraught with
dangers, and death walks by the side like a misguarding angel, when the Vermont youth disport
on the shivered slabs of ice and attempt passages to
which are mere everyday affairs such glacial crossings as Washington's over the Delaware and Napoleon
over the Beresina.
After the rivers, the Onion and its main tributary
at Montpelier, force the splintered ice blocks to leave
the town clear and dam up the stream at a point
half a dozen miles below, it was the amusementand may still be so-to mount a floating fragment
and sail down to land, more or less in jeopardy all
the course, on this hazardous resting-place-for at
any moment this temporary barrier might give way
and proceed on its ultimate " fast, winding way to
the sea."
The smaller the cake, the more grand the feat, so
it is reckoned in this Feat of the American Fjords;
therefore, the adventurer who managed to keep his




4


rHE LIFE AND CAREER


footing on a base so small that his weight more or
less deeply submerged it, would take the palm.
Dewey, already favorite of the river-gods, and to be
that of the oceanic divinity, was foremost in these
Arctic jousts and tilts. He above all could balance
on the merest pedestal, navigate it amidst other
bergs, neither let one piece slide upon his and submerge it, or another under-ride and capsize him; he
would dodge a bridge pediment and shoot a rapid at
a pier, steer from eddies where the unfortunate were
staved and spun round and round until their lieads
also swam; he would execute curves around short
bends and in and out of " hooks," which were the
terrors of the year's talk to his comrades.
But, at least once, the water turned upon him
and he retired, for the first and only time, defeated.
This was in the summer, when he was a little
more than eleven. He had a chum with him, for
he has always been attended by a faithful companion,
which shows what a sociable heart is in this indomitable son of Neptune. They set out in the family
buggy, which was so well known throughout tihe
section from bearing the doctor on his errands of
aid. The pair were supposed to go "after the
cows," that diurnal task at which many a New England lad has revolted and urged as ample cause of
his running away to sea! But the rain ]ad fallen
torrentuously and swollen a creek into a vast volume
at which Redfield, the associate, shrank without
reason to blame him. He would have advised a return trip, but he knew too well how headstrong was
his companion. Indeed, George just gathered up
the reins and put old Dobbin to the rush at the
ford, like Alexander riding Bucephalus into the
Granious.
At the first plunge, the steed lost footing and the
weight of the boys separated the body of the carriage




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.,


IS


from the axle. Foreseeing some such disaster, the
passengers had sprung out forward and clung to the
back and neck of the animal, prudently already
turning for the shore, while the upper-works of the
buggy were hurried away. The boys, limp as their
wet rags, reached home cold and( shivering. Redfield dropped off and slunk into his house, while the
other got home after dark, without saying a word
about cows or vehicle. For a wonder he refused
supper and took advantage of his father being absent
on a professional engagement to ensconce himself
between the sheets in his own bedroom.
This disappearance, and the unusual disrespect to
the evening meal, to say nothing of l)obbin's having
mysteriously dispensed with his equipage, excited
the doctor's fears when lhe arrived home; he ran up
to question his son, but from the other side of the
prudently fastened door, the boy, pretending to be
awakened when reproached with his rashness, of
which Redfield had given an inkling, ingeniously
replied:
" Some fathers would be glad their boy was
spared! "
Dewey, Pater, decided that it was time that
school should open its portals for the future Nelson
of America. Home rearing and a boy's circumscribed library do not amply fit a youth for the wide
world. But it was an evil hour for learning. The
county grammar school was apparently spoiled by
the inability to obtain a Dr. Arnold, a Dwight or
any one to draw out the ingots from the dross rather
than separate the knob of pure gold which had little
needed the flame and the crucible. In a word, the
school had sunk to a low stage. The teacher appointed about the time when Dewey was to be tried
was one Zenas K. Pangborn, who lives to this day
not merely to tell of the following career-forming




THE LIFE AND CAREER


event, but to be foremost to greet his eminent pupil
as he received the national welcome.
Mr. Pangborn, graduating from  a college, was
struck with amaze at the absence of order in the
school assigned to his book and rod. The fault with
the intermediate schools of that period was the want
of a proper outlet: most of the boys were required
to assist their parents at the plow, the counter or the
wvork-bench, so that parents and pupils felt that high
finish to their useful training was over the head of
their destination.  A normal school might have
taken the percentage who should have finished in
the higher courses and have been put in positions
the better to serve the city, their state and the
country.
Mr. Pangborn hoped to redeem the ills, and, to
begin with, studied the pupils. They were in a condition of insubordination which cruelty and domineering had incited and ignorance and lack of
sympathy with the seething youth had fostered. In
all the ceaseless rebellion, aimed at authority merely
because it was uppermost, George Dewey was foremost, the crest on the wave.
Mr. Pangborn was warned that several of his foregoers had been forced to quit by reason of the overbearing acts of this stripling, one whose frank,
hearty and manly mien inspired good-will in any one
truly a guide for rising spirits.
It was plain that unless he, the teacher, were
also to resign, the post would be one of misery to
the newcomer. So Mr. Pangborln promptly resolved
to seize the first emergency and crush all opposition
to authority once and forever.
Scholars are apt to test the humor of a pedagogue
by decoying him into joining in their sports, notably,
"knuckle-all-over," a sort of free-for-all game with
a ba., which is to be thrown by the holder at any




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


one whom he chooses to make his mark. Now, if
the schoolmaster finds, as soon as he will, that he is
almost continually the target, he has but two courses
-to stop the game and acknowledge he is no master
at so one-sided a pastime, or to get the ball as often
as he can and " fire" it with his superior strength to
give the boys the worst of it.
The Dewey battalion did not try the base-ball but
one of the pure and innocent snow, familiar in
winter. Snow did not suffice them, but they must
need saturate the same in water, which, freezing,
makes the missile about as hard as a cannon-ball.
On seeing this unfairness, which portended something more than common prejudice, the schoolmaster called a truce, but it was only to have the
return charge more in his own domain, and with his
own professional weapons.
He had not long to wait the second bout.
George, on being taken to task for an offense,
answered with an expression bordering on profanity
in a schoolroom, and certainly disrespectful.  He
was immediately commanded to offer an apology to
teacher and class, and promise to behave properly
in the future or receive a thrashing.
This was the era when the rattan had displaced
the birch and the cat, and was itself jostled aside by
the truly native cowhide, which hung at the wrist
of Mr. Pangboru.
The rebel looked at the speaker and concluded
that he was not so bad a match for a little man of
less than a hundred-weight; he impudently repeated
his offensive phrase instead of withdrawing and
making amends.    This was a "standing to his
guns," which the boys applauded in a murmur
rather than a shout, for all felt that a crisis had
come.
The crisis descended instantly upon the attractor
2




I8


THE LIFE AND CAREER


of the thunderbolt, for the "little" disciplinarian
was upon him, seizing his arm and brandishing the
whip.
To use the principal's own words:
"The next instant, I and that rawhide were
winding and tossing around Dewey like the fire of
one of those warships which have made his name
famous the world over. I was little and slender, but
so also was the rawhide, and the two of us so
demoralized Dewey that almost before I was aware
of it, he was lying in a heap on the floor. He wals
bleeding from a wound in the hand, and whimpering
as any boy would on receiving so tremendous a
thrashing. He was conquered, while I glared over
his prostrate form at the other rebellious spirits ini
the school."
Well, these schoolmates adored their chief. Their
surprise at his being thrown down was so extreme
that they were motionless for a while. But, on recovering, half a dozen of then rushed down the row
of desks, with blood in their eyes. However, that of
their ill-treated Mentor was also up to boiling.
Pangborn was by the pile of firewood (built, as yol
know, with the contributions of the parents of pupils
and brought by armsful each morning as part payment of their tuition).  Seizing one billet, he
brought it down on the head of the first comer and
felled him so that he became a bar to the advance of
the rest, who, however, paused.
The victorious master bade them take their seats,
and as they did so, the revolt was quelled.
As soon as damages were repaired, Dewey was
ordered home, but straightway followed by Pangborn
and the boys, as witnesses and curious lookers-on.
Dr. Dewey took the heads of this curious procession into his parlor and heard the tale, besides professionally examining the weals on his son.  He




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I9


was a just man, for he considered that he had been
meetly punished, and it was intimated that if he
thought he was not fully done by, he, the sire,
would make up the missing stripes. The next day,
when the scholars expected a "scene" after the
former event, George gravely walked up to the
master and handsomely said:
" Father and I have talked the matter over. We
both have come to the conclusion that you did
exactly right. I thank you for it."
The trouble was all over and schoolmaster and
pupil became fast friends. When the conqueror of
the Dons came up New York harbor in his warship,
Pangborn pulled the lock of one of the cannon of
Jersey which saluted the idol of the multitudes.
It is said that " there is no gamekeeper so good as
the reformed poacher."  After this " taking down"
as the bully of the school George became the repressor of the would-be tyrants of thle class-room and
playground. It is a matter of record that, while at
his school, he now aided the cause of order; his
moral strength increased to vie with his courage and
physical prowess.  Above all, he had learned that
valiuable maxim: Tell the truth, though it tells
against you I
For some years this pleasant relation existed, and
who can doubt that it was the turning-point for
the aspiring youthl?
His range of reading widened under this tutelage;
and his expanding milnd found recreation in theatricals. He llad built a miniature stage in the house,
and, with his sister before mentioned, acted the
minor drama. The maniager was chief actor, autlhor,
stage-director anid the like, and his solitary "star "
lady had to play all the female parts, often at short
notice.
One time, her inability to learn her lines in that




THE LIFE AND CAREER


brief interval popularly called " less than no time,"
was so glaring that she pleaded for a putting off of
the play. But Manager Dewey, sorry that he could
not oblige but characteristically determined "not to
disappoint the public," assured her that he had a
way out of it. Whenever she was at a loss for a
word-" stuck," in the vernacular-he would cover
the gap.
Thus assured, she proceeded with her part. At
the first breakdown, George fired off a pistol, and
her stammering passed uncriticized in the smoke.
This sort of piece, fiery words and mock thunder,
might have gone on for a long run, but that the
neighbors, hearing too much of this miniature
Vesuvius, protested to the head of the household,
and the truly sensational drama was suppressed.
The Thespians were reduced to parodies on the
circus, waxworks and concerts, for the future.
But the day soon came for more serious business.
George, having profited by not only the first but the
after lessons of MAr. Pangborn during several years,
was sent, in 1851, to Northfield, Vt., where he was
to be trained for entrance into West Point, at a
noted military academy called the " Norwich."
Here he almost instantly leaped into popularity
akin to that he had enjoyed at Montpelier.
Brimming with animal spirits, he was the leader
in those diversions which beguile college tedium,
and are winked at by the superiors within certain
limits, as they allow the release of superfluous
ardor.
He became " captain" of a company, and as such
made a mark in a noted "brush" with the Dartmouth College students.
He was seventeen when he quitted the military
college, without having taken a strong liking for
that branch of the United Services, for the other ex.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


21


treme: the Naval Academy at Annapolis. The predestined American Nelson was not to be a Wellington,
that was clear.
The trial for this cadetship lay between him and a
gentleman who failed to pass the physical test and
became a minister in the Church, while Dewey, thus
befriended by chance, entered the career of which
he was intended to be one of the brightest ornaments.
CHAPTER II.
IN PEACE PREPARE FOR WAR.-A PRICELESS AUTOGRAPH.-IN   "THE MIDDLE SEA." -THE ACCOMPLISHED PARROT.-THE ALARUM OF WAR!
ANNAPOLIS is the meet seat of nurture for man to
be wedded to the Sea. On every hand, memorials of
one kind or another remind of the lives to be imitated of Paul Jones, Preble, Perry, Decatur, and the
later wielders of the cutlass and saber. Models of
vessels, paintings of naval actions, never to be effaced
from history's tablets, adorn the walls, and implements of war, perhaps more or less obsolete, decorate
the grounds where nervous candidates paced, the
sward bare, while awaiting the decision making or
marring the emulator of Hull, Foote or Farragut.
Dewey had no sooner set foot on this sacred ground,
where no hostile hand had been raised since the
British burned Old Washington, than he must have
felt that he had acted rightly in choosing the maritime branch of the dual armed service.
But at this moment there was more stir about
than befitted a seminary for study of naval cipher,
artillery signaling at sea and aquatic maneuvers.
Those ancient traditions of academies which favo




22


THE LIFE AND CAREER


practical jokes, mock secret societies, "hazing,"
horse-play, and the like, were still current.  The
senior officers were of the type read of in Marryatt's
and Cheever's stories, and thought honestly that no
boy would turn out fit for the sea without a long
ordeal of rough sport.  Hard knocks, scant fare,
harsh usage-these were all items in the regular program of "Jack's play." This has been altered, but
only recently. " Hazing" still lingers, though evidently doomed to go out with salt junk, rope'sendings, keel-hauling and such barbarities.
Therefore, although young Dewey bore generally
the reputation of a quiet, steady, amiable, even an
ordinary cadet, his bellicose temper was often drawn
upon, and several fights stand to his account. Colonel James Morgan, a contemporary, says:
" In his class in the Naval Academy Dewey was
always at the top of everything, except his studies.
He was a splendid athlete, a boxer and a fencer.
One thing he hated like the Arch-Enemy hates holy
water was a bully. Though far from being quarrelsome himself, he would hunt a fight with any fellow
who attempted to impose upon his inferiors in physical strength. Any town boy who developed a reputation as a bully was sure to fall foul of George Dewey,
and to get a licking, too. I don't think he was ever
beaten in a fight."
The Irrepressible Conflict was then in fomentation. As happened at the brother nursing-place of
our future heroes-West Point-Annapolis had its
two camps, as was the case all over " My Maryland."
Some of the youths, feeling on sympathetic ground,
flaunted the cause of Secession constantly before the
other party, and all those taunts which have happily
been entombed in congenial dust flew about like
motes in the sun.
Dewey, however, was not the one to chafo at




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


23


words; it is a trait of the Anglo-Saxon that, above
all races, he can endure that galling attack of pigmy
darts called "chaff," or banter.  The aim in this
dubious sport is to say all calculated to goad a wearer
to fury, and then calmly propose his slaking hands
over it and letting it pass as mere fun.  Hence,
George heard with unruffled front such epithets as
"Yankee," "dough-face," "mudsill," etc.     But
when it came to booby-traps, rulers and inkstands
hurled in the dark, "apple-pie" beds and the rest
of the instruments of college torture, he called a
halt. Thle result of the sudden halt was that the
chief tormentor ran up against his victim's fist and
rose demoralized.
A blow was a fearful thing to the young bloods of
the 'Sixties: the unavoidable outcome among those
who wore swords, and were exercised in the use of
them, was a duel.
Fortunately a cooler head let the officer of the day
into the current of what was being arranged, and the
proposed encounter witll small-swords was nipped in
the bud.
Although not remarkable for his studies except in
seamanship and gunnery, which are not, by the
way, non-essentials in a naval officer's outfit, Cadet
George passed fifth in a set of fourteen, the survivors of an original class of sixty-five. The graduation dates in 1858.
The little exuberances of animal spirits were not.set down against him: the professors know that the
cord which binds too tightly snaps of itself.
The new-fledged officer always retained a warm
memory of his Alma Mater. The University Club
building on Fifth Avenue, New York, is adorned on
the front with marble medallions representing the
arms of the national services, and one bears the
crest of the Naval Academy. The committee of the




24


THE LIFE AND CAREER


Annapolis Alumni directed the chairman, Com.
mander -, to write to all the past members for contributions, and, of course, Dewey was preeminently
included. He was, then, the Admiral.
The commander wrote, apprising him of the
scheme, and intimating that the admiral's assessment
was six dollars and some odd cents. T'lle admiral sent
a letter by return mail with his check for ten dollars
enclosed. Commander --     opened this letter in the
smoking-room of the Club one evening and, as there
were several Annapolis men present, he read it aloud.
There was the most respectful silence until the reader
came to the passage: "I enclose my check for ten
dollars which," etc., when some one broke in with
"Say, I'll give you fifty for that check!"
"Fifty nothings! I'll give you a hundred!"
"Hundred 'n' fifty! "
"Two hundred!"   "Three hundred "    "Four
hundred!"
The commander put the check in his pocket, as
an invaluable autograph.
Justas the movements of swimming can be learned
on the driest of dry land, so may naval evolutions be
studied with a toy ship on a table, for landsmen
have devised excellent plans of operation for fleets
in battle; Napoleon the Great, though enphatically
no lover of the sea, astonished the English ship
officers, when he was conducted by tlemn to St.
Helena, by solving the most complicated problems of
navigation.
The Academy not only equips the student for his
profession, but smooths the way for his putting tile
learning into practise on the high seas.
In consequence, our young disciple was placed on
Captain  Barren's flag-ship in our Mediterranean
squadron, and there sailed to and fro during the years
1857 and '58.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


It was a dream of the Yankee youth realized, and
yet in that poetical atmosphere vision seemed yet to
behold a dream. But if that "sea of blue" is the
theater of the bards, it is also the field of naval
battles. Here the living lighthouse of Etna illumined the wake of the Roman galleys hasting to
destroy Carthage, just as, years after, the purest of
moons and the brightest of stars lit up the conflicts
of pirates,-sallying out of Tunisian and Tripolitan
ports, dens of the sea-snakes, and true descendants
of Hamilcar and Hannibal-with all Christendomnay, all humankind, which their outrages had turned
against them. Severally, their pestilent feluccas
were assailed by the French, the Spanish, the English and the Americans. Our young officer knew by
heart how forbears of his classmates had figured
withl Decatur at the singeing of the Dey's beard!
The tricolor of France floated from Algerian forts
now, but it had taken centuries to avenge the defeat
of Henry of Navarre's son, on yon yellow and glaring
plains. Those blear and horizonless views inspired
the poem which is Dewey's favorite:
"The pilgrim and stranger, who through the day
Holds over the desert his trackless way."
Here frowns the Keeper of "the Great Sea" of
Scripture: Gibraltar, the Impregnable Fortress
which, however, the English took in 1704, and continue to hold, having made it truly impregnable this
time —a constant taunt in the teeth of the Spaniards
who lost it.
Here, crossed the Crusaders to take Acre, after
years of siege and the loss of 300,000 men; there,
Napoleon's Army of Egypt was beaten by Sir Sydney
Smith and his fancy of being a Sultan of the Land of
the Sphynx annihilated as by the simoom.
Yonder, the Republic of Venice rose and fell; at




26


THE LIFE AND CAREER


that spot, the Colossus of Rhodes caught the dazzling
morning sun over the African desert and Jason
steered Argo amid the Scyllas and Charybdii.
Upon those rocks waved the enblems of the
Knights of Malta; and renegades led the Turks to
their own birthplaces to rive away their own renounced kindred to be slaves in the Dey's gardens.
Little did the young captain imagine, however
high his ambition —although he
"Gazed aloft upon the star that heroes glory in,
And sometimes deemed it not too far for even him to win!"
Little could he imagine that, one day, he would sail
in his own flag-ship past these monuments and be a
welcome guest in all thle ports, saving the Spanish!
He had also some acquaintance with another sea,
while on the South American Station, where he had
occasion to evince this presence of mind and imperturbation.
Like a good many ship captains whose grandeur
compels them to lead a life reserved from their
officers, his captain had found companionship in a
parrot of great beauty and endearing ways, if it were
not remarkable as a linguist.
Being much worried about its health, lie asked the
ship's doctor to prescribe, and the latter expressed
the opinion that all the bird needed was a chance to
climb into the green trees on shore, chew bark, and
disport itself.
So the captain summoned Iiis steward and bade
him take the parrot ashore and give it some exercise.
The captain 's steward was an important person
then. This one was a conceited old darky, who aped
absurdly the authoritative ways of his master, and
the men were always on the lookout for a chance to
play him some trick. When he stepped to the port
gangway to get into the liberty boat, with the cage




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


27


containing the bird enclosed in an old ammunition
bag, they saw their opportunity. There was a sea
running in the harbor, which made it difficult for
the boat to keep alongside, and just as the steward
put out a foot toward the gunwale, they purposely
eased her off, so that he tumbled into the sea. He
was pulled out in a minute, but the parrot and the
cage went to the bottom.
The steward was distressed. IIe dreaded punishment by the captain, who had said that he would
hold him responsible for the safety of the bird.
Iaving shore-leave for three days, he spent his time
wandering about the city and figuring to himself
how he would put in the balance of the voyage in
the ship's brig, on bread and water, double-ironed,
and exposed to the derision of the crew. At length he
was prompted by one of his kind officers, to whom he
applied in his quandary, and whose name need not
be mentioned, with a brilliant idea.
Rio was full of parrots, and one parrot is much like
another, especially green ones.  IIe bought, for
seventy-five cents, a green bird with a yellow head
which looked to him like the twin brother of the one
drowned. I-e was also lucky enough to find a cage
like the lost one, and in it took his precious purchase
back to the frigate.
Now (as Dewey tells the story), the captain was
delighted to see his pet once more, and especially to
see how much its plumage was improved and how
much more sprightly it hiad become.    But his
astonishment may be imagined when, being asked
whether it would like a cracker, the bird responded
with a string of Portuguese profanity. Being fed, it
expressed its satisfaction with a lot of ugly words in
Spanish, and this so amazed the commander that he
felt obliged to share his feelings with somebody.
Lieutenant Dewey,who had been walking the quarter



28


THE LIFE AND CAREER


deck, was summoned to the cabin, and the parrot
was persuaded to utter some more inelegancies for
his benefit.
" Mr. Dewey," said the captain excitedly, " that is
a most remarkable bird. He has been ashore only
three days, and in that time, upon my sacred honor,
he has picked up a thorough working knowledge of
the Spanish and Portuguese languages."
Those who remember the accomplished tasks of
the old school of soldiers, the Murats, Neys, Bernadottes, Moreaus, who were flung as boys into the
whirl of the most active warfare, and were captains
at twenty, look a little scoffingly at the elaborate
preparation demanded by the modern profession of
arms: everything has changed, from the tactics to
the weapons. No one now plans fighting at close
quarters, with Gatling guns and repeating rifles;
an officer may, like "Chinese" Gordon, have as
little use for the cane which he carries instead of a
sword, as the steel itself; the officer who directs
the discharge of a gun carrying twelve or more miles
has no need of the telescope which sufficed for a
Wellington-he must be drilled in science and use a
range-finder.
So the cadet's technical and scientific apprenticeship was absolutely necessary to his future, as we
know. Havelock was over thirty years waiting for
his opportunity to become the Deliverer of the besieged British in India.
When General Napier was Governor of Scinde, he
wrote to a young ensign words which should be
chiseled on a stone or brazen tablet on the walls of a
military or naval academy:
"By reading professioial books you will discover
what is faulty in your corps, if faults there are;
you will then learn how things ought to be, and will
by daily observation see how they are. Thus you




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


29


can form comparisons which will in time teach you
your profession.
" Keep up all knowledge that you have acquired,
and gain as much more as you can. By reading you
will be distinguished; without it abilities are of little
use. A man may talk and write, but he cannot learn
his profession without constant study to prepare;
especially for the higher ranks, because there he
wants the knowledge and experience of others improved by his own.
" But when in a post of responsibility he has no
time to read, and if he comes to such a post with an
empty skull, it is then too late to fill it, and he makes
no figure. Thus many people fail to distinguish
themselves and say they are unfortunate, which is
untrue; their own previous idleness has unfitted
them. to profit from fortune.
"The smith who has to look for his hammer when
the iron is red strikes too late; the hammer should
be uplifted to fall like a thunderbolt while the white
heat is in the metal. Thus will the forging prosper."
The blade was duly tempered: George Dewey was
made ready for the loftiest exploit of the ages.
In 1860, in accordance with the wise curriculum
of our Naval Preparatory School, Dewey returned to
his college to pass the examination to show how he
had profited not only by his instruction there but by
that even more important one upon the deep. This
time he was no longer among "the four figures"he led his compeers. Taking into consideration his
previous rating, this triumphant return earned him
the rank of Passed Midshipman and he was posted
as Third in his class.
He could take a last stroll under the academical
groves with the step of one who had the world as a
football at his foot.
Before being called to duty-which seemed not to




30


THE LIFE AND CAREER


be onerous, since America was apparently profoundly
submerged in peace-he enjoyed a rest at the old
homestead in Vermont.
But soon"The trumpet's voice has roused the land! "
CHAPTER III.
ON THE MISSISSIPPI.-SHARKS FOND OF THE NAVY.
-THE FIERY ORDEAL.-GOING DOWN        BY  HIS
GUNS.-OFFICIAL   PRAISE.-" STAND    IN  AND
WIN! "
SELDOM had befallen an aspirant to the Blue Ribbon of the Sea a filer opportunity.
In the spring of 1861 Fort Sumter had been fired
upon by the Confederates massed at Cllarleston, S. C.,
andl the first cannon-shot led the fusillade never ceasing to echo from the sea to the Mississippi and from
the Potomac to the Gulf, until the last; that announcing to a world weary of slaughter the surrender of General Lee, at Appomattox Court-house,
1865.
However eagerly the youth of the fervid South
adopted the desperate endeavor, the elder U. S. A.
and Navv officers withdrew with the deepest regret
from hallowed comradeships and carried a pang at
the heart with them when they went to pledge
allegiance to the new-born Stars and Bars.
This desertion in a body left a huge gap in the
lists of officers, naval and military, and opened it to
the cadets and scarcely " passed " pupils. To fill it
up, all the budding Jasons were called to posts which
might not have been earned in twenty years, and




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


31


some will recall with what avidity the appointments
were received.
Oh, the first pair of epaulets-the first time a
sword-sash is girded on!
Not more than a week had elapsed after the attace
of Sumter before George Dewey, who was already
entitled to the office of " master," a sort of secondlieutenancy, now canceled, was sent, post-haste, his
commission as lieutenant, and a berth was assigned
to him simultaneously.
Convenient to him, as he was at home on a furlough, in Boston Harbor, was lying the steam sloopof-war the Mississippi-name of augury!-under
command of Captain Melancton Smith.
That was to be his floating abode for a time, his
initiatory stage for nautical warfare.
She sailed without delay, as soon as her complement was totaled up-no one flinched from a call,
'be sure!-and was speedily in the warm waters of the
Gulf of Mexico.
There was a little idleness-if ever there may be
idleness on a man-of-war when the captain is diligent! The time was spent in renewing old college
reminiscences, getting the ropes by actual handling,
and capping stories, mostly of the amusing blunders
of " raw " seamen.
There was always a roar of laughter at the mistake
of the gunner from Cape Cod, on board the Bainbridge, who was chasing a Confederate craft in the
night-the chosen time for blockade-runners to pursue their vocation. This gunner saw a light and let 
fly at it. Nothing came of it and the light disappeared-it might be supposed that the shell had burst
in the fugitive's internals and sunk her forthwith.
But an officer, acquainted with the locality, came
down from aloft. whither he had mounted with hi
marine-glass, and solemnly said;




32


THE LIFE AND CAREER


" We fired at the Morning Star! "
"0 Lucifer-how hast thou fallen!"  The morning star, in those latitudes, appears, at rising,
scarce a moment above the waters, and then vanishes
out of sight.  The derided artillerist had unluckily
caught poor Lucifer on the skip, but the cannon-ball
had not touched the orb, only some millions of miles
beyond the porthole!
While they were thus resting in Mobile Bay,
Dewey was, as the junior officer of the watch,
making the acquaintance of the crew, so far as an
officer is allowed-or, better to say, encouraged-for
he is loved best and can lead his men farthest who
is properly known to them. All born leaders have had
the art to be familiar without inspiring lack of respect.
He even chatted with that privileged ship's gossip,
the " Doctor," otherwise, the cook.
This was a superstitious old negro who had a
morbid dread of sharks, which Dewey argued would
never bite a human being.
One day Dewey was sent ashore in the ship's
dingey on some trifling duty.  lie had on, as usual,
a frock coat with very long tails, such as all naval
officers wore in those days. In obedience to orders,
he hurried back, the sloop being on the point of
getting under weigh, and as he sat in the stern of
the skiff, his coat tails trailed in the water. Just as
the dingey was oin the point of reaching the
Mississippi, a shark rose to the surface-perhaps attracted by the gilt buttons on the coat tails aforesaid(-and bit off the starboard side of the lieutenant's after uniform. Dewey jumped to his feet, and,
well satisfied under the circumstances to relinquish
his coat tails, ran up the side of the ship. The
" Doctor," who had viewed tile proceedings from
the rail of the vessel, approached him presently with
a grin of the utmost width,




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


"Ah, ha!" he said, taking advantage of the
familiarity customarily allowed him on board.
" Perhaps, Massa Dewey, yo' b'lieve now dat sharks
won't bite a pusson. Whar' yo' coat tail, el? "
" My coat tail," replied the lieutenant, with his
hab;-ial coolness, "has been removed by an act of
P  vidence."
At the opening of 1862, the ships of the West Gulf
Blockading Squadron assembled around the flag-ship,
the Hartford, on which Captain David Glasgow
Farragut had raised his flag. The "Father of
Waters" was the stronghold of the Confederacy of
revolted states.
Having no sea-going fleet and no means of raising
one, since the European powers could not sell without recognizing the Rebellion, a measure from which
they wisely shrank without tempting such a lesson
of warning as was given France anent Mexico, the
Confederate States placed all reliance and hope on
the Backbone of the Rebellion," the mighty river
which, fortified and always open to navigation, prevented the most successful land-general from  expecting to win unless he could control it, not merely
at its mouth but throughout its vast extent.
Nevertheless, to take the Delta at New Orleans
required the capture of forts, much more formidable
than those which General Jackson had directed when
repulsing the British, and the river would have to
be cleared of earthworks, flotillas, fireships and
other obstacles all the way to Vicksburg, where the
Union army was to be found awaiting the naval
cooperation.
The American fleet sailed in January, but it was
not until April, 1862, that the movement was made
against the " Crescent City."
In the meantime, the ships were kept active,large and small. There were expeditions in several
3




34


THE LIFE AND CAREER


directions, destroying munitions, victuals and supplies for the city; petty batteries along shore were
leveled, batteries on the bluffs were shelled, the sugar
and molasses factories were burnt and stores dumped
into the river; and turpentine and   tar heaped
into gorgeous bonfires lest the enemy used them for
infernal machines; one in particular being a fire-raft
-an engine to which the Greek fire-shilps and the
Chinese explosive junks were simple annoyances.
All this added to Dewey's experience and he was
ready as his shipmates when the order to advance
was spread to the wind.
There was newness in the vessels to attack-gunboats had been invented by the English to operate
against Cronstadt in the Crimean War, and those
which Constructor Eads launched might be considered experimental; the Confederates had quickly
borrowed the pattern. This year, 1862, saw also
the noteworthy innovation of the floating, ironshielded battery, of the Merrimac type, as well as its
conqueror, the still more novel Monitor. The French
had inaugurated these modern improvements on the
ancient galleys, along whose sides, it will be seen,
the warriors used to fasten their bucklers to clothe
them with metal and leather against projectiles of
their period.
Farragut's plan was to run by the forts in the
dark; but the enemy, by means of fires on the banks
and rafts blazing with combustibles upon the niuddy
waters, prevented any such surprise.  It was, therefore, compulsory to silence the forts of Chalmette,
St. Philip and Jackson, these being about thirty
miles above the heads of the passes.
It was early in the morning, though, when the
vessels got under way to run the fiery gauntlet. The
Hartford, leading the second division, opened her
bow guns on Fort Jackson, receiving a heavy fire




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


from both forts. In attempting to avoid a fire-raft
she grounded on a shoal near St. Philip, and at the
same time the rebel ram Manasses pushed a blazing
raft upon her port quarter, setting her on fire. The
Manasses was named after a battlefield of the early
stage of the War, which the Confederates esteemed
their victory. While she backed into deep water her
crew subdued the flames, her guns, meanwhile, pouring a steady fire into the enemy.
"There we were, my lad,
All afire on our port quarter!
Hammocks ablaze in the netting,
Flames spouting in at every portOur fourth cutter burning at the davit
(No chance to lower away and save it),
In a twinkling the flames had risen
Half way to maintop and mizzen,
Darting up the shrouds like snakes!
Ah, how we clanked at the brakes,
And the deep steam pump throbbed under,
Sending a ceaseless flow."
With difficulty the Hiartford turned against the
current and continued on her way up the river, firing into the enemy's vessels as she passed. Among
them was a " boarder " making straight for the flag.
A shell from the Hartford exploded in her and she
disappeared.
The Mississippi and the Monongahela had similar
experiences.
Before daylight the victory was complete; and the
fleet, after reducing the Chalmette batteries three
miles below New Orleans, proceeded directly to that
city, whence the Confederate forces had already taken
flight.
During the weeks immediately succeeding the
capture of New Orleans the Mississippi resumed its
efforts, with the other smaller craft, " to clear the
river."




36


THE LIFE AND CAREER


The minor obstacles being swept away, the next
series of difficulties was to be encountered.
It took three days to beat down these barriers; it
was on the 23d that the vessels could have a breathing-spell after this plunge into the furnace where
wooden walls were consumed like wool and iron
melted like lead in the smelting-pot.
Farragut had resolved to charge the next obstacle.
It was a time to " strike or be struck," as the Great
Napoleon said of a like situation.
This was Port Hudson, which, captured, would
enable the American fleet to shut up the important
Red River; but not only were the preparations for
repelling attacks admitted to be gigantic, but the
hindrances to navigation, as readers of Mississippi
pilot-lore will be sure, were enormous and terrible.
On March the 14th, 1863, the fleet gathered like
war-birds, around the chief eagle, for Dewey's second
big battle.
At dusk all was deep darkness save for a red lantern at the stern of the Hartford signifying the advance into battle.
It was very calm.
The vessels moved slowly but steadily, and on the
rebel lookouts sighting the long phantom-like line,
they sent up a rocket or two, and immediately the
shore batteries began firing at the flag-ship. This
was an hour before midnight. At first the shipgunners had to take aim at the flashes of the shore
guns which were hidden by the earthworks, but the
smoke began to thicken in the stagnant air. Then
this close vapor was split and streaked as the 13-inch
shells whirled through magnificent showers of their.
own sparks, and bonfires sprang into splendor along
the grand waterway! Never since the great earthquake early in the century had these forests and




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


37


bluffs echoed to such a crash as when the larger
vessels delivered a broadside.
After having been under fire over an hour, the
leader ran ahead and anchored up-stream  beyond
range, having lost little in men but being seriously
damaged.   Those of her escort able to get away
dropped down the river to recuperate.
Dewey's ship was not among the fortunate.
At half-after eleven, in the fog, smoke and gloom,
the general attack being in full force, the Essex
dropped down the river, and being taken for hostile
by the Mississippi, would have been demolished by
her broadside, but it was withheld by a miracle of
instinct rather than actual perception.  The Mississippi, as third in the order of battle, was to keep
touch, so to say, with the Mionongaliela, which was
shrouded in the obscurity. So Dewey's ship was
going ahead fast, arriving at the heaviest and fiercest
of the shore works, when she touched bottom and
heeled over markedly.
This was just between midnight and the first
hour.
The guns and weights were shifted, and steam
was put on, but she was for the time inextricably
caught by that treacherous and tenacious mud
making the Mississippi a very graveyard of vessels.
All hope of salvage being lost, the commander ordered
those things to be done which comprise the last
measures on abandoning a ship in the enemy's teeth.
The pivot-gun was rolled over the side; the others
were spiked. The munitions at hand and the small
arms were thrown into the mud.
At the same time, the enemy obtained the range
and directed the cross-fires of three batteries at the
disabled and dismantled sloop. Under this shower
the sick and wounded were lowered into the boats.
Dewey had stood with his men to his own gun




38


THE LIFE AND CAREER


until the water was up to the muzzle, firing the last
shot-the last retort of the defeated war-dogthrough the porthole by which he had to make his
escape.
He and his captain, Smith, are stated to have been
the two coolest spirits on the wreck. On his way to
the boats containing the invalided and non-combatants, Dewey saved the life of a shipmate, drowning.
It was this exploit which caused one of the eyewitnesses, or nearly so, of the conflict, to say:
" Dewey was always a hero. We of the old Confederacy knew it long ago." And lie had but to
recite the above deed to find he was agreed with.
The boats, with their loads, started for the fleet,
which had anchored down the river by this time.
The captain had not joined them until assured that
fire, applied to the doomed hull at three or four
places, would probably make a complete ruin.
hey had been fired upon on the way up by rifles
and muskets from the banks, so that they had no
pleasant prospect.
Still in doubt whether this mournful duty was
accurately accomplished, the chief officer asked the
question of his lieutenant whether " She will burn?"
and the other had returned within to make certain.
The fire did not go out; on the contrary, when,
lightened by the removal of her guns and top-hamper,
she slid out of the bank, the poor sloop drifted downstream, midway in the morning, and finally blew up
in another hour or two.
The survivors of the catastrophe had been taken
aboard the Richmonnd.
The official report praises the coolness of Lieutenant Dewey.
He was transferred to the Colorado, and several
months passed in patrolling the river as far as won
to the Old Flag, This fatigue duty lasted up to the




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


39


reduction of Vicksburg and Port Hudson by the
united energies of the fleet and the army, the outcome of repeated conferences between General Grant
and the naval chiefs.
A first attack on Fort Fisher had come to grief,
it being alleged that the land forces had failed to
cooperate advantageously with the naval one; be
this true or erroneous, things went differently in a
second attempt, and a last, the third.
Admiral Porter commanded the water forces on
this effort, Farragut having gone home to recruit
and refit the Hartford, which required extensive repairs after the peppering received in her ascent of
the Mississippi.,
The large number of land troops having been put
on shore and in position, on the 15th of January,
the fleet attacked in three lines. As the conflict
was drawing to a close, Commodore Thatcher, of the
Colorado, was signaled to stand in and silence a
part of the defenses, which was a veritable hornets'
nest. The vessel mentioned had been hit more than
once from this quarter, and Dewey, anticipating the
order, from its necessity, had fore-arranged the
movements to sail in under the very guns.
He had said to his superior, "We shall be safer
in there, and those works will be taken, then, in
fifteen minutes."
The signal to go in came, therefore, to straining
hounds, and the young officer's conjecture proved
correct.
When Admiral Porter was congratulating Thatcher
on the promptness with which this critical order had
been carried out-for it let the land contingency
enter the lines and begin the victory-the worthy
commodore said, with the generosity of a mariner:
" You must thank Lieutenant Dewey, sir. for he
had suggested your own stroke."




4o


THE LIFE AND CAREER


He went farther and recommended Dewey for pro.
motion onfgoing to Mobile Bay, where, as acting rearadmiral, he relieved Farragut, after the brilliant
achievement of the Battle of Mobile.
There was little now of naval note: Sherman
marched triumphantly from Atlanta to Savannah;
Grant advanced and took Richmond: with the capture of Jefferson Davis, head of the collapsed Confederacy, the Internecine Strife ended in 1865.
In March of this year, Dewey was promoted to be
lieutenant-commander, and went aboard the sloopof-war Kearsage, famous for sinking the notorious
Confederate cruiser Alabama off Cherbourg, in the
previous year. She was lost on a reef in the Carribbean seas, and it is a new vessel which carries her
inextinguishable name.
After doing duty subsequently on the flag-ship
Colorado, Dewey came home, placed for repose, wellmerited, at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, N. H,
CHAPTER IV.
COURTSHIP ANTD MARRIAGE.-THE      CAPTAINCY.KINDLY ACT TO A BOY.-A STROKE OF NAUTICAL
AIT.-COMMODORE AT SIXTY.-THE FAREWELL.A FORECAST.
THE belle of Portsmouth was Miss Susie Goodwin.
She was daughter of a native of the place who had
risen to the first post in the gift of the people of the
State. Her father was, in fact, one of the " War
Governors," and characteristically bore the cognomen of " Fighting Goodwin."
The pretty damsel was the object of several suitors,
but the contest centered upon our hero and an elder




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


41


officer, then Commander S. C. Rhind, distinguished
in the late war by his sailing the fire-ship Louisiana
up to the very walls of Fort Fisher-a deed paralleled
only by the young officer's who steered the bombproof battery under Algiers fortalice, or, to come to
later feats, Cushing's attack on the Albemarle and
Hobson's sinking of the hulk in Santiago Bay.
Nevertheless, youth carried the day, and Dewey
and Miss Goodwin were married in October, 1867.
IIe was sent to preside over a department at his
own Alma Mater, at Annapolis.
Longing for the sea coming again, he was put in
command of the Narragansett in 1869, with the
right, after a certain date, to be entitled commander.
In 1872, his dearest wish was gratified in his becoming a father. His son was named George after
himself and Goodwin after his wife's father. This
dear wish was accompanied by the greatest grief of
his life-as if we were always to be tendered, in a
double cup, bitters and honey!
Mrs. Dewey died that same year.
The bereaved husband remained on land for a
eriod, being a lighthouse inspector in 1876. Later,
he became secretary of the Lighthouse Board.
In truth, he was one of those men armed at all
points whom the Government appreciated so far as
to keep them constantly in harness. At all events,
the blade was not allowed to rust, though it might
chafe in its scabbard, while the hand which should
have wielded it was plying the goosequill.
While in the Naval Bureau, Dewey had frequent
opportunities to display that courtesy for which he
was noted, perhaps because it is at some divergence from the bearish manners of too many bureautocratsh
A man tells the story whose father was in position




42


THE LIFE AND CAREER


at Washington. One day, inquisitive as youth are,
he inquired of his father, whom he deemed, as boys
will suppose of their progenitors, a fount of intelligence, why some light boats were called "cat"boats.
Was there any sense to it or might they not as
well be styled " dog "-boats?  The person pestered
did not try to explain. He pointed to a gentleman
whom the two had often crossed in their paths and
said:
" If you will put your puzzle to that gentleman,
he will give you all possible information, as he is
head of the Naval Construction Bureau, I believe."
The boy in perfect faith betook himself to the
stranger, who received him kindly, though roused
from a brown study, but hesitated as if, in his turn,
he, too, was "graveled."  But recovering, if the
problem took him aback, to use a nautical phrase,
he asked the questioner's name and address, and
resumed his stroll.
A few days afterward, when the boy thought no
more about the matter, insignificant after all to him,
he received a portentous missive, under the Navak
Bureau frank and seal, directed to him as if he were
a "grown-up."
Opening it in some trepidation, he found it an
exhaustive reply to his query. It appears that, in
all maritime countries, from time out of mind, a
certain class of light craft have been named "cat "boats, in allusion to their swiftness, alertness and
speed, which observers chose to liken to the traits of
the feline race. In the same way, fleet boats are
called flies or mosquitoes.
In 1882, returning to his vocation, Dewey commanded the Juniata in the Asiatic Squadron, a foretaste of the atmosphere which he was for a time to
inhale, more or less intermingled with burnt powder.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


43


In 1884, he was appointed full captain, a rank
which is equivalent to a colonel's in the army. As
such, he commanded the Dolphin, one of the wello
remembered " White, Squadron." Our vessels were
not alone in adopting this hue, gay to us but considered mourning by those contrary folk the Chinese
-for the British troop-ships intended for Asiatic
voyages are also painted to resemble snow-birds.
In his new position, as heretofore, Dewey was the
idol of his crew as well as beloved of his compeers.
Even when his wit was justified, it had an amusing
not caustic sharpness.
In 1885, when commanding the Pensacola in the
Mediterranean, she being the flag-ship, a shift of
wind, accompanied by a rapid fall of the barometer,
gave warning of changing weather. Presently a
white squall came up, and there was busy work for
all hands, the executive officer in the waist, the officer of the deck on the quarterdeck, and the midshipman in the forecastle bellowing and repeating orders,
while the sailors jumped through the tops like monkeys. Just then something fouled the clews of the
maintopsail, at the very moment the squall struck,
and bungling for a moment or two nearly cost the
vessel a spar. Dewey, from the bridge, was looking
on, and everybody was in tremulous anticipation of
a severe rebuke. But he only turned to the officer
of the deck and said mildly:
" Will you kindly tell me what was the matter just
now with the agricultural population on the maintopsail yard?"
If there be one epithet more than another at which
the jacky feels his nerves quiver, it is to that likening him to a farmer. At the same time, odd though
it may appear, yet the figures prove it the most
valuable element in our whaling fleets, to say nothing of our navy, in time of war, has been the New




44


THIE LIFE AND CAREER


Englanders who came from away-back in the woods
and up the mountains.
This remark percolated through the midshipmen
to the crew, and, being duly translated, it produced
an effect from which the men did not recover for
days.
Again on shore duty, our subject was chief of the
Bureau of Equipment ialld leccruiting, with the rank
of commodore, being, corn missioned in 189;.
Perhaps not one wlho ought to be in the current
even had a cleart idea of what trouble was impending and where it wouldl lift its horrific head, but
there was more thll:nll huan in the hand which indicated him to be heal of the Asiatic Squadron in
January, 1898. lie lhad apllied for sea-going duty
in the previous year.
It cannot be definced wlo in particular had the
utmost to do with this important appointment. Mr.
(Governor) Theodore Roosevelt, at the time Assistant
Secretary of the Navy, his chief himself, Mr. Long,
and Capt. Crowninshield, as head of the Navigation
Bureau, all three insist that they foresaw the right
man for the right place.
If the whole truth were known, however unassuming may be a man of worth, something like the
divine afflatus surrounds him and denounces him to
the chosen few; Barras thought he was selecting a
mere warming-pan in office by appointing young
Bonaparte chief of an army; Lincoln was chosen as
a Presidential candidate because others, estimated
immeasurably his superiors, were unavailable for the
office; Grant the Taciturn was no such popular
favorite as McCtellan; and many a conqueror of an
empire was supplied with ships in order to be rid
of their importunities and not because their projects
were credited.
During his years of peace on shoxe and on the




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


45


quiet of the ocean, Dewey had "gained many friends
and admirers by his evident ability, his modest firmness of character, his kindly courtesy, and his wide
range of interest."
The writer, without knowing it, touched the main
and  distinguishing  point when he emphasized
Dewey's wide-range: as Dr. Johnson sapiently says:
"'Experience is perpetually contradicting theories."
An artillerist-and remember, Napoleon the Great
was a perfect artillerist as Dewey was preeminent in
naval gunnery-moves upon stepping-stones, facts
and truths, which never swerve under the foot and
must lead to the pedestal of this great monument.
The variety of Dewey's occupations, confusing to a
meager intellect, denoted his reach and aim: "A
successful man, to live as he should, must undertake
more than he can perform."
It was logical to expect that it would be a choice
band, not merely of his brother officers, but military
men, and one or two notable in other circles where
the country is served, which encircled him on a
night when he was to be toasted on his proud position
and bidden God-speed!
There was no formality, but just friendliness and
well-wishing, around the true gentleman, who, in
twenty years, none had ever heard to grumble at being unrecognized, to swear or to brag.
An impromptu poetical address which has been
often quoted was read by Colonel Archibald Hopkins.
"Fill all your glasses full to-night;
The wind is off the shore;
And be it feast or be it fight,
We pledge the Commodore.
Through days of storm, through days of calm,
On broad Pacific seas;
At anchor off the isles of palm,
Or with the Japanese.




46


THE LIFE AND CAREER


"Ashore, afloat, on deck, below,
Or where our bulldogs roar,
To back a friend or breast a foe
We pledge the Commodore.
" We know our honor'll be sustained
Where'er his pennant flies;
Our rights respected and maintained,
Whatever power defies."
More gravely prophetic and sublime in its confidence were the words of an old naval comrade, uttered
previous to the illustrious events which eventuated
under the Commodore's flag:
"Dewey will take good care of his fleet and will
make the most effective use of it.  He is sagacious
and far-sighted, as well as fearless and brave.  The
Spaniards are not likely to catch him  napping.
There is no officer of the iUnited States Navy who
could lead a fleet into battle with greater certainty
of victory than Commodore Dewey. IIe enjoys one
great advantage as a commander in leaving the inplicit confidence of his subordinates.  Every man
who knows Dewey would follow confidently wherever
he might lead."
CHAPTER V.
OUR WAR WITH SPAIN.-CUBAN FILIBUSTERS. —OUR
CONSUL IN PERIL.-THE " MAINE " OUTRAGE. —
THE   CUBAN   CAMPAIGN.-    " DELENI)A  ESTCERVERA! "
CLEARLY to understand the situation, it is imperative to review our dealings with Spain. That crowned
Croesus of nations had become a beggar among the
realms of Europe.   One by one-sometimes, in a
flock, she had lost those gaudy nestlings, her col



OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


47


onies, Peru, Mexico, The Golden Americas, on which,
like the cormorant, not the pelican, she had fed.
Some had become republics, more or less in our
image; others, like Florida, had been sold lest an
enemy should seize them. In the middle of the nineteenth century, theWest Indies were about all she had
left, and it was positive that " the brightest gem in
the Spanish Crown," that is, Cuba, would not long
be her subject, or would be a land of desolation.
Travelers came away from that sea of sunshine
and flowers more saddened than after gazing into an
extinct volcano: official robbery was making a desert
there.
Time and again, natives who had never despaired
of Cuban future, though they were all but alone in
such flights, tried to excite the " Ever-faithful Isle"
against the oppressor. Sympathizers with the cause
of this new Lone Star Republic commenced to be
numerous in the United States; the fugitives, after
each suppressed revolt, dwelt in our ports and had
their sons educated here, where the pines or the oaks,
of Maine or the Carolinas, breathe out freedom.
In 1851, there was a deep thrill on the seaboard
at the execution of certain rebels, called "filibusters,"
from a Spanish word signifying freebooter, derived
from those gentry using swift craft, or " fly-boats."
The attempts to land arms and men, some of the
latter being Americans, continued for twenty years,
with the stereotyped result of the supplies reviving
the spirits of the "men on the mountain," or being
captured and the bearers of the torch of Liberty
murdered by slow torture in squalid prisons or broken
by the garotte.
In 1873, occurred a more remarkable act.  The
American steamer Virginius was seized while landing
reinforcements for the insurrection, and a hundred of
the crew were put to death. This was under Preai.




48


THE IIFE AND CAREER


dent-and-Gnceral Grant's administration.  Popular
indignation rose almost to overflowing, and the least
imprudence would have precipitated the war against
Spain of our era.
This breach was patched up, but the chasm promised, when it reopened, to swallow up the Spanish
scepter in the New World, sick of these repetitions
of the regime of Alva and the Inquisition.
"Everything comes to the manl  who waits for the
river to bring him his wishes " —when that river is
All-Time and his wishes are based on human welfare.
In spite of the restrictions which the Old Country
imposed on Cuban trade, especially against tlhe hated
Yankee, trade had increased yearly with the nearest
neighbor. Americans, bewitched by the fertility of
Cuba, had invested their money p)rofusely if prematurely in not only the plantations, but factories and
warehouses.  The property interests of our citizens
had become considerable, although much of it was
prudently masked under foreign names.
As the man said, after wincing at a sermon which
" named no names ": "It is hard to preach without
hitting me somewheres," so, wherever the Spanisl
soldier, trained since the fifteenth century to " live
on the country " —enemy's or ally's alike-fired a field
of cane or tobacco or a storehouse, American property
was sure to be injured. Then again, to what the regular spared, tlie insurgent applied the torcll. The foreigner in Cuba was a sheep shorn on both sides. The
claims of despoiled American citizens owning destroyed or damnaged properties anld business in the illfated island amounted, as filed at our Foreign Department, to ten millions of dollars.  This sum is
twice what Spain charged for thle ceding of Florida
to us.
But the United States might hesitate to press the
Lazarus of Europe-it was bankrupt.   The quota



OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


49


tion of its funds on the Exchanges was a farce.  In
such a depth, meekness would have become it, but
the Don was impudent as in his proudest days, and
nothing is more exasperating than a saucy debtor.
Thereupon, it began to be whispered in Europe
that the United States would let out no more tether,
and might bring up the Bad Example with a round
turn-might even use the rope for a lashing.
On the Island of Cuba, for the first time, merchants
secretly opened their purse to the insurgents, on the
plea that the sooner matters came to a head the better, as the United States were fated to intervene, take
up the wrested scepter and govern as one saw it could
govern, after the magnificent sight of the pacification
after the Civil War-the resumption of a brotherhood merely shaken, not annulled.
Formally, the payment of the Indemnity to our
wronged fellow-citizens was demanded.  The press
had united in pointing out that we should never take
our fit place among nations until, like Great Britain,
the least hurt done to the meanest citizen is righted
by all the united forces of the country.  Spain
badgered and scurvily treated Americans while an
Englishman sauntered on the plaza without the
Captain-General himself of Cuba daring to offer him
a slight.
No one ventures to tread on the Lion's tail —let it
be so that none try to pluck feathers from the Eagle!
Spain shuffled, as usual, at a point-blank demand.
She retaliated with words; that she would have put
down the turbulent long ago in her confines but for
the more or less secret sustenance of the United
States.  That weapons9 levies of adventurers and
food came regularly out of our Atlantic ports-no
wonder from the nation always at the back of freelances, like Lopez, Walker and the Count of Boulbon.
Not a word about payment of the debt!
4




THE LIFE AND CARtER


At the same time, as if to accentuate the contempt and derision with which this claim was met,
the cruelty and hardness with which the Cubans
were overwhelmed were redoubled.
On the grounds that the field was wanted entirely
for the movements of the Army of Repression, the
working population were ordered to go within the
towns, such of the goods and crops as could not be
carried off being destroyed by the soldiery to prevent the rebels being sheltered and fed by them, as
the case might be. The military being themselves
on short rations, thanks to the incompetency or dishonesty of the officials of their own blood, these unfortunate wretches, homeless, unclad, helpless, died
like sheep, and the outskirts of the towns where they
had been driven at point of bayonet resembled the
shambles of the cannibal King of Dahomey.
All America was aroused; if the sword could not
yet be drawn, the cash-box should be opened as well
as the storehouse for these innocent sufferers.
Then was seen a miserable act. England may
not have liked us when we sent corn to the victims
of the Irish Famine; but, at least, she did not raise
her hand against the succor reaching the unfortunates. It was left to Spain to reject this relief-and
add insult to the barbarity by asserting that it was
intended underhandedly for the aid of the revolutionists!
Serious riots were set a-going in Havana, where
the Flag of Washington was hooted at on our Consulate, without, however, daunting our representative there-General Lee-who firmly upheld it in the
face of the seething scum.
But as there were women and children of our kin
under his unaided hand, he called upon the home
Government to send a sufficient force to cow this
hostility.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


At the opening of 1898, the battle-ship MAINE
was ordered to the Cuban capital.
In the evening of February 15th, an explosion
occurred by which this splendid naval construction
was irreparably shattered, and 264 of her brave crew,
with two officers,-the others having providentially
been absent at a short distance,-were carried down
into the pestiferous depths unless mercifully killed
by the shock.
The echo of that infernal machine went round the
world, and there was not a civilized country where
justice-if not vengeance-was not called for, out
of high heaven, for this destruction of a vessel in a
friendly harbor, without the least suggestion of a
state of war.
Even the scalping savages used to go through a
form of declaration of hostility before pulling the
bow or drawing the knife.
On the 21st of March, after an interval of waiting
in which hearts never ceased to beat, and voices cry
for " War! " the U. S. Board of Inquiry, to which
a Spanish joint-comlmission had been sternly refused
participation, brought in a verdict, so to say, that
the MAINE had been destroyed by a submarine mine.
The people-our people, nay, the world, stood aghast
at no blame being fixed or even pointed at any one.
To this date, mystery surrounds the terrible fate of
the gallant warship-what hand could have been so
near the heart, the pride or the spirit of Spain, that
her throne hides it?
But Tine melts the wax mask, or rends the plaster
off the tablet and reveals the true architect-" the
Man in the Iron Mask " may never be disclosed, but
count on it, we yet shall learn who pressed the electric button and destroyed the MAINE!
On the 8th and the 9th days of March, the two
branches of Congress passed a bill for the money to




52


THE LIFE AND CAREER


defray the expense of National Defense. Peace had
caught us unprepared for a war with a European
Power, insignificant in herself, but she might find
allies, on one or another pretext. The prosperity
of the United States-standing solution, as she is, to
the problem of how to govern wisely, freely and
happily-makes us unproclaimed but inveterate
enemies in tyrants.
The ultimatum of this country was that Spain
should withdraw her forces from Cuba within three
days; but, already, that kingdom had presented the
first move in actual hostilities by informing our
Minister at Madrid that diplomatic relations no
longer existed between the two countries.
The War was fixed by Congress as having been
initiated April 21st, 1898.
While our agents were purchasing vessels, and
Spain more or less unfruitfully trying to reinforce
her navy by promises of a broken treasury, the ships
we had in commission and merchantmen, hurriedly
fitted out for cruising, made a number of prizes;
on the other hand, Havana was not effectually
blockaded, save on paper.
Three of our battle-slips bombarded the Port of
Latanzas in April, which was the first marked act
of warfare.
At the end of that month, a Spanish fleet left
Cape Verde, being their first act of hostility towards
us.
Arms were landed for the Cubans and their cooperation was sought as soon as our forces touched
Cuban soil. Ports there were bombarded, but no
engagement of importance ensued until the close of
May, when it was found that the Spanish Admiral,
Cervera, had entered the harbor of Santiago, one
with a narrow entrance where he was "bottled up."
The American commander of the fleet which imme.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


53


diately blockaded this gorge, Commodore Schley,
drily remarked: "They will be a long while getting
home." Indeed, on trying to run out, passing a hulk
which had been daringly placed in the channel by
Lieutenant Hobson, the Spanish ships were entirely
destroyed, by fire, explosions or by running aground.
The American loss was unnoticeable.  The land
forces had forced their way up to Santiago's gates
and, surrounding it, its surrender was demanded.
The annihilation of their fleet, under their very
eyes, should have convinced even the obstinate
Spaniards of the absurdity of further struggling, but
it was not without a siege and shelling that Santiagsurrendered on the 17th of July.
Porto Rico fell into our hands with ease, as the
inhabitants were eager to pass under a more enlightened rule. The Cuban campaign was over, all but
the signing of the peace.
Let us hasten to return to our subject, who was
no less active in his quarter of the globe.
CHAPTER VL.
THE SCENE OF OUR FAR-EASTERN PROBLEM.-THE
PHILIPPINES.-PEOPLE.- CLIMATE. -PRODUCTS.MAN-O'-WAR LIFE.-ON THE EVE OF ACTION.
OUR territory of the Philippines is the base of our
own far-eastern question.
The Philippine Islands were discovered in 1521 by
Magellan, a Portuguese navigator. They are in the
North Pacific Ocean; they may be roughly bounded
thus: To the north, China and Japan; to the
west, Burmah, Siam and Malaya; to the south,




54


TIHE LIFE AND CAREER


Borneo and New Guinea. They number upwards of
a thousand, but several hundreds are very small;
they seem fragments of a vast land, shattered by
earthquakes or volcanic disturbances; they are still
subject to cosmic disruptions, while typhoons, tidal
waves and torrents of rain temper the too paradisaical
region. The hot and moist air, while unfavorable to
Europeans and Northern Americans, enable more
languid and contented races to thrive. The winter
is the Rainy Season of the Tropics when outdoor life
is suspended.
Magellan made his acquaintance with the Philippine Group at the Marianne Islands, which he named
after the thievish natives the Ladrones, that is,
Robbers. There are fifteen of these, one of which,
Guam, or Guahan, had become a U. S. N. coaling
station, since we took possession.
The principal islands are Luzon and Mindanao;
the chief city of all being Manila on the former.
The article of produce by which Europe and
America know the place is hemp, Manila rope being
used extensively in whaling fleets and the present
navies, wire rope not having ousted it from its pride
of place as yet.
But the soil is fertile for grain, mainly rice, the
main item on the Philippine bill of daily fare, bread
fruit, plantains, mangoes, etc.; some culture is
given to cotton, tobacco, sugar-cane and sisal; it is
stated assuringly that the United States could be
supplied with all the sugar needed from our new acquisition alone.
Spain took hold of the Archipelago under the
reign of King Philip II., and set his name upon all
which he, therefore, nominally governed. Hence
the names of Filipinos, Philippines, etc. But apart
from the two islands already cited, and the larger
ones, Panay, Palawan, Negros, Leyte, Samar, etc.,




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


55


the Spanish in three centuries learned little about
the interior.
The aborigines, Negritos, are physically small
and mentally low, so incapable of improvement that
scientific reasoners do not regret their dying out.
The savages, still infesting the mountain and forest
recesses, have never submitted to the Spanish
arsenal of sword, thumbscrew, rack, damp cells, and
strappado; they remain unenlightened; a favorite
delicacy with them are the flying foxes (Pteropus
Rubricollis), or fox-bats, so named from their reddish
color (hence another title, Roussette, or Russet).
These curiosities take the first place in the list of
the odd creatures in the wilds from their being the
largest of bats.
Their wings extend five feet across; these they
fold about them as they hang in the daytime by
hooky hind feet from the dead trees, their roostingplaces after a debauch on fruit as well as drinking their
fill of naturally fermented cocoa-nut juice (toddy).
Sleepy and intoxicated, they hang in clusters like an
enormous fruit, when the savages gather them in
baskets and carry them off for feasts; they are
roasted and, it is said, taste like hare.
The better civilized live on rice, salted fish and
yams, while the Mohammedan Malays, in the ports,
do not disdain our canned comestibles. A large
number of Chinese are among the rest of the population of eight or ten millions who are our new
brothers in the Orient.
Taken at their best, that is, unaffected by the mistraining under the departed government which fostered treachery and cunning by its cruelty and
rapine, the Filipinos are asserted to be honest, hospitable and affable.
What the expelled rulers were, may be gathered
from their everyday sayings, such as: " The official




THE LIFE AND CAREER


who cannot lie may as well be dead."  " Gold rules
all and his Viceroy is Coin."  " Officers get into all
kinds of scrapes, but officials get them out."
Spite of such morals, the natural abundance of
produce and the trading facilities of Luzon lifted it
into importance.  Even the continual drain of the
cream towards Spain has not prevented Manila, its
capital, being noteworthy.  It was walled for two
miles, with a thickness of well-made masonry which
defied ancient artillery, while on one side a river, on
another its fine Bay, with artificial moats for the
rest, set the natives, if they revolted, at defiance.
In 1762, the English took it without much ado.
The cannon on the ramparts were then old, and
those of quite modern manufacture, with which our
advance was to be checked, if possible, were few in
number and poorly served.
In 1875, it was projected to build several railroads
running out of Manila, but the home Government
continued to turn all funds to the treasury at
Madrid and only one was constructed: 150 miles
from the capital to Dagupan.  We shall do better
than that in the next twenty years!
The place next mentioned to Manila is Iloilo.
This is an island 300 miles off. The Spanish
retired hither when driven by us out of Manila, and
were promptly besieged by the native revolutionists,
styling themselves the Visayan Republic, not to be
confounded with the insurgents under Aguinaldo.
At the same time, almost exactly, as the colonists
in Cuba were restless under the rules dictated at
Madrid, those in Spain's Eastern possessions were
chafing.
Like sea-eagles on a peak watching a dispu te among
fish-hawks, our Asiatic fleet waited at Hong Kong,
and would not be allowed to wait for long.
It is believed with reason that no politician or




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


57


statesman among us dreamt of other work in the
Pacific but fettering the Spanish fleet at that point,
so that it might not interfere with our progress in
liberating the Island of Cuba.
Not a glimmer of territorial aggrandizement appears in all the press or public utterances.
At Hong Kong the preparations were made for
Dewey's swoop.
Those waters were animated with cruisers of various powers.
Japan and China were backed secretly in their tilt
by Europeans, or at least the Colossus who has one
foot in Asia.
Germany had colonial designs; France would not
be content with Tonquin; England might covet a
slice of the stepping-stones between India and Australia.
The countries not directly engaged would stand
neutral, implying that our war-vessels could not
obtain supplies in any port between there and California.
To destroy the Spanish fleet under Montejo, and
occupy for repairs and victualing the port it was
flung out of, was a double ended project' as imperative as hazardous.
Be sure that our naval commander weighed well
the chances.
To succeed in such a mighty dash was to be hailed
as Bold; when such feats fail, the bearer of the brunt
is styled Rash.
I-e was truly informed that never had the insurgent Filipinos shaken the throne of their tyrants so
deeply as of late. Greedy as the Spanish were about
money and harassed to obtain it, the rebel leader had
been "bought off" the field by a stupendous sum.
but it was asserted, upon full knowledge of the
natives, that the bargain would not hold.  On the




TI-E LIFE AND CAREER


arrival of the hostile fleet, the Spanish on deck and
on the battlement of Manila would be betwixt two
fires.
Ordered out of the Chinese port by the laws of
neutrality, the Asiatic Squadron touched at Mirs Bay
and started on that voyage which was to be memorable to Americans as Columbus's.
War-ships are expensive; it is necessary to employ
them without loss of time.
A first-class battle-ship is a monstrous engine:tlhe
boiler surface to generate steam to impel one equals
eight acres and they hold thirty tons of water. Thex
have guns-on them which hurl shot weighing half a
tonl; and though we have not on board the artillery
or longest possible range, such as will throw fifteen
miles, they are ample for their purpose of confusing
an enemy who may be smashed without seeing even
with a spy-glass whence issued the projectile.
Our vessels are up to date; all scientific appliances
are installed; the electric plant would suffice to light
up a town of five thousand inhabitants if transferred
from a war-ship to the shore.
Under forced draft, the consumption of coal is
like shunting it from the mine in bulk down a chute
into the sea.
The Spanish ships were not up to the mark for
want of money, or rather, as was the case with France
in the Franco-Prussian War, the funds were misappropriated; the gold went to belace the officers
instead of providing the latest gnns and good ammunition.
The Spanish sailor is brave as the Iberian peasant
has always been; but he is no mechanician as the
Yankee is. If anything goes wrong with intricate
engines he is all at sea. In our Civil War, when our
columns reached a railroad junction, for example,
where the fugitive foe had left a locomotive disabled




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


59


beyond repair, they thought, the general simply
calledl a halt, and gave an order to his colonels.
The latter appealed to the regiments: "Is there
not a man or men here knowing railroad engine
building? " and usually several stepped to the front.
Now, on board the Spanish vessels, the gunners
could not loosen a jammed breecli, or clear a muzzle
of a prematurely discharged cartridge.
They had one or two " show" vessels, but even on
them the aspect lacked the extreme neatness of an
American man-of-war.  Scarcely do the British, even
under a martinet, present the spick-and-span appearance of our fine defenders.
The spare hours are not passed in spinning yarns,
weaving fancy knots or making model ships, but in
fencing, cutlass drill, sword versus bayonet or lance,
and so on. As for the guns, it is known and was
affirmed by intelligent observers that the American
gunners were the most practised of any the seas over.
If we never had much experience in evolutions of
a fleet-th.at is, twelve or more battle-ships in a linethe Spanish were no better. The last naval affair of
note in which they won was Lepanto, as far back as
1571. In their actions with the French and English
they were the second-best; and as for the defense of
their merchantmen against pirates-the capture of a
Spanish silver-ship was looked on as a cat regards
the taking of a corpulent mouse.
The news which Consul Williams brought at the
last moment from Manila had severed the only tie
binding the Dewey Squadron to Chinese waters.
In the final week of April, 1898, the American
force quitted the roads, composed of the flag-ship,
Olympia, Captain G ridley; the Baltimore, commanded by Captain Dyer; the Raleigh, commanded
by Captain Coghlanl: the Boston, commanded by
Captain Wildes; the C(oncord, commanded by Coran




60


THE LIFE AND CAREER


mander Walker, and the Petrel, commanded by Comr.
mander Wood.
The Monocacy lost her share of glory as she was
unfit for even a short voyage and had to stay at
Shanghae.
Any passing vessel which saw this warlike procession must have guessed that their errand was not
of peace; for they were painted in that olive-gray
tint chosen to be the fighting-color of America on the
waters.
They rode, too, with a lightness which showed that
they had been docked and cleaned of the enormous
accumulation of shells and animalculs common to
tropical waters.  They were provisioned for three
months out, and if the ammunition was not in superfluity, enough is as good as a feast when it came
to "giving the Dons a bellyful!"   The cannon
were always in order, but they were polished up and
eased in their working as though to receive a state
visit of the Chief of our Commonwealth.
A supply-vessel and a collier were tenders to this
fleet.
Even the Baltimore, which had been bringing
extra ammunition, had been docked, cleaned and
dressed before she joined her companions.
They were only two days out of sight of land; still,
the evolutions of actual warfare were performed, but
with more than the usual relish with the prospect of
an engagement so near.
Like the Admiral and their other officers, without
waiting for the " Maine Commission Report," stillless
for the declaration of war, all were sure that the
dastardly outrage was undeniable and not to be
condoned.  In their minds something like the refrain, by mental, wireless telegraphy, of a song ringing along the Cuban shores, might be said to circulate from the stoke-hole to the top:




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


"Don't forget the watchword, boys, whenever we strike
Spain;
Remember it, gun captains, when the order comes to
train;
Remember, boys, remember, the destruction of the
Maine,
And avenge it while fighting for freedom."
Seen from aloft, this rehearsal of the movements
in real fighting would have convinced the observer
that the American seaman lhas kept pace with the
innovations of science into Jack's domain, and that
he was better than a machine-an intelligent one.
The routine begins with the bugle-call for " To
quarters!"
Every man on board a man-of-war has his station
in which he stands to do his duty, come what may
and until ordered away; or to issue hence as a wildcat from its lair. 
The men who are to repel boarders leave their respective guns' screws, and rush upon the upper ldeck,
carrying one or more hammocks to be stowed in the
nettings when the ship has a high freeboard, or to be
packed around the deck machine and other guns, to
protect them.
The guns are cleared of covers and sea-lashings, all
the operating parts, to see that they play smoothly,
and the implements required for loading and extracting placed in position.
Below, the powder magazines are opened and the
shells and grenades got out; the electric battlelanterns are turned on, tlat excellent precaution
against fire which our forefathers did not know of;
water is pumped into the divisions so that each compartment is fire-proof; and the hoist begins to raise
the deadly projectiles of novel shapes to the gundecks.
If it is supposed the enemy has got aboard, the sea



62


THE LIFE AND CAREER


men are massed before the marines, who cover them
with their rifles in two or more rows; the machineguns are run forward as to meet the imaginary foe,
and the charge is made on the same.
Elsewhere the signals of several sorts are made
ready for use so as to keep up correspondence each
with the sister-ships of the fleet; the torpedoes are
fitted in their ejectors; the surgeons prepare their
merciful arsenal.
All this ceaseless movement goes on without noise,
save for the whirr, the buzz of the dytnamos, tie
rattle of chains conveying power, the clicking of
machinery.  In tllese sham actions there is no cheering, and one miisses the sound of detonations.
When each division officer knows that his scope of
duties is fulfilled he makes his report: thus tile colmmander is apprised in an incredilly short time tliat
the vessel is ready as one comprehensive thillg.
It was with this assurance of readiness that Dewey
heard the cry of " Land!" when three days out. It
was Subig Bay headland.
If the enemy were there, in the forefront of Ma.
nila, as might be, since the Spanish must have known
that the fleet had sailed and its destination, the contest would soon commence.
As an old comrade of the Admiral said, a year or
more previously: "Dewey will take good care of
his fleet and will make the most effective use of it.
He is sagacious and far-sighted as well as fearless and
brave. The Spaniards are not likely to catch him
napping. Tlere is no officer in the United States
navy who could lead a fleet into battle with greater
certainty of victory than Commodore Dewey."
It was Saturday morning, April 30th, and it was
Cape Bolinao ahead, the N. E. point of Luzon
Island.  Scouts went ahead to spy into Snbig Bay.
backed by the Baltimore in case the hostile squadron




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


63


was there. It is thirty miles this side of Manila
Bay.
But there were neither ships nor fortified works
there.
Consul Williams was right; the enemy awaited the
onset in Manila Bay, where the land works would
strengthen their defense.
On the renewed course for that battle-ground the
final preparations were made.
The officers wrote the mast letters which might
never pass Davy Jones' locker; the sailors confided
keepsakes for the sweetheart at home to a messmate.
Then the order went forth for all " hamper," that
is, lumber as we say on land, to be thrown overboard.
Everything which might catch fire or cause more
mischief by its splinters and fragments than the incoming shot which smashed it is thus disposed of
on the eve of action.
In the desire to make a clean sweep, the men even
hurled over their mess-room tables, though these
might have been towed alongside; one lad, in his
excitement, flung over his jacket, but, the next moment, repenting, he leaped over to recover it. Thit
caused a stir which drew the commander's attention
on him. He wished to know about this infraction
of duty, for there is no time to waste over an individual in an encounter. The boy confessed that the
throwing away of the coat was forgetfulness, but that
the jumping after it was intended; the fact was, in
a pocket, was his mother's likeness and he had
promised never to part with it.
Courage and compassion go together in the heart
of a true hero: Dewey pardoned the lad, as you may
be certain.
In this general delivery, his own uniform cap had
gone over to amuse the sharks, and the artist who
pictured him at the Battle of Manila in a cocked hat




64


THE LIFE AND CAREER


deservesto be knocked into one; he presided over
the t-r:ggle wearing a traveling-cap picked up and
donned for the nonce. This free-and-easy trait suits
our temperament and is in vivid contrast to the exaggerated dandyism of two centuries since, when naval
commanders plumed themselves on dressing for a conflict with wigs well dressed and all their decorations
upon the breast of their best uniform coats.
The ships were as perfect as if fresh from the
hands of the constructor.
CHAPTER VII.
THE BATTLE OF MANILA BAY.
WHEN the captains were summoned for the council,
usual before a general engagement, faces began to
set sternly; there could be not the least doubt preserved now that America was to cross blades with
Spain in these remote seas.
But the set expression was soon a serene smile:
every man who had followed Dewey would continue
while he led, even into the dread abode where no
hope dwells.
An old grizzled gunner was heard to say: "With
him into the jaws of Hades!"
It has been stated that this council of war was to
give the superior the benefit of the subordinates'
opinions and judgment, but this is an error. He intended to give them sheerly his final instructionsthe fighting orders. But more than one knew his
metal. Few had given him even slight study without coming to Admiral Bunce's decision:
" Dewey is a gallant officer and a good sea fighter.
He will render a good acenolutt of himself. If there




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


is any fighting to be done he will be in it, and he
will fight to the last."
There were no two courses here. The hostile
fleet was before them, backed by other guns in fortifications. They had not come so far to turn tail
and retire-whither?
So, when the plan of attack was laid before the
group, and the advisability of entering the harbor
tlhat same night, all was adopted instantly save by
one objector. There must always be one doubting
Thomas, or at least one over-prudent. To convince
this one into unanimity, the presiding officer said:
"The Spaniards know when we sailed from Mirs
Bay, and they can calculate exactly when we may be
expected to arrive off Corregidor. But, in all probability, their forecast of what we shall do will be
based upon the knowledge of what they would do
under similar circumstances. I feel sure that they
would not think of going in at night, and therefore
that they would not believe it possible that we should
do so. Consequently, to go in at night is the best
thing that we can do."
The way of attack had been exposed, but not the
exact order of the action. For his part, it is known
that one of the captains had not a definite idea of his
commander's lofty project. For he went slowly up
into the harbor, expecting to be brought to a standstill at any moment, for who but a madman, or a
genius, —they resemble one another,-would contemplate with such calmness the entrance of a harlor
probably lined with batteries and carpeted with
mines and torpedoes? This cautious captain dou bled
his lookouts and kept his eyes strained for guiding
signals.
Meanwhile, all being ready on every deck, half the
men were allowed to take a nap alongside the loosened
guns. Few of them really slept, perhaps —not with
5




66


THE LIFE AND CAREER


apprehension, God forbid, on an American deck!but with eagerness to show that peace had not
deteriorated our " hearts of oak!"
When the flag-ship thrust her prow into Manila
Bay, the moon was far above the horizon and at her
first quarter. There were clouds, but they were not
large and were intermittent as regarded the light,
which prevented the night being favorable to the rush.
The Island of Luzon has, in a rough delineation,
the shape of a whale in the act of breaching or bending its tail half over.
Imagine this fish to have a triangular slice cut out
of the bend to the west, the body lying north and
south, head up. At one angle, inward, is the city
of Manila; a nick in the opposite side represents the
entrance, with an island choking up the gap. Just
beyond the harbor mouth, trending southward by
east, the coast falls off to make one side of the
Straits of Manila.
This island is called Corregidor, and the Point,
which guards the other side of the narrow channel,
Mariveles.
As the leading ship of the squadron steamed
through this gut, the Commodore remarked to his
flag-officer:
"We ought to hear from the battery on that island
by now!"
But all was hushed, as all was dark. Except for
the stern light which each vessel showed as a guide
to the next, their positions could hardly be defined
in thn dusk. The second ship, the Baltimore, could
be discerned, but not so the Raleqlh, next, which
was but a phantom for the keenest sight.
The chief sailed two miles farther, tending southward, being fairly abreast of Corregidor Island, when
from there a signal was sent out to the mainland,
through the mist.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


67


The Boca Grande (Main     Mouth) was passed
through as slowly as the formation of the line could
be maintained. At the end of the other passage,
the Little Mouth, a steady light showed white, but
it did not seem connected with our approach.
It was now five or so in the morning.
All of a sudden, a rocket went up from the midst
of this island, as if on a message to the god of battles,
Mars.
The Olympia had passed a mile beyond Corregidor
and within five of Manila, when the first gun boomed
from a lone rock, called the Monk (el Fraile), and
a heavy shell screamed through the flag-ship's
rigging.
Another quickly followed, to which three ships
made reply and seemed to shut up that oppositionist,
instanter.
Day broke. "By the dawn's early light" the
Spanish saw " the broad stripes and bright stars!"
" Yes," said a man by a gun, " they will see stars
before the day is done!"
There were veterans on both sides; but, though
"full many a glorious morning" they may have
seen, never would the likeness of that one for splendor be approached.
So thoroughly beforehand was the planner of the
annihilation of the Spanish Eastern fleet, that, on
leaving Mirs Bay, he had said to one who would
treasure and report his words:
"The fight will come off on Sunday next!"
Dewey turned to his aid on the bridge and observed:
" It has taken a long time for them to wake up,
but probably they will make it the hotter for us
when they begin."
A man such as he does not under-rate his foes.
The order of battle was: the Olympia, the Balti



68


TIIE LIFE AND CAREER


more, the Raleigh, the Petrel, the Concord and the
Boston. These could go at twelve knots the hour,
and the flag-ship at fifteen; but they were hindered
by the supply ships, guarded only by the cutter
McCullough, incapable of a better pace than eight.
If the battle-ships had outsped them, they might
have been cut off by Spanish gunboats.
The opposing fleet, under Rear-Admiral Montejo,
had been lavishly fitted at Cavite Arsenal, and during the coming fray moved about under a full head
of steam before their station, at Cavite, a suburb of
the town, seven miles seaward.
It is hard for a landsman to conceive more than an
inadequate idea of a warship in action; the ponderous guns make a noise beyond that of a wlole broadside of an ancient wooden ship; the steam and
smoke envelop the whole structure and change the
brass, so brilliant a while before, into a tint of verdigris. The men have to brace themselves against the
shock of the discharges, holding the arms stiff and
away from the body to let the lungs have full play,
while the mouth is opened, to the same end.
The detonation of the big guns is more bearable,
as less sharp than of the smaller ones, and the concussion hurts less because it is so general. Those
who have had the heart leap in response to a sudden
blow on a big drum close to them may faintly imagine what the boom of an eight-inch gun is like.
Since the " last argument" had fired, all were expecting death to come aboard; and death on a warship is not attended by only those horrors known on
land. If in a land engagement thirty-two per cent.
of the combatants are reckoned to be killed in the
first few minutes, this is increased at sea.
A badly wounded sailor rarely may escape, for
shells are continually exploding on the smooth deck
where he has been struck down.   lie cannot be




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


69


helped below or tumble within, for the storm-hatches
are fastened down to keep out explosives. If not in
close action, the wounded might be deposited behind the turrets, all the shelter which rises off the
level decks, but there it would be difficult for the
surgeons to exercise their art.
At the battle of Yalu, a single shot killed and
hurt over a hundred. In the same, a surgeon and
his patients were all killed by a shell bursting in their
ward. The boats have all been shot away, of course,
and on our ironclads there is nothing to make a raft
of; so, if the ship is rammed or from any other
cause, sinks, all go down without a chance, as when
the British ironclad Captain "turned turtle" in
the Mediterranean, The enemv's boats would also
be shattered; so that, if there were time to do such a
heroic act of compassion, none could be furnished to
save the drowning.
Still the Olympia steamed on, not seeming to notice she had been fired on; but a signal had called
the little cutter JcCUullough to her offside, where she
would be sheltered from the shells.
Here came a little incident which may be that
touch of matter-of-fact proving that the spirit cannot always overrule the flesh.  At the Battle of
Leipsic Napoleon over-ate and lost the day from indisposition. Dewey, calling for coffee to counteract
some cold tea drank in the hot night and muggy
morning, was as qualmish as a green hand in his
first nor'wester.
But the excitement and the uproar of battle soon
restored this pupil of Farragut to his usual placidity
when a tempest raged. It was for him, and none
other, to direct this stornm-at least, so much of it
as hurtled and thundered from under the American
banner.
Ba.rely a hundred yards ahead of his ship, 11 of a




70


THE LIFE AND CAREER


sudden, two mines exploded and spouted up water
like dying whales vomiting blood.
The secret intelligence on this subject had not
been too explicit. In such a doubt the most brazen
front might have wrinkled, but not so here.
" Ha," hle said, " they have some mines, after all, in
fit condition! They are in a hurry to settle matters!"
This to his volunteer aid on the bridge; then he
added to Lieutenant Calkins, the navigator, who was
steering all the more cautiously as the only chart
obtainable was turning out faulty:
" Hold her in as closely as the water will let you;
but be careful not to touch bottom."
This important officer is even more exposed than
the chief, as his station is with the compass in. its
box, on the mast over the bridge where the commander stands.
As for the mines, none farther took up the defense. It was soon considered that the Spaniards
had fired these more than anything to make it be
supposed that they had others ready, protecting the
fleet which, in its turn, protected the forts.
The crew began to chuckle, partly to slack the extreme nervous tension at being fired on from below
as well as in front, and tie word made the rounds:
"They are not so handy with their mines as in
Havana Harbor, are they?"
The sole shots from our vessels so far were those
which silenced the outermost shore batteries.
Meanwhile the ordnance at Manila Mole was firing as regularly as the guns could be worked. But
the aiming was bad and the shots fell askew. The
Spanish saw this from the outset, but attributed the
failure to do damage, characteristically enough, to
the American slhips being armored and too far for
such of their cannon as were antiquated and of short
range. They kept up the cannonade, after the mnn



OF ADMIRAL DEWEY


71t


ner of the Latin race to be animated by din, and to
reassure their fellow-countrymen, non-combatants,
who were fleeing out of town or posting themiselves
in the church towers to have a sanctuary as well as
an observatory, probably safe.
A time had been fixed for the firing, but as it
was clear, as in the case of a poor fencer transfixing
an adept by reason of his own "flukes," Ca chance
shot might, however blundering the gunner, inflict
terrible injury, the Commodore put forward the
hands of the clock.
His captain, Gridley, not to be immolated in the
bridge with his chief by one shot, was in the conning tower. To him he called, in a voice clear and
ringing as the bugle which speedily sounded to begin "Firing."
"You may fire, Gridley, when ready!"
" When ready!" This was quiet sarcasm, for the
gunners had been ready from over-night! Gridley
had but to nod to Charles Mitchell, the ship's bugler, standing by his side, when he set his gleaming
instrument to his lips and blew the shrill order over
the iron hull upon the unruffled waters.
A second later, one of the Olympia's eight-inch
guns in the forward turret hurled its massy reply
towards both fleet and forts, while the slips went
speeding in the same direction-Cavite, the mark,
three miles off.
Up to the fore-truck ran the signal to " Engage!"
and the attack became general at last.
The contending fleet was represented by the following vessels, not up to the level of ours in modern
appliances, but, though of wood or thinly armored,
sufficiently well-armed to have made a more formidable fight. The Reina Cristina, Castilla, Don Antonio de Ulloa (these were sunk or scuttled), the
Don Juan de Austria, Isla de Luzon, Isla de Cuba,




72


THE LIFE AND CAREER


General Leso, Marquez del Deuro, El Correo, Velasco, Isla de Miidanao, alred transport (these were
burnt); two tugs, Hercole and Rapido with, several
steam launches, captured.
The Cristina and the Castilla were the foremost
of the enemy, and they must bear the worst of the
charge. Indeed, as the Olymplia sheered to starboard, her port-battery of five-inch guns added their
violent roars to the disturbance of the air.
The Baltimore, in particular, vied witli the chief
vessel in emitting a sort of volcanic eruption upon
the line of battle opposite.
From Sangley Point, where the best artillery was
at work, being the latest royal arsenal turnout of
Hontoria guns, continued to come a tolerably creditable fire. More than once it hulled our attackers,
and transpierced the Boston.
Its commander was Captain Frank Wildes, whose
replacing officer had arrived at Hong Kong before
he sailed, but he preferred to stick to his ship, foreknowing the famous action. Another member of
the same complement, Gunner Evans, had no less
patriotism; he had also been detached, but cast his
lot afresh with his messmates in order to lose no leaf
from their wreath of victory.
The exchange of warm compliments went on between ships and forts until a quarter to eight.
Seeing that their long-bowling had apparently inflicted no sensible harm, the Don Juan of Austria
was started by the Spanish Admiral to check the
Olympia in its steady advance, like a majestic seagod's.
It would have been useless to attempt to board her,
but it is said that such an intention was cherished.
At all events, the Don was repelled by a broadside;
recoiling, but not to spring again. She had fire in
her interior, which her crew were unable to extin



OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


73


guish, and she was beached to save their lives; one
officer had been killed on her board, and her flaring
hull gave the spectators on the towers their monley's
worth, as one of the beholders said, "If they came
out to see our own ships as torches!"
Four times the Americans coasted along the warlike but shifting front, baffled by their mobility;
then, relying no more upon the harbor chart, which
was defective, the sailing-captain of the Olylpia
offered to take her in nearer the foe, trnsting solely
to the sounding line to learn th? true depth of the
water.
This allowed, Lieutenant Calkins watched the
leadsman as he kept the plummet going, and steered
the powerful ship within two thousand yards of the
hostile bulwarks, which range at last enabled the
six-pounders to tell, as the five-inch ones had been
favored a little earlier.
In spite of the exactness of our gunners, at this
abbreviated distance, some of the shells were seen to
waste themselves in the waves or, flying too high, to'
wliizz over the short, fighting-masts of the opponents.
At this rate long would the red-and-yellow float upon
the royal squadron.
In some of this shooting there must have been
more slap-dash, due to excitement, than calculation,
and good as Yankees are at guessing, the outcome
did not daunt the Spaniards, wlio responded handsomely.
Indeed, many of the touches had but to have been
palpable hits for the losses to be less one-sided. Both
from the wooden walls and the stone ones the shells
which fell thick on the assailants were rarely percussion but time-fuses and well measured. It may be
recorded that one burst within thirty yards of the
Olympia's bridge and spat a fragment, as large as
one's fist, to scoop out the deck below the Corn



74


THE LIFE AND CAREER


modore's feet.  A second cut the signal-halliards
from the hand of Lieutenant Brumby, and another
severed the rigging over the staff officers' heads; a
shell struck a gun in the ward-room.
This calamity was caused by a couple of our own
shells being exploded by a shot boarding, splitting
up the maindeck and upsetting a six-inch gun.
About this time, the volunteer aid of the Commodore having to use his eyes like Argus, as he
was correspondent of the N. Y. Herald as well, perceived two small fleet boats creeping out from behind Fort Sangley. Once out of cover they put on
steam and cleft the water at a fine rate. His chief
was spying the shore, the ships and the burning Don
Juan, and being told what was seen, impatiently
and scornfully rejoined:
" Well, you look after them! I can't be bothered
with torpedo boats! Let me know when they are
sunk! "
He turned to watch the Reina Cristina, which preceded her companions as though to avenge the Don
Juan, sinking in flames like the "Don Juan" of
operatic fame. The secondary batteries of the flagship were accordingly aimed at these pests, and one
being sunk, the other disabled, the latter hurried
whence she came. No more small fry meddled with
the larger fishes' quarrel after this episode.
The Cristina was still coming on, as~ though she
were a ram and hoped to cut down the Olympia.
The entire ship's battery was concentrated upon
her while she was getting into short range, and those
who have seen the target which the Olympia's gunners riddle into a sieve, may picture her appearance
after this terrific hail. The ship was filled with
dead and wounded, and in the bow a column of
lame and vapor kept ascending as she bore away, as
if her fate were to be, indeed, the same as her pre



OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


75


decessor, the Don. In fact, while seeking shelter of
the point, hope was lost and she was run aground
at the arsenal.
The Castilla, also set afire by a shell, thanks to
her being wood, gave the spectators the idea that the
Yankees were using Greek fire or the like, though
forbidden in civilized war.  Civilized war, in their
eyes, however, allowed the use of submarine mines,
and in time of peace!
The principal vessels of Montejo being out of
active fighting trim, it seemed the instant for the
so-far victors to go in and finish. It is true that
the water shoals so rapidly between where the Spanish
maneuvered and their land defenses, that Dewey could
not repeat the bold dash of Nelson at the Battle of
Copenhagen. He thrust his line between ships and
forts, reasoning that where the former had room to
swing, other vessels had room to sail; but still the fretfully agitated enemy might be closed in with, and
the smaller and quicker-firing guns be used effectively
upon the elusive targets.
To the astonishment of all, on both sides, on the
contrary, the order to "Cease firing" was heard
through the bugle-call, on the attacking decks, and
the Americans withdrew out of range, after two and
a half-hours' severe and steady fighting.
In the meantime the shore batteries had been expending their ammunition and practising-the result
was little better-although the hostile squadron did
not deign to reply to them, after the first volley, which
silenced the outer ones.
Word was sent ashore, during this pause, for the
Governor to stop firing from the land, or the city
would be shelled. This threat stopped up the guns
at three positions on the mole and on the wall of the
town.   The subsequent events occurred solely between the seamen of the two nations.




76


THE LIFE AND CAREER


It may be inserted here that the little MlcCullough
sought to emulate the risky conduct of the British
gunboat Condor at the bombardment of Alexandria.
This little wasp ran under the gulls of a ponderous
battery, and, dodging its replies, peppered away at it
all day until the Egyptians fled from their guns!
The McCullough left the cover of her big sister,
the Olympia, and darted right into the harbor, where
she assailed the armed merchantman, the lMitidanao,
and riddled her with her bow-chaser so that she
became unseaworthy.
Every one wanted to bear a hand into this seavictory.
The men were immensely puzzled at the respite.
They had thought to keep on till not a ship remained
in opposition.
The explanation seemed insufficient.  They believed they had done well, and were anxious to continue until the Spaniards were all sent to the bottom.
The crew of the Olympia cheered the Commodore
and the Baltimore, and the latter returned the compliment.  One of the captains of a gun crew, after
inquiring of a number of officers as to the reason of
the suspension of hostilities, was told grimly " for
breakfast." IIe made his way immediately to Captain Gridley and exclaimed:
"For heaven's sake, Captain, don't let us stop
now. A fig for breakfast! "
It was, perhaps, solely to the men in the inmost
depths, the stokers, that the rest came preciously.
It was said that the forced draft on the Olympia sent
the temperature up to two hundred degrees, so that
the men's beards were singed!
Nevertheless, on being freshened up, they were
not the last to desire the renewal of the action.
The damage done to the enemy could be partially
seen.  The shore batteries were not to interfere,




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


77


tlhat was arranged now; and the minor craft of the
Spanish could not be very eager for the second
bout.
Meawhile the captains came aboard the flag-ship
to compare notes and report casualties.
The chief had been most anxious about the Boston,
as she had been seen on fire: a sliot had entered
like a hat-pin into a griddle-cake, but without killing
any one; the fire caused by it had been subdued.
The other shots from the enemy lad been mostly
at random, and all penetrations of the armor lfad
been slight.
The disablement of half a dozen men was all the
detriment to the personnel which was reported. It
was worse as regarded the amnnmunition, as the supply
for the big guns was certainly not in excess.
Meanwhile, the Spanish vessels began to be submerged or to burn or blow up, which restored confidence as to the result anticipated.
It was clear that there might be provision enough
for the large guns to finish with the more than decimated flotilla, which it was the order to disable or
destroy.
The attack was resumed in four hours, that is, at
eleven o'clock.
In the lull, the men had partaken of breakfast, according to that order wllich, telegraphed round the
world, in the account of the decisive action, had drawn
a hearty laugh from all Anglo-Saxons. A general
had said that battles, on land. were to be won on
the soldiers' legs; another, that it was upon their
stomachs, meaning, the English fight best when
well fed. In this case, the check to the ardor of a
combat to lunch was human and sensible: a poet
has embalmed the stroke of human feeling in a line:


"The greatest god of battles is he who cooks the grub."




78


THE LIFE AND CAREER


By this time the forlorn condition of the discom.
fited Spaniards was evident. While attention was
still paid, on the fire opening anew, to the wrecks
until they offered no more resistance, it was on the
remainder of the flotilla that the iron ruin was
hurled. The last foe had to scuttle and sink, to
avoid falling into our hands as a solitary prize. It
was impossible for it to run out of the beleaguered
harbor.
Having not one vessel on which to maintain his
flag, Admiral Montejo, who, besides, was wounded,
took to the shore and was transported for surgical
assistance into the town.
The Commodore had been most anxious about the
Boston, as she had been seen on fire; but the shot
had not done notable damage; another from    the
Hontoria guns at Sangley Point had perforated the
Baltimore, had wounded all the injured of the fleet,
namely, eight; but while two poor fellows had broken
limbs, the other wounds were little to dread. Five
of our floating batteries had concentrated their sixty
guns on that seat of irritation and settled the dispute
on the spot.
Not a vessel crippled; not a fatality among the
men I Such a blank is amazing when one compares
it with the list of losses in the olden sea-fights. At
Aboukir, the winners lost all but 1,000 men; at
Trafalgar, the English lost 2,500 against the French
7,000; at Navarino, the " butcher's bill " was 6,000;
at Lissa, combat of ironclads, 860 to 176.
But the Spanish had severely suffered, and the
white flag fluttered swiftly to the top of the masts,
as if inspired with eagerness to express the opinion
along shore that the victory was undoubted.
Shortly afterwards, the white flag was run up.
Our triumph was complete.
Manila was now shut in; Cavite Arsenal lay at




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


79


the mercy of the victors, with the stores of which
they had need, to serve as the base which we had
desired in the East.
The cable was cut so that the only communication
with Spain lay through the one at Hong Kong, which,
of course, across the sea controlled by our cruisers,
was out of the question.
Dewey was isolated, but the master of the situation.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THII VICTORY.
"FLAGSIIP OLYMPIA, CAVITE,
May 4, 1898.
"The squadron left Mirs Bay on April 27, arrived
off Bolinao on the morning of April 30, and, finding
no vessels there, proceeded down the coast and arrived off the entrance to Manila Bay on the same
afternoon. The Bostonz and the Concord were sent
to reconnoiter Port Subig. A thorough search was
made of the port by the Boston and the Concord, but
the Spanish fleet was not found.
"Entered the south channel at half-past eleven
P. M., steaming in column at eight knots. After
half the squadron had passed a battery on the south
side of the channel opened fire, none of the shots
taking effect. The Boston and McCullough returned
the fire. The squadron proceeded across the bay atslow speed and arrived off Manila at daybreak (May
1st, 1898), and was fired upon at a quarter past five
A. M. by three batteries at Manila and two near
Cavite, and by the Spanish fleet anchored in an approximately east and west line across the mouth of




8o


TIHE LIFE AND CAREER


Bakor Bay, with their left in shoal water in Canacao
Bay.
"The squadron tlien proceeded to the attack, the
flag-ship  OlympJia, under my personal direction,
leading, followed at a distance by the Baltimore,
Raleigh, Petrel, Concord and Boston, in the order
named, which formation was maintained throughout
the action.
"The squadron opened fire at nineteen minutes
to six A. Mr. While advancing to the attack two
mines were exploded alhead of tlhe flag-ship, too far
to be effective. The squadron maintained a continuous and precise fire at ranges varying from 5,000
to 2,000 yards, counter-mnarching in a line approximately parallel to that of the Spanish fleet. The
enemy's fire was vigorous, but generally ineffective.
Early in the engagement two launches put out toward the Olympia with the apparent intention of
using torpedoes. One was sunk and the other disabled by our fire and beached before they were able
to fire their torpedoes.
" At seven A. AM. the Spanisl flag-ship Reina Cristina made a desperate attempt to leave the line and
come out to engage at short range, but was received
witll such a galling fire, the entire battery of the Olympia being concentrated upon her, that she was barely
able to return to the shelter of the point. The fires
started in her by our shell at the time were not
extinguished until she sank.
"The three batteries at Manila had kept up a
continuous fire from the beginning of the engagement, which fire was not returned by my squadron.
The first of these batteries was situated on the south
mole head at the entrance of the Pasig River, the
second on the south position of the walled city of
Manila, and the tlird at Malate, about one-half mile
farther south. At this point I sent a message to the




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


8t


Governor-General to the effect that if the batteries
did not cease firing the city would be shelled. This
had the effect of silencing them.
"At twenty-five minutes to eight A. M. I ceased
firing and withdrew the squadron for breakfast. At
sixteen minutes after eleven I returned to the attack. By this time the Spanish flag-ship and almost
all the Spanish fleet were in flames. At half-past
twelve the squadron ceased firing, the batteries being
silenced and the ships sunk, burned and deserted.
" At twenty minutes to one the squadron returned
and anchored off Manila, the Petrel being left behind
to complete the destruction of the smaller gunboats,
which were behind the point of Cavite. This duty
was performed by Commander E. P. Wood in the
most expeditious and complete manner possible.
The Spanish lost the following vessels:-Sunk,
Reina Cristina, Castilla, Don Antonio de Ulloa;
burned, Don Jluan d(e Aunstria, Isla de Luzon, Isla
de Cuba, General Lezo, lMarques del Duero, El Correo,
Velasco and Isla de Miindanao (transport); captured,
Rapido and Hercules (tugs) and several small
launches.
" I am unable to obtain complete accounts of the
enemy's killed and wounded, but believe their losses
to be very heavy. The Reina Cristina alone had
one hundred and fifty killed, including the captain,
and ninety wounded. I am happy to report that the
damage done to the squadron under my command
was inconsiderable. There was none killed and only
seven men in the squadron were slightly wounded.
Several of the vessels were struck and even penetrated, but the damage was of the slightest, and the
squadron is in as good condition now as before the
battle.
" I beg to state to the department that I doubt
if any commander-in-chief was ever served by more
6          --




82


THE LIFE AND CAREER


loyal, efficient and gallant captains than those of the
squadron under my command.      Captain Frank
Wildes, commanding the Boston, volunteered to remain in command of his vessel, although his relief
arrived before leaving Hong Kong. Assistant Surgeon Kindelberger, of the Olymnz)ia, and Gunner
J. C. Evans, of the Boston, also volunteered to remain after orders detaching them had arrived.
" The conduct of my personal staff was excellent.
Commander B. P. Lamberton, Chief of Staff, was a
volunteer for that position, and gave me most efficient
aid. Lieutenant Brumby, flag lieutenant, and Ensign E. P. Scott, aid, performed their duties as signal
officers in a highly creditable manner. Caldwell,
flag secretary, volunteered for and was assigned to a
subdivision of the 5-inch battery. Mr. J. L. Stickney, formerly an officer in the United States Navy,
and now correspondent for the Nezw York Herald,
volunteered for duty as my aid, and rendered valuable service. I desire especially to mention the
coolness of Lieutenant C. G. Calkins, the navigator
of the Olyimpia, who came under my personal observation, being on the bridge with me throughout
the entire action and giving the ranges of the guns
with an accuracy that was proven by the excellence
of the firing.
" On May 2, the day following the engagement,
the squadron again went to Cavite, where it remains.
On the 3d the military forces evacuated the Cavite
arsenal, which was taken possession of by a landing
party. On the same day the Raleigh and Baltimore
secured the surrender of the batteries on Corregidor
Island, paroling the garrison and destroying the
guns.  On the morning of May 4 the transport
Manila, which had been aground in Bakor Bay, was
towed off and made a prize."




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


83


CHAPTER IX.
FENCING FOR TIME.-THE INSURRECTION AND ITS
HEAD.-THE MOCK TREATY.-WHILE HELP WAS
DUE.-OUR ' ALLIES. — GUARDING THE PRIZE.
THE victorious fleet now lay at Sangley Point, near
Cavite, commanding a view of the two inlets at the
Bay mouth, and having Manila under its guns.
The shore was dotted with the ruins of the vessels
partly sunk; smokestacks and short masts stuck up
like bones of mastodons in an antediluvian cemetery.
Beyond, rolled the ocean where never more would
the Spaniard domineer; he was now cowering between
the conqueror and the rebels, of whom he had long
since lost the confidence, and the power to re-fasten
the yoke.
News of the glorious action had been despatched
to Hong Kong for Washington, as the other means
of telegraphic communication was severed.
Early next morning, Monday, order was given for
Captain Laniberton to take possession of Cavite town
and arsenal. This gallant officer had come from
home to take command of the Boston, but its own
captain, though his time was up, had pleaded so
warmly to retain his post during the battle impending, that his entreaty was granted. By way of compensation, the arrangements of the transfer of Cavite
were placed in his hands.
The Petrel conveyed him and a landing-party for
escort to the jetty.
Fully aware of the traditional treachery of t]e
Spanish, also an everyday tale in the Orient, Lamber



84


THE LIFE AND CAREER


ton prudently desired the captain of the Petrel to
allow him an hour only within the lines of the beaten
forces; if he did not reappear then, the man-of-war
might fire on the place and rescue him dead, if he
were not fated to come forth alive.
That would be ten A. r.
As a fact, the intruder found the arsenal guarded
by some eight hundred marines (Infantleria (le la
Marina), well armed with the Mauser rifle of which
we heard frightful things in the Cuban campaign.
This was hardly the proper aspect of a capitulating foe.
The envoy was received by Captain Sostoa, I. N.,
in the absence of his admiral.
The visiting party, comprising Dewey's aid, and
Lieutenant Wood, with the messenger, wero soon
encompassed by what might be curious soldiers but
more resembled a guard.
" How comes it," was the question put indignantly
without hesitation, " that this place is filled with men
under all arms, though you ran up the white flag
yesterday, in token, we suppose, of complete surrender?"
The Spaniard replied with the m.orgue, or phlegm,
of his nation, that they had not hoisted the blank
flag in sign of defeat, but merely to cover women and
children being removed to a safer spot.
This evasion was enough to make anybody frown.
The American shortly returned that the non-combatants ought to have been removed long before, and
that no one in modern warfare recognized such
devices.
The other retorted that they had no time. in truth,
as the Yankees had begun so early-caught them napping, in short! It was the kind of reproof the old
Austrian general uttered against Bonaparte because
he had taken his citadel contrary to the tactics up to
then in vogue.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


85


" But you fired the first shot!" was remonstrated.
Lamberton did not trouble to continue the discussion: lie plainly announced that he had come to
take possession of the place; if it were not surrendered, the fleet would again open fire.
This threat staggered the other, who had expected
to gain time-perhaps, till the eternal "to-morrow"
of his race and that latitude.  He urged that he
must consult with his superiors, as he was only a navy
captain. He also wanted the demand put in writing.
This was done, as a formality, but there was no more
shilly-shally. Besides, it was dangerous to linger,
since the Petrel, as was agreed, might turn on her
guns; the hour was nearly expired.
So Captain Sostoa was allowed two hours to settle
with his admiral, and the governor of the province
and city, before repeating their decision.
The party hastened to re-embark and cross the
Bay to communicate the report.
At 10:45, the white flag went up once more: the
surrender was undisputed this time; but there is
always a card up the sleeve of the Peninsulars:
when the marines landed to take charge, they found
nobody there, it is true, but all the sailors, navyyard men and marines had marched off with all the
weapons, small arms and muskets, which is contrary
to established usage in such cases.
" The scurvy rats!" remarked a seaman, " I wonder they did not blow up the stores!"
Shortly after the occupation of the port and Cavite,
happened one of the comic incidents of the war.
One day, a pert little gunboat ran 'up into the Bay.
She had the red-and-yellow flying and, with all the
confidence of the world, made straight for the flagship as if it were Torn Thumb emboldened to attack
a giant. As in duty bound, two or three vessels, in
the road, incontinently opened fire upon her with




86


THE LIFE AND CAREER


six-pounders, for she was right in amongst them
before they could recover from their amaze at
such audacity.
These loaded shots were taken for simple salutes,
it would seem, for it did not stay the Callao-such
was her name-in the least. Saucy and reckless,
she continued to run a-muck at the Olympia.
But when a live shell ripped the sun-blind clean
across her waspy waist, her commander must have
perceived that he was very much out of his calculations; indeed, head mistaken the fleet for his own
and the flag-ship for Admiral Mlontejo's. He had been
living in the woods —that is to say, more precisely,
coasting-and was totally unaware not only that
war had been declared between the U. S. A. and the
Kingdom of Spain, but that the fleet he sought had
been devastated and now strewed the shores, and the
admiral, to whom he thought to report, was laid on
a bed of pain after his flag-ship had been cleft to the
water's edge.
This nautical Rip van Winkle, whose real name was
Pau, was now undeceived by the officer who went
aboard in his cutter and demanded his sword.
It is said that his blank face, immediately wearing
an expression of astonishment, would have been a
fortune to a low comedian.
After all, no one blamed him for the blunder, as he
made our navy a pretty little present; the Callao
was built for these shallow estuaries, and was promptly
put in commission to chase his fellow-countrymen
in the coast outposts.
As tender to the Concord, she soon did the States
some service.
By the 16th of May, the blockade was strictly established over Manila. Trade was paralyzed, of course,
and a scarcity of provisions prevailed.
All over the country, the news of the strangers




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


87


having soundly thrashed the hereditary foes and
cooped them up in the city was carried by word of
mouth, but with a celerity which beats the telephone. The rebel ar-my, which had been disbanded
nominally when, in 1897, its leader accepted a sum
of money from the niother-country, began to flock
under arms anew-said arms being in many cases a
cane pointed and " steeled " in the bush-fire. They
appeared on the landside of Manila, and so zealously
liarried the garrison that this was frying between
two fires, theirs and the fleet.
Our Admiral, as he began to be called-for he
was promoted from Acting Rear-Admiral to a full
Rear-Admiral's dignity in July, and created a full
Admiral in December, 1898 (the pupil of Farragut
holding at last the honor landed down to Admiral
Porter, and held by no other in the interim)-our Admiral sent word home that he could take the town
" at any hour."  But he had as yet no force to hold
it.
Since help from the States came so slowly, for it
would seem that the importance of our conquest was
not realized in Washinglton, it was necessary to keep
the Spanish employed on land by other hands.
Therefore, the chief of the native party in opposition to the tottering government was solicited to fling
his brand again into the conflagration.
It was Emilio Aguinaldo, the Bolivar of the Philippines.
Who is Aguinaldo? was the natural question in
America when it was learnt that this was the name
of one whom Admiral Dewey allowed to be transported with his immediate followers from China, where
he had been fostered by our Consul, upon a goverment vessel. And, more to the purpose, as soon as
he landed at Cavite, on May 19th, to raise again the
rebel flag, not soon to be hauled down, he was lib



88


THE LIFE AND CAREER


erally supplied with modern martial equipment out
of the plentiful Spanish stores in the arsenal.
The earlier history of the Philippine Colony is that
of all under the Spanish scepter; the iron hand is
only relaxed that the slave may breathe again and
do another day's work.
The natives, meek though they are for the main
part, had enough of the human spirit to revolt now
and then, and try to throw off the inlsufferable yoke.
Ignorant as the masses are, they had leaders who had
caught a glimpse of freedom in other spots, in travels in Europe or our mlore enlightening lands.
These on their return, simultaneously with the
Cubans, in that freedom's fight never done, organized
a Revolutionary Junta, which kept galling the Viceroy's side.
Steel and garotte had done their utmost without
avail, but it was thought that gold would serve the
purpose better; though gold was tihe metal impoverished Spain had the least of, it was found for the
pacification of the Philippines.
In 1897, it was telegraplhed to the world il general
and for the rejoicing of the Spanish bondholder ini
particular, that the Philippine Insurrection was at
an end. Unable to procure arms through the excellent cordon around the islands at last completed by
the masters, the rebels were helpless and their chiefs
had listened to the counselor, aided by the music of
rattling coin.
The Junta Patriotica, with whom the agent of
Spain had dealt, was composed of a president, homne,
foreign, and war secretary. The president, Agninaldo, and a kinsman filled two of tlie offices.
Emilio Aguinaldo y Famos, born of a good provincial family of Cavite, was educated at Manila for the
legal profession.
As in France, the bar leads to the barricade or the




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


89


judge's bench just as the advocate speaks for people
or patrician.
He was actively concerned in the opposition afield
against the tyrants in the fall of 1896, but he did not
become a leader until a noted insurrectionist, Dr.
Rizal, was executed and left him a place in the Rebel
Cabinet.
As president, he had the management of the negotiation on the weaker side.
Eight hundred thousand Mexican dollars, say half
that amount in our currency, was the bribe, for all
the arms the Junta's followers held to be given up,
while these active though unfaithful spirits were
prudently to go away from the islands and stay aloof
at the will of the Home Government. They were to
use all their influence while at home in disbanding
and disarming their forces, and keep up the peaceful arguments from a distance.
Neither of the parties trusted the other-" Arca(de  ambo," or, as Lord Byron translated it:
" Blackguards both!"  So, while Home Secretary
of the Revolutionists Artacho surrendered to the
Captain-General of the Philippines as a hostage, his
clief went to neutral ground, that is, Hong Kong,
the British trading-port of China, to receive the first
instalment of the cash.
Half the money, as earnest, was, in truth, waiting
in the bank there.
So Aguinaldo telegraphed that Artacho could be
let loose. He, too, hurried to the spot, in hot haste,
to finger his share of the hush money.
Artacho wanted to have the funds to divide it
among the leaders according to their rank, in which
case he would have a lion's share. But Aguinaldo,
more honorably, insisted that it was a trust fund to
be held until it was seen how the Spaniards carried
out their side of the contract. If they behaved ill,




90


THE LIFE AND CAREER


the money would be justly used in renewing the war!
Artacho had attached the deposit however, so that
no one could handle it, unless his embargo was removed. He was finally calmed by a plaster of five
thousand. The rest was turned into the exchequer
of the rebellion, and the Spanish are believed to know
that it was thus spent.
The treaty between insurrectionists and royalists
was signed and, as usual in these mock " pacifications," the party of the first part began to cheat and
distort the clauses.
Insurgents who had been sent into penal servitude
-and the horrors of Spanisl convicts deserve a page
alongside that of Russia's-were not released according to proviso. Other leaders were punished as
soon as they fell into the soldiers' hands; and the
whole colony was bled worse than before; it was Dr.
Sangrado in office, without even replacing the vital
fluid he drew with warm water.
The reforms promised were important and extensive, too much so for their execution to be believed
other than a delusion. Restrict the powers of the
religious orders-this to be done by the Most Catholic of Monarchies! Let the Philippines be properly
represented in the Spanish Cortez (Congress)-Lord
North would sooner have greeted a Quaker or a Mohegan on the peers' benches in the House of Lords!
Justice and law to be the same for native and
Spaniard in the colonies! Natives to hold offices!
what would the nobles' younger sons do! and, most
outrageous of pledges to be believed honest-the
press was to be free!
It is with such treaties that Satan fires up his
furnaces!
Not only were none of the promises put into fact,
but the contrary was the course.
The Captain-General, Primo de Rivera, was called




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


91


home in order that a successor might be substituted
who would not know the real state of the case and how
the natives, merchants and foreigners regarded the rebellion. If a few pardons were granted, perhaps, to
traitors, the general amnesty was never issued. The
religious orders were given enlarged power, those
that caused the outbreak at the first being signally
honored. Before General de Rivera departed, he
denied there was any agreement, and had executions
take place of persons who had( his own assurance
they would be protected.  But he returned to Spain,
to receive his reward for this sham "pacification "a grand cross of one order or another! lIe was a
" Prince of Peace " after the manner of Godoy, because he had killed those who might cry out against
him!
The Filipinos urge these breaches as grounds for
their renewing the insurrection, and this time not to
be blocked by words, words and more words!
Aguinaldo, whom his countrymen believe not to
have any of the Spanish coin stuck to his fingers,
must have thought the renewal of tile conflict far
from hopeful.  He was on the way to Europe, when
the news reached him at Singapore that the Maine
man-of-war had been mysteriously blown up in
Havana Harbor. Familiar with the Spanish, he
guessed that this was no accident, and that it could
not be explained away or smoothed over with Bancode-Espana shin-plasters to the astute Yankees. So
he siiffed the gigantic typhoon brewing and retraced his steps. Like the petrel, he might gather
his support out of the havoc wrought by the tempest inevitably about to burst on his country's
enslaver.
In Singapore he opened negotiations with our
consul, Mr. Pratt, and he claims that he was led on
to believe that the independence of the Philippines




92


THE LIFE AND CAREER


would be his reward if he helped the United States
to oust the Spanish.
He is not so foolish, having extraordinary intelligence for one of his race, which are not dolts, as to
credit a consul with authority to pledge his government, but we must acknowledge that when he
landed in Manila Bay and found our Admiral lord of
the sea, but unable to drive the Spanish out of the
city because he could not hold it down if it were
vacated, he nighlt reasonably think his furnishing
the land forces desired would justify even high pretensions for recompense.
When war was certain, though not yet proclaimed,
Aguinaldo hastened to tHong Kong to try to accompany the Admiral to the scene of strife. This attempt is what led to the romantic story that he did
so sail with him and even piloted him through the
inlet into Manila Bay! It is as likely as that he furnished him with a chart of the port, with the places
of the submarine defenses laid down!-as if the rebels
would have been so far in the confidence of the
Royal Navy!
There was one Filipino on board, it is granted, but
it was an interpreter in case any fishermen were
picked up to be impressed as pilot.
The only fact known is, that after being about the
Consulate in hIong Kong most persistently, Agninaldo and his cohort, securing a pass from the Admiral, were shipped by Consul-General Wildman,
who was always the Rebel President's good friend, to
be landed at Cavite, with what authority his traveling under the American flag may give.
The foreigners thought he was our ally, in a more
or less humble way. And the natives, naturally, believed he had secured all but our open adhesion.
It was gladly rumored among our men that the
home country was at last properly roused to the




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


93


dead-lock at Manila. It was reported on all sides,
on the faith of family letters, that a regular army
was being put on trlansports at Saii Francisco, that
a volunteer army was being raised to the same end,
and that not only were supply vessels being chartered,
at least, but that monitors were bound for Cavite.
Oh, to have had ten regiments and a couple of field
batteries on the main land, then!
Aguinaldo was intensely active: he issued, after
the style of the Spanish-Filipinos, proclamation on
proclamation. HIe more than hinted that the United
States, which had frightened the old foe of his
country out of South America, and the French out
of Mexico, and were expelling their own tyrant from
Cuba, their sister-sufferer, was about to give them
the helping hand to finish the struggle renewed.
He proposed a Dictatorship (himself in the office)
and an Advisory Council, until there was a free
Philippines I  He forbade farther parleying with
the Spanish, as their words only preluded active deception.  He would treat as spies all Spanish who
came to treat with him unless they had credentials
to allow independence and make a binding peace.
The Filipino who bargained about his country was to
be hanged and labeled "Traitor to his Nativeland!"
He farther decreed, quite with enlightenment:
Foreigners are to be respected in their lives and
liberties. This included Chinese, and even those
Spanish who had not borne arms against the Filipinos or actively abetted the Spanish; the enemy
who surrendered shortly was to be also shielded in
goods and person.
Hospitals, ambulances and the 'like were to be respected, unless their guards showed fight. As for
infringers of these laws, they were to be court-martialed and shot if their acts had caused bloodshed,
incendiarism, robbery or riot.




94


THE LIFE AND CAREER


It was as good a pronunciamento as the Spaniards,
masters in this high-faluting composition, could
publish.
Thanks to these utterances, and what was left of
the money before mentioned, General Aguinaldo
had collected a thousand meii in a week (Mfay 2f9th),
under his flag, wlich is a red band above a blue one,
with a white diamond partly showing with its point
away fronm the staff.
They had no uniform, it is true, which matters
nothing where a man is prone to fight in the Georgia
colonel's costume-a shirt-collar and a pair of spurs
-that is, a blouse and a straw hat; but his followers
lacked weapons. They had not even the qmacete of
the Cubans.
Admiral Dewey came gallantly to their relief. IHe
could not but admire this rabble whichl, however,
had already shaken the Spaniard in his stronghold
and made him shrink from engaging them in the
marshes. IIe had plenty of small arms and appurtenances abandoned in the Cavite arsenal, and he
supplied his improvised auxiliaries, togetler with
ammunition; they were mostly Mlauser rifles, and
some lookers-on did not hesitate to affirm that the
rebels were now armed better than the Americans
would be who were hastening over-sea to succor
them.
It was necessary to arm them well, as the Spanish
had sent the pick of their military into tle East
Indies.
Moreover, Aguinaldo had certainly been applying
some of the Spanish " reptile-funlld " to patriotic purposes, as a small steamer arrived from China carrying for them  three thousand Remington breechloaders with cartridges complete.
Those who have seen the most stolid savage melt
and break out into ecstasy over a weapon of suoh




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


95


price as he never dreamt to possess, may conceive
the joy of the insurgents at this armament.
The Americans began to be more cheerful themselves as advices came to hand, showing that, at
length, supplies and men were on the long way.
The Cruiser Charleston might be soon expected, as
she had left San Francisco with provisions, if no
troops.
On May 25th, the transports City of Peking, City
of Sydney, and the Australia, all British, since we
had no merchant reserve to draw upon in the Pacific,
sailed out of the Golden Gate with not only two
thousand five hundred soldiers, but a year's supply
of food, with naval stores, and the peculiar ammunition for the machine and other complicated ship
gulls.
If the Filipinos, armed at last, were not affected
by this good intelligence, they were inspired into
making short work of their long-time foe. In the
night of the 26th, General Aguinaldo sent five hundred of his choicest irregulars over Bakor Creek,
which is to the southward of Old Cavite, in order to
separate the Spanish garrison there from another
troop at the Powder Magazine. The Americans could
follow the movement in a measure as the Filipinos,
like our Southwestern savages, use fire-pillars by day
and smoke-columns by night as a mode of signaling.
In this case, to give the heated vapor a shape, they
used a stove-pipe, on the beach, the stopping of the
fumes being managed by clapping a hat over the
orifice.
The five hundred succeeded in' making prisoners
of all the soldiers on the shore, except at Old Cavite,
better protected by the Old Church and the strong
walls of other ecclesiastical buildings. The ancient
Spanish were no "jerry" builders: they used Such
good mortar that in places one may see it firm in




96


THE LIFE AND CAREER


the chinks, while the stone has crumbled away in
course of time.
It was said that, for a novelty, the Spanish were
housed fairly and treated better than ever before in
the guerrilla warfare of the islands. American influence was already ameliorating conditions.
CHAPTER X.
SUCCESS OF THE REBELS.-AN AMUSING EPISODE. —
BULLYING AND BACKIN(G I)OWN. —ITE PEACE. ---
DISAPPOINTMENT TO TILE INSURGENTS.
HANGING back from assaulting Old Cavite, the
rebels gradually drove the enemy into tlhe improvised
fort of the church there, and sat down to besiege
them, hoping to starve tlem out.
It was known, about the opening of June, that
Admiral Dewey had his replacing officer designated
in Rear-Admiral J. C. Watson, wlo was en route to
take over the arduous office of overcoming the
Spanish and dealing with the insurrection.
But it was not supposed that Dewey would quit
until tlle PI'ilippines were quieted.
On the 13th of Junre, it was reported that the insurgents blad captured 2,500 prisoners. There was
no knowing what to do witl them. TIhe captors
liad a difficulty as well as a repugnance to feeding
and caring for tlem; their ownI comrades, henmmed
in at Manila, wanted no more companions in misery,
and, logically, they could not be " cabined, cribbed
and confined " on board the fleet.
On the head of this came the news that a thousand
more, harassed, famished and hunted till footsore,
had also surrendered to the natives,




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


These felt " the embarrassment of "-poverty-not
of riches.
Here occurred another of those laughable events
which makes the Muse of history soften her stern
features and wear a fleeting smile.
Our cruiser, the Charleston, as stated, had left the
Californian port on the 22d of the previous month,
convoying the three vessels forming the first Alanila
Relief Expedition.
On the 20th day of June she reached the Ladrone
Islands.
These waters have their tragic memories, for, to
Bay nothing of numerous piracies and cannibalistic
feasts on their coral strands, Magellan was slain by
the savages of Samar, and his expedition, dwindled
down to one ship and less than twenty men, returned
to Spain in melancholy straits.
But the anticipated resistance was not encountered
in even the faintest degree.
The man-of-war steamed    into Port San Luis
d'Apra, Island of Guam, and fired thirteen shells at
the fortifications. There was no response, but two
small boats put out from shore and approached the
cruiser.  They contained the captain of the port
and the health officer, who apologized for not
returning the salute, owing to the fact that the
proper means were not at their disposal.
Captain Glass, of the Charleston, astonished the
Spanish officers by telling them that his guns had
beeni fired, not as a salute, but as a demand for sturrender. The Spaniards, like the Ilaster of thle gunboat Callao, cut off entirely from the outside world,
were quite unaware that war had 'been declared between the United States and Spain.
Lieutenant Braunersreuther, with a force of
marines, went ashore, notified the Governor of the
condition of affairs, and demanded his surrender.
7




98


THE LIFE AND CAREER


This official, Senor Jose Marina, was thunderstruck
He and his staff were taken on board the Charleston,
and the next day started for Manila, after seeing the
Stars and Stripes waving over the government
buildings.
The newcomers reported that two or more monitors
were coming to make Manila a certain American
stronghold.
It was time. One Power was beginning to loom
up as a menace.
The German difficulty may be recounted at this
page.
Spain had long ago found her distant possessions,
with their dissatisfied and turbulent populations,
white elephants on her liands.
In 1835, her French creditors being clamorous
under the reign   of the " Citizen-King " Louis
Philippe, when Stock Exchange operations were becoming a weighty element in governmental politics,
she proposed selling them to France.
Cuba was offered at thirty millions of dollars and
Porto Rico and the Philippines, lotted together as
at an auction sale, were fixed at ten millions. The
French clutched at the former prize, to augment
their West Indian colonies, sadly curtailed by the
British spoliations in recent wars, but gibed at
paying the rate settled for the other articles.
Lord Palmerston, Prime Minister of England, was
agreed on as arbitrator, and lie said that these were
estimated too highly. This demurrer offended the
Spanish grandee who was the salesman and, in a
huff, he literally flung the papers into the fire, and
threw up the negotiation.
Now, in 1898, up came a similar possible escape
from  the dilemma. But it was obligatory to deal
sharply-as it was even now the selling of a bone in
the dog's mouth, since the Philippines were under




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


99


the guns of Dewey. And the monitors, of which
the European navies have always had a good opinion
as harbor defenders, were coming.
It leaked out that the Spanish Premier, Sagasta,
pushed to do something to relieve the tension in
Madrid, where the Queen Regent threatened to abdicate and leave the realm between Carlists and
Republicans, was angling for the Germans to intervene. He proposed for five hundred million marks,
or twenty million dollars (the price had gone up in
sixty years!), to allow the Kaiser Wilhelm to establish a protectorate over the debatable islands-the
Americans to the contrary notwithstanding! Thereupon, the Spanish would devote the money to effectually prosecuting the Cuban War!
Little did he foresee what would happen to
Cervera's fleet before another Fourth of July should
dawn.
More or less in consequence of this project, the
Germans began to show a troublesome front in the
Asiatic seas.
On the other hand, it looked as if the Royal Government would soon have no leg at home to stand
on, while trying to sell what was only nominally in
the market. The Cortez was dissolved-all was at
sixes-and-sevens-(not the Spanish funds, very much
lower!) and martial law was proclaimed in Madrid.
In this month of June, there came before Manila,
sixteen hundred soldiers on four German war-ships of
their East Asian Squadron. This manifestation was ostensibly to protect German interests in those waters,
which,at Manila,at all events,did not amount to a paper
of pins. Something of this sort, it may be recalled,
instigated the Samoan imbroglio. It required all of
our Admiral's tact, rock-like firmness, inflexible
courtesy and exalted trust in our manifest destiny
in this quarter of the globe, to avoid an international




100


T'HE LIFE AND CAREER


struggle to which the brief crushing of effete Spain
in the far East would be as a tempest in a tea-pot.
On all sides were causes of irritation from these
interlopers. German officers are exceedingly yielding as regards their superiors, but they will show
arrogance and a quarrelsome air towards strangers.
This has been prevalent since the Franco-Prussian
War.
The word seemed passed that bones should be
thrown out every day to have a casus belli before our
reinforcements, military  and naval, were actually
landed to change the whole face of the American
capture.
The German officers landed in Manila to be greeted
there by their Spanish compeers as though they were
brothers, certainly sympathetic if not absolutely
friendly.  More than once, after the blockade was in
force, the Germans made a flourish of saluting the
Spanish flag as if to be conspicuous, not to say solitary, as the British and the French did not notice
it; while the Japanese, flushed with their triumph
over the Chinese liftiig them into prominence as a
naval power, only once paid it any deference.
It looked as if the German officers had free leave
to go on shore, carrying news to their intimates in
the Spanish trenches, where they had the run of the
place as if they intended to post their marines there
by and by.
"The local press" of Manila (one official paper)
boldly assured " their " readers that the subjects of
the Kaiser were allies and would at once unmask if
the " Yankee Porkers" attempted any overt roughness to the threatened but still unconquered sons of
the Cid.
The day has gone by since Bismarck, asked if
England and Germany would ever fight, replied
with grim  humor:




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I01


" Does a bull-dog attack a whale?" meaning that
England was unassailable upon the ocean.
The current talk on the waters was ominous'as
concerned the prospect of peace.
The French sailors openly talked of the part they
would take towards "the Great Revenge," nursed
since Sedan, in case the Germans and Americans
came to loggerheads; the British, with all that old
amity tersely put by our captain in the Chinese
waters who said, on rescuing British seamen drowning under the Chinese forts: "Blood is thicker
than water! " made no pretense to withhold signs
that they would be ranged alongside the Olympia to
turn the ram against the Kaiser's fleet; the Japanese
were likely to assist the natives if only for a fellow
feeling for the color.
It was even hinted, in this chaos of contention,
that Japan was in the market, too, to acquire the
Philippines;-such as we did not care to manage!
The culmination of this ferment was near when
the German Admiral, Diederichs, was given to understand with that bluntness which pierced through
courtesy worn threadbare, that any craft, even the
German, that got between the American guns and
the Spanish ones, ran the risk without farther warning of being blown out of water and being hurled
more or less in an unserviceable condition into the
Spanish lines.
The German commander protested that no offense
was meant, and said, in proof of which, that he was
lessening the strength of his squadron: indeed, he
detached two or three of the lighter vessels; but it
was a sham maneuver, for these retired only a little
way off, to Cebu, Mariveles and Subig Bay, whence
they could have been recalled by the firing of cannon
in conflict.
On the 17th June, the.McCullough, which was a




I02


THE LIFE AND CAREER


perfect Wandering Jew of the waters, in cruising
about Corregidor Island, hailed the German frigate
Irene —"Want to speak you!"    But the other
ignored the pert little thing, and would have continued her way but for a small boat putting out
to intercept her.  The Irene's captain excused
his not stopping as he had not understood the
signal.
This Irene was apparently chosen as a mischiefmaker. She was wont to patrol the shore like a dog
nosing out a fight.
In July, she came upon a coasting-steamer called
the Filipinas, by the insurgents. This had been in
the Spanish merchant service, and owned by Spaniards, but on a voyage the native crew had mutinied,
under pretense of being inflamed with patriotism,
killed the dozen Spaniards who officered them, and
hoisted the Rebel colors.
She had about half her cargo in, of tobacco, that
is, three hundred tons, when she saw the German
cruiser.  Thinking it an enemy of some sort, she
ran to hide in the coves of Subig Bay, where the
Irene ferreted her out.  The Germans threatened
that she would be made a prize of and sent into
Manila, with her crew as prisoners, unless she pulled
down her unrecognized flag and, at least, hoisted the
neutral one of white.
They refused, and word was sent ashore.  This
was forwarded to the Americans, supposed to be the
only ones authorized by rights of war " to police"
the coast.
Directly afterwards, the insurgents cleared the
coast around Subig of the Spanish, who took refuge
with wounded, sick and some women, on the Isla
Granda, near the mouth of Subig Bay. Here the
Irene stood in and haughtily warned the rebels to
quit hostilities and leave their prey alone.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


It wag this conduct which caused the insurgents,
very properly, to acquaint the new American " Captain-General" at Manila with the intelligence of the
upstart.
Dewey sent the Raleigh and the Concord in haste
to the spot, whence the Irene, nowise desirous to be
pinched betwixt them, made off without either explanations or excuses, and the Spanish waited in vain
for her encouragement in the future.
On the Fourth of July, while the thrilling news of
the destruction of Cervera's fleet at Santiago was in
the air, our troops were landed from the relief fleet
at Cavite.
The soldiers, who were received with lusty cheers,
which also beat out the chances of success in a German interference, brought the tidings that more
troops were on the way, under command of a MajorGeneral, H. G. Otis.
On the 25th of July, landed Brigadier-General
Merritt to take command of the land forces, preceding General Otis.
Born a New Yorker, lie entered West Point from
Illinois July 1, 1855. He was a second lieutenant
when the war broke out, and became a captain of
the Second Cavalry April 5, 1862. Ile became brigadfier-general of volunteers June 29, 1863; brevet
major-general, October 19, 1864, and major-general of
volunteers April 1, 1865. HIe re-entered the Regular
Army as lieutenant-colonel of the Ninth Cavalry
July 28, 1866, was made colonel of the Fifth Cavalry
ten years later, and received his present commission
April 16, 1887. HIe earned his commission as majorgeneral of volunteers for gallant services in the
Virginia campaign, and received his brevet title of
major-general for the same reason.
There was to be no farther dilly-dallying, although
the army of the U. S. A. on foot was not numerous.




104


THE LIFE AND CAREER


Nevertheless, the Spanish were undermined with
insufficiency of food, cowed by the rebels who had
gradually driven them all into the town or under
cover, and, perhaps-according to deserters' stories,
tired of the whole affair, which was considered desperate.
Practically all the Spanish on Luzon were now
beleaguered in Manila. On the side not menaced by
our troops, the rebels presented an impassable array.
There was a joint notice from Admiral Dewey and
General Merritt that all non-combatants must quit
the city within forty-eight hours or abide the result
of the combined attack from the regulars, volunteers
and blue-jackets.
Surrounded, and the inhabitants being on the verge
of starvation, the Commandant, General Jaudenes,
begged time to coimmunicate with Madrid and receive
his final orders.
This was on the 7th of August.
The piteous appeal reached Madrid while Peace
was overcoming the last ebullitions of Spanish pride,
suffering the sorest blow to her prestige which she
had ever known since the doom of tihe Armada.
Montejo's fleet and Cervera's had suffered the same
unsparing fate.  The home fleet, under Admiral
Camara, had been a " flying"' one in full acceptation
of the title.
Its behavior had certainly given its seamen plenty
of change of air. It had Ilovered over the Spanish
coast, lest an American fleet should arrive and bombard Cadiz, Barcelona or San Sebastianl; it had
started to fall upon Dewey, but had been stopped in
the gates of the Suez Canal by the ignoble plea tlat
it should not pass unless it paid tle tonnlge fees!
Unfortunately, the naval chest was not in funds and
all had to wait until the cash was, by some desperate
expedient, obtained from the (Capital-Spanish bonds




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


trembling with paresis! and then-had to return
for want of coal!
Admiral Camara was like the king of nursery lore,
who "marched up the hill and then-marched down
again! "
Commodore Watson was at tlle head of a flying
squadron collected to go across tile Atlantic and,
if Camara continued to head for Manila, to overtake
him; or, if that failed, to follow him up and perhaps crush him  between his vessels and Dewey's
at Manila. A glorious consummation but, however
devoutly wished for, by those who trusted to wipe
out the tyrant Spain from the map of Europe, where
she has been a sanguinary blot, nothing like that
occurred.
Camara moored again in Spanish waters and fired
no gun at tile American colors.
As sailors said, in their vulgar way but truthfully,
"Spain had the sick! "
Since 1897, they had undergone a great undeceiving in the Old Country.
Then, the returning General Primo de Rivera had
been proclaimed " the Pacificator of the Philippines."
The rejoicing was great and Madrid was draped in
bunting and illuminated.
We have set down what the real terms were, but
they were differently stated for the Spanish people.
All was tinted in rose. It looked a little dubious that
the organizer of the Rebellion, Rizal the Younger,
had disappeared, but no importance was attached to
what he might undertake to avenge his father and
revive the extinguished flame. At Christmas, 1897,
the rebel leaders, Aguinaldo at the head, were to
sign the lefinitive treaty at Lingayen whither they
were being conducted by the soldiery, whom the
terms of peace showed up, said the Government,
"in perfect honor! 




Io6


THE LIFE AND CAREER


This peace with the Filipinos was to leave Spain
to devote all means and men to subduing Cuba.
A mere handful of rebels, mainly deserters, it was
admitted, remained up in the inaccessible mountains,
probably commanded by Rizal.
He, for one, would be an Irreconcilable because
of his talented father being done to death.
This Dr. Jose Rizal, it was now acknowledged,
was a loss to the Eastern country. He was of nearly
pure Castilian stock, handsome, gentlemanly, scientific, linguistic, poetical and romantic.  lie had
written novels in English as well as his native
Spanish, which latter were being read in Spain, with
too late regret that he had been shot in October,
1896, as a rebel.
The military, seeing that this Filipino martyr was
so deplored, hastened to wash their hands of it.
Rivera intimated, like Pilate, that he was only obeying Caiaphas in dealing out death.
This was the only discord in the notes of rejoicing.
But that handful of rebels up in the mountains
had become quite an army now investing Manila,
and the Parliamentary Opposition talked of inquiring into the whole management of the Philippines!
The Queen had been dissuaded from  abdicating.
In addition, she and the Old Party had been persuaded to listen to reason, and to reason with the
Americans about a giviig up of all the haughty
traditions of the shattered country, without a navy
worthy of the name!
Every man would be wanted to defend the throne
if the Americans were let continue their career.
It was the deadly and irrepressible foe of monarchy
that was marching under the Stars and Stripes. As
our President well said:
"'From Plymouth Rock to the Philippines, the




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


10o7


grand triumphant march of Human Liberty has
never paused!"
Once, Spain was a Republic-this must not
occur again, said priest, noble and soldier.
In a man, " the first treasure is Life," says Dumas;
in a realm it is the Crown.
So Spain called upon France to save her from the
extremity which loomed up horribly.
Towards the end of July, while Dewey was
sharpening his sword for a finishing stroke, the
French Minister in Washington imparted the desire
of Spain to learn on what conditions she might hope
to be at peace. The answer was speedy and succinct. Without going into detail, particularly as
regarded monetary matters like indemnities, Cuba
was to be handed over with utter renunciation of
sovereignty, and it was to be immediately evacuated
by the Spanish soldiery; Porto Rico and all the remainder of the Spanish West Indian possessions were
to be ceded to the United States and evacuated by
the military powers; Guam in the Ladrones was to
be similarly set aside for the conquerors. As for the
Philippines, the United States were to retain all of
Manila and its vicinity which it held, while the treaty
of peace was to define the manner of disposing that
colony hereafter.
Not a word was breathed about the destruction of
the Mlaine, the root from which sprang all the bloodshed and ruin to the diminished kingdom.
These preliminaries were not kept from our press,
and such publicity clashing with the secret diplomatic methods of Europe and especially of Spain,
she took offense at it, but that was of no consequence.
It was submit or perish.
She stood alone; her bondholders wanted some
substance snatched out of the wreck to appease
them. Germany dared no longer thrust out an itch



18


THE LIFE AND CAREER;ig paw towards the prize escaping surely from her
covetous eyes; a little hope that, il case of war, her
subjects inl America would return to her allegiance
vanished, for the German-Amnericans, in numerous
meetings, affirmed their adopted coulltrv of their
steadfast allegiance, as proven in the Civil War, its
records adorned by such names as Rosencrantz, as
the Revolutionary one was by Steuben and Pulaski.
On the instant that Spain accepted the conditions,
suspension of hostilities was telegraphed to our commanders all over thle world.
This calling off the d(ogs of war came in time to
stop a battle in Porto Rico, but, thouglh despatched
to the Pacific on the 12th of August, did not reach
there until the 16th.
Napoleon tlhe Great ]has said that a battle can be
won in a quarter of an hour.
Admiral Dewey has shown that one can be fought
and won in the short space of a treaty of peace being
signed and countersigned.
On the 13th of August, a division of the fleet
opened on Mlate, and the southern side of Manlila,
shelling the works and coverinl our trenclies through
which our soldiers advanced and, emerging, leaped
into the enemy's outworks and stormed them. Eleven
thousand prisoners formed the harvest of the day.
None of the vessels and none of tleir crew received
injuries.
General Merritt's men kept the foe on the retreat
until tliev were huddled within the old city walls,
where, under the guns of tile fleet, resistance was
hopeless.
Our loss among the land forces, some of whose
fighlting was at close quarters, was thirteen killed
and forty-seven wounded.
General Jaudanes at last submitted to the inevitable, not trying to adjourn it until " the manana,"




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.           109
or waiting in the stereotyped way for confirmation
from Madrid. The Central Government was worth
nothing when the Yankees pushed them, literally, to
the wall. Our victorious forces carried their commander-in-chief into the Viceroy's palace where the
officers came to lay down their arms.
After the precedent of a Northern soldier raising
the flag over surrendered Santiago, setting the seal
on our conquest of Cuba, to a Southern hand, Lieutenant Brumby's, of Georgia, was chosen to hoist it
to envelop in its folds the highest mast of Manila. It
was a sublimely emphatic token how the " Blue and
the Gray march under one flag-we have but the one
flag now!-the same that our grandfathers lifted up."
The treaty of peace could come now-peace was,
in fact, concluded.
All was delight around the beaten ones; the insurgents expected that all their hopes and wishes, so
long and drearily cherished, would be realized.
These hopes were shortly dashed to earth. For, a
day or two later, came the President's terrible decision on a most urgent point:
" Permit no joint occupation with the Insurgents."
This was publicly proclaimed to the people by
order of General Merritt. All the assertions and
promises of the agitators were uprooted by this decree; after this, it was clear that the Americans had
the upper hand and meant to keep it high.
Still, whatever the disappointmentf, there was no
enmity created of a sudden. On the other hand, on
the 24th August, there was a conference between the
Insurrectionists and our chiefs, with the declaration
from the former that they were' still willing to cooperate with their brothers-in-arms, and that they
would surrender their arms-owed in part to themif they were assured of protection.
Certain that this was a true submission, General




IoI


THE LIFE AND CAREER


Merritt left the captured city to respond to the call
for him to attend the Peace Conference at Paris.
During August, the peace treaty had been drawn
up, discussed, edited and put into permanent shape.
The protocol had been duly approved and signed
by both parties, and they had selected the distinguished gentlemen to represent them at the Congress.
The American soldiers and sailors waited on their
arms and by their guns in the two hemispheres, regretful for the most part that their work seemed
utterly concluded.
" There is many a slip "-of the dogs of war.
Havoc was again to be let loose, at least in the
Orient.
CHAPTER XI.
REFORMS STARTLE THE NATIVES.-DOUBT AND DISBELIEF.-DEWEY    REPLIES  TO  IMPERTINENCE,
AND TO NATIVE IMPUDENCE. ---THE OUTBREAK OF
A FRESH WAR.
As we had determined, none too soon, to take the
Philippines in hand, whether it was to be ruled as a
colony or a territory, a Commission was appointed
to make the people understand that our military and
naval operations had been wholly directed against
their expelled foe and tyrant, the Spaniard.
The Commission held the first meeting at Manila,
in March, and issued an explanatory and reassuring
proclamation on the 4th of April, 1899.
To an ignorant and uninstructed population of
whom only a paltry selection were not satisfied with
daily bread and an occasional festa, the new promises
were incomprehensible or incredible.
They included wonderful words: Good Will, Hon.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


III


est Civil Service, Free Schools, encouragement of
Industry, lessening of taxes and their application to
maintaining the government and serving public
ends; and so on.
The supremacy of the United States was set forth
as primary and unalterable; hence, the natives had
only exchanged one set of rulers for another, with
the new ones untried, except that, in martial power,
they were superior to the banished Spanish.
Self-government was to come, as far as agreed
with American views-just what the removed functionaries had always sung in Spanish.
Civil rights were guaranteed; and, yet, the military lorded over them; merely a change in the uniform; the sword was still bared.
" Equality before the law." This was out of possible belief. It seemed to the merchants of Manila
that, still as before, relatives or familiars of the
principal officers obtained passes for merchandise
and carried on a coasting trade in the teeth of the
blockaders, which resembled to a nicety all that previously went on under the Red-and-yellow.
It is true the old curfew law had fallen into disuse,
the one which allowed no music even in a private
house unless by special permission, to be paid forbut the provost-marshal's edicts wore a similar air.
The Civil Service was to include the natives! that
was so, on the face of it, in other days; only, no one
was esteemed fit for it; "as far as practicable," is a
phrase which it is difficult to surmount under such
circumstances.
All taxes were to support the local and national
government and provide for public improvements.
Good! A while before, of the annual budget of 180
million pesetas, two-thirds went to the Established
Church, while the rest was taken by the Government, with nothing ever showing for it.




112


THE LIFE AND CAREER


Certainly, it had not gone for national defense,
since the enemy had found antiquated guns and
crumbling walls; not for roads, since they were
"corduroy," in bamboo; not for bridges, bamboo
again, and mended by every one who cane to cross
the torrents; not for public edifices, for-excepting
the churches, creditable in any part of the world,
and the Spanish authorities' palaces-town-halls,
theaters, savings banks, insurance offices, these were
nil. Taxes were eventually to be reduced-it was
time to trim the poll-tax especially, as it bore on the
day-laborer at a wage of five cents a day '
Local trade was to be furthered. It would have to
be created, in a country where farm produce and
garden-truck was forbidden to be sold; it should be
bartered only, while a tax in kind was exacted, this
cess being sold for cash in the market-place by the
tithe-gatherers!
Public schools were announced, after the American mode, of which the Filipinos cannot conceive a
faint notion.  All primary education is under the ecclesiastics, confined to the catechism and the calendar
of saints; there are no normal or high schools; as the
rich and mercantile classes have private tutors, and
the ricliest send their children to Europe. The
children go to school for an hour during two days of
the week, since they must learn to work; no writing
at all is taught to them. As there is no currency in
the rural districts, to teach arithmetic were futile.
"Religious freedom  is assured."  There is no
diversity of creed. There was a fierce outbreak because a marriage was performed by the chaplain,
among Protestants, at the British Consulate! The
islanders are excited against us because it was heralded that we came to burn and plunder the churches
and convents-the very buildings which the Spanish
converted into forts from which to impede our ad



OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


vance. And still more humorous, it is " Aguinaldo
and his crew" who stipulated in their Declaration of
Independence that the members of religious orders
should quit their islands and their property should
be confiscated to the public good. Exactly the act
of the Spanish Republicans when they temporarily
held power, at Madrid.
It is true that the Revolutionists were able to
point to the error in the Archbishop of Manila's foresight when he assured the Spaniard that he was invincible and that Dewey's guns would never force
him out of the Philippines.
Perhaps, though, what impelled many a waverer
into the opposite ranks was a rumor that we, with
our cold, Anglo-Saxon morality, came to curtail the
national sports and pastimes: cock-fighting, the vice
of the Archipelago; bull-fighting, the Spanish pet
diversion, and the Colonial Lottery, a parody of that
which battened on Cuba; in this, the prizes range
from  $500 to $80,000 with portions to accommodate the slenderest purse; the monthly drawings
were presided over by dignitaries of the State,
military and Church, to "see fair!"
It turned over $200,000 annually to Church and
State, and morally ruined the people.
The main part of our inducements to accept the
new yoke was not understood, and the rest was not
believed.
It follows that Aguinaldo, young as he was-only
thirty, but in the tropics this is accounted the
prime-took to the field not only with as strong an
army as ever he commanded, but with more secret
adherents in the towns than evep before.
While, in August, the Dewey Fleet was battering
Malate fortifications and our troops forcing their
way into the capital, the insurgents, though informed that they were not wanted (while utterly
8




ti4


THE LIFE AND CAREER


ignored as to the military movements in which they
had thought to cooperate) endeavored to make an
entry also. Everywhere repulsed, and at the butt
of the rifle, they had finally to be forced out, though
they were only following up the Spanish whom they
had kept on the run out of the country into the
town.
After the surrender, they were officially requested
to quit the municipal limits.
They assembled at Malabon, and issued a protest
on their treatment, from the re-established Patriotic
Congress.
They accused us of bad faith; declared that we
had profited by their beating the Spanish to strike
the final blow, and appealed to all our authorities to
say if they had not graciously acceded to every request put to them to further the liberation of their
fatherland.
Their forces were augmenting, but under eyes
which had a great contempt for them, as the AngloSaxon entertains for those of another color. The
newly-landed Western volunteers classed them
with the other "yellow-bellies," that is, "Japs,"
"Chinee," Malays, and   "the riff-raff" of the
Asiatic seas.
While this storm-cloud was thickening on our
front, Admiral Dewey was perplexed by the details
which swarmed upon his administration of the thousand affairs of the port. Knowing that his desired
relief was at hand, he was putting things in order,
like the faithful steward; some of the anxiety about
reinforcements was removed, but they came in so
draggingly.
If only on the instant that news of his destruction
of the Spanish Asiatic squadron reached Washington, the national mind had been made up there
that the Philippines were to be ours eternally, and




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


115s


all the regular soldiers on foot had been shipped out
of the Golden Gate, perhaps the Filipinos would
not have dared to raise their standard against their
deliverers.
None seemed to have a clear sense of his situation, needs and diurnal plagues.
One day, somebody, in a bureau at the Capital,
cabled him to know what he was collecting so much
coal for at Manila. This was at a nick when he
might have had to battle for the prize with an European power.
Prolix was the inquiry in spite of the cost; terse
and economical was the reply:
"1 To burn "
Then the natives, eager to profit by the interregnum, were assiduous in testing the mettle of the
new rulers and all to improve their peddling coast
trade.
Smuggling was going on; even an American did
not shrink from playing the traitor, in masking his
ship under a false name and supplying the rebels
with arms which would surely, to the informed, be
used speedily against us.
Suavity no longer concealed the " strength in the
right."
A visitor to the Islands, at this time, tells an
amusing anecdote of the new Governor's mode of
dealing with the natives, who, cringing and obsequious to their late tyrants, believed that in the
unassuming, reserved and tranquil Americans, they
had found the opposite type.
Like many an Eastern port, Cavite has no dockage facilities. Goods are transferred from the ships
to the warehouses by means of surf-boats known as
" cascoes." These are owned by separate boatmen
or held in flotillas by contractors. One of these
made an arrangement with Admiral-Governor Dewey




THE LIFE AND CAREER


to carry merchandise and comestibles for the ships
to his vessel, among others. When he had finished
his job, he determined to present his bill, which was
in his eyes a considerable amount, to the representative of Uncle Sam, in person.
To do the more honor to his illustrious creditor,
he arrayed himself in the court dress of the Orientals, namely, an  old-fashioned Parisian  evening
dress-suit, with enormous tie in the style of 1832,
high Gladstonian collar, cuffs " shot" well outward
over his brown paws, an embroidered white shirt;
and, literally above all, a gossamer silk stove-pipe
hat. This had been the acme of all eyes in the
Calle Real since two seasons.
When lie arrived beside the flag-ship and was
shown into the cabin, he was rather the more proud
in his new feathers by being confronted by the admiral at his table, clad in the very simple undress
of light apparel proper to the infernal heat and his
present occupation of dealing with the business
matters of the fleet.
Besides, the naval authority's manners were cool
and unpretending as his attire, in spite of the reek
of the powder with which Montejo had been annihilated still pervading the atmosphere.
The consequence was, that, on the errors in the
bill, all to the lightermian's advantage, naturally
being pointed out, he just had sense enough to see
that lie must not presume, as was the old method,
to explain that the overcharges helped bribe the
auditor, and so he protested, more and more hotly,
that he was correct.
The reply was that the bill would be paid according to the original agreement without a cent more
for te after-thoughts.
Now this was uttered in so mild a manner that
the Filipino became more arrogant-inspired by




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


117


the high hat and high collar, and insisted upon payment, or he would show up Uncle Samuel as a
delinquent.
With a wave of his hand, the admiral put an end
to the discussion, observing to his orderly,
"Drop that man overboard!"
The orderly passed the command to the watch on
deck, and when the contractor arrived there, assisted
in his upward flight by the marine on guard, the
sailors plumped him into the unsavory waters of the
harbor. Iis splendid beaver floated out to the sea,
while lie, a swimmer as all are of the coast islanders,
regained his boat amid the merriment of even his
own people who had not applauded, though they had
envied the masquerader in foreign frippery.
But other than laughing matters were impending,
for army and tie fleet.
The scouts reported that the Insurrectionists,
without any active demolstration, were drilling diligently and calling in all the idlers to be armed at
their camp.   Calm observers reckoned that the.tguir.-ldoists numbered at least ten thousand men
in the swamps and jungles of Luzon.
No Americans cared to go out among them; not
even the reckless bearer of the camera venturing his
precious films within their lines. Now and then,
they fired guns in rejoicing; they lhad cannon of
large caliber; many were well-clothed, in the " loot"
from Cavit6 and other places unprotected since the
withdrawal of the former conquerors and the new
ones keeping to their capture. War-drums and warfifes were heard as if some of the irreclaimable
savages from  the outer islands had swelled the
ranks; in spite of the rebels' contumacy about the
State Religion, mass was said over the companies
going on guard-mounting.
Thew locusts begat to eat tip the land, and Manila




II8


TIHE LIFE AND CAREER


had a fear of famine if it had to feed both these
hosts, one in its doors, tie other just without them.
Nevertheless, it was not for the deliverers and
would-be regenerators to fire the first shot in this
new and still more painful conflict.
The revolt against the Americans broke out in
February.
On Saturday night, the 4th, three or four natives
sauntered up and made as if to pass by the pickets
of the American volunteers at Santa Mesa, a purlieu
of the capital.  They were challenged, but either
not understanding or not insisting, went away without any words. But they tried again and again at
other points; until, at the third trial, their pertinacity incensed a corporal of the Nebraskas; his challenge being unheeded, he fired and shot two. One
expired and the other was fatally injured.
The blood-feud familiar to the Filipinos was thus
inaugurated, if not a war started.
To the north of Manila lies Caloocan, near the
bay shore, and thence, to the rear of the city, extended the insurgents' line, to Santa Mesa. At tke
echo of these two shots, others broke out stragglingly
all along this line, but all directed against the
volunteers.
Besides the Nebraska sentries, those of South
Dakota and Montana immediately responded, and the
firing became hot in the dusk. No one yielded;
but soon came up reinforcements. So far it seemed
what military men call " an affair of outposts." Few
imagined that it signified the commencement of a
war.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


1I1


CHAPTER XII.
A SKIRMISH AND A VERITABLE BATTLE.-ROUTING
OUT GUERRILLAS.-FUNSTON'S FAMOUS AFFAIR.THE DASH ACROSS THE RIVER.-DESERTERS FOR
HONOR!-" WE WON'T GO HOME! "-A TRAITOR
OF OUR BLOOD.
INDEED, there was nothing much done but the
firing of desultory shots up to nine o'clock, when,
entirely unanticipated, with the dash of prairie
Indians, the Filipinos sprang out of the canebrake
at a hundred gaps, flitted over the savannah (prairie)
like phantoms and hurled themselves on the sentinels.
The abruptness almost carried them through here
and there, only to meet comrades coming up at the
cry of "IIere they are, boys!" The charge had
been heard and understood at the rear, for the shaken
out-guard was promptly reinforced. Overhead, the
artillery joined in, to drive the audacious assailants
back into their lairs.
Repulsed, but apparently still bold, the insurgents
fell back, but only to gather at three points, whence
the firing was handsomely maintained for irregulars.
This was the cue for Dewey's ships, running up
the channel as close in as their draft allowed, to
open shell-fire on the three consolidations, namely,
Caloocan, Santa Mesa, and Gagalangin. The firing
on all parts was kept up until early in the morning.
Many of the shells fell into the high grass of the
marshes and were smothered at exploding; " The
dirty beggars," said a volunteer, "are getting a
mud-bath!"




120


THE LIFE AND CAREER


In the early hours, Colonel Duboce and the First
Californian Volunteers made a diversion against
Paco, a suburb to the west of the town, where the
insurgents had fortified the church as a fastness, and
repelled the first assault; but a second was more
successful, the Americans clearing the sanctuary of
the desecrators and pursuing them with the bayonet
at the loins, while the edifice burned behind them,
fired by a dropped cartridge. Some twenty of thle
fugitives were killed and more than twice that
number taken prisoners.
Nobody doubted now that the followers of Aguinaldo had cast off the mask and meant to do battle
with us as strenuously as they had with the vanished
oppressors. The cry of "Down with the Yankee
hogs! " joined that "Death to the tyrants!" used
to cover the ex-conquerors.
On the 25th of March, a true battle was waged ii.
order to break the backbone of this ominous discontent.
There were as many as twelve thousand men in
array on either side.
If you sail to the north, along the bay from
Manila, you come to an inlet known as Malabon
River. Entering a lagoon, Malabon and Caloocan
will be found due east on the farther shore. The
center of the United States forces was here confronted by the enemy with its cenlter at Novaliches,
northeastwardly. We had five regiments of infantry
representing the Army'; the Utah Artillery aid
three other batteries; while the volunteers hailed
from Wyoming, Nebraska, which lad had its " baptism of fire," South Dakota, Oregon and Minnesota,
with Pennsylvania to stand for the East; the Colorado boys were present. Those who lhad made a
laugh course through Manila, even while the cannon
boomed and the smoke stifled, from the jaunty step




OF ADMIIRAL DEWEY.


121


with which they pursued the Spanish into cover, to
the tune of " There will be a Hot 'Time in tlie Old
Town To-night!"  It was like the Irish Brigade,
under General Picton, bursting upon the French at
Waterloo to the dancing air of " The Young May
Moon is Beaming!"
The regiments were about 800 strong.
General Hale commanded the fronting brigade;
supported by those of Iarrison, Hall, Gray and
Otis, while Lloyd Wheaton's sheltered thle rear.
The point of attack was Polo, easterly of IMalaboii,
whence the American left extended.  Tlie plaln was
to enmesh the foes between tlhe Bav, where tliey had
no means of embarking, as our gunboats and tlose
captured from tle Spanish, added to our service,
had pretty well wiped out even the long, narrow
skiffs with outriggers.
The march began at dawn, on account of the
coolness, though tile swamp air is favorable to agiue.
Two brigades, II. G. Otis'-not the general commanding, later, in-chief-and IHale's, nimbly vacated
tlhe trenches, and reached thle enemy's position unobserved. Their places were taken by Hall and
TWhcaton, " keeping touch."
At four o'clock, a halt was made for breakfast.
It was so chilly in the sea-shore air tlltt fires were
alghted to fortify the men with a drop of hot drink;
tlhe fuel was not too dry, and as tley were watched
for by a foe experienced in bush-figlhting, the smoke
was soon espied. All idea of a surprise was soon
dissipated, for trumpets were heard ahead, in the
European style, the rebels having borrowed  the
Spanish clarions along with lodt taken out of Old
Cavit6 and other captured or abandoned positions.
As discovery was published, the advance was resulmed, and most rapidly, over a mile of rugged, lowland(, level oountry.




122


THE LIFE AND CAREER


In the sandy soil, the insurgents had easily dug
ditches three or four feet deep, banked with sod of
the long eel-grass, with improvised abattis of the
underbrush, cut with cane-knives and saber-bayonets.
The charge was made by the volunteers, yelling
like collegians at football, at the double-quick. The
modern and American style was in vogue, familiar to
our Indian fighters-"Charge by rushes."   The
men advance and fire, drop, eject the cartridge and
get the next ready, rise, advance, and fire; and so
on until the hand-to-hand encounter may begin.
This had the same effect as in Cuba, where it
puzzled the European military officers, sent to discover how we fought in "little wars."
The cheers and the firing brought no shots from
the natives, singularly well in hland. It is known
that they were ordered to spare their ammunition,
which was scarce. At a thousand yards, they retorted, and the firing was severe across the plain.
Those who had marched beside them, previous to
the taking of Manila, said that they aimed lower
and, indeed, the dust was seen to be thrown up, so
many bullets ricochetted.
But the Americans continued their quickstep,
still cheering, yelling facetiously as if it were in
sport, and bearing down all opposition as at last
they met.
When within two hundred yards of the main body,
the latter shook, broke and fled into the thicker
woods. A few who stood were mowed down by
the volleys.  The way was encumbered by the
fallen.
The Montana Volunteers hastened up, with the
Kansans, in time to complete the victory.
What was designated by the correspondents as
"Colonel Funston's (of Kansas) Famous Affair " happened on April 27th. The enemy had partly de



OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I23


stroyed one of those native swinging bridges made
of cane, so that the colonel's men had to swim some
thirty yards to get across. They were fully dressed
and carried all their accoutrements.
It was on the Rio Grande, near Calumpit, that
another gallant action, to show how our soldiers can
go through water as well as through fire, was performed. Two privates swam across the river in the
face of the rebel trenches and fastened a rope to one
of the engineers' guiding stakes by which the other
soldiers were enabled to draw a raft over, carrying
the stores and inp:)edimenta. The regiment covered
them  all the while with so steady a fire that the
Filipinos were unable to hinder the two devoted
volunteers.
The raft landed fifty, who held the shore until
joined by their comrades, at whose advance the insurgents chose to run into the wilderness. They
were more than two thousand strong, and might have
made the crossing more difficult but that the daring
deed and the imposing front daunted them.
For some time the chronicle is of minor affairs:
advances of the Americans and flights of the rebels,
often without close firing, followed by the victors
being unable for want of men to hold the positions
conquered, which, when evacuated, were re-occupied
by the fugitives. These were magnified into " battles" and accounted by the Filipinos as successes.
In fact, to gain time was all they could hope, the
policy of Aguinaldo being based on the chapter of
accidents.
Meanwhile, great impatience was shown by all
concerned at the lack of celerity in the movements
at home, expected to expedite the relief troops. One
of the strangest things ever known occurred in the
Pacific: regular soldiers at Honolulu deserted in
order to stow themselves aboard of the transports




124


THE LIFE AND CAREER


_,'; MT
Br ",, 


1'.
~~~`  ~ "    ~     ";~';1 _r ~


AN YGOROTE WARRIOR. SIX HUNDRED YGOROTES, ARMED WITH SPEARU
OR BOWS AND ARROWS, ATTACKED A BATTERY OF AMERICAN FIELD GUQN
DURING THE FIGHTING BEFORE MANILA.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


125


sailing for the Philippines.  They knew they were
breaking the severe military code, but hoped, as they
fled merely to report " Ready for duty" in the face
of the enemy, that they would be forgiven!
In another case, at Cuba, men whose time of service had expired and wlo were relaty to embark to
go to Tennessee-and sweet is the prospect of home
to a veteran completing hard service ulnder an uncongenial sun! they held back from abandoning
their comrades, knowing they wav:iited strengthening,
and resolutely went on shore a'ain to share the sleep
in the dalnkl trenclces-)rlmao  the sleep which
knows no wakiln till the Last rinump.
Towards the close of Augrist, the Revolutionary
Government lheld calt extralordinary session at Tarlac,
with Aguinaldo merely the President; a rumor gave
out that he had constituted himself Dictator. His
Cabinet was, on   tlie  whole, conservative: the
speeches were not very incendiary. The main business was to procure money by some means becoming
a government. It was decreed that all foreigners
should be registered, and as all business of the native
rule is transacted under stamps, here was one new
supply created.
This petty Congress replied to the American proposal of an autonomous government. They refused
it with sovereignty of the alien on the grounds that
the Americans could not be trusted. They had seen
at the first that they did not like them-wNere even
opposed to them, through race prejudice. Later,
the high-handed proceedings of American officers
had confirmed their ill opinion of us.
All the officers returning from the scenes of bloodshed united in the opinion that tlhe Aguinaldos, if
not the whole population of our acquisition, were
false, and ought to be whipped into a lasting submission.




126


THe, IFE AND CAREER


Nothing seriou- could be done in this direction
until the Rainy Season should be over, and light
infantry and cavalry could traverse a country presenting obstacles, but not more impracticable than
those our cavalrymen had overcome in pursuing the
Apaches in the Arid Region.
In September it was proven before a court-martial
that one American had let sordid gain distract him
from the proper course when his countrymen were
in warfare.
The investigation denounced one F. L. Plummer,
an American resident at Manila, for chartering a
steamer which proceeded on several mysterious
voyages, not amicable to the acquirers of the island
of Luzon.
The steamship had been cleared regularly from
Manila for Pasacao, with Mauricio Reyes as captain,
and Plummer's agent, Ayala, on board. The captain
was ordered not to lower the American flag, and to
carry no troops of any kind. Ayala had the flag
taken down after the steamship left Manila and displayed the Filipino emblem on arrival at Pasacao, in
the Carolines.
At Nueva Caceras rifles were removed from the coal,
and the steamship towed a schooner loaded with 200
insurgent troops to the island of Catandunes. On
another trip a revolutionary officer and his orderly
were taken as passengers, no mention of their presence appearing on the log.
The steamship was seized. The board determined
that the seizure was a lawful one, and General Otis
advised the War Department that he had ordered the
sale of the vessel at public auction.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.;27


CHAPTER XIIT.
OUR COMMISSION CALLED IIOME.-EACH     DAY AN
EVENT.-CATCHING A "            TARTAR."-PORAC AND
BAKOR.-THE SIGNAL SERVICE.
THE Philippine Commission was recalled in September; it looking as if the iron hand would be used
without any diplomatic glove. The troops of which
the time was finished were returning also by every
transport, but others were coming. The available
force was being augmented, that was clear.
In this same month, a new native police went upon
duty in Manila; as civilians, they carried clubs, but
as semi-military, they had revolvers; disorder was
prevalent, as the places for drinking were increased in
number for the reception of so many soldiers and
sailors. The city wore a cosmopolitan appearance,
our own newcomers becoming used to seeing the
natives, the women smoking cigarettes, the priests
and nuns, who left their hiding-places since the
captors terrified their antagonists into silence and
reserve; and the Sulus and other "pirates" from
the outer islands.
Lingua franca began to be talked among the
traders and the Americans, who were good customers on getting their pay.
Every day there was exciting news, the rebels continuing active. A party, on shore by San Fernando,
lured ashore, where she got fast, the coasting steamer
Saturnus, belonging to the Compania Maritima.
Thereupon, a nmasked battery of three-inch guns
was opened on her and the crew and passengera




I28


TIlE LIFE AND CAREER


made no resistance, although her cargo and a cash.
box were known to be valuable. The insurgents
hastened to remove the persons in their way, but
merely making them prisoners, as they were of their
own race or friendly Spanish. To their joy, they
found at the first search nearly $50,000 in cash,
while the merchandise was desirable. They were
soon transferring this to the shore in their cascoes.
Dropping the anchors so that the steamer could not
budge, they set fire to her before even they had completely lightened her.
The column of smoke unluckily attracted the attention of a Spanish gunboat captured and added to
our navy. This cutter, the Pamp)anga, named from
a locality in the bay, hastened to the spot and, as
the water shoaled, put out a small boat to inquire
into the supposed disaster. But on its approach the
pirogues were seen still transporting the goods to
the beach, and it was feared that murder waited on
the wholesale robbery. The gunboat began firing on
the battery in the sandc and at the natives, who used
Mausers and Remingtons in trenches on the sailors.
It was soon ascertained that it was simple robbery
and incendiary miscl i ef; for the crew and passengers
were see onl tlie shore amnong their captors.
N'othing, could be done to free them, as the natives
retired, and tile hull was left to burn itself out.
The taking of Calambon serves as a type of the
encounters which enlivened a campaign without
profit towards tlhe general subjugation.
Major-Gelneral Henry W. Lawton, of the Volunteer
Army, had tlhis movement in his hands. The place
was seat of the ilnsurgents' nost important gathering.
A lilht Fgulnboat assistedl in tlle advance of our
thousanld mlen comprising a squadron of the Fourth
Cava lry.
rIThee T S. gunboat capt! r ed the Rebel Navy-7-that




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I29


is, an armed tug, thougll the fugitive crew succeeded
in stripping her of all light articles and carrviln
them ashore where they purposed standing off tile
assailants.  Capt. VM'Grahll of the U. S. Cavalry
conmmanded his men, and the company of infantry
taking the van. To reach the town they liad to
cross a river too deep to ford; to set the example.
lie and Lieutenant Batson plunged in, like Horatius,
fully armed, and crossed in order to bring back a
boatl seen over the way. The lieutenant nearly lost
his life from  his gaiters getting loose and fettering
his' movements, but as it was inshore, where his
comrade stood on firm land, he was instantly helped
to the same solid footing. Then the pair returned,
l)nSlhil;t the scow, and the soldiers immediately followed anid secured a lodgment. During the capture,
IMrs. General Lawton was in a boat in the bay; tlhe
s!harpslooters on shore frequently hit the gunwale
but no one was hurt. The general expressed satisfaction at the way the vanguard had acted, saying:
"You of the cavalry did the whole thing! "
After the soldiers had crossed, the resistance was
feeble. In the headquarters was found the enginefittings and other.brass and metal work out of the
cap)tured tugboat. The Americans' coming liberated
a dozen Spanish prisoners, who embraced them  in
the street, to the amusement of tlhe spectators, unaccustomed to these manifestations of joy in tlhe
Latin race.
The retreating forces could not be followed witl
so few ien to hold the town, as usual.
A notable incident at Hong Kong evinced hlow
nearly we were to international complications at Illy
unexpected moment.
The first intelligence of our transport, the Tartar,
hired from English slhipowners, being detained at
that port, because she was in contravention of tle
9




3o0


THE LIFE AND CAREER


British mercantile regulations, caused a stir. It
looked like a hostile manifestation from the AntiAmerican clique said to pervade that port and to be
busy in slandering us in our new sphere of action.
The Tartar flew the British ensign, so that the
port authorities had full standing to inspect her,
though she was carrying our invalided and discharged soldiers and seamen.


FILIPINO SOLDIERS.


The complaint was that she was overcrowded with
some four hundred passengers in excess among the
fourteen hundred aboard.  Also that there were not
half enough boats, or the means to make life-saving
contrivances, such as rafts, for the soldiers, to say
nothing of the stock of life-preservers, which should
have been supplied one to a head, being shamefully
insufficient. As for the British flag, it was urged




Or ADMIRAL DEWEY.


131


that an American transport, the Indiana, might
have been chosen instead of the foreign one, at
Manila, a hint being offered that there was corruption somewhere.
The Hong Kong port officers were so undeniably
correct that their contention had to be yielded to,
and while the United States officials debated the
question of the overcrowding, the life-preservers
demanded were forwarded and the other appliances
supplied, so that the Tartar might resume her voyage.
lThe side-issue from tllis revelation of bad management in the transport service was seen, shortly after,
in an order under which all our seamen in the navy
would have a life-preserver individually.
Towards the end of September, some anxiety was
felt at the silence of the Aguinaldos as regarded
several of our men held as their prisoners.
'i'le light craft captured from the Spanish and
tnrned over to our navy had been merrily named tile
"tin-clads," but they did yeoman's service in the
lagoons and estuaries where ilone of our deeper
vessels could go. The Urdaneta, one of these, was
captured by the insurgents witll an officer and nine
or ten of the crew, but regained later.
On the 28th inst. Porac was taken by General MacArthur, but evacuated the next day-" Want of men
to hold it," again! The fighting had been slarp,
four non-commissioned officers being wounded.
At the beginning of October, near Bakor (or,
Bacoor), there was a "scrimmage," as a skirmish
is facetiously called by " the boys in blue," in which
a first lieutenant and one of the signal corps, Captain McKinney's, were wounded. ' It might seem odd
that a telegraphist should be nnder fire, but this
happens not infrequently at the present day.  In
former times, when   intelligence was borne by
mounted aids from the generals to the colonels, there




132


THE LIFE AND CAREER


were many of the prancing cavaliers familiar in paintings. But all this is changed. Instead of a gallant
aide-de-camp restraining his mettlesome charger
before the commander-in-chief, a man sits at his
tripod-table, on which is the "ticker."  At the
other termination is a similar stand and instrument,
ready to send off despatches and receive them almost
before the events related have dried on the page of
history.
A military telegraphic operator thus vividly describes the novel employment:
" It's a saying that, let a soldier cross a swamp or
swim a river, the second man over is the signal service operator, sending back a report of how it was
done. If there's an advance of half a mile by the
firing line, the wire has been brought up and cut,
the instrument attached and an operator is seated
at his little table sending despatches.
"The signal service men at the front work on
the line within two hundred yards of the enemy
sitting at the little table sending despatches, or
receiving orders. Oh, they shoot at you all right
enough. Often they get in behind and cut the wires.
Some have been shot while climbing the poles. The
colonels and regimental officers are always right at
the front, and brigade headquarters from one-half
mile to one and a half miles in the rear. The operatives take turns at the front.
"Nearly everything in the signal service is telegraphy. Once in a great while the flags were used,
but only where we couldn't use the wire. That
wasn't often, for we waded through swamps up to
the chest, dragging the wire after us. There's ho
dashing about of couriers and orderlies carrying
orders, as there was in the Civil War. The telegraph
does everything."
A captain of this branch was killed on Negros.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I33


Two attacks were made by the expelled insurgents
on Calamba, although it was held by two companies
of the 21st Infantry, but they were beaten off with
a loss of sixty kilii(d and many wounded; our loss
was two killed and seven wounded. An outpost of
four Americans, at Guagua, had two of them killed
by the bush-fighters.
At the same time the gunboats were busy. The
United States gunboat Urdaneta, of which we have
related the capture, was recovered by a special rescuing expedition, frightening off the captures and finding that she could be refitted as good as new. There
was no time given for the enemy to get her off-shore
or to fire her.
CHAPTER XIV.
CLEARING FOR THE ADVANCE.-DEFEAT AT NOVALETA.-NAVY AND ARMY CLASH.-PLOTS AND
COUNTERPLOTS.-DEWEY DEPARTING!
CAPTAIN POORE with the 6th Infantry was scouring the country to repress the guerrillas and bring
in arms, which were a sore temptation for the peasants to join the irregulars.
'He broke up one band, at Negros, with the loss of
his lieutenant, but killed twenty, with two of the
leaders, and gained a dozen excellent 'rifles. The
insurgents not only reoccupied the places stormed
but retired from, but seemed gathering to cut the
Manila-Dagupan railroad, about at Mexico, a village.
West of the Bakor and the Imus rivers, they
harassed the American line of communication; they
retired before the regular cavalry which should have
been increased a hundredfold to suppress these




134


THE LIFE AND CAREER


raids, so wearying to our sentinels and picketguards.
General Fred Grant, with five companies of the
regular foot regiments, proceeded to punish the intruders on our limit at the Inus, and cleared away
all molesters, at a cost of three wounded; the others
lost ten killed as they retreated over the west bank.
The church at Binicaya was utilized as a fort, according to the sacrilegious usage of the Filipinos,
but they were driven out.
The 5th Artillery raced out of Bakor and shelled
the west bank of the river, which remained clear to
Americans.
Over this way, on the 8th, marched a strong
column under General Schwan, cavalry, artillery and
regulars, to investigate the strength of the hostile
position at Old Cavite and farther.
The inhabitants were cowed, and hung out the
white flag wherever it might save their cabins from
a shot of the scouts.
The rebels had a way of turning these huts into
rifle-pits when they were too lazy to dig trenches.
The naval vessels and marines at Cavit6 made a
demonstration to divert the foe from this advance
upon them, towards Old Cavite.
Here there was a struggle for half an hour as the
insurgents had entrenched themselves so strongly
that it required the shot of Iteilly's battery to dislodge them; the foot soldiers then poured in upon
them and the cavalry completed the rout. They did
not stop in going through Novaleta, which was utterly deserted when the victors rushed up.
Three gunboats shelled this town and Santa Crnz
to enable the marines to proceed in support.
The enemy had entrenched the narrow road over a
morass, and it was dificult to march direct; a flank
movement carried( the maritnes through the swamped




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I35


rice fields and allowed them to force the foes out of
cover. These destroyed a bridge and went to throw
up earthworks in the sand hills and palm scrub on
the farther side of the creek dividing the peninsula
from Cavite to Novaleta.
Again the swamp and submerged fields were waded
across and these improvised forts were carried, the
garrison being astounded at so much persistence.
Squads of the volunteers and regulars cleared the
roadside of nests of sharpshooters, and finally united
with the scouts who were beating the swamps beyond.
Rosario, a sea-coast town with considerable population, received the conquerors with white flags, if
with little enthusiasm; if any of the fugitives pretended to join in this reception, they had thrown
away their guns and donned fresh clothes. Some of
the fugitives were caught in the act of divesting
themselves so as not to be considered guerrillas, and
were made prisoners, though the French and other
European soldiers, in such warfare, would have shot
such offhand.
A three-pounder was used as the field-gun in this
advance.
Cavalry Captain McGrath was badly wounded and
Lieutenant Saffold of the 13th Infantry killed. The
latter was a graduate of the Military. Academy in
the class of 1879. He was born in Selma, Ala., on
September 1, 1856. He participated in the campaign
against the Apache Indians in New Mexico and Arizona and took a creditable part in the campaign
against Santiago. In April last he went to the
Philippines.
In whatever direction a reconnaissance turned, it
ran up against a rebel force which at least exchanged
shots and retreated while firing at a distance, the
same tactics which had dispirited the Spaniards and




136


THE LIFE AND CAREER


caused them to rely more on "slugs" of gold than
on leaden bullets.
The American scouts were supplemented by a
hundred Macabebe warriors, who did good service,
although their homes were burned in one of the
forays.
Under cover of incessant shifting of positions, it
was alleged that the insurgents under General Pio
del Pilar, were concentrating to assist their friends
still nearer Manila than the San Mateo Valley and
San Francisco de Malabon.
They were calculated to have from three to five
thousand men, with large guns.
But the latter place was entered by General Schwan
without opposition.
It was eight months since the Tagalos had been
expelled from Manila as "a disorganized mob," and
yet it was not safe for an American to go four miles
out.
Indeed, on the afternoon of the 9th, in broad day,
mark! a body of the enemy appeared about the
waterworks and at La Loma Church, where the 25th
Infantry were camped.  Luckily, they were entrenched after the precautions of this petite guerre,
and the insurgents did not try to storm the post, but
fired with long-range rifles, the balls falling among
the tents. Before an hour, artillery had to be brought
into play to induce them to retire. They aven-ed
themselves by threatening to injure the railroad
and telegraph, which kept up the strain on our
guards.
The Filipinos used artillery at Angeles, where an
American was killed, but the shells were imperfect
and fell without exploding.
There was much disappointment among our friends
and supporters at the capital, since this taking and
retaking of towns might go on to an indefinite ex



OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I37


tent. Manuscript quips circulated, likening our
Commander-in-Chief to General Boom, in the Opera,
whose record does not include anything more burlesque than our capturing, evacuating and retaking
a town six times!
Nor was it solely against the military authorities
that ridicule and complaining went up.
There was friction between the Admiral and General Otis, the new Governor-General, as the latter
pronounced the port closed, although without the
help of the navy it would be but a closure on paper;
and more, tried to keep out smugglers with a fleet
of steamers converted into cruisers by putting guns
aboard, which, with a full charge, would probably
send them to the bottom.
Admiral Dewcy had perceived no value in the
Archipelago, while certain that we would be amply indemnified for our outlay and exertions by the retention of Manila and its magnificent bay as a naval
station. Without consultation with him, the Cabinet had resolved to make the whole assemblage of
islands and islets territory of the U. S. A., while the
farther steps which brought on the estrangement of
the natives and their rising against us under arms,
were contrary to his purpose, principles and policy.
But he is too patriotic not to pronounce that, once
entered into the quarrel, we should fight it out
quickly, if for no other reason, that quickness will
prevent any foreign power interfering. '
As England goes to no end of sacrifices to ward
off the alien hand that would shake her "'pagoda
tree," so we must keep our orchard of spice-trees to
our own basket.
Never hushed for long was the rumor that European Powers, goaded on by traders in our new possessions, and these backed by the consular reports of
the latent riches and dormant mineral harvests, would




138


THE LIFE AND CAREER


insert the thin edge of the wedge of intervention by
protesting against a paper blockade.
Remember that no fault was found with that of
Manila itself, where the navy was energetic and efficient; it was the endeavor to guard the innumerable
inlets where the insurrectionists obtained gratification of their simple needs.
For this General Otis was solely responsible.
Tile Manila merchants, with hereditary fear of
speaking out, vaguely talked of favoritism without
direct accusation.  The majority was dissatisfied
with the new regime.
General Otis, in fact, was unpopular, even among
his soldiers, since he had been harsh upon officers
who had not perceived some petty pilfering going
on (as was natural where morality is so lax), when
we went charging through a captured town, where
the fleeing Aguinaldos certainly had sympathizers,
who would have given then the supplies for which
they made us pay dear.
While the Admiral and the Commander were at
odds as regards a strict blockade, the insurgents continued to receive all the goods for war and sustenance which they could pay for, at the innumerable
small ports of Luzon.
This leave to carry on a profitable trade did not
conciliate the native merchants, for it was bruited
that they were lenient towards a conspiracy within
the gates. It was said that the Filipinos would
make a rush at the walls, after eluding the flimsy
line of our outlying troops, and, at the same time,
have the gates opened to them by confederates inside.
These were believed to have hidden ample weapons
for a rising which was to come off on the 15th of
October.
This precision in the announcement induced the
new native police force to be overhauled: their offi



OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


'39


cers under suspicion were kept in quarters, and our
own controlling force was doubled in the watches.
Nothing occurred beside the scare.
As an exhibition of the wide duplicity reigning il
the land, plots and counterplots were floating in
the air.
It was asserted that General Otis had received a
message from the Filipino chief, Pio del Pilar, hovering about San Mateo, offering for a sum of money to
abstain from attacking Manila; for another and immense sum, to surrender his army after a mock
battle, such as has been offered to explain the slight
resistance of the Spanish at Malate before Mmanila
was entered. He would, for another Iluni, assist in
crushing the tail of the rebellion, to say nothing of
turning over Aguinaldo and the rest of the company. He must have quarreled with his President
(this document being authentic), for he alluded to
him in contemptuous words.
The Filipinos declared that this was all false or
written to deceive, as Pilar, instead of being a traitor,
was aiming to rush into Manila, which he did not
expect to occupy under the naval guns; but he
would make hostages of General Otis and the Archbishop of Manila, so as to bring the Americans to
terms.
At the same time, another plot was discussed at
the cafes.
Three Spaniards were said to be in the town, who
were hiding from native vengeance.
They were comrades in the Spanish army whom
the irsurrectionists had made prisoners but liberated on condition of their joining their standards.
In this capacity, from their knowledge of field artillery, they, with others of their kind, had had the
management of the guns in the fighting around Santa
Rosa.




140


THE LIFE AND CAREER


The shooting had been finer than the natives
showed and this accounted for it.
These precious gunners, or drawers of the long
bow, wanted to sell out, with their pieces, to the
oppressor, which discovering, the enraged Filipinos
fell on them and killed all but three, who fled to the
town.
This discovery was made as follows: The traitors
delegated one of the party to go to town and" trade"
FILIPINO WOMEN IN CHARACTERISTIC COSTUMES.
with the American general, who, unless he were
very unlike the Spanish commanders, would greet
him with glee and hurry to chime in with his excellent idea.
The Americans were to advance and surround the
battery, upwards of twelve new pieces, Krupps and
Nordenfeldt rapid-firers, together with ammunition
in quantity, made at Lipa. These were to fire blank




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


t4t


cartridges so that they might be run up to and seized.
The traitors were to receive a certain sum and free
transportation to Spain, as they dreaded the natives'
revenge if they stayed.
Unfortunately, the envoy took three natives into
his confidence to a certain degree, as he was unable
to cross the debatable territory and reach Manila
without guides. These brought him safely to Calamba, within the American lines, but were in turn
timid about proceeding farther.  The delegate therefore went on alone into Manila, where he had difliculty in procuring the interview with General Otis.
In the meantime, the natives suspected doubledealing from his delay and returned to Santa Rosa,
where the plot was revealed. Seven of the turncoats fell under the Filipinos' knives, and two
escaped only to wander about the swamps until they
found a skiff in which they ventured on the lagoon.
Happily, the United States gunboat Naplidan, patroling the coast, espied the boat and picked the
inmates up.
Brought before the American governor, he heard
the tale, declined to have anything to do with the
three survivors, who, indeed, could hardly go back to
their cannon, but promised to return them to their
own country.
As Tarlac was understood to be the headquarters of
the Insurrectos, with General Aguinaldo commanding, it was imperative to project our forces towards
that point. Between was the vanguard under General
del Pilar. Leaving San Miguel in the mid-October,
he pushed his men to occupy San Isidro and San
Fernando. Hearing that the Americans were approaching, on the 18th, he had the bridge at the
latter place destroyed.  But the prime attack of
General Young, commanding the forefront of General Lawton's forces, was upon San Isidro. With




142


TIE LIFE AND CARL;,1n',


one killed and a few wounded, the assailants overrun
the town where the inhabitants assumed friendliness.
A heavier resistance was encountered at Fernando,
with losses to the Aguinaldos iiot known, but filteen
were captured.
Thus San Isidro became a base for the contemplated finish at the seat of the Insurgent Congress.
The country between Angeles and Arayat was
avoided by travelers from  its being infested by
brigands; they had been annoying our outposts,
also Captains Lacrae and Clhyneworth, with battalions of the 3d and 17th Infantry, respectively,
dispersed them, five hundred stroig, before the
village of Jose Malinas, and kept them in flight towards Magalang. This swept that tract clear.
The insurgents tried to effect Lan exclange of
prisoners, one of those expedients to make their
cause look more substantial of whichl there were
many instances.  This kind of recognition was
intended to serve the rebels who proposed making
an appeal to Europe through rnmembers of their Ju nta.
Regidor, Agoncillo and Apacible were menetioned
as likely to form part of the Delegation to try to
have an audience at Washington.
The Southern Insurgents entrenched thenselves
again before Calamba and attacked it, but were
routed out and pursued several miles by General
Kline. The 36th Volunteers repulsed the band(s at
Santa Rita with a loss to them of some twenty killed
and wounded. Regulars or Volunteers, it was clear
that the enemy could not stand up agailnt us in the
open; besides, our men were becoming adepts at
ambushes and bush-" whacking " glnerally.
Our soldiers began to complain at tlhc mode of
discharge: If they were " turned loose " at Manila,
some wanted their return travel-money given them
there, so that they might engage in business, but




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


143


this was not heard favorably; they were usually so
discharged that they had to lose a month's allowance.
In sum, all these grievances, the loss of time and
men, the lack of substantial gain to our supremacy,
formed the base for a cry of recall for the military
commander.
"Dewey gone, it will be chaos," said the optimistic themselves.
And Dewey was going!
CHAPTER XV.
GOOD-BY TO MANILA.-INTERNATIONAL HOMAGE.
-HONG KONG. —THE " YORKTOWNS " CREW.CALLING DOWN A PORT-CAPTAIN.-A STORY OF
"THE GI3B.'-DEWEY AS A REEFER.
" HOMTEWARD BOUND!" the sweetest phrase in time
of peace to a seaman.
That was the direction of the prow of the good
ship Olympia, with the wearied Admiral aboard, as
she steamed at last out of Manila, past the ships of
all nations-prominent among which was the U. S. S.
Oregon, famous for all time among navigators for
having twice rounded the Horn —a teat which was
considered not to be attempted by a modern armored
line-of-battle ship.
But there she lay in Manila Harbor, and between
her and the departing compeer arose the noisiest of
the farewell greetings.
Around them both, along that coast, comprising a
hundred miles of inland sea, fluttered, from every
point of elevation, the flag which was hardly known
there five years before: the " thing of beauty which




I44


THE LIFE AND CAREER


is never raised anywhere for oppression, but carries
in its folds Education and Civilization."
Smoke rose from a thousand cannon mouths, and
from the steam-whistles of a fleet of steam launches
and petty craft ascended shouts in English and broken
ditto:
" Good-by,  Dewey!    " Pleasant  voyage!"
"Long life to the Admiral! "
The bands of the Baltimore, and other men-ofwar played appropriate airs as " Home, Sweet
Home!    " On the Banks of the Wabash! " " Lave
us a lock o' yer hair!"  "I Farewell to Erin."
The merchant vessels dipped their colors, a kaleidioscopical display; handkerchiefs were waved by
the segoritas, while their cavaliers lifted their hats on
top of bamboos, and the common folk in the fisher
craft cheered with " Vlas! "
The farthest out of the battle-ships was H. B. M.'s
Powerful.
" Her Britannic Majesty" had become something
more to American eyes since her ships had ranged
themselves beside ours in Manila Harbor with unveiled
intent to fire shot for shot with our guns against any
Power which presumed to break Dewey's blockade,
and show that it was only " paper."
Everybody knew that England's "smartest"
minister, Chamberlain, had, in May, hailed the idea
of an Anglo-American Alliance, and never was a
Queen Victoria's Birthday celebrated so rapturously
under the American sun as her last one in the same
month in our Eastern cities.
One of her admirals, Brand, had complimented
his brother of " the   Four Stars" with these
words:
"' Manila Bay' is one of the most brilliant victories in the naval history of the world."
The Powerful saluted the passing ship with its




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


t45


band playing " God Save the Queen," which, from
the similarity of the music, most accepted as "My
Country, 'Tis of Thee, Sweet Land of Liberty! "
Besides, the British mariners raised one of those
cheers never heard on foreign decks, and Dewey's
own men responded with not only cheers but a truly
national " Tliger-r-r!"
If any voice was missing in this chorus, it was that
of the Kaiser-land. The Germans were not reinstated
in good odor, although apologies had been made for
their rudeness. The Admiral's last words to the
general taking command of the land forces had
been:
"The Germans behaved very nastily. If those
vessels had been here (indicating the two monitors,
moored, one at each end of the town), and they had
remonstrated against my bombarding that town to
fire out the Tagalos, I should have replied: 'I will
sink you first! and then bombard the city!'
The last of the goodspeeds came from the brazen
and steel lips of the forts at Cavite', where the
"Blood-and-golden banner" had been pulled off
never to appear again; and from the Monadnock and
Monterey. the iron-clad harbor-defenders to which
he alluded.
Well, no more such weary hours awaiting them!
They were substantially on the spot, and not going
to fade away like their puffs of smoke.
It was a long pull to get us there, but we came to
stay!
Never had a commandant of a place borne away
such hearty wishes of " Vivel long life!" as the
modest American. General MelIritt said of him:
"He won all hearts in Manila, especially the English ones, by being very genial, likable, manly, quiet,
modest, shrewd, alert and tactful!"
And yet his jurisdiction, to use his own words,
I0




I46


THE LIFE AND CAREER


terse as the plain people like statements, "Extended only from as close to shore as he could move
his 'flat-irons' (the iron-clads) to as far inland as
they throw a shell! "
Ah, the gratification in being on the open Blue
again!


ADMIRAL MONTOJO, COMMANDER OF THE SPANISH FLEET AT MANILA.


At Hong Kong was a foretaste of the kind of greeting he was to be overwhelmed with from all sorts
and conditions of men, who had heard (and who had
not?) of "the hero of oea of the mrost marvelously
brilliant victories ill the tanals of naval warfare."
Here he heard the earnest wish uttered that he




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


147


would give the Great West a chance to see him, by
crossing the Continent.
He sighed, too, and responded:
" If I were twenty years younger!"
But he was not so disconsolate as all that! It was
the languorous tropical sun and sickening miasmatic
zephyrs —wait till the native east winds of the Green
Mvtountains would frisk it out of him and his gallant
crew!
One of the best things for a patriot to hear at
Iong Kong was of the fine impression the American
soldiers and sailors, more markedly the Western
volunteers, had already made in Japan 'mnd China.
Whether coming to form the army in Luzon, or
returnlinyg home from termillation of service, or invalided, the cry was general " They are excellent
young mncl!
The best of the hulks on which tlese were imprisoned were mudscows compared to tlose beautiful
snow-white Indian transports on which the British
have expended the science of twenty years to make
the Queen's soldiers comfortable on long voyages.
But our menl bore tlle innumerable plagues and dis.
comforts witll tile samle gallantry as they had shown
in the jungles of Cebu, 3iindafiao, Luzon and Samar;
on shore they never hlad a scuffle with the native
police or tleir own provost guards.
Better than making America known in the Fai
East, they are making us endeared and respected.
Even here the most biassed of what is called the
" Iong     g Kong clique " of anti-Americans, expressed
wonder at the Dakota Volunteers, who, like their
comrades of Tennessee. would not sail for home, but
landed again to stand by the side of brothers fighting with the revolutionists.
The Oilp/pia arrived on the 22d of May, and
made a longer stay than anticipated.




148


THE LIFE AND CAREER


There was already talk of the United States preparing a Dewey Reception which would eclipse anything on the annals from the welcome to Lafayette,
Kossuth, the Atlantic Cable, the Great Eastern, and
the other Nine Days' Wonders.
The old naval officers at this important British
station, eyed him enviously, muttering with their
Admiral   "Manila is his Trafalgar; but, unlike
Nelson, he lives to enjoy his honors!"
No ship was in the harbor that had a gun but
lavished powder in hailing him; it is said that some
traders replaced their "quakers," or dumnmies, with
genuine long-tonms in order to salute.
At the formal visit to Governor Blake, of this
British trading port, a major-general commanded
the English guard of honor, and receiving troops and
the naval detachment had a commodore at the head.
Our Consul-general Wildinan performed the presentation of the Admiral and his officers, Lieutenant
Brunby and Captain Lamberton.
Vessels fouling fast in these hot waters, the
Olympia laid over for a fortnight in order to have
her metal cleaned; during this enforced stay the
Admiral had some time to recuperate, his health
being still feeble at even this slight change of scene.
This was the cause for his excusing himself from attending the British dinner in honor of the Queen to
which he was particularly invited.
There was one worry which was still tormenting
him: that fate of "missing men," which troubles
deeply a conscientious naval or military commander,
who must regard his followers as his sons.
Although many of the gunboats and river-patrolers
of the Spanish, captured about Lnzonl, had been
converted to our uses, there was still a want of lightdraft vessels for the immense coast line.
The Yorktown had sent a launch up an inlet where




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


149


the ambushed Tagalos had captured it and borne away
into captivity Lieutenant-Commander Gillmore and
its crew of fourteen. Distressing news had reached
Manila of their sufferings among poor bushrangers
who had no clothing or food to speak of for themselves. But Aguinaldo was in one of his refusing-totrelat moods arising when he had been snubbed in
his advances towards his ex-friends the Americanos.
A ransom had been demanded for them which the
United States officers had refused to discuss, in accordance with the motto, " The U. S. A. pays no
price for peace." Thereupon, as the brigands in all
countries act towards the prizes which turn out unremunerative, the prisoners had to suffer. A Spaniard who "came in," professed to have been a
prisoner, too, at Bigan, where he had seen the seamen, half-starved and in rags; the commander,
being of notable stature and physique, bore his
wants best; but though " in bad shape," they had
no doubt that Uncle Sam would go the right way
about to procure their release. Indeed, though it
was not known till later, relief was sent to them.
This expectation cheered up the Admiral, and
this was the last of his Manila worries.
As he had said humorously to General Merritt, on
quitting: "I have been walking the deck, worrying, night after Ilight. You can do that now! "
It must have been striking to pass- through the
Suez Canal, witl the incident fresh there of Admiral
Camara's Spanish squadron being detained for
' want of a dollar or two," to pay the tonnage dues;
it will be remembered that when he obtained the
cash from home, it was useless, as he had run out of
coal, or at least that was good enough grounds for
sailing back over the Mediterranean to cover his
native shores, menaced by the flying squadron of
Commodore Watson, This, however, had no need to




I50


THE LIFE AND CAREER


cross the Atlantic, since Spain collapsed too prema.
turely for its guns to be trained upon their ports.
Upon the Mediterrailean anew, Dewey must have
recalled his earlier visits, when lie was a youth, and
in later manhood.
Malta, the well-known Britisl naval station in tle
Middle-Sea, has its memories for him. Ten or more
years prior to this transit, when he was commaniding
the European Squadron, he had to put into that
port to find a skilful surgeon for an operation on
which depended continuance in that "honest service
which was for God and mankind."
A. portion of his liver had to be removed, which
was the foundation of the jocular by-name lie went
with among his brother-officers: i The Man without a Liver."  The surgeon ll(ad gravely said, with
the spirit of prophecy upon him: "You can say
anything about that man; but, bIearing the operation
with that fortitude, you must add that he does not
show ' the white liver.'"
At the same harbor, some of his "Pensacolas"
went ashore and became mixed up with what may be
classically styled the;rum'tli(t of that cosmopolitan
haven, more plainly, a "brangle." lThe police, an
efficient one, pursued them, but the Jack-tars managed to return to tlhe Pensacola. Nevertheless, it
was a grave offense, for the harbor master came out
next day to complain.
The port-captain of Malta thinks himself about on
the level of the port-Admiral of Marryatt's sea-novels,
and, besides, the feeling between British and Yankee
marine worthies was not as cordial as later.
"What can I do?" asked Dvevy.
" Why, your men raised a riot on shore, and you
can assist me in arresting and punishing them,"
was the reply.
The Amoricau captain was very courteous in the




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


II5


expression of regret that sailors of the TU. S. N.
should be lawless while on shore leave, but could see
no way in which he might assist his visitor in searching out the guilty ones.
The reply of the naval officer angered the Britisher,
who said, somewhat peremptorily: "You certainly
can parade your crew before ne in order that the
rioters may be identified."
Looking aloft and pointing to the Stars and Stripes
waving [at the masthead, Dewey made the replyS
"Thle deck of this vessel is United States territory,
and I'll parade my men for no foreigner that ever
drew breath."
Much had happened since then to " the Nelson of
Americal," as the sailors in the port of Gibraltar
termed him, as the Olyvmpia steered into that famous
stronghold of the British.
Before tills, she had touched at Villefranche, where
tl'e King of Italy, unable to make the hero's personal
acquaintance, sent his old General Bogliolo to representhlim. It was appropriate that the land of Garibaldi should hold out a friendly hand to the son of
Columbia and New World Freedom, for which the
"Lion of Caprera " had fought and bled.
This historical spot received the honored visitor on
the 4th of September.
In the port was the British line-Qf-battle ship
Deivastation.  Her guns joined those of the impregnable fortress cut in the solid rock, to reply to our
salutes for the garrison.
At noon, the Admiral landed to proceed to the
Hotel Bristol, as he intended to live ashore during
tbe ten days' stay, for the benefit of his healtl. Our
Consul, Mr. Sprague, was an old friend, so that
this sojourn promised to be comfortable. To enjoy
the quiet, he refused a banquet from  the British
authorities, although he paid the usual call to the




,52


THE LIFE AND CAREER


commandant, General Sir Robert Biddulpl, who sent
his carriage to convey him to the governor's palace.
As they could not entertain the lion, the disappointed military and naval officers gave a dinner to
his captains from the Olylmpia with a brilliant spread
and international toasts, representing the Engie and
the Bull hobnobbing, —more Anglo-America.
It being said at the board that the English the
more admired our naval hero for his practical nature,
an officer of the Royal Artillery expressed his regret
that another practical officer, one Cornet O'Donohue.
was not alive to see hini as one of his own stamnp.
Of course, the story to illustrate Mr. O'D.'s praotical nature was called for. It was worth coming to
"the Gib." to listen to it.
O'Donohue was one of the garrison of tlhe fortHe was officer of the day when a brother-officer, who
had taken too much wine-this was in the portdrinking days-walked over the rock at a ploint where
there is a drop of a thousand feet, and was killed.
When the officer of the guard made out his report,
he made no mention of this accident. Indeed, wihen
he came to fill in his report and reached the question, "Has anything extraordinary happened while
you were officer of the guard?" he wrote, in the
blank space reserved for the answer, " Nothilg."
Of course he was summoned before Lord Napier,
of Magdala, the Governor of Gibraltar. Whllen lie
appeared, Lord Napier asked, " You were tlie officer
of the guard at Elpinstone Guard yesterday? "
"I was, sir."
"And this is your report?"
"It is, sir."
"Lieutenalit MI    was killed by walking over
the rock? "
He was, sir."
"You knew tllat when you made out your report?"




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I53


"I did, sir."
"That he was killed?"
"Yes, sir."
"And yet you said in your report that nothing
extraordinary had happened on your guard?"
"I did, sir."
"Well, Mr. O'Donolue," said Lord Napier, sternly,
"don't you think it is extraordinary when a lieutenant walks over the rock, falls one thousand feet,
and is killed?"
" Indeed, sir," was the prompt reply, " I should
think it extraordinary if he had fallen that far and
not been killed."
An old sailor of the war-ship, at the celebrated
rock-fortress, recalled an anecdote of the place, setting on evidence his admiral's detestation of drink
and falsehood.
A petty officer, going on land for his "liberty,"
had taken the liberty of imbibing too deeply.
When called upon to explain, in the morning, he
aggravated the offense by protesting to his chief that
he w:As only taken ill.
"Sick?  repeated Commodore Dewey, fanning
off the breath impregnated with Maltese wine, which,
poured out of goatskins, is strong as old cider:
"Yout are lying. You were very drunk. I heard
you myself. I will not have my men lie to me. I
don't ask them not to drink, but I do expect them
to tell the truth.  If you had told me frankly you
lad taken a drop too much 'on liberty,' you would
have been forward by this time, for you returned to
the ship. But for lying you get ten days in irons.
Let me have the truth hereafter. I am told you are
a good seaman. A good seaman has no business
telling lies."
As the good ship steered out into the great ocean,
leaving the dreadful Bay of Biscay to the good side




I 54


THE LIFE AND CAREER


-that is, the off one-it might be that a vision came
back of the future admiral laying out oll the yard
to take in sail at an emergency-one of those acts
which endear to the seaman his superior, by proving
that he might have " crawled in at the cabin window,"
but that he could do tlhe able-bodied seamanl's work.
Mr. Charles E. Rand, who was on the Flag-ship
Colorado at the time, relates:
" Admiral Dewey was then lieutenant-com mander
and executive officer. Once, during a terrific gale,
we were off tle Bay of Biscay, oftentimes a nasty
place, too, and the conmmand was given to save the
ship. The old Colorado could lnot move faster than
eight knots an hour, and we were on a lee shore. I
tell you it looked bad for us.
"At the height of the storm the admiral took the
bridge, relieving Dewey, and the order was given,to
set sails to help us out to sea. We fellows had to
hustle into the rigginlgs, and just to encourage us,
Dewey himself mounted tle ladder, and in less time
than I can tell it, was on the yard unfurling sail.
It was an exciting scene, and a dangerous situation;
but in a short time we were clear of the coast, and
safe from wreck on one of the rockiest shores I
know of."
CIAPTER X VI.
SOFT AND GENTLE PASSAGE. —" AMERICA, 1IO '!" IE IS IEIRE! "-T1IE FIRST APPLAUSE.-THE
NAVY WELCOMES.-YOUNG GEORGE.-ALL'S WELL
THAT BE(GINS WELL.
TIE voyage was resumed with only one more stopping-place, the Madeiras. There is one show-place
here, at Funchal, to wit, the famous ossuary of the




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I55


old Franciscan Convent, wlere a chamber is decorated alow and aloft with bones of holy men of
the fraternity, who have been thus interred in
the air.
Dewey had pledged tlhat he would be in New York
Harbor, in the hands of the ieception Committee
on the 28th of September, and as it would have
broken his heart for him to break his word, never
was the Olymplia handled more carefully, in the heat
of battle, than by her sailing-master, who shared
his commander's pride in the craft.
The Southern Atlantic route had been chosen, as
there was ample tile; besides, as it turned out, the
Northern route wIas uncommonly stormy this year,
and even in such masterpieces of niaritime art as
the great Oceanic, the nasty bleak winds and cross
seas were severely felt. The Admiral escaped all
this up to the end, when there was, on the home
shores, a break in tlle  Queen's weather," as the
English call meteorological pleasantness, or " Dewey
weather," as his seamen say.
As a profound navigator, the commander, of
course, kept the vessel's progress in his mind, asking
and knowing all about the currents, winds, bearings,
speed, and course.
It was trimming to a nicety, as he did not wish
to arrive aforetime to embarrass tle Committee or,
worse, to be late.
So they crossed at a fair pace and slackened up so
as to reach Sandy Hook, tlat senitry at the gates of
the Eastern metropolis, witll lplenty to spare," for
later maneuvers.
One propeller-blade had been twisted and was hung
up idle, but the other sufficed to give movement over
smooth water.
Sandy Hook loomed up on the evening of the 24th
September, Monday of a memorable week.




t56


THE LIFE AND CAREER


Unfortunately, illere was to a seaman's eye evidence of a storm threatening.
The question arose:   Shall we stand out to sea
again?"
It is amusing to a landsman that sailors should
prefer the open waters in a tempest to a shore, on a
large vessel.
" No," replied the Admiral, ' we shall run in and
anchor. A storm would upset tllings aboard, and
the crew will catch cold, cominig out of a hot climate;
they would not be in good shape for festivities."
Accordingly the immense anchors touched American soil at tlat lonesome spot barring the waves of
the Atlantic.
Pilot-boat No. 7 hove in sight —beauties of the
deep, of such was the America, the yacht which
first wrested the supremacy of the seas from England.
John Peterson was the pilot, and he was received
with all the delight treasured up on a long voyage
for the fellow-countryman who brings the aroma of
home. lie also brought sonie oysters which the
officers partook of, along with bits of news, for the
first time in two years. John was surprised that they
were so cold at coming into these seas, where the
nor'-easter which " fetched them up shivering " was,
to him, only a clheery breeze.
"They have it warm for ye up the harbor, I hear,"
added he, grinning.
Yes, it was cold to the Olyimpians and the chief
was glad to have his Chlinese servant rake extra
blankets out of tle locker that niglt.  But the chill
made him sleep better, and, as usual, for Dewey is a
little of the ilfaal(dc lilmainaire —" the Robust Invalid," by reason of the tropical clime-lie was revived.
In the meanwhile, thle telegraph at the Iook had
not been idle-the wires heated with the swiftness




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I57


with which the tidings were sent inland: " Dewey is
sighted!"  When Nelson returned, dead, alas! to
be carried to Westminster Abbey-or, truthfully, to
St. Paul's-the news ran from coast to capital by
signal-flags; this slow course would not suit our
people. Before the Admiral had breakfast, in short,
the gunners who had been standing by their pieces,
trigger-string in hand, were pulling, and " Dewey
is here!" roared by the cannon mouth not only in
New York but all over the Union.
No fears of a storm swallowing up our demigod,
now, from jealousy of an ocean divinity!
With the sun, the sailors were up in a keen wind
which made them move with the utmost alacrity, and
those who had no work to do, swung and lugged
their arms, did steps of hornpipes and otherwise
acted, as nearly as a seaman can do, like the motormen on a freezing morning in January.
If they had had the Lick telescope, they might
have seen, over at Greenville, N. J., the biggest
American flag hoisted of which history tells.
In the mean time, coming along shore and down
the port-mouth were the first tugs and pleasuresteamers, crowded with people who had sat up all
night and embarked with cockcrow, in order to have
a first peep at the idol of tile day-of all days.
The Admiral rose betimes; it promised to be one
of our fall days when, as John Jay said, nothing in
Italy equals the beauty of them. Ile smiled at the
men surreptitiously capering like goats to revive
their circulation, for lie symnlathized with them; he
looked up at his pennant stifix. cleaving the sky like
a shark-pin in the waters, and muttered with blue
lips that it was "A bit too cold," yet he did his
"constitutional " walk just the same.
At seven o'clock, with some surprise, the officer of
the deck reported that two war-ship masts, undeni



I59


THE LIFE AND CAREER


ably different from anything peaceful that spars a
ship, were visible to the south. It was soon identified by the marine glass as the U. S. Cruiser Cliicago.
As she came rushing up the channel, the Olympia's
men were dashing to quarters for which the bugle
had sounded.
This vessel carried Rear-Admiral Howson, whose
pennant, as she passed lier sister-ship, was immedately supplemented by a flight of small flags, greeting the otlher clhief. At the same time the batteries
of both ships were opened for business, and presently
seventeen guns belched the salute to Admiral Dewey,
to which he replied with the proper number for his
com rade.
As if these were a signal, all the guns around about
began to fulne alld bellow. From live war-slips of
Admiral Sampson's fleet, tle batterers-down of Spanish power in the West Indies, horizontal shoots of
flame and vapor rolled over the water andt dissipated
what nlorning haze Aurora hlad left to veil the burning sun; the ingenious herald who traced our hero's
lineage back to Thor tlle Thunderer ought to have
been here to hear himn hailed with this tremendous
reverberation.
But there is something better for cordiality than
reports of ordnance. Just at this nick came along
the pride of Gothamn's passenger service, the crack-ajack Sandy Ilook, crammed with curious persons,
who made ler careen, staunch as slie is, by racing to
the side towards the Oly1mpia and giving an unanimous yell: "Welcome, Dewey!"
The salutation was so sincere that the Admiral
bowed to it, and remarked with an unsteady
voice:
"They seem glad to see me!"
"' Seem!' " said a reporter, "'they know not
seems!' Wait till you get up to the city!"




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I59


This man knew of what he spoke-New York was
no longer the foremost town of this seaboard, but,
thanks to the thousands who had been pouring in
from all quarters, it was a gathering of all the States;
its population doubled in ten days. That is what
leads us to dilate on the details of this unparalleled
reception. It was not the offering of a city, however
great, but the tribute of a nation.
At half-past seven, the Ol1ympia'. men went to
breakfast, but the cannonade, which continued to
find echoes everywhere, the tremor in the air ahead,
where points of brightness and color fluttered like
fireflies trying to outvie the sun, and this cheer from
the excursion boat, thrilled them; they ate *with
little relish.
At eight o'clock, a peculiar flag on a U. S. cutter
betokened an official visit. This was the Dolphin,
flying the Navy flag for the Secretary; his Assistant,
Allen, was coming to act for him and the Navy.
As she came abreast, fifteen guns were fired irn
salute.
The band began national airs as he ascended the
gangway plank.   At the stage from  which Mr.
Allen should walk upon the deck, the Admiral
warmly presented himself to help him forward.
Both the little Dolphiin and the huge war-ship
were already hovered around by countless small craft,
under sail and steam, and even rowed out so far,
containing excursionists who had dared the dawning
fogs to greet the cynosure.
"I welcome you, Admiral," said the new-comer,
"and congratulate you in the name of the Navy!"
"'Thanks, thanks," responded the other with
warmth which there was no reason he should
conceal.
Here he was face to face with his own folk, with
none but a friend, let him look where le would,




i60


THE LIFE AND CAREER


The more formal greeting took place in the library, the Secretary marching between the marines
presenting arms, while the band continued to play
tunes in which our soldiers and sailors have found
inspiration for noble deeds.
A little before nine, orders were out for the ship
to proceed up that incomparable harbor, beside
which fades the Bay of Naples, the Bosphorus, tle
Golden Gate, Halifax, and what you will.
Steam had lifted tlhe ponderous anchors, and before the flukes were seen arising and dripping like
the fins of a Leviathan, the colossal war-engine began
to cleave the water.
The flotilla of pleasure boats had increased every
minute, and as she took the lead, this retinue looked
like the captive kings and conquered people which
a Cesar brought after him when lie was given his
"triunph" in ancient Rome.
Dewey looked round as lie went upon the afterbridge —not the forward one where lie had directed
the thunderbolts which made Admiral Montojo's
fleet look like Judas's rejected thirty pieces of silverand said, not more than half-reluctantly:
" Well, if I must be a hero, I must! I am ready.
I thought I was too old for such honors, but here is
Senator Depew saying that I am yet but a young
fellow; and, to tell you the trutlh, I feel so!"
The cold-drawn truth is that the sun was tp, and
it invigorated  him —Dewey was himself again!
This " hero ill spite of himself"' was tlle same, who,
after the Battle of Manila (entitled by Wilson, the
British naval anthority. " tle great and glorious
victory ") observed to h]is officers, gathered around
him as he sat on the deck:
"Gentlemen. I believe we will lear of thlis. I believe the American pleople will tlillnk it was well done.
There is a picturesqueness about the Philippines and




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


a completeness about the victory that will arouse
somne enthusiasm."
Those who were looking out at the forts in the
Narrows, saw the Olympia, like Neptune among
the Nereids, rapidly approaching, followed, helterskelter, by the miscellaneous collection of craft,
pressed into the service from all sides, thle passengers
screaming and waving toy-flags and brightly-colored
handkerchiefs, the whistles shrieking to split, sirens
booming, darkey cooks banging gongs, itinerant
musicians playing unidentifiable tunes on all manner
of instruments, in full, a horrific din which only the
irrepressible enthusiasm of the moment excused.
All this din was drowned in the overwhelnling
thunder from   the forts saluting, to which the
Olympzia's flags dipped in response.
On the shores to right and left, the masses of
people were clearly defined-one could count the
stars on the flag they waved, so clear was the air.
In keeping with the battle-ship's majestic advance,
went this double tidal wave of patriotism.
Then the lively, pellucid atmosphere thickened
with the powder fumes, and, hanging over the recipient of this hubbub, many were reminded that she
was the central figure in that scene of victory which
happlened on a May morning over yonder.
One soft note in all this fracas deeply affected the
few privileged to behold it.
The Admiral's only son had come' aboard.  He is
a self-reliant, unassuming youth, who is in the drygoods trade. When he entered business in New
York, not long ago, he adopted his father's sensible
advice to begin at the lowermost round, and so he is
receiving but a mediocre salary. Hearing of this,
one of those enterprising newspapers which hunt
after notables to garnish the daily feast of "celebrities on the sideboard," could not fail, through its
II




I62


THE LIFE AND CAREER


conductor, to desire an interview. In the course of
this, it was advanced, in a kind of Irishman's, or
broad hint, that he would like him to join the staff,
at a princely recompense. There was no call for his
articles-in fact, he was not required to do any
writing at all; somebody else would do the literary
matter to which he need only append his name!"


THE LATE WIFE OF THE ADMIRAL. MRS. DEWEY DIED IN 1872.


i The young man, spite of his creditable demeanor,
is full of "snap." The editor thought for a brief
spell that he had run up against the Olymvpia's
Samson post, so abrupt was the indignant rejection
of two hundred a month for " only a name! 
The bystanders, at the meeting of father and son,
thought that there would be embarrassment, for
the younger man had a good idea of how the nation




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY,.,63


vas about to hail the conquering hero. But not at
all. Any awe he might have felt was blown to the
winds instantly on their hands pressing.
Having dropped the forts behind her, the Olympia
approached the White Squadron. They presented
a strikingly bewitching aspect to a naval expertclean and trim as a Dutch village.
The Admiral made some feeling remarks which
denoted that he had by heart their doings in the
nearer hemisphere, and that he was unjealously proud
of the companion work they had done to his fleets.
Between the Olylmpia and the BrookAln, as two
ends of a pair of tongs, the Spanish fleets had been
smashed like a toad.
As the two flag-ships were about to salute, Dewey
went fron his station to the after-deck to make sure
that all was done with faultlessness. This change
of position brought him within view of some in tlhe
fleet of boats which still accompanied the progress.
He bowed and smiled to the more conspicuous, sending them home happy in the belief that " Dewey
has noticed me! 
On the instant of the Olympia being anchored at
the head of all the battle-ships, an officer was sent
off to notify the Mayor of New York, as the titular
host, that all was ready-" The victim is in his
hands,' said some one jestingly.
It was a willing victim, and if they killed it, it
would be with kindness.
The ship's gangway was besieged by hosts which
tried to achieve an entrance more strenuously than
ever an enemy had-but the marines were impassable
-none went by to the cabin* but officials.




I64


THE LIFE AND CAREER


CHAPTER XVII.
THURSDAY OF DEWEY WEEK.-CIVIC MEEDS. —A CITY
TOPSY - TURVY. -UNHOUSED MULTITUDES. - THE
LAND PARAD)E. —FATIGUEI) BUT TIANKFUL.
THURSDAY was bound to be as busy a day as any
other, so the Admiral was up at his usual hour, five
A. M.
The Army was represented by the Commander-inchief, General Miles, who called.
Then, the Governor of New York hastened not
merely as an official entitled to the step of precedence over the Mayor expected, but from  former
comradeship.
The Governor is Theodore Roosevelt, the famous
hunter of big game in the Rockies; the captain of
the Rough Riders, whose exploits are indelibly writ
on the Cuban War annals; the Assistant Secretary
of the Navy who had the clearest idea of the magnitude of the task before our Admiral in the Far East.
It may long remain disputable who really chose
and insisted on Admiral George Dewey having the
Asiatic fleet to direct and guide to victory, but it is
absolutely certain that Roosevelt saw to it that the
winning fleet was not to gain a barren victory or,
perhaps, to have the laurels snatched away by a
covetous hand., The official correspondence with Dewey makes it
manifest that it was by Secretary Roosevelt's direction that the Olymplia was retained on the Asiatic
Station after she had been ordered home. Her




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


officers knew privately that she was expected to call
at San Francisco.
DESPATCH   (Confidential), Roosevelt to Dewey
(Feb. 25th):
"Order the squadron, except Monocacy, to Hong
Kong. Keep full of coal. In the event of a declaration of war with Spain your duty will be to see that
the Spanish squadron does not leave the Asiatic coast,
and then offensive operations in Philippine Islands.
Keep Olympia until further orders."
A foot note by the Bureau of Navigation says:
" Olympia had had orders to proceed to United
States."
Now, since Roosevelt had upheld the appointment
of Dewey, although it was objected that he was a
naval dandy, it was compulsory upon him in logic
to uphold him if he were truly on the road to a
battle.
At the juncture when Dewey expected to be warned
to leave Hong Kong as a neutral port, arrived the
Baltimore. She had gone round to the Hawaiian
Islands to touch at Honolulu; there she took on
board among ordinary stores some special cases which
had come overland to San Francisco with such care
that the stevedores had muttered." Dynamite! " in
handling them. They were, in fact, the shells for
the largest guns, the turret eight-inch, on the big
ships. Indispensable! in the days of the muzzleloaders naval sea-dogs were never at a loss; for
powder they used charcoal of their own burning,
saltpeter out of sea-birds' caves, etc., and made
bullets and shot of cut "pigs," and even Dutoh
cheese at a pinch!
But modern guns require their gccurately-fash




I66


THE LIFE AND CAREER


ioned equipment, and the Olympia and her consorts
would have been muzzled before the enemy had the
Baltimore failed to bring the longed-for "food for
the big fellows."
It had come out later, as all the world knows,
that the Battle of Manila Bay was not suspended in
the heat of action sheerly to give the men time for
breakfast, but because it was necessary to ascertain
how the not superfluous stock of the special ammunition was running out. Therefore, the men never
turned out to do honor to a man more quickly and
heartily than to cheer Governor and ex-Secretary
Roosevelt.
As a vessel of war is always in a fit state, the preparations for the reception were no trouble to the
Olympia's officers, but to the Mayor and government
of Greater New   York, as the conglomeration of
boroughs under that new head is styled, it was a
terrible week of anxiety and tribulation.
Manhattan is accused of reserve, coldness, a cosmopolitan indifference  no heart; all for business,
which, we know, excludes sentiment; still, those
who know her longest, are assured that,when aroused,
she never stints to welcome those who enter in at her
wide door. As Dickens' character says: "Todgers
does it well! "
The population was doubled by the addition of
five million strangers! and most of them would be
concentrated in the limits of the main city, that is,
on Manhattan Island. As they were estimated to
spend ten million dollars a day, they were guests not
to be treated niggardly.
Hence the police were on the alert from the start,
warning off suspicious characters, and locking up
for the week those who boldly maintained a right to
stay out-doors. Fortunately, as we are a temperate
people, and most of our foreign citizens drink light




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I67


wine or thin beer, there was little disorder to be
apprehended on the score of inebriety.
Thieves and drunkards being eliminated, the rest
accommodated itself to circumstances with the elastic
good humor of persons assembled with a common
view.
Long before the week, passengers on trains and
boats told with glee that they were en route to see
the Victor of Manila. But after the great guns had
thunderously informed the nation that "Dewey was
in the Lower Bay," the influx jumped to a staggering figure.
Everything that could carry was impressed into
usefulness; railroad cars were dusted up from their
sidings where they had been discarded; old steamboats were' inspected-lall that sailed on a keel or
ran on wheels brought a contingent to the army of
sight-seers invading New York. Freight trains were
suspended, while all the staff forwarded the freight
which conveys itself "on the hoof."
All the hotels of size were prematurely crowded;
in the corridors, cots were spread and guests were
glad to sleep on the billiard tables. The old joke of
poles being run out of the windows on which patrons
might perch, was revived with a serious look.
Wealthy house-owners retired to back rooms and let
out their others to customers who never expected to
rest in such superb apartments. Untenanted dwellings were snapped up by speculators, and shanties
were built like Aladdin's palace between dog's bark
and cock-crow.
The overflow trickled out to the suburbs, and the
splendid ferryboats were jammed night and day
carrying occupants for the spare bedrooms of the
outlying districts as far as trolley-cars would reach.
Then rose a floating colony which made the waterside resemble Venice or Canton River; not only




i68


THE LIFE AND CAREER


were the hay sloops, the canal-boats and produce
barges turned into mock "floating palaces," but the
steamers happening to be tied up at the wharves
were similarly employed.  Up went the prices for
such improvised attentions, but a holiday like this
comes but once in an eon; a dollar was but as a
dime at other more rational times.
Tie streets were thronged with the curious, enrapt in the preparations going oi to give them a glut
of show and pageantry; with surpassing good humor
the masses made passages for the gods of the day,
the carpenters, painters, decorators, who permeated
the mobs like quicksilver running over foil.
Numberless stands began to rise all over the route
where the Land Parade was to march; besides which,
the city generously erected larger and still more
numerous " stoops," for its guests-not the rich and
titled-but the school-children, the recipients of
public charity and her wards comprehensively; for
the seven or eight stands there was furnished eight
million feet of lumber at an expenditure of $180,000,
all to accommodate at seven or eight spots 30,000
persons. One of the largest held 1,500 school-children, dressed in white and in blue, so posed that the
former spelled the name of "DEWEY " on the
cerulean background of the majority.
Aged visitors to New York may remember the
First Crystal Palace; it stood beside the old Croton
Reservoir; the latter building, condemned for improvement as a public library, was covered with a
platform holding 3,000 persons.
The superficial effect was of some brains in the
iornamentation; indeed, this was not the adornment
of old times, when one householder hung out a rug,
another the curtains, and a third the home-made
standard; artists were called in to give harmony and
a certain uniformity which appeased the fatigued




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I69


sight after too much hue and glitter; principally
one saw the national tri-color and the Navy blueand-gold.
Streets were done in one plan; house fronts were
draped so that no one was conspicuous.
On the pavement the uniforms of the regular army
and of the citizen soldiery were plentiful; the
jokers said that one could not move a cable-car on
Broadway without risk of crushing a State Governor.
In fact, everybody was invited to this national
home-warming.
"North and South together brought
Now own the same electric thought:
In peace a conmmon flag salute."
All the embellishllmelt reaclle( its highlest degree
in the " Dewey Arcll," the popular nlame for a handsome structure put up at Madison Square in the
kind of stucco known as " staff." vulgarly "stuff,"
a corruption of " Staffordshire," from the pottery
clay of that English county. First used in Europe,
notably for making   fictile statuary, so that the
groups could be tested on the points to be occupied
by the finished work, it was made known to us by its
wholesale use at the Chicago Fair. The beauty and
chasteness of the " White City," so reared has caused
its general adoption for hasty effect, yet of a gratifying kind.
Sculptors and artists gave their talent and skill to
produce this testimonial to Dewey's worth, laboring
night and day to be done on time, some falling ill
from their exertions; one or tw\o martyrs to art died,
in fact. But they will have the consolation to know
that it was hailed ds a success, and a subscription
was immediately commenced to perpetuate it in
marble, although it might cost a million.




170


THE LIFE AND CAREER


If the general effect is too near that of the Paris
"Arch of the Triumph of the Star," nevertheless, it
is new to us, and the resemblance is in a measure
owing to the fact that the French designers copied,
like us, the monuments of the Romans. It stands in
front of the Worth Monument, a general of the
Mexican War. Thle future site is not yet selected.
It will be a civic treasure, anywhere.
It is "To the Triumph of the American Navy,"
hence the subjects were nautical and from  our
history; the persons prominent are Paul Jones,
Decatur, Preble, Ilull, Farragut, etc. In more than
one of the groups and panels the American sailor
is depicted as he appeared at the Manila Battle,
stripped to the waist.
Both ways, it is led up to by a colonnade, the
columns being adorned with Victories offering
wreaths. The width of the central passage did not
allow a regiment to march through in company
front, but they did so in fours.
Thousands haunted this spot to watch the sculptors and plasterers at work, prolonged into the dark
and assisted by the electric light.
Comparatively few  persons had been on the
Olympiic, and fewer still had conversed with the hero
of the day, but these diffused all over town the personality, so winning, of the naval celebrity.
They said he was not the bronze-figured, steelhearted commander of an iron-clad fleet, but human,
kindly, simple and good-natured.
Extra editions circulated hourly in the crowds;
they showed that Dewey liad bewitched the Knights
of the Stylograph like all great men by being profuse
upon trivialities and discreet about grave matters.
The popllalr picture of him had to be corrected,
though, for we were not to behold him as at the
battle, in a white duck summer neglige, with a




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I7I


traveling-cap snatched up-a cap going down to
posterity, on his head, as that Scotch cap which
Abraham Lincoln donned to pass through inimical
Baltimore to be inaugurated.
Dewey would be seen as the Admiral, Chief of the
Navy, in azure and gold, almost the nautical Brummel of twenty years ago and even later, when his
critics at Washington reproached the Department
for sending out a " dude " to Asia who was so particular about his collars! " Ay, retorted one who
knew him, " but we send one who will fight, and we
are not particular about the linen of such a man, as
long as he wears any collar at all! "
Folks whispered, and the touch of fellow-feeling
made them smile:
"Thinking of the flowery path he has to tread, he
shrinks from the ordeal!"
To use his own words: "I rather dread the
thought of going through the ordeal-the noise and
hubbub of crowds, to which I am unaccustomed.
Not that I do not appreciate the honor the people
do me, do not think that, but, to say the truth, I
was wholly unprepared for the great wave of enthusiasm with which we have been met on my
return home.
" We had expected, of course, quite a reception,
but tlis exaggeration of sentiment-this hero-worship (here a wave of color spread slowly over the
Admiral's face and there was a suspicion of tears in
his eves) is something that I did not dream of.
"So while I am almost afraid of the next few
days, 1 am at the same time filled with a vast joy
and thankfulness that I belong to a nation that
knows how to thank so nobly its servants who do
their duty.
" But, with Von Moltke, I hold that a man should
not be judged too soon. 'No man,' said Von Moltke,




912


TIIE LIFE AND CAREER


'is known even to his own family until after he is
dead,' and he believed that people should not make
their estimate of a man till then.
"That, I know, is a little too slow for progressive
Americans. They are generous to a fault and impulsive to a great degree. But there is no denying
that they do things il a princely fashion.
"I feel that our people ought to wait a while in
my case. I fear they are making me out too much
of a hero, and if they should be disappointed ultimately how flat I should feel and what a fall would
there be! Yet, after the fight there in Manila Bay,
I feel it was out of the common."
Iis name was on every lip, his image in every
eye; citizens who could not yet speak our tongue
freely sported the Navy cockade on their hats;
children of distant nationalities were dressed in his
ship's colors; horses, carts, whips, all was decorated
with a Dewey memento. The Chinese burnt gilt
paper in his honor in their temples!
Little children lisped, as a new lullaby:
"Dewey was the morning,
Dewey was the day;
DEWEY was the hero
Of old Manila Bay!"
With the freedom of the city, New York presented
him with a gold loving-cup worth $5,000, while a popular subscription, in dimes, stood for the tribute of
50,000 people; it was a giant, standing six feet high,
of coin silver.
Summing up the situation, an uptown store-keeper
wrote across his show-window: " George, You Own
the Town!"    Other mottoes were: " Hail, the
Victor of Manila!"  " We all feel just good, for
Dewey's come   sailing lhome!" and " Welcome,
Dewey!" gleamod everywheire from house-fronts to
pennants, from balloon;s and wire screens in the air.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEV.


i73


One unequaled compliment was in a railroad company's employes refraining from a strike because it
was "Dewey Week!"    The Columbia University had
to postpone its opening; business was suspended except to cater to the guests and the military and
official world ever arriving. Arose was named after
him; and celebrities know that this is no easy honor,
since all the world cannot get its bust on a cheap
pipe or a cigar label.  If any deed were done quickly
and thoroughly, the verdict was ' Dewey done it!"
As the poet of the sidewalk warbled:
" We've babies christened DeweyThe pretty little petsWe've Dewey opera houses
And Dewey statuettes.
There's Dewey drinks by dozens
And Dewey shirt waists, too,
With Dewey belts and buckles,
Likewise a Dewey shoe.
"They're making Dewey buttons,
They're are making Dewey hats,
And 'Dewey' is imprinted
On collars and cravats.
They're making Dewey ' tobies,'
And thus they name cigars;
They're making Dewey cocktails
To push across the bars.
"We've made a ' day' for Dewey,
And there are Dewey nights,
With lithographs of DeweyOh, some of themn are sights!
There is a Dewey button,
That's blossomed with,the year,
While 'lobster a la Dewey'
Is popular, I hear.
"' They're making Dewey gaiters,
And Dewey slippers, too:
They're making Dewey ribbons,
In red and white and blue.




174


THE LIFE AND CAREER


They put the name of Dewey
On anything they like,
And soon upon the market
There'll be a Dewey bike."
His affability struck the masses as delightfully
new in a hero. His fraternal embrace to Admiral
Sampson was as impressive as his condescension in
letting his hand rest on a lad's shoulder that they
might be both the victim of a " Kodak-fiend."
Tothe champion prize-fighter, visiting his ship,
he had not withheld a pleasing word.
At the end of the week, a push-cart man totaled
up the general dictum in a card on his cart:
" Dewey, come again!"
The most remarkable effusion was that of the
Spanish Minister, Duke d'Arcos. lie said tlat the
extraordinary welcome did nlot surprise him a-s "no
honor could be too great for one who had served his
country so well!  Bearing in mind what this service was, this was a magnanimous, if not a magnificent, compliment.
But above all, truly a national tribute, was the
spontaneous declaration that George Dewey had
" the first call " on the "' Presidenti.l Chair."  SLuch
a man might steer clear of politics and yet enter the
Wllite House, untrammeled, like " Old IIickory"
or "Rough-and-Ready Taylor."
The Admiral was not an isolated celebrity  we
speak of the Generals of Washington and Napoleon's
Marshals, and so of Dewey's Captains. These were
being rewarded all over the land; their ships receiving silver services, their hands being filled witl
crowns, wreaths, and swords of honori usually at
their proud birthplaces.  But there was a strong
wish that they should be by his side in tlis greeting.
People knew their names by heart, also. Gridley
of the Olympia, Wildes of the Boston, Dyer of the




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.             175
Baltimore, Wood of the Petrel, Walker of the
Concord, " and there are others."
Gridley died on the honeward voyage; Dyer, who
silenced the Spanish batteries after Montojo's were
sunk and burnt, fought against the most resistance
Manila presented; a volunteer from the merchant
service for the Civil War, he, like Dewey, served
under Farragut, who promoted him for gallantry;
he was in his native Massachusetts at this time;
Wildes, of the same state, is also a hero of the last
war, having fought on monitors and ironclads, and,
particularly, at Farragut's triumphant Battle of Mobile; he was at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Captain
Coghlan is master of the Puget Sound Navy Yard.
Their presence would have atoned for the absence
of the President and Cabinet; invited, they had all
declined and, for them, came the Assistant Secretary
of the Navy. However, as the President was to
greet Dewey at Washington and present him with
the sword voted by Congress, that might pass.
These honors were very well, including engrossed
parchments from schools of learning, and the prizemoney (few know that some of the Spanish vessels,
laid up in Manila, were raised and served under our
flag), the people wanted to render their gratitude in
their own way.
That is why a hundred thousand soldiers would
have formed the Thursday's procession, but this
army could not have been handled.
It was restricted to something like forty thousand.
The notable features were the detachments of the
Navy and Marines, regulars, the Astor Battery returned from Cuba, under command of the millionaire patriot; the Old Guard; Veterans of the
Spanish-American War (the G. A. R. did not participate because refused the right of the line, destined
for the XNavy), nd companies of National Guards out




I76


THE LIFE AND CAREER


of nearly every state. The forty-eight Iighlanders
from Canada, represented our North Countrymen of
the future. From Pennsylvania, came Philippine
Veterans.
This imposing array, brilliant with variety and composed of the mercantile and business elements in a
great measure, defiled at the City Hall, sumptuously
decorated, before the Admiral and the Mayor and distinguished guests, the pick of our society, including
the Governors whose guards of honor passed in the
show.
It must not be inferred that in this carnival of
patriotism " the men behind the guns" were ignored.
They were the objects of public felicitation-" We
cannot fairly expect to shake hands with Dewey,
but we can get hold of his sailors!" was the popular
cry.
When they got hold of them they did not know
when to let go. The ships had drawn a maximum of
worship, and with Dewey, the Olypia was pronounced
" The finest you have got. I am proud of her as
the Navy ought to be. Just as comfortable as a
yacht. Look at her lines —anything prettier? and
those guns! they can speak! "
Ay, they did speak to the Spanish, and the American people heard, while the echo went around the
globe.
Those allowed aboard had pulled the ears of
"Bob," the Chinese pet dog; and scratched the
back of Setor Sagasta, the mascot pig and playmate
of the deck hands, and admired the polished guns —,but the seamen-our brothers of the outer defense
line-they were the idols!
It was but an exponent of the whoie spirit, that
eating-house keeper who ticketed llis windows:
"Free dinners for the Olympia's ere  " Everything they could point at throughout tb town wsa




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I77


freely theirs. Traders would be insulted at their
offering to pay for anything.
So Thursday passed joyously amid glorious
weather.
In the night, the city broke out into flame like a
Spanish fleet under our guns-all was illuminated
from the cellars to the tiptop of the loftiest "skyscrapers,"-all the hues, all the variety in shimmer
and effulgence of the modern pyrotechnist.
At the smoking concert at the great hotel, the
Waldorf-Astor, the crew of the Olyi.pia were feasted,
to the number of two hundred and fifty; in the balcony were seated, to witness their thorough enjoyment, their Admiral, his brother-officer, Sampson of
the Cuban fleet, with Captain Evans. The Chairman
of the United New York Board spoke the Address
of Welcome.
A last word on this famous ship: sent to Boston
to be repaired, she went out of commission, but she
will ride the deep again, yet farther to carry the
" four stars " of Dewey.
"Columbia is the Ocean-Queen, and she standeth stanch
and true,
With Dewey for her cutlass keen, and her buckler
Jackets blue! "
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE FRIDAY.-THE NATIONAL REGATTA.-THE PANORAMA. —A VERY SPECIAL SALUTE.-" HAIL TO
THE FLAG! " —ON TO WASHINGJTON.
FRIDAY was another slice out of the Indian summer which rejoiced the sightseers.
The thousand members of the Civic Committee
who came down to the Narrows to greet the national
12




178


THE LIFE AND CAREER


guest had no need of overcoats as they backed-up their
Mayor, who made a welcoming speech to the com-'
mander of the Olympia on her deck.   As he could
not shake hands with that number without the lame
shoulder which he soon afterwards experienced, he'
distributed a few clasps and uttered more words which
the hearers treasure.  He replied instantly to their,
call by going upon their steamer, the Salndly Hock,
to sit at a luncheon worthy of Knickerbocker's town
where good cheer has always reigned. as witness
" cookies" and " crullers."  The police boat Petrel,
not the little vessel so gallant at Manila, transferred
him to his own ship, on which, alone almost, lie was
to preside over the Water Parade.
His guests were very limited here, only his son, the
respected widow of Captain Gridley, who was frequently cheered, and one or two old personal friends.
These walked up and down the after-bridge until the
anchor was raised and the war-ship started for the
cruise to Grant's Tomb.
The fleets were composed of boats of all kinds belonging to the city, fire, police, etc., yachts, large
steamboats, those massive tugs which are the pride
of the harbor, four or five of those "demons of the
sea-" the torpedo boats —excursion boats of every
stripe, a dozen or so of saucy revenue cutters, the
Navy having let all attend which could be spared,
and celebrated battle-ships, the  rew York, Indiana,
Brooklyn, Massachusetts, Chicago, and others with
names familiar in everybody's mouth.
The Olympia was the more easily picked out among
them as they were painted yellow while she was still
white.
The start was made at one o'clock p. oA.
The police boats preceded by a little to clear tile
way of the swarming small craft, which spoils the,acht races and everything else by intrusion.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.              179
More effectual, the fire-boats came up and poured
immense spouts of water on interferers, which caused
them to retire, deluged.
Those who saw the tremendous display of war
engines at the Queen's Jubilee Review may have
seen more vessels, but nothing equaled the gathering since Xerxes collected his galleys or they rammed
one another at Actium.  The variety was bewildering, and the names of the craft would make a list
longer than lIomer's " List of the Ships."  Besides,
the world has no harbor like New York's for a parade
of maritime masterpieces.  The noble Hudson River
can bear navies without their fouling.
The shores form a dress-circle for five or six miles
where spectators can see all the evolutions.  If
hundreds of thousands peered at the aquatic procession from the craft, a couple of million looked on
from the shore and piled tlhe roofs of those tall edifices
of which Chicago and this city bear the burden.
One thing literally struck everybody-the uproar of voice, cannon, steam whistles and indescribable instruments which beat pandemonium.
Naval officers said it was worse than the din of
battle.
The speed was eight knots, and the warships kept
right on with no slowing or stopping.
The Admiral was busy bowing to the pleasureseekers whose boats ran as near as. permitted and
tried by all devices to draw attention each on himself. He was much amused at the odd floats with
their odd passengers, decked out with Dewey medals,
colors, trinkets.  One in particular brought a hearty
laugh-it was the Ox, a (luml)y lighter with a topheavy crane, on which, like Dutch reefers taking in
sail, some boys daringly swung.
"Just see the Ox!" exclaimed the merry center
of all this gala; "she beats them all!"




I8o


THE LIFE AND CAREER


And the sturdy Ox got the most agreeable smile of
all that turned out in his honor.
He showed almost a boyish glee in showing to his
son and intimates the badge the City had given him.
" Is it not beautiful? " he said.
From all the moving vessels came music, cheers,
song and waving of colors.   A  photograph ill
natural colors would be like a scene from fairyland.
The view sternwards of the packed thousands on
the piers, whiarf-sheds, buildings in tiers from the
waterside to the tops of the gilats at the Park, not
a window unfilled, not a perch on the soaring corniices untenanted-this held him spell-bound.
This outburst of gratitude, of patriotism  anl
adoration came from no "pent-up Utica," but fromn
the entire Fifty States-from California to tlhe Gulf,
from Maine to New Mexico.
The antique emperors, looking over the amphitheater heaped with minions, satraps, generals, slaves
and subjects, saw nothing, in their climax, like to
this lofty spectacle-these were freemen holding up
their hand to another freeman whom chance had
chosen to stand in the breach where all else would
have thronged in the same cause-defense of country.
He was not tired this day on the waters.
He saw every little thing. Three or four times
he called for his marine-glass to define a detail. When
the squadron went majestically by, he stood at the
salute, not rigid, but supple as though a young captain again. He issued his orders in a voice unnerved
by this warm inundation of applause. At 131st
Street, beside the stake boat, the St. fary's training ship, was the old U. S. Frigate Portsmouth,
built in 1840, so that there may have been grizzled
officers in this parade who had been apprentices
aboard her.
As the Olympia turned round the training-ship,




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I8l


Dewey smiled upon the boys in their neat suits and
set the cue for them to be cheered, while the ancient
ship received part of the salute.
The men-of-war anchored here, and the column
went down stream between them and the New York
shore. They lhad come up along the Jersey shore,
where a pretty incident occurred.
Our readers will remember, in the early pages
about our hero's boyish life, how he had a conflict
with a school-teacher who was instrumental in forming his future.
Mr. Pangborn, living in Jersey City, turned out to
fire a salute as his former pupil should pass. From
the school-desk to the quarter-deck of a flag-ship,
what a rise! Then the boy h1ad snowballed him;
now lie was firing blank cartridge on him! Then
the old dominlie repeated to the crowd, as the battleship sailed by under their eyes (his own moistening):
"I'll tell you what Dewey said when he came
home, as a young officer. IIe said to me: 'I shall
never cease to be grateful.  You made a man of me.
But for that thrashing you gave me, I might have
ended in the State prison! "
So the boys who heard him went away, glad in the
future to gt a whipping-how could one become a
hero but for the same treatment?
From the Olympia, anchored up stream, it seemed
that the passage to land might be made though two
miles in distance, by stepping from one head to another of the passengers on those boats, so closely were
they retiring, as if moored together.
Those who lingered saw the most tender of patriotic sights.
When our flag is lowered at dusk at a military station or on a national defender, the conmmandilng
officer gives tho example in dsluting the colors,




l82


THE LIFE AND CAREER


There he was on the bridge, his eyes on the flag
descending, and his hand, which had curbed Spain
as a rider curbs a bronco, touching his hat in reverence. He owed all this homage to his defense of
that flag!
Long after the pleasure-boats had borne away their
cargoes towards their lodgings, he remained on the
deck to see the fireworks.  They were even more
splendrous than yesterday's, and still, on the water,
the yachts could be seen glorious in electric lights.
The next day he spent in rest; and on Sunday,
without any notification to the press, eager to keep
tally of his every step, he went unobserved to a
church in Harlem, where, in his plain clothes, almost none recognized him.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE WASHINGTON RECEPTION.-THE HOME FROM THE
PEOPLE. - ITS HOSTESS EXPECTANT. - VERMONT
WELCOM3E.-LAYING THE STONE OF DEWEY HALL.
FOR quite a month, they had been making ready
in the National Capital to receive the victor in what
Captain Mahan designates the " greatest naval battle
I11 record."
He stayed at an apartment-house where he had
previously resided, but soon entered the mansion of
Mrs. Washington McLean, to whose daughter was
attached an old tale that she was the Admiral's flame,
not by any means extinct.
From his former residence at Washington, his time
was fully occupied with renewing old friendships,
especially as he was expected to permanently dwell
here in the near future.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEt.


I83


Delegations came from all sides to beg him to pay
their homes a visit; letters of every description
poured in to task his secretary, and he had official
calls to make.
He received an ovation at the U. S. Old Soldiers'
Home, where he said that he had Iever learned to
appreciate "the American soldiers' true valor and


SWORD OF HONOR VOTED TO ADMIRAL DEWEY BY CONGRESS.


aoble qualities until he had seen them fight in the
Philippines."
He lunched at the Metropolitan Club with Professor
Sclirman of the Philippine Commission, to which
he is attached in order to give it the benefit of his
experience and advice. With Rear-Admiral Farquhar, successor of Admiral Sampson, he strolled out




184


THE LIFE AND CAREER


to the Navy Department near which he was recognized and hailed by a gathering crowd, although
"in mufti," that is, citizen's dress.
He merrily excused himself from shaking hands
with old acquaintances, as his arm was sore from
hand-shaking in New York.
On the road to the White House, he was interrupted by throngs of women and of school-children
for whom he had a wave of the hand or a smile.
At the Presidential mansion he was closeted for an
hour with the Chief Executive; their conference was
on the Asian Question, and the outcome a swift despatch of men-of-war and more troops to the seat of
strife. Senator Hanna had the ill-luck to call during this confabulation, but turned aside at hearing
what an important dialogue he was interrupting.
At a stand before the Treasury, Dewey reviewed
the procession in his honor; he received from the
President the sword of honor voted by Congress.
The Admiral had postponed the date of a desired
visit to Chicago, but the President entreated him
to go thither in company on the Presidential Western
tour. This was declined with some embarrassment.
The fact of the matter was, whatever the press inferred erroneously, that a more tender engagement
was in progress: the Admiral had made one to
marry!
For some time, it had been determined that the
most agreeable present for the Union's favorite son
would be a home. So a subscription was rapidly circulated and $50,000 was raised to find him a house,
or a site on which to build one, at Washington.
Consulted, he preferred to have a dwelling already
built, and " the Fitch House " was selected and approved by the future occupier. It is a brick house
with brown stone trimmings, on Rhode Island Avenue, in the heart of the social center. The furniture




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I85


was "thrown into the bargain" by the owner on
learning who would be the real purchaser. Throughout the States, manufacturers of furniture, upholstery and the like vied with each other to perfect the
interior. New stables will be erected, with accommodations for " that Dewey lion" which the Europeans (vide Sir Henry Irving) believe struts by iis
side in his walks abroad!
The twenty rooms making too extensive an abode
for a bachelor, all were glad that it would have a
mistress known to the community and certain to
grace the board.
Admiral Dewey will wed Mrs. IHazen, daughter of
Mrs. McLean. This explained the rejection by the
Admiral of the President's invitation to the Western
Tour: he could hardly join a caravan more or less
directed against the election of Mr. McLean-so near
and dear to his hostess and his wife-to-be.
Politics form a mighty engine, but when Cupid
thrusts a spoke betwixt the wheels of the Juggernaut
it must come to a standstill.
In acknowledging the gift of his countrymen,
Dewey said his heart was full of gratitude for such
regard.
The honeymoon, therefore, is reasonably supposed
to have more to do in canceling his engagements to
visit various places than the plea of fatigue after so
much " lionizing."
Tired with his Washington week, the Admiral,
after a quiet Sabbath, when his son and he attended
St. John's Church, once containing his pew, traveled
north in the palace-car Victory, owned by the manager of the Wagner Car Co., now amalgamated with
the Pullman. He went through New York asleep;
and thence by the West Shore to Albany, for Vermont. A card to view the International Yacht race
from Lipton's tender, the Erin, had to be declined.




I86


THIE LIFE AND CAREER


As the day went on, the news spread of the passage,
and guns were fired at the crossings. At other
points, crowds concentrated to cheer and wave flags.
Sitting in the observation car, he saw the unrivaled
scenery of the Hudson and marked these plentiful
evidences of the uncooling popular ardor.
His companions were his son, the Governor of
Vermont, and Dr. Seward Webb, railroad magnate
and millionaire, whose guest he was to be at the renowned stock farm of Shelburne.
At the station he was met by one of the scores of
traps. He was driven over typical Vermont country
until he reached the stately entrance to the estate,
with its porters' lodges on either side, as in the Old
Country.
There is no finer country drive than that through
the grounds to Shelburne House, a distance of four
miles. The farms comprise nearly 4,000 acres, 2,000
of which are cleared. The roadway is of stone and
beautifully laid out.
Shelburne House itself is on a ridge that overlooks the estate and Lake Champlain. It is a long,
rambling Queen Anne structure and very beautiful
It contains more than sixty rooms, and an addition
is building which will make it the largest country
house in America. The rooms are fitted in costly
woods, with great fireplaces. It is heated by steam
and lighted with electricity.
Shelburne Farms is a complete community in itself. It has its own fire department; its own electric
and power plant for the whole estate. It has various shops. The water supply is sufficient for a
town.
Dr. Webb has long been famous a a breeder of
driving horses. The great farm barn has a ring
378 feet long and 85 feet wide where the blooded
horses can be exercised in winter,




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


187


The greenhouses are the largest and finest on any
private estate in America, and especially rich in rare
plants. Much attention is given to violets and gardenias.
From hence, Admiral Dewey arrived in Montpelier
at 5:20 o'clock on the 11th October. From Shelburne
to the capital, at all the small towns along the route,
crowds turned out to cheer the Admiral as the train
whizzed past. As Dewey's car was backed into the
depot in Montpelier thousands of people swarmed the
tracks. The Admiral stepped out upon the rear platform and lifted his hat in acknowledgment of the
welcome at the hands of his townspeople.
" Ah, these are Vermonters! " he said. It plainly
showed that the welcome given to him by the people
of his own State was cearer to him than that of all
of his other countrymen.
Dewey stood looking over the crowd searching for
familiar faces. Suddenly he pointed at a man in
the crowd: "There's George Goodwin," he said.
"Sure enough, that's Goodwin. There's the old
insurance building." (His father's institution.)
" Hello, here is Edward. Edward, how are you,
brother? Say, Edward, you will have to make a
speech to these good people. Come, make a few remarks."
Edward Dewey could not make a speech. The
crowd was convulsed with laughter as the two brothers shook hands.
" Welcome home, George. You cannot imagine
how happy we all are to see you," Edward replied,
as the Admiral assisted him up the steps of the platform.
"A speech, a speech! " cried a thousand men.
"Gentlemen," said the Admiral, " I am no speechmaker. I could not make a speech."
"That's no joke, Admiral; but you can fight to




I88


THE LIFE AND CAREER


beat the band," yelled a small boy. Shaking with
laughter, Dewey vanished from the platform.
When only a few remained about the train, Dewey
started down State Street toward the home of his
brother, Edward, who accompanied him, leaning
upon his arm for support. The Admiral was preceded by Adjutant-General Peck, of the Vermont
National Guard, who cleared a path through gathering throngs with his sheathed sword.
" Look over there, George," said Edward Dewey,
pointing to the Montpelier pavilion.  In great letters of fire were the words, " Welcome, Dewey."
'It is all grand-magnificent! " Dewey remarked.
Edward Dewey's home is opposite the State House,
and here the Admiral stopped and bowed again to the
crowd before he entere(l. A few minutes later they
were joined by George G. Dewey, the Admiral's son,
Charles Dewey, another brother of the Admiral, and
other members of the Dewey family. Dinner was
served with no one outside of the family at the table.
The Admiral said that he was delighted with his
reception in  Montpelier and that he hoped the
weather would be fine. " I will be glad when the
celebration is over," he said " for I am very tired."
It was exhilarating to mingle with the crowd: the
elders overflowed with reminiscences of their distinguished fellow-citizen, and the young ones listened
agape or stared at the object of all this enthusiasm
and eulogy.
Many a finger pointed tremulously at the house
where " our" Dewey was born: an old colonial house
moved from its first site. Out of its gates, Mrs. Dr.
Dewey used to emerge in a low-swung carriage not
unlike a heavier Victoria, which caused the spectators
of the equipage and the solid horses in silver-plated
caparisons to say:
"Here comes the Queen in her coach "




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I89


Graybeards spoke of swimming in the " Inion" at
a pool where George beat the band by " staying under
water the longest! "
" He was jes' a born, nateral athlete, that Dewey
lad, and on the Meetin' day of the Legislater, when all
the youngsters used to compete out tlar' on the
green in all kinds of rastlin' and pulley-haulins, that
boy would floor every mortal son! "
Some hummed the musty song by Dibdin, which
used to make our gran'thers' eyes water, " The Son
of a Tar," and affirmed that it was a favorite of
Dewey's and had turned his head seaward.
One old merchant, who had been a schoolmate of
his, related that once when the boy had proclaimed
his ambition to travel the world over and make acquaintance with the rulers of Europe-the witty
teacher had flourished his ruler of ebony, and cried:
" There is one American ruler you will make the
acquaintance of before you do of them! "
And all laughed! The Yankee does not laugh
often or for long, but when he does you can hear him!
So it was all mirth at Montpelier over the prodigal's
return, glittering with glory!
Old ministers who ought to have been less excited
over a man of war repeated Dr. Dewey's advice to his
son, like to Polonius':
"Never fight; but-when you do, fight your uttermost!"
More easily recalled Dewey's visit in '84, when
his mustache was dark, not snowy, and he looked stern
under his bushy brows so that the little ones to whom
he was always tender, shrank at the first from him
until he had time to win their hearts. Then he was
" Uncle Captain" to them; they were mothers of
families now, and to those duplicates of themselves
were reciting these anecdotes.
After the day at home, among his near connections,




Igo


TIlE LIFE AND CAREER


was a public day, garnished with reviews, the largest
procession ever known in the Green Mountain State,
choruses of school-children whose sweet voices affected
him to the core, " Salutes to the Flag," presentation
of the State keepsake, his likeness jeweled with diamonds, and in the evening fireworks, including a bonfire of a pyramid of tar-barrels fifteen layers high,
the blaze of which threw into the shade the illumination of the State I-ouse dome. Montpelier has a
normal population of eight thousand-it contained
fifty thousand Vermonters who simply went cranky
with patriotic delirium.
The salute was fired from two guns recovered from
the Castilla, one of those Spanish vessels sunk in
Manila Bay.
At midnight, when the last reveler had hardly
more than retired from  the rare festival, the Admiral and his select party left Montpelier, and, in
the morning, awoke at Northlfield, to the roar of
seventeen guns, an Admiral's salute, fired by the
cadets of the University, wlere he spent three years
(1851-1854), before passing on to the Annapolis
Naval Academy. In 1898 this institution conferred
on "our Chevalier Bayard of the Navy " (says Commodore Stratton) the degree of B. S. for "honorable cause."
His "nursing mother," Norwich (since, Northfield) Military Academy (now a University), trained
for the military profession as well as for higher
education.
Founded in 1819, at the close of our War with
Great Britain, when it was proven that we were
without preparation for officering the troops, the
West Point graduate, Captain Partidge, who was its
superintendent, sent qualified juniors into the army
in Mexico and, in the Civil War, its graduates were
numerous enough for a company by themselves.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.              I91
Their names were set upon the triumphant columns
througlh which Dewey was conducted by the cadets,
at the proper hour.  In the interval, he strolled
about the town and made the acquaintance of its
chief citizens and reenwed that of old friends flocking to the place. The University stands on rising
ground, and the inmmense body of spectators could
see the prominent guests arrive for the exercises of
laying the corner-stone, by Dewey's own hand. In
May last, the turf had been cut by Captain Clark, of
the celebrated circumnavigating cruiser Oregon.
"Vermont's greatest son" laid the stone in a
workmanlike  manner, "according to his wish."
This was a boulder brought here in olden times by
the glacial wave, and was set on another fronm the
old school at Norwich.
The new edifice is to be of native granite, in classical style, the elevation attained by a hall with rotunda. In the center is to be a Dewey statue.
The orator of tile day was Senator Depew, who is
almost the mouthpiece of America-or, at least,
the Europeans whom he enchants, esteem him so.
Chauncey M. Depew, then, made one of his most
happy efforts, almost in tile slhade of an eln-tree
under which the delinquent students have to march
in full marching order, musket on shoulder! It is
not said that our hero had to do so, but it is feared,
as he certainly is the typical American, who is
always the " worst boy in school."
The text of tllis specclh might have been Governor Goodwin's sibylline utterance upon his son-inlaw:
" Dewey is full of grit and honesty, and will be
heard of one of these days!"
During the impressive ceremony, a painting of
the Olympia was exhibited and presented to her
colmmander.




I92


THE LIFE AND CAREER


Throughout the sunny day the guest was escorted
by the proud cadets, to whom he was a vivid example.
CHAPTER XXI.
SENATOR DEPEW'S ADDRESS TO ADMIRAL DEWEY, AT
NORTHFIELD, VERMONT, OCTOBER 13, 1899.
"ADMIRAL DEWEY, Governor and Legislators;
Gentlemen of the Faculty, and Students: The
greetings and applause which accompanied Admiral
Dewey around the world, the welcome and triumphal
processions of his grateful countrymen, the imposing
ceremonies at the National Capital and the capital
of his native State, have their fitting close at the
University where the foundations of his fame were
laid. IIe returns from his victories to his Alma
Mater and lays his laurels upon her shrine. Here
precept and example, teaching and tradition, made
the man. The home-coming of the alumnus during
commencement days to the University is always an
interesting incident in his life, but when he comes
back crowned with glory and honor to acknowledge
his debt, the old college has fresh inspiration for her
sons.
DEWEY'S EARLY AMBITION.
"Forty-five years ago a young man was graduated
from here and entered the Naval Academy at Annaolis. At this institution he had found the bent of
his mind and decided upon his career. The allurements of commerce and fortune did not tempt him.
The pathways of the professions and industrial preferment which attracted most of the youth of America
had no charms for young Dewey. To wiln is way




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


193


in the service of his country was his ambition. The'
period of his active life is the most wonderful half
century in the history of the world. It is the era
of invention, of discovery, of the utilization of the
forces of nature to the service of mankind. The
rapid evolution and development of the arts and industries have piled up gigantic fortunes for the able,
far-sighted and adventurous. The contention and
competition for great wealth have absorbed the best
talent and the vital energies of the people. The hot
race for money has drawn the strongest from every
walk in life. To get rich has seemed to foreign and
domestic observers the sole teachings of our schools,
and its rewards of luxury and power the most satisfactory attainments.
"After nearly fifty years George Dewey is again
upon the old campus and treading these venerable
halls possessed of little more of accumulated wealth
than when he left. His gift to his college far surpasses the value of endowments and buildings. It
is the example for all time of the Norwich student,
who, without influence or assistance, by his steadfastness, pluck and genius, became
THE HERO OF THE AMERICAN NAVY
and the conqueror of a new world for his country.
"This day is an influence in breaking the spell of
gross materialism which binds the closing year of
the nineteenth century. It opens for the twentieth
nobler aims and higher ideals. The ingenuous youth
can see that comfort, happiness and fame are possible in art and letters, in the sblrvice of humanity
and the service of the country. We are to beconme
broader and more liberal in our associations. Wealth
is to find that it is honored by artists, statesmen,
jurists, men and women of letters, educators and
13




194


THE LIFE AND CAREER


officers of the army and navy being invited to partici.
pate in the social opportunities which money gives.
The pleasures of the fortunate are to be enormously
enriched by the presence of achievement and genius
from many departments under hospitable roofs.
THE CHARACTERISTIC OF OUR TIME
is the equal struggle for social position and material
gain. There is, unfortunately, a widespread belief
that society recognizes only people of large incomes
and lavish expenditures. Let the barriers of exclusiveness be lowered for the worthy and cultured,
for those distinguished in public life and the professions, for talent which adds to the improvement,
enjoyment and education of the people, and the
ambitions of the student will see other careers than
the congested avenues of trade or the perils of speculation.
FORTUNE CAME LATE.
" The life of Admiral Dewey is a manual for the
young American. It demonstrates that work and
thoroughness are the essentials of success. Opportunity-or accident, if you please-happens to every
one. If ready, lie seizes upon it and his career is
made. If unprepared, it passes by and rarely returns. General Grant was an excellent cadet, and in
the Mexican campaign mastered the art of war.
His talent was for the tented fiel(, Eand not the pursuits of peace. IIe was a poor farmer and a worse
tanner. At forty the opportunity came and found
him ready. Faithful preparation made him command success, and with the fall of the Confederacy
the world recognized the foremost soldier of the
age.
"Lincoln became President at fifty-one. IIe met




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I95


and triumphantly solved the most difficult problems
ever presented to an American President. But by
a quarter of a century of patient labor in Legislature
and Congress, in his study and in Titanic debate, he
had mastered all the questions which were to be decided during the periods of civil war and reconstruction. Admiral Dewey was sixty before fortune
confronted him.
"He left this University with honor. He had a
creditable record at the Military Academy at Annapolis. He did daring and brilliant deeds on the
Mississippi and learned invaluable lessons under that
grand old naval hero of the Civil War, Admiral Farragut. At sea and on land, on his ship and in the
Navy Department at Washington, with resistless energy and intelligent work, he became known as the
most thorough and able officer in both the theory
and practise of naval warfare. The idle days, the
wasted hours, the health-wrecking dissipations which
account for most of the failures in a career were never
the experience of this enthusiast in his profession.
He had no faith in luck or chance, or accident or
genius. He believed in work. His ideals were to
have a great opportunity and be so thoroughly
equipped for every contingency that fate must surrender to preparation.
WHAT LED TO VICTORY.
"The threescore milestone was behind and the
retiring limit near when Commodore Dewey was
placed in command of the Asiatic Squadron. A
message was received at Hong Konr from the Secretary of the Navy that war had broken out with
Spain, and the Commodore must at once go to sea
and find and capture or destroy the Spanish fleet.
Edward Everett Hale's story of the man without a




I96


THE LIFE AND CAREER


country has interested generations of readers. With
Commodore Dewey were the fascinating possibilities
and perils of a fleet without home or port. He was
6,000 miles from the United States, and the neutrality laws closed for him friendly harbors, and needed
supplies were contraband of war.
" Manila was the fortified harbor of the enemy, and
in it were the warships of Spain. Its channels were
mined, its forts manned with modern guns, and the
Spanish fleet was superior in numbers and ordnance.
But there were the harbor he wanted, the supplies
he required, the ships he was ordered to capture or
destroy. During a week of great anxiety for his
countrymen we only knew that the Commodore was
sailing over the Pacific Ocean seeking his mission.
On the seventh day the world was electrified by the
message that he had destroyed the Spanish fleet, and
Manila was at his mercy. The splendor of the
achievement and the completeness of the victory
were the result of that thoroughness of plan and detail whose habit was formed within these walls, and
that undisputed leadership in his profession won by
eager devotion to its study and the grasp and use of
progress and invention. The fogy becomes a barnacle, but Dewey is always up-to-date-often ahead.
THE TRIAL PERIOD.
"The trial period of a successful commander is
after the battle. Then his wisdom and capacity
have their supreme test. Diplomacy must veil the
gun. Grant's terms to Lee after Appomattox surpassed his victories. In the Bay of Manila were the
fleets of the great Powers of Europe. All but one
were hostile or jealous of the Republic of the West,
whose startling advent might compel a rearrangement of their plans for the division of the East, Qn




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


197


shore were the Spanish army, to be held in check
until troops could arrive from America, and insurgent forces with wild and passionate eagerness to
execute vengeance upon their oppressors by fire and
sword and rapine. The sole responsibility for the
control of the situation rested with Commodore
Dewey. Foreign Admirals were kept within bounds
by firmness which meant force.  The Spanish army
surrendered. The natives respected the wishes of a
victor whom they feared and of a wise friend whom
they learned to love. Commissioned to capture a
fleet, he had conquered an empire for his country.
"His task completed, he sails for home.
THE TRIUMPHAL HOMECOMING.
"There is no parallel in history of this triumphal
march. As his ship carries his flag more than half
way around the globe, he is greeted at every port in
every country with the honors due the naval hero of
our time. He is met as he enters the superb gateway of our land at New York by the loving welcome
of 70,000,000 of his countrymen.  On bay and river
our warships, our merchant marine, and our pleasure yachts dip their pennants and pass in review.
" The Statue of Liberty illumines harbor and shore
with the brilliancy of her greeting to the worthiest
of her exemplars and apostles. The procession
escorting him through the streets of the metropolis
is not a Roman triumph with the spoils of subjugated peoples and with captives chained to the
chariot wheels of the conqueror.  The cheering
millions along the route voice the acclaim of the
whole people for the American who has done so
much for his country, and the sailor whose deeds
have given greater luster to our navy, whose record
has always been illustrious. The presentation of the




I98


THE LIFE AND CAREER


sword voted by Congress by the President of the
United States in the presence of the Cabinet, the Supreme Court, the Senate, and the House of Representatives at the Capitol was the crowning glory of
this marvelous ovation.
" Not yet its culmination and its lesson; not yet.
That is reserved for his Alma Mater.  I saw Grant
from Appomattox and Sherman from the march to
the sea at West Point. There was an affectionate
significance in the welcome and approval of the
old Academy which no pageant could give. The
splendors of the decorations, the brave array of
saluting soldiers and sailors have passed; the echoes
of the guns and strains of martial music have died
away. With the associations and surroundings of
this seat of learning the Faculty and students receive
their fellow student and honored alumnus. The
building which will arise upon the corner-stone now
laid by Admiral Dewey will remain for unnumbered
generations as a monument to the advantages of a
liberal education and the possibilities of American
citizenship.
THE FRUIT OF VICTORY.
"The benefits of a college course are not all found
in text-books, lectures and the library.  They are
the tools for use in practical life, but can be had
outside of the university. The contact and attrition
of ingenuous minds seeking the truth break the
fetters of prejudice and provincialism, and cultivate
the cosmlopolitan spirit which is necessary for success at this time when the telegraph brings all the
world in daily communication. To learn where and
how to find quickly the historv, facts, cases and
subjects required( is liberal learning. The impress
of great teachers ulponii slseptilble youth is felt in
nobler aims and purer ideals all through life. But




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


I99


the inspiration of living, breathing and working
where the famous among the Alumni were college
boys is of incalculable value. Their spirits are ever
present in rooms and halls, at recitations, and on
the campus.   Every university man echoes Kipling's sentiment:
"Bless and praise we famous menMen of little showing!
For their work continueth,
And their work continueth,
Broad and deep continueth,
Great beyond their knowing."
"The victory of Admiral Dewey has a far wider
significance than the heroism of the fight. It opened
a new chapter in the history of tie United States.
The lifting of the cloud of battle-smoke from the
waters of Manila Bay revealed a new and potential
power in the affairs of the world. The class which
graduates here next June enters upon a larger citizenship than any of its predecessors. A war begun by
the United States for humanity and liberty ended in
the conquest and cession of a rich and populous territory in the East. At the very hour when our industrial development and surplus productions demand
the benefit of expanding markets, we become by the
Providence of God
NEIGHBOR TO THE ORIENT
and its limitless possibilities. After three hundred
years of oppression and spoliation by the Spaniards,
after centuries of promises made to be broken, the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands distrust all professions. The good faith witli which we are fulfilling
our pledges in Cuba will ultimately become known in
every island in the archipelago. The Gem of the




200


THE LIFE AND CAREER


Antilles is feeling the thrill of liberty. Under the
beneficent rule of law and order she is experiencing
peace, prosperity and progress. We are leading her
to independence as the mother does her child, and
at each more confident step we loosen our firm but
affectionate hold for her education and safety.
FUTURE OF THE PHILIPPINES.
"We must first subdue the rebellion. The more
quickly, the more energetically and the more overwhelming the force with which it is done, the more
merciful will be the war and the earlier will come
the regeneration of the Philippines. The demonstration for a brief period of a Government which
gives protection to life and property, which grants
liberty and law, which plants schoolhouses and encourages thrift, will be conditions for happiness they
have never experienced and only vaguely imagine
possible thlrough the anarchy they would now inaugurate.  Manila, Santiago and San Juan have won
the respect of Europe for our fighting qualities, but
our statesmanship and staying powers are on trial in
every Cabinet in the Old World. When civil and
religious liberty was in peril before the united assault
of all the great monarchs of the Continent, William
of Orange, in undertaking their defense, registered
the simple oath,
'I WILL MAINTAIN.'
His was a gigantic task against frightful odds. We
are for the time being the custodians of civilization
in our new possessions against a foe whose defeat is
inevitable, and for a people who, released from the
thrall of savage leaders and brought under the influences of peace, will become loyal and productive
citizens.




OF` AI)MIKAL DEWAl\.       20


201


" Pride in one's State is like love for the old home.
stead. The absorbing duties of his later life and
tremendous events in which he has been so distinl
guished an actor have never weakened the affection
nor weaned the interest of Dewey from Vermont.
His heart has been ever full of the simple lives and
homely virtues of this staid old New England Commonwealth. Her soil might not yield as rich returns
to the husbandman as the prairie farms of the West,
but her marble and granite have always furnished
tombstones for her invaders and statues for her
heroes. Forty years ago, standing as a young cadet
in the Capitol at Montpelier and gazing upon the
statue of Ethan Allen, he exclaimed:
"' Life can achieve no greater reward than that.'
He has won that reward. Beside the hero of Ticonderoga will stand a companion figure. Under the
one will be the immortal words which began the first
victory of our Revolutionary War: 'I demand your
surrender in the name of the Great Jehovah and the
Continental Congress,' and under the other, the
statue of Admiral Dewey, the sentence which opened
the gates of the Orient for his country: ' You may
fire when you are ready, Gridley."'
CHAPTER XXI.
THE GRAVE YANKEES BUBBLE OVER.-SPLENDOR ON
SPLENDOR.-THE FIGHT FOR R~EST.-ADDENDA TO
THE TOAST.-THE MARITAL ENGAGEMENT.-THE
HIGHEST GIFT IN OUR DISPOSAL.
THE Second City of the Atlantic seaboard was now
to offer its tribute and swell the note of jubilee.
From Northfield to that point, the special train




202


THE LIFE AND CAREER


ran on its own schedule so that everything was sidetracked as the illustrious passenger shot along. It
was ever the same spontaneous blessing and congratulating. Shots from old muzzle-loaders and blunderbusses alternated with those from cannon that
might have been in the Revolution. At some points,
factory hands quitted the mills to line the depot
platforms; at others, students, as at Dartmouth-all
were whooping and demonstrative. At each such
spot the train slowed up or some one must have been
crushed. In reply to the Dartmouth "yell," the
Admiral drolly remarked: "You will own the
country some day! "
Whistles, " buzzers " and bells sounded from mills
and their innumerable windows were blocked up with
the women and men hanging out with frenetic applause. When he went through there, at the outbreak of the Civil War, the sight was of another
guise; the windows blazed with gas, as the hands
were toiling night and day making ammunition and
arms for the approaching conflict. Better the happy
faces and the smiling lips than those iron and brazen
mouths of the war-dogs!
From Lowell to Boston, the tracks were hedged
with people.
The railroad station could not contain the swarms,
twenty-five thousand within the walls and out-buildings, with twice as many in the adjacent streets,
craning and tiptoeing to catch a glimpse. When he
came forth, he was almost carried off his feet, spite
of police and soldiers. They wanted to "chair"
him, to shoulder him and bear him off to the Hotel
Touraine, where he was to spend three days.
To permit all to share in the duty, his escort was
changed; now it was the Veterans of the Civil War,
now those of the Navy, and then of the SpanishAmerican War.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


203


The streets were profusely decorated, though not
with the ensemble imposed on New York. At night,
red and blue port-fire painted the sea of faces and
draped house-fronts; the Hall looked like a great
bouquet, with its tapestry.
On the Common, fireworks were displayed so that
the Admiral could see their splendor from his own
windows.
The next day he reviewed the whole of the State
Militia, and a civic procession defiled before him.
The City presented him with a jeweled keepsake, a
$1,000 watch, with his likeness set with diamonds,
appended to a chain, with locket and charm, all on
a silver salver on which was engraved the Freedom
of the City. There was also the ceremony of reception of the colors of the regiments which had gone
through the Cuban Campaign.
There was a lunch at a millionaire's mansion.
The Olympia's crew were not omitted; after figuring prominently in the march, they were dined at
the State Armory. It was trite, but nobody was
tired yet of hearing from their lips that the Admiral,
although a disciplinarian, was reluctant to punish
and tolerant to Jack's "sky-larking."  They were
feasted "chock-a-block!"
In the streets, the Admiral's carriage was filled
with posies; and he found at his hotel all the rooms
hampered with floral devices. At the club banquet
in his name, no speeches were expected, but his
health was drunk with heartiness.
Again he was much affected by the grand choir of
school-children singing, just as Lafayette and General Moreau owned to the same feeling of weakness
which youthful, innocent voices produce.
" It is the most refreshing sight ever seen!" he
remarked to Mayor Quincy.
In the evening, not surfeited but regaled amply,




204


THE LIFE AND CAREER


he set out for the National Capital which, as his
house was ready, was indefinitely his home.
''Tis home where'er the heart is-where'er the loved
ones dwell."
A witticism went the rounds which chimed in
with his sentiments:
" Dewey has to fight harder here than in Manila "
-(" Fight? What for? "-" For rest!"
Here his friends were waiting for him, not sorry
that he would go nowhere else, and repeating the
encore verses which the author had added to the
lines given out on the eve of his departure for the
Asiatic seas:
"Along the far Philippine coast,
Where flew the flag of Spain,
Our Commodore to-day can boast
"Twill never fly again.'
"And up from all our hills'and vales,
From city, town, and shore,
A mighty shout the welkin hails:
' Well done, brave Commodore I'
"Now let your Admiral's pennant fly,
You've won it like a man,
Where heroes love to fight and die,
Right in the battle's van."
His mail had accumulated, but was rapidly lowering under the nimble hands of his secretaries, Caldwell and Brumby. With his return, the latter could
be spared to go home, to Georgia, where he would
represent his superior, and receive his own sword of
honor.
All appeals from the country that he might be
farther seen by his fellow-countrymen were blocked
by the Secretary of the Navy, Long, at the end of




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


205


October, ordering the Admiral on special duty at
the Department.
The Philippine Commission was reassembling,
and the Victor of Manila was indispensable for their
decision and investigations.
Besides, there was another reason for his wishing
to stay in Washington and test the comfort of his
house,-the national present.
On the thirtieth of October the Admiral was at
the Lafayette-Square Theater, with Major Ferguson,
ex-Minister to Norway and Sweden, when he was
pointed out as a Benedict no longer.
It was at last authoritatively stated, by his nearest
friends, that he was engaged to be married to Mrs.
General W. B. HIazen, the widow of the noted signal
service chief-officer of the U. S. N. IHe died about
ten years ago, leaving a son who was killed by a fall
from his horse, over a year since, which caused profound sorrow among the Hazen relatives and acquaintances. After that, the widow lived in retirement,
at Washington, in one of her own houses, the handsomest of the Capital, and in a charming country
retreat near the city.
The announcement was first made to ex-Secretary
Herbert of the Navy and afterwards to the Congressman who headed the Tennessee delegation praying
Dewey to visit Nashville; this prior engagement, of
course, provided him with a conclusive excuse.
But the hailing him at the playhouse was a public
avowal which delighted a wider audience.
She is the daughter of Mrs. Washington McLean
and sister of the Ohioan gubernatorial candidate
(Democratic), and, since she laid aside her mourningweeds, she has been the center of gaiety.
Among the aspirants to her hand are cited General
Schofield and General Corbin, but all these stories
were at once dashed into shadow.




206


THE LIFE AND CAREER


The applause which had rung through the playhouse was redoubled when Dewey was seen receiving
the congratulations of the Cabinet officers who
happened (?) to be present, and of his friends, as
well known in society of all stripes, naval, military
and political.
Rear-Admiral Schley was among the first to enter
the Dewey box, and was heartily cheered.
The marriage will be performed by a high prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church, of which Mrs. Hazen
lately became a member.
As Mrs. Hazen has always moved in the political
atmosphere of Washington, and is understood to
cherish lofty ambitions, the hope is revived that the
Admiral will accept nomination for the Presidency.
It is true that he has himself said that all his training made him a sailor and not a politician, but what
has that to do with it? On the contrary, it will be
a refreshing novelty to have a President after the
precedent of Jackson, Taylor and Lincoln.
CHAPTER XXII.
OUR DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS.-ABORIGINES     AND
THEIR RIVALS.-SULUS, IGORROTES AND TAGALS'
-MEN VOWED TO KILL.-CONTESTED POLICY.-A
FREE PHILIPPINES!
THE touchstone which allows us to form a true
judgment of Aguinaldo, whether a Washington for
his race or an Aaron Burr, would enable the whole
future of the Philippines to be gauged and dealt
with. Unfortunately, he has lately had no intimates
of our kind.. To speak of him as he is found, is im



OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


207


possible, since those who knew him at the commenecement of our relations with him and had a gobd
opinion of him have recanted or are silent from fear
that they were deceived or that he has altered.
Admiral Dewey must have thought fairly of him
or never would he have armed him to beat off the
Spanish land forces.
At the outset of the Philippine War, he was favorable, and he comprehends the Orientals. He said
that the Tagalo President behaved very honorably
in the Spanish Pacification. General Whittier assures us that he refused money even for personal
expenses when he was returning home to help the
Americans.
Our consuls who came in contact with him considered him a real friend to our side.
But, after six or eight months, the portrait
changes.
Admiral Dewey, towards the close of 1899, which
means, his words are the fruit of reflection, says,
decidedly-one may believe decisively:
" The people of the Philippines are incapable of
self-government. Aguinaldo and his self-seeking,
scheming, conspiring followers must not be mistaken
for great patriots who are fighting for their liberties.
They must not be mentioned in the same breath with
the founders of our own Republic. American patriots could not have been bribed with British gold
as Aguinaldo was with Spanish money-hired to
leave the country, hired to abandon their followers.
Aguinaldo was.  He is simply a self-seeker.  His
whole gang represents only a pitiful percentage of
the Filipino population.
" To deal with the rest of the Filipinos, then, by
giving them peace, liberty and self-government, is impossible (the Admiral thinks) for two reasons. First,
because Aguinaldo is lying to them, and they believe




208


THE LIFE AND CAREER


him rather than us; second, as long as he is making
a guerrilla war it will be impossible for the United
States to prove to the rest of the people its good intentions, even if it had them; moreover, because the
Filipinos, even those who are not fighting, refuse
to accept promises. They have two hundred years of
reason for refusing. Spain promised to them everything they wanted for two centuries and never gave
them anything but oppression, falsehood and pillage.
It must be understood, therefore, that it is utterly
impossible to do anything with the Filipinos by
promises.
Acts, not words, are necessary. Until Aguinaldo
and his irresponsible gang is crushed, it will be impossible for the United States to deal directly with
the Filipino people even to give them   absolute
freedom.
"More force rather than less until Aguinaldo is
crushed " is Admiral Dewey's keynote. Unless those
leaders are routed within six months, he declares,
the war may not end for six years, and perhaps not
for sixty, for the rebellion may then spread to other
tribes. But rightly managed, the campaign can be
ended in a few weeks, when the fleet of nearly forty
warships and an army of 65,000 men arrive there
next month.   After Aguinaldo is crushed, then
enlightened  government.  "Treat the Filipinos
honestly and kindly and let them do everything
themselves."
We must bear in mind that, while Aguinaldo was
brought from Hong Kong in a government vessel
to assist us in securing a llold over the IPlilippines,
and " his assistance was then considered by the Admiral as valuable," lie blames ilim for soon showing "the cloven hoof."  Dewey upholds truth above
most moral qualities, and this half-Chinese, halfMalay, would have the weakness of both races in




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


209


using falsehood to serve a purpose and even merely
to be agreeable.
Senator Pettigrew eulogizes him as a patriot and
a hero, but then he has never seen him.
General Funston has faced his followers and he
estimates their leader as "shrewd but not clever.
He circulates and corroborates all that the Junta
sends out, and adds to it all that his cunning imagination can devise. With him the campaign is a
great confidence game. If his people could be induced to accept the truth of the situation, they would
desert him to-morrow." Yet he seems to be deep,
if not sincere, for he has had the son, born to him
while waging warfare against his best friends, christened with the name which most appeals to usGeorge Washington!
As the great Napoleon was willing to abdicatewhen driven to the wall, in favor of his son, perhaps,
this youth will afford a good opportunity for his papa
to glide out of his thorny chair, carried on a litter
from one jungle stand to another, and let him have
the vacancy when he is of the age to be our liege
man!
In September, 1899, the position of the Americans
on Luzon Island might be thus summarized.
We held over a hundred square miles out of the
more than forty thousand occupied more or less
forcibly by the insurrectionists.
The railroad along which there has been skirmishing for half a year was ours, except that there were
breaks from the rebels having torn up the sleepers,
which, when not mahogany, were burnt; in the
other case, they buried them in the swamps where
the heavy wood sank like oak In a bog; the iron rails
were similarly disposed of, or turned into corkscrews
by heating in the same fires. Nevertheless, what
we have of it, places under our armed hand severl
14




' 210


TIHE LIFE AND CAREER


provinces and makes the inhabitants neutral, for on
us now depend their supplies.
In the other islands we have reconnoitering parties,
rather than forces of occupation; thanks to feuds
between the races making up the population, they
may be played against each other while we hold what
we do plant the flag upon.
The coast towns captured by General Lawton,
Hale, and others, but abandoned, are practically at
our mercy as our light river-gunboats and steamlaunches can shell them at any signs of treachery.
The enemy are now driven into the foothills, with
the mountains to escape into in event of a steady
repulsing movement; cavalry cutting them off from
the lower lights, they should be followed by sharpshooters and dislodged from every bivouac until
sickened of their harassing tactics.
In such small islands as Negros, the foes are peasants who take to arms in dull intervals, and are little
more than banditti. Our regulars are here, but in
little number; putting down whatever number collect in a noticeable troop and dispersing them.
In repairing the railroad, the trains are furnished
with a military escort; when, therefore, the cars are
fired upon by ambushed natives, these soldiers alight
and rout out the hidden marksmen. The news is
sent by telegraph to headquarters, and, if the attack
is serious, reinforcements proceed to the rescue by a
light train; this sends the enemy fleeing. But the
attacks were resumed next day, since our troops were
outnumbered, until of late.
There is an absence of forts in the new districts
overrun; in our new possessions, there are no solid
buildings fit to endure the earthquakes now and then
disturbing this Eden, but the churches and convents,
with their strong high walls, a few government
structures, generally old and crumbling; the native




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


2 11


houses, outside of the city, are very flimsy. Therefore, following the practise of the Spanish and the
natives, the abandoned churches, long since stained
with blood, and therefore desecrated, are used as
strongholds. We must understand this so that " our
boys " should not be accused wildly of irreverence.
In answer to an inquiry from home, the commander
telegraphed that only sixteen churches were occupied
by U. S. troops; ten of them having been taken
from the enemy; three monasteries, also, thus held
as citadels, were likewise desecrated by the insurgents before we expelled them.
In any case, as was noticeable in the Peninsular
War of Wellington and Napoleon's marshals, for
Spain is a most Catholic country, to occupy churches
is a matter of course in warfare.
The improvement in the choice troops surrounding
Aguinaldo is now explained by stating that they are
mercenaries lent to France by Spain to serve in the
Tonking War; here the French officers, experienced
in Algerine fighting, perfected them as irregulars,
and so much so that they defeated bands of the
native and Chinese "Black Flags," whom     the
French Zouaves had failed to overcome. It will soon
be seen whether the victors over Apaches and Sioux
cannot win against those whom the disciples of
Pelissier and Espinasse failed to whip.
Rumors being afloat in the " Walled'City," Manila,
that American prisoners were badly treated, as were
the Yorktown's crew, our officers were on the alert
to inquire into this accusation every time they surprised a hostile detachment.
But nothing to confirm the report was found in
several sharp struggles which distinguished October.
At Concepcion, Northern Panay, a coxswain of the
Concord was lured ashore by a false white flag and
disappeared, A battalion of the 18th and marines of




212


THE LIFE AND CAREER


his ship went ashore to deliver him, if possible; but
the rebels, as well as the inhabitants, fearing vengeance, had quitted the town; it was burnt as a
punishment for this violation of martial law.
At San Isidro, near Cananatuan, a temporary
station was established after a little resistance in
clearing the neighborhood   of guerrillas.  Three
months' supplies victualed the new garrison.
The water was now high, and many a rivulet was
swollen into a river impassable and swift.
From Iloilo came the news that, in spite of a feud
between the Visayans and the Tagals, the leader of
the latter talked of attacking the Americans with
his ten thousand men, a third of whom were reported
to carry muskets.
At the same time the Filipinos tried to obtain
terms of peace, under guise of sending in Spanish
prisoners.  They were answered that the Spanish
prisoners would be received and well-treated, but the
insurgents could not be dealt with.
This persistency of the rebels, met with our usual
firmness, may have conle from desperation. Friends
of the outlaws in Manila repeated   passages in
letters from the Independent party's camps, asserting that most were tired of the fruitless strife, and
would let themselves be captured at the first opportunity.
But to show the duplicity of the race, these revelations were accompanied by discoveries revealing
the insecurity of the position.
A lieutenant of the Manila police had to be put
under lock and key from being head of a plot to turn
this service against the new masters, in event of an
uprising, more or less concurrent with an approach
of Aguinaldo to the gates.
At Iloilo, where a revolutionary Junta was formed,
independent of Aguinaldo or under his auspices,




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


213


one of the wealthiest Visayans was arrested. He is
Ruperto Santiago, who posed as our friend after
taking the oath of allegiance, while using the money
raised on his sugar-our troops defending his plantations at Negros-to help his real friends; one of
his steamers was caught in the act of conveying supplies to the Insurgents. His office was used for the
meeting of his pseudo-government to overturn ours.
For fear his allies would rise to rescue him, the
guards were doubled and other precautions observed.
The general opinion is that the pursuit of the
beaten foes, particularly with cavalry which has almost the terrifying effect of horsemen on the original
people, as on the ancient Mexicans, will shatter the
revolt. It is averred that General Aguinaldo, leading
in person, fails to induce supplies-mainly rice —to
come in, and that no more recruits can be obtained.
Brigandage cannot prosper where a successful repressor lives on the country, also, and prevents the
influx of supplies.
If the rebels are compelled to take to the mountains, the rest and best of the Island of Luzon can
be worked peacefully for our reimbursement.
It is officially reckoned that, by the end of the
year, we shall have 65,000 soldiers in the Philippines,
being twice those now patroling the disturbed
quarters.
Perhaps the Islands will be divided into military
departments, each with its general.
Through the efforts of K. Engelskjon, who enjoys
the confidence of the Tagalo chiefs in Mindanao,
overtures of peace have been made to General Otis at
Manila.
Mindanao is almost equal in area to Luzon, being
one of the two great islands of the Philippines. The
Mohammedans there number 150,000, and Spain has
maintained little more than nominal sovereignty.




214


THE LIFE AND CAREER


They have suffered greatly from the inroads of the
Muros, and offer to submit to the authority of the
United States, on the sole condition that sufficient
American garrisons be established in the island to
protect them.
The people of Iloilo look and dress like the Luzon
Tagalogs, but the speech is a variation of the
Visayan dialects. They seem a smiling race who care
little what name the masters bear.   Under the
supervision of the Americans, camped in the
suburbs of the town, they dwell contented, though
they may be at heart with the stampeded Insurrectos.
Half the town is in ruins, and the other, such as is
old and built in stone, is crumbling with age. The
peasants walk under baskets containing market stuff
for sale to the soldiers, or drive carts drawn by the
carabao (cariboo), or water buffalo, and the ox-like
tamarau, less tractable. These same animals are put
to vehicles of pleasure. The better class of Filipinos
have abandoned their pretty abodes in the suburbs,
and with them has fallen into disuse the native
spinning and weaving; the price has risen of the
weaves they make. The river winding through the
low and prolifically overgrown country is nice to
regard, and the native huts of palm and cane are
picturesque.  But the sun is very hot and the
typhoons are, like the rains, of a terrible nature.
Iloilo is reached by the steamer in some forty
hours from Manila over a generally placid sea.
Within four days' steaming the island of Cebu is
reached. Cebu is ringed with hills and rugged shore,
with the more level land devoted to sugar and other
plantations. It ought to be a great port for sending
out hemp, when we set the wheels going round.
The only animation is about the ships loading hemp
for Europe. The harbor is good for a tropical one,
being defended by a reef of sand and volcanic matter,




OF ADMIRAL DEWEV.


2t5


The people are supposed to be trustworthy; the
policing of the port being confided to a native corps,
who look fairly well in uniform which imposes on
their tatterdemalion brethren. But the wiseacres
insist upon it that they are in heart with the native
cause, on the principle of the Hibernian irreconcilable who was " always ag'in' the government."
But there is little fear that the expelled insurrectionists will attack the town, where our garrison lord
it tranquilly, in any force.  Every night, their
camp-fires are visible in the highlands, but one gets
accustomed to "fire in the mountain." At the same
time, even a reconnaisance has to be numerous, as a
slender party would infallibly be cut down.
Iere was the first Spanish settlement in the Archipelago, four hundred years old, but it has dwindled
to nothing, particularly since the wealthy class
migrated after the removal of the Spanish and our
assuming rule.
Our officers live in a convent, while two others are
still open for educating respectively girls and boys.
The hospital and church are interesting from their
age; the Sisters are a familiar object on the
street.
Mindanao is the next largest island to Luzon, and
is held to be the finest and most fruitful of our new
extension. As no troops have been sent to it yet,
we know little of its wealth.  But foreigners are accounted more on the alert, and Englishmen and
Germans are reputed to have secured valuable concessions of hard wood forests and rich mining lands.
The prospectors are said to be delighted with their
tests.
In Luzon, which is of similar geological formation.
volcanic (and nature seems to have poured out its
most deeply buried treasures firoll craters), our
soldiers who have had Western mining experience,




2i6


'THE LIFE AND CAREER


declare that they will remain when their term of enl
listment expires and examine the placers and pockets.
At the extreme south of the Philippines are the
Sulu Islands, brought into notice by the fact of our
treaty with their so-called Sultan, by which he
retains his peculiar customs and habits. His " intimate life" makes his position the " Mormon problem " of the distant East.
They are Malays and strict Mohammedans, though
the Spanish called them Moors (Moros). It is tradition that the islands were originally settled by Arabs
who came over in the early Crusades; the language
called " Sulu " is a mixture of Arabian and Sanscrit.
They are not bad-looking, though their foreheads are
low and their skins dark.
The betel-nut chewing habit prevails, and all who
can afford it carry the mixture of betel and lime in
a box more or less valuable from the material and the
chiseling. This and the side-arms, the Malay kriss
with its crinkly edge, are inseparable from the high
Sulu; the lower order carry a spear as defense, which
takes the place of the North American Indians'
tomakawk, being a missile as well as a hand weapon.
Early in October, General Bates went to Maybun,
the Sultan's capital, to bring about that understanding which makes him and his fierce folk neutral in
our conflict with the rebels, to whom, however, from
the difference of language alone, to say nothing of
religion, there was no affinity.  They have had
nothing to do with Aguinaldo, who is too far off.
The treaty is lucky, for they are a savage people
who gave the Spanish no end of bloodshed and
remained unconquered through it all. The Sulus
obey chiefs, like the Arabs, who in turn bow to the
Sultan.
They are good riders on a wiry native animal, useful as an Indian pony, and would make a desirable




OF ADMIRAL DEWEV.


217


cavalry auxiliary force under white officers to aid in
scouring the Luzon mountains.
As the English employ Sikhs and Goorkhas, why
should we not hurl these Sulus at Mr. Emilio Aguinaldo's irregulars?
Jolo is on the north side of the island, opposite
Maybun, and represents the wonderful contrast in
this fantastic, happy-go-lucky realm, of being well
laid out and comparatively blessed with sanitary
precautions.
On inquiry, it turns out that the Spanish for once
made a habitable town. Under the rule of Spanish
Governor Arolas, this place was built on a spit running out into the calm sea. He could not very well
overrun their possession, as the warlike people
objected, but he was king in his own castle. The
Spanish were indeed cooped up in their walls by an
amusing custom of the natives; when one of them
felt that life is a burden, he was wont to go to the
priest of his faith, and vow to enter into Paradise by
aving one or more deaths of infidels upon his conscience. This gave him the title of Juramentado,
or One-who-has sworn (to kill).
Thereupon he would furbish his matchlock or file
the creases of his kriss, that tolerable antetype of
our serrated cake-knife, and go upon the hunt for
unbelievers.
When their number was not to be despised, the
Sultan used to remember that he had acknowledged
the supremacy of Spain, and notify his brother-ruler
that his perverse subjects werq running a-muck.
Once, when the stock of Juramentados was troublesome beyond endurance, General Arolas mustered a
fighting column, brushed the murderers out of his
path and crossed the island where he pushed the
fugitives into Maybun; storming it, he set fire to
the houses where the Juramelntados had taken ref



THE LIFE AND CAREER


uge, and left word to the Sultan what he had done,
and the reason, adding that the Sultan had better
be on his guard personally, as several Spanish
lunatics were loose, who had taken a vow to kill all,
and several whom they encountered who did not belong to the most Catholic Faith.
Anyway, Arolas left his best monument in a pretty
and salubrious town.
It might smell sweeter, but what can you expect
where there are pearl-fisheries and the flesh is allowed to rot to discover the precious globules?
This industry is in the hands of the Chinese, the
more of a monopoly now as the Tagalos who did
attend to it, went home to Luzon at the outbreak
of the insurrection against our in-coming.
As in former Australia, it was forbidden in society
to hunt up a pedigree, so here, one is hushed about
paternity; the Spanish used these far-off strands to
dump penal-servitude victims upon; to tell the
truth, many of the wretches had committed only
political offenses.
Jolo will be suited to our merchants, but not
Maybun until washed and cleansed, and kept so.
Our arrangement with the Sultan will defer this
for the proverbial "bime-by" of pigeon English or
the Spanish "to-morrow."
In the meantime he keeps his slaves under our
warranty.
The extension of the AManila-Dagupan railroad,
which must be accomplished in our efforts to civilize
the island, will pierce the haunts of the IgorroteChinese, a blend of Malay pirates and Chinese freebooters not of happy augury for the strain.
Behind them, up in the mountains where the disbanded Filipinos must retreat, and perhaps have to
contend with them for the fastnesses, are the Igorrotes.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


They look like our own Red Indians but are described by the few adventurers who know them as less
fierce. They seem a fair specimen of the noble uncontaminated savage, as the Spanish never got the
mastery over them. They are brave, show some respect for their wives, and have a good idea of fairplay. The blood feud prevails, based upon the
Mosaic Law.
Nearly twenty years since, they repelled General
Primo de Rivera with substantial injury to him,
which led to their being left undisturbed ever since.
They fought on the insurgents' side, and manfully,
at Caloocan and met the fire of our batteries with
Zulu and Arab valor. They collect preserved heads
of their foes, like the Head-hunters of the Ceylonese
jungles.
They are very hostile to the Christian religion, its
doctrines of peace to all men and the concomitant
moralities being incomprehensible to them.
In Cayagan one, more witty than his fellows, was
a prominent spokesman in venting their incredulity
and repugnance to the maxims inculcated by a
missionary's examples from " Lives of the Saints."
He protested that no colored man was pictured in
the missals and calendars.  It was not precisely
true, for there are black saints and even a black or
African Madonna, but the missionairy is said to have
been silenced.
They are confirmed cattle-lifters when war is not
absorbing their young men. They, too, will probably be turned against the Tagalos, like the Maccabee warriors, their neighbors.
For General Funston thinks that these warlike
races are inclined to bear arms on our behalf; they
would be glad to serve for a trifle, say, ten dollars
in silver per month. Students of the medley of
races under our flag say that they would be good




220


THE LIFE AND CAREER


soldiers if officered with our " West Pointers "; and
they would create no such dislike and race-hatred as
the negroes would raise.
As for the large percentage, Admiral Dewey expressed his judgment to the effect that they were
better fitted for partial self-government than the
native Cubans.
If aly considerable force were raised in an auxiliary
army, their place as cultivators could readily be supplied with coolies; at present, the Chinese are excluded, under the Exclusion Law, and a ship-load
of them was stopped.
With the missionary for the soul should go the
missionary for the body; the American smith, carpenter, wood-worker, miner and director of tillage.
Then the miscalculation of our cavillers would be manifest; that we have already expended more upon
our new territory than a hundred years' revenue
will recoup.
The question of training our Eastern Elephant
engages and divides our statesmen.  Thle two camps
are called the Imperialist or Expansionist, and the
Anti-Imperialist.
On the one hand, the Government is reproached
for slaughtering patriots as earnest as our forefathers in breasting the British; seizing and holding
the Philippines by conquest or purchase is styled
morally deplorable; like the Cubans, the Filipinos
should have home rule; they are to be allowed to
try a kind of government of which they can have no
conception.
On the other hand, as we have seen, the military
on the field want the rebellion suppressed before a
reform is attempted; they affirm that, left to themselves, the Isles will fall into the hands of some foreign power intriguing in that part and going about,with mouth open like the Cockney in the land where




6F ADMIRAL DEWEY.


221


the pigs ran ready roasted, and squeaked "Come,
eat me! " or the history would be a series of ephem.
eral presidents, as in South America. Certainly,
the Catholic priesthood see no likelihood of our quitting with the plow in the just-commenced furrow;
they are to appoint an American Bishop to the See
of Luzon.
Senator Platt declares that " the unavoidable consequence of Admiral Dewey's triumph was our control of the Philippines." And another senator, Lindsay, tellingly assures us that "American dominion
in the Philippines will destroy none of the ends of
government; will disregard no one of the inalienable
rights of man; will sanctify no abuse or usurpation,
but will terminate the despotism under which their
people have lived for more than three hundred years."
So be it!
CHAPTER XXIII.
ALL ENDS WELL WHEN TO THE KNELL OF THE MERRY
WEDDING-BELL.
THE announcement, without its being undeniably
authentic, that the Admiral contemplated matrimony for the second time, promptly denied, but immediately revived by Washingtonian gossips, kept
the quid-nuncs on the alert at the Capital, and the
interest in the prospect was soon general.  When,
therefore, the bearing of his intimate friends, and
his frequent calls at Mrs. McLean's house, together
with his refusal to accompany the Presidential party
on its electioneering tour (particularly directed
against Mr. McLean, candidate for the governorship
of Ohio, being Mrs. McLean's son) all seemed to
confirm the report, no one was astonished at hearing




222


THE LIFE AND CARtER


that the marriage had taken place, most strictly
private, with only a witness or two.
It was bruited on the 7th of November that Lieutenant Caldwell, Dewey's friend, secretary and trusted
factotum, had been seen around and about in a state
of perturbation which no ordinary impetus could
have thrown one into who had shared the Spanish
missiles at the Battle of Manila Bay.
Indeed, it was discovered that he had been to the
court to procure a marriage license.
The bride, it was no wonder, was to be Mrs. Hazen,
daughter of Mrs. McLean, as before related.
The license was No. 9316, which those who pretend to prophesy from numbers, pronounced fortunate: there are three and its multiples galore; there
is a nine, that is, three threes, in the sum; on the
whole, satisfactory.
When and where was the ceremony to be performed?
Those who knew that Mrs. Hazen had been already
worried by all who sprang into activity at the first
mention of her name coupled with the hero's, said
that she meant to cut short the notoriety, the rush
of newspaper reporters, the swarms of curiosityseekers who came to stare at her mother's house and
the one which the Nation had presented to her
future husband.
Out of public sight, her health and peace would
no longer suffer.
All the parties concerned, with their adherents,
had been making odd and hap-hazard journeys hither
and thither, their abodes were bombarded with telegrams and letters; florists' messengers were watched
to see where a more than usually monstrous bouquet
was left; in short, Paul Pry was tile god of the day.
More than all, Admiral Dewey had become eclipsed,
he who, instead of calling a cab, took to plain walk



OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


223


ing about the streets, so that he was setting an example of the English "constitutional."
Nevertheless, those who esteemed themselves bosom
friends were almost in tears, and hanging around
the back stairs had availed nothing, since the servants
merely looked wise and the Admiral's Mongolian
domestic is impenetrable, like " John," when he has
a secret.
The la(ies vented their vexation by declaring that
Mrs. Dewey-to-be would not receive any presents,
for not making the affair one of those functions in
which the society tabbies delight.
On the other hand, the men laughed their own
iisappointment off. They said that the mystification was worthy one who had hoaxed the Spanish
and, eke, the wily Filipinos; at the same time that
they almost acquitted him of the jugglery, saying
that the lady was roguish and was the source of the
dec -ption.
However, since the marriage was now settled, the
place must be the bride's mother's, unless a grander
scene was found.
After all, that well-known mansion was suitable.
It was built by Alexander Shepard, sometime Governor of the District of Columbia; for a long period
the Russian Embassy tenanted it and its galas were
famous: several years ago, Mrs. McLean became the
owner.  In her widowhood, her daughter resided
with her; and after the loss of her son, it lost its
splendor which was only just being restored.
Therefore, it was before and in the neighborhood
of this residence that the throng collected, commenting on the movements of the household, relating what
had occurred, and suggesting what might follow.
It was said that Lieutenant Caldwell, after securing
the license, had conferred with the pastor of Mrs.
HIazen's church. Several years ago, the lady became




224


THE LIFE AND CAREER


a Roman Catholic, and only the day before, her
going where she had a pew and was a regular attendant, was construed into her bidding the Rev. Father
Mackin to clear away obstacles from the rest of the
path thus opened to the altar.
Indeed, whether prompted by Lieutenant Caldwell
or his parishioner, the priest had run over to Baltimore to procure a dispensation from the matrimonial
Cuiria there, since the Admiral was not of the.
same church as his selected one, but a Presbyterian.
Cardinal Gibbons was in the South, traveling to
New Orleans, and the seal and signature is that of
his vicar-general, Bishop Curtis. Thus fortified, the
pastor of St. Paul's hurried back to his church.
So veiled had all these actions been, that, even to
his assistants, Father Foley, and a young priest,
Father Ilurburt, called in to his aid, no word was
breathed of the persons to be united.
From New York, had come the intelligence to the
initiated, that the lady's trousseau was in preparation
there.
It was added that the dressmaker was flurried excessively by the patronage, and had said to the Admiral, who had shaken hands with her, that she had
never had a greater honor paid her and did not expect the like to occur again. Poor woman, not being strong, the exertion of getting the work done in
time, precipitated her death, which the superstitious
foolishly termed a "hoodoo."
A circumstance as little affecting the person chiefly
concerned, as the fatality attending the artists engaged on the Dewey Memorial!
The crowd lingering at the McLean mansion, saw
the ladies, the hostess, and her two daughters, go
out in their carriage, all the world as if for " the
appetizer" before lunch, and thought they were deceived once again.




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


225


But, at the same time, a carriage had left Dewey's
residence, bearing him and Lieutenant Caldwell, and
these vehicles had the same destination-the modest
and unpretentious Church of St. Paul.
Alittle before ten in the morning, the first carriage drew up there; it was the gentlemen's. There
was not a single bystander; in nautical phraseology,
the coast was clear!
For a few minutes, the bridegroom remained in
his coach, in the best of spirits, though he might
have been supposed impatient; but very soon, before
the hour, another carriage was driven up, and the
gentlemen, alighting, hastened to hand out the three
ladies.
They all passed into the plain, simply-furnished
rectory, as the difference in creed of the parties compelled them to be united aside from the sanctuary.
None of the ladies carried flowers; the only floral
decorations there was a bunch of white and yellow
chrysanthemums, in a vase in the center of the sitting-room table; prominent among the other decorative fixtures, was a portrait of the present Pope, given
to the rector in the Vatican during a visit toRome.
The priest and his two assistants were in plain
black cassocks.
They were presented to the bridegroom and his
"second." The former wore the American conventional morning dress for this occasion; black coat,
gray striped trousers and patent-leather shoes; his
hat was the high silk one in vogue. The lieutenant
was similarly garbed. Neither wore gloves, according to the latest English regulation.
The mother and the sister of the bride were attired
in black from head to foot. The queen of the happy
proceedings wore half-mourning: a long stylish black
wrap cloak trimmed with silver fox and lined with
lavender silk, but laid aside during the actual cere'5




226


THE LIFE AND CAREER


mony. The robe was a "dead" color, in brocade,
called "ashes of roses," trimmed with silk fringe
and rare old lace; on one side a panel, and ruffles
around the yoke; an over-skirt " effect " was due to
a lace garniture; the New York martyr to Fashion
had done her work deftly, although the viewers were
so limited in number. It was not unworthy a cathedral wedding. Her gloves were white, and the silk
looked almost snowy.
If the costumes, after our depressing Anglo-Saxon
mode, were rather lugubrious, the solemnity did not
prevent a shimmer of felicity exhaling which alleviated the superficial aspect.
The forms of uniting two varying in creed are very
brief; in five minutes all the words were uttered.
Previously the priest had spoken this address:
" Before pronouncing the solemn words which will
bind you forever together it may be well to forget for
a moment the things that are around us and to look
upward. We are the children of God and we have
a right to call upon Him in joy and in sorrow. We
need His help in both extremes and never more than
pow, for although the promises you are about to
make are easily made and the work of a moment,
their fulfilment is the work of a lifetime.
"We call upon God to witness and to bless this
union of which He is the author and which He has
made sacred. No matter how generous and devoted
you may be to each other, there are in every life
moments of trial when we, in our weakness, need the
help that comes from above, and this help will be
given in its fulness in return for the faithful fulfilment of our obligation.
NOBLESSE OBLIGE.
"The higher your position in life, the more incumbent upon you is the faithful fulfilment of your




OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


227


obligation and the more rigorous the accounts that
will be exacted.  The neglect of these obligations
will cast its shadow upon eternity.
"But this hour, we hope, marks the beginning of
a career which will make you wiser, better and more
useful to your fellow creatures in this life and the
life beyond it, and when death at last shall break the
link which binds you, as death alone can break it,
may that last hour find the two hands as fondly
clasped and the two hearts as closely joined as they
are to-day, and may the joys of this life be a foretaste of tie joys that are to come."
After the final sentence was pronounced, the Benedict leaned forward and kissed his prize, whereupon
the congratulations inundated both the blushing ones.
The worthy Father was gallant-he took Mrs.
Dewey's extended hand and remarked that lie was to
be the first one to congratulate her in her new name.
The strain over, there was a little more in a lighter
key.
Before studying for the priesthood, Father Mackin
had been a seaman on a packet plying between Washington, or Baltimore, and England. IHe had run
away from home to do that; but, on repenting, he
had returned to his books.
"It was on finding that it is not given to every
one to rise to an Admiralship," continued he, wittily,
"I dropped over the side upon the hassock!"
Dewey declared he was very glad that he had been
married by a sea-farer.
It was now the bride's turn to show her native good
spirits.
"By the way, Father Mackin," said she. with
pretty, pretended severity, " you wrote me list summer that my pew was growing musty from disuse.
Yeu will have to change the word now from musty
to Mil. Dewey!"




228 THE LIFE AND CAREER OF ADMIRAL DEWEY.


Hence it was that the gentleman and ladies left
the priests smiling, and carried away laughter with
them into their carriages.
Back rolled the two vehicles, this time with the
identical destination: Mrs. McLean's, where the
breakfast was waiting.
There were no other invites waiting, though.
In repartee to a quip that the couple had been in
great haste over this marriage, the Admiral quietly
replied that the engagement had been formed before
he departed for Manila! This renewed the merriment at the table, decorated with Bride roses.
After an hour, and a change into traveling dress,
the happy pair were driven to the Pennsylvania
R. R. Station, where they took the midday train for
New York.
Secretary Long saw them off and added his felicitations. There was no demonstration, as few people
were about, and those who recognized the illustrious
passenger politely refrained from that noisy greeting of which the Victor of Manila had undergone an
excess.
We can best conclude our history with these lines
of good wishes, which appear like the united outburst of the great naval hero's innumerable admirers:
" To the gallant Admiral and the charming woman
whom he has this day taken for his bride the American people will join in a mighty chorus of congratulation and good wishes. The great sea warrior.has
won his most glorious victory and his lovely consort
her proudest conquest. If their lives are as happy
as their countrymen shall wish, their future course
will be over placid seas with fair winds and to a haven
unshadowed by a cloud."


THE END.




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THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
GRADUATE LIBRARY
DATE DUE


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