The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-09-22
DAVID THELEEN Is GIVEN A BIG
RECEPTION BY KENOSHA FRIENDS
CONGRESSMAN COOPER SPEAKS
Also Mayor Petit, and the Honored Guest
Of the Evening Makes Short Talk On
His Recent Exploits-Great
crowd In Attendance.

ITl00Q IL Is UOuUly Interesting. Every
one must have been friend of David
Theleen, for the Baptist church was
crowded to the doors Tuesday night to
welcome him back to his native city.
Dave was in his younger days good
Baptist, and while we can't say
whether he was ever baptized in the
vestry pool or not, he stood for hours
under the rain of Spanish shells and
the members of the church were glad
to welcome him as one of them. The
church was in gala dress for the occa
sion, and conspicuous about the walls
and chandeliers of the church was
hung Old Glory. The altar rail was
Respondent with American flags and
in one remote corner stood staff
bearing a silken representative of the
single star of Cuba. Over the rostrum
framed in red and white and blue was
the picture of the battleship Massa-
chusetts, on which Cadet Theleen
served, and over the choir seats was a
large picture of President Mckinley
The music was furnished by Jacoby's
Military Band, and although the boys
were a little late in arriving, their
music was zone the less enjoyed.
Rev. Corey had charge of the recep
ton and introduced Mayor Petit,
who made the first speech of the even
ing. Mr.. Petit said in part: Kenosha
is as proud of David Theleen as his
father and mother, and proud that he
has returned and is privileged to do
other and greater service for his coun
try and his flag. Many brave boys
have not returned. They never will
return, for their bones lie glistening on
the shores of Cuba. The American
people will always revere the return of
its patriots and we are proud of the
return of our patriots. We are proud
of him. His parents are proud of him,
and David Theleen in being a credit to
himself is a credit to his parents, his
church and his home city.
Mrs. Thompson then sang When
Johnny Comes Marching Home Again."
and DR.. Corey proceeded in a few
words to introduce the guest of the
evening. He said that Dave was a
model of modesty and had never made
a speech in his life; he had simply been
through war and he declared that the
young man would rather face thirteen
inch gun with q thousand Spaniards
behind it than to speak to his assem-
bled friends. However Dave attempt
ed it and did the speech making as
we'll as finished orator.
In part he said, in thanking the
people for his welcome: {" am glad,
my friends, because it is not myself
which has prompted this reception, but
an appreciation of the good work of the
army, the navy and the volunteers. "
He spoke of the enthusiastic reception
the returning soldiers had received in
all parts of the country and considered
it only a recognition of duties per-
formed. We we're glad, said the
cadet. to be given an opportunity to
show that the stars and stripes can
float on all the waters of the globe.
To the people who had remained at
home he said theirs had been hard
duty. While sons, fathers and sweet
hearts were under fire defending the
flag, mothers and sisters were at home
bathing their pillows with tears for
loved ones in the turrets and trenches.
He told touching stories of suffering
endured by soldiers in the first attacks
on Cuban soil and paid tribute to the
flag which will remain forever in the
minds of the great audience. He
spoke of the great value of the war in
showing the value of the navy and
closed with telling over again the story
of the sinking of the Merrimac in San
tiago harbor. The story told by an
eye witness gathered new interest and
was received with tremendous ap
plause. Cadet Theleen wore the full
dress uniform of the United States
navy and made splendid appearance.
The last address was delivered by
Congressman 81. A. Cooper, who paid
many a pretty and we'll deserved COM
W lava 4AOlCOAs A4O LOAO VA
his appointment and his triumphs as
the model scholar and cadet at the
academy and his rapid advancement as
sailor on the Marblehead, and how
he was last heard Of commanding a
squad of gunners on the battleship.
The Congressman then paid glowing
tribute to the rank and file of the navy
and army. He said: ave welcome
him as one of the splendid representa-
tives of the rank and file of the Amer
lean navy. Sampson, Schley and
Dewey have won their laurels, but
what would their victories have been
without the brave men standing on the
turrets in a temperature of 160 or 100
behind the guns? They are the men to
whom the honor is due. The glorious
deeds of American Generals are writ
tnn IN tho na0nc of history hut the