Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-22
Recipient Wears His Honors Modestly and
Makes Fitting Response.
HE HELPED DEWEY SMASH SPANISH FLEET
served as Ensign on the Olympia and
Carried the Great Commodore's
orders on that Memoir
able Occasion.

TECUMSEH, Neb., Nov. 21.-(Special
Telegram )-Despte the inclement weather,
a throng of johnson county people assem-
bled to enjoy the formal reception and sword
presentation to Lieutenant Arthur G.
Kavanagh this afternoon The escort from
the home OF his parents, on First street,
to the court yard contested of the Tecumseh
Military band. the reception committee,
Company !, Second regiment, Nebraska Ma
tional guards, Grand Army, frateruities and
citizens.
Arriving at the speakers stand and after
a selection by the band Mayor George War
ren delivered an address of welcome.
mixed quartet sang, The Sailors Return"
and then came the presentation speech by
Judge s. p. Davidson.
The people OF this nation, he said, were
proud Of the outcome of the great maritime
conflict of Manila bay and the people OF
johnson county were particularly proud to
know that during this great conflict, at the
eide of Commodore Dewey, on the bridge OF
the Olympia, carrying out every order and
displaying such personal bravery as is
known only to an American sailor or SOL
dier, stood brave Nebraska boy. Comman-
der, officers and men OF Dewey's fleet had
| received due recognition OF their wonderful
| achievement by the American people and
| by the congress and he was glad to know
it. The people of Johnson county had had
a watchful eye on Lieutenant Kavanagh ever
since he entered Annapolis academy ten
years ago. Closing with a brilliant proph-
ecy for the future, the Judge presented the
| sword.
Lieutenant Kavanagh Responds.
Prompted from heartfelt gratefulness and
| with great. deal of feeling, the lieutenant
made an able response. Ia part he said:
Ladies' and Gentlemen: To begin with.
want to thank you for this magnificent gift
and this most hearty welcome home. My own
| title for distinction for service at Manila,
] it have any, rests on tha fact that was
! there In the battln OF HAY /, l did what
could and If that little meets with your APP
| proval, am rewarded. Since left you ten
years ago to enter the small family of the
navy / have seen but little of you. yet |
have always believed that you took sin
cere interest in my career, and of this |
| have been convinced each time returned on
| leave. For the people here at home l can
never feel other than the most sincere re-
| gard and affection. AS you know, / was ap-
pointed to Annapolis from the First district
| by Congressman Connell, and though my
duty is to the whole nation, I have always
| tried to remember that i was acting in a
representative capacity so to speak, and
| that you are entitled to severe examina-
| tion of my conduct.
"The battle of Manila bay, my friends, was
not great conflict, If we consider the num-
bers engaged but it may be far reaching in
| its consequences. 1t placed our first line Of
! defense 1000 miles from our own Pacific
coast and gave to our people on the west
ern coast security from attack most de-
sirable in war, and source of great salts
| faction in peace. That our first line of de-
! fense in the Pacific shall remain where 1t
was placed on May 1, 1885, is the ardent wish
of those who were there at the Inauguration
of it.
my friends we shall not forget the reason
which caused many of us to cross the sea
! from Europe to found the republic of the
| United States. Let us not allow the political
conditions which caused immigration to hem
us in on this free soil, but be ever on the
alert, ready to battle for the principles which
| lie at the foundation of our government In
thus honoring me at home and surrounded
by my family in this public manner. you
confer upon me great distinction and i'm
pose upon me great obligation"
| The quartet then sang, Let the Hills and
Wales Resound?'-the vast assembly Joined
in singing America and then followed
personal meeting and handshaking with the
| lieutenant by the numerous members OF the
| audience.
Sketch of Lieutenant Kavannsh.
Twenty eight years ago last January, a
son, now Lieutenant Arthur Kavanagh, was
| born to Mr.. and Mrs John Kavanagh, farm
| ers in the western part OF johnson county.
| Neb. AS boy he was given his early edu-
cation in the school Of his home district.
leaving there to attend in respective order
! . tIa Iinng obnn . thn Gtata nj
versity at Lincoln and st, Benedcts col-
lege at Atchson. He received an appoint
ment to the United States Naval academy
at Annapolis in May 1890, through the et-
| forts OF Congressman w. j. Connell and
graduated from the four years course OF
that institution in 1894 With the object of
! instruction In view he was then sent on a
two-years' cruise on the Cincinnati Re-
turning to his studies at Annapolis he
graduated from the completed course at the
! head OF his class
! His fret assignment TO service was on
the battleship Oregon in July, 1896, and he
| sailed from Mare Island, San Francisco. In
March, 1897. he was detailed to take seventy
men to Yokohama as reinforcements to the
Asiatic squadron At Yokohama he was as
signed service aboard the Olympia. and on
this ship he was serving in the capacity OF
ensign during the Manila bay engagement.
| His promotion to the lieutenancy followed
and he returned to America with Admiral
| Dewey, landing in New York few weeks
since. He has spent six years on the water.
! visiting nearly every quarter OF the globe. /
Lieutenant Kavanagh is a wonderful
| athlete. During the seasons OF 1898 and
1894 he was captain OF the Annapolis foot
ball team and both these years his aggre-
gation won from the West Pointers He
expects to be in Tecumseh about one month.
| CIevenger Sentenced 10 lie Hanged.
LIBERTY, Mo, Nov, 2l.-Ernest eleven