Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-03
FRESH FROM The OLYMPIA
Lieutenant A, G. Kavansgh of the Navy is
an Omaha Visitor.
HE IS A PRoTEGE OF HON. w. J. CoNNELL
Appointed 10 the United states Naval
Academy Ten Years ARo-Stoud
with Admiral Dewey mt the
Battle of Manila bay.

In the latter part of 1889, when City At
torney Connell was a member of congress,
fifteen young men applied to him for naval
academy appointment at his disposal He
! found it hard TO make selection. but at
| last he determined upon a strappiug young
| fellow from Tecumseh. because he looked
more like a fighter than any of his competi-
tors, and also because he made a high grade
! on examination.
+ man of dignlfed bearing and with the
| polished manner of a cosmopolitan walked
into City Attorney Connell's Office yesterday
afternoon and extended his hand. He was
Lieutenant A. G. Kavanagh of the United
States navy, who stood on the bridge of the
Olympia with Admiral Dewey while the de-
struction of the Spanish fleet was in prog
ress. City Attorney Connell was amazed for
moment, but he soon recognized in his
visitor the outgrowth Of the Nebraska boy
he sent to the navy ten years ago.
Happy Reunion Occurs.
The reunion that followed was most cor
dial. 1t was the first time MIR, Connell and
his protege had met since the appointment
to Annapolis. Lieutenant Kavanagh is prom
inently before Nebraskans just now, be-
cause of the active part he played in the
battle of Manila bay and because he has,
after circlng the globe. just returned to
his home at Tecumseh for a visit with his
parents He came to Omaha yesterday eX-
pressly to visit Mr.. Connell and will be his
guest until this evening, when he will re-
turn to Tecumseh. The lieutenant is at home
on waiting orders, which means that he is |
liable to be called upon for duty any day. |
He returned from Manila on the Olympia |
with Admiral Dewey and was present in |
New York when the great demonstration |
was made.
Lieutenant Kavanagh is of splendid phys
ique and looks every inch the fighter that
Congressman Connell took him to be when
he awarded him the appointment to the
naval academy.
The lieutenant is modest, and it is with
hesitation that he talks of the success he
has achieved in the navy He says he likes
sea life and he hasn't yet finished thanking
Mr.. Connell for the appointment.
II went out first on the Cincinnati" he
said "and made cruise through the West
Indies and in South American waters. Then
went with the Oregon and was transferred
from that vessel to the Olympia. ! was an
ensipn when the battle of Manila was
fought July of this year l was promoted
10 my present rank"
That Breakfast story.
Lieutenant Kavanagh gives, as the version
Dt an eyewitness, the story OF now Admlral
Dewey stopped the fight twenty minutes to
allow his men to eat breakfast on the morn
ing of the fight
at is true that we stopped firing and
pulled away" said the lieutenant, but 1
hardly suppose the admiral had any thought
II breakfast when he gave the order. 1t
vas then positively known that we had the s
pest of the Spaniards and there was no oc- I
'asion for rushing matters. Part of their
leet on fire and they had dead and
Wounded all about them Immediately after |
We pulled away, Admiral Dewey summoned
Ill the captains on board and consultation
vas held Ammunition was also examined
nd counted. While this going the
nen ate breakfast and that gave rise to l
he story which has been told SO many
ines throughout the United States. Tho
dmiral did not explain to us why ne pulled
ut and nothing was said about twenty a
,inutes for breakfast
THE battle of Manila was fought at long
ange On account of an inferior chart we L
ere handicapped in movements and we got
O closer than 1000 yards of the enemy's
eet. II we had known the waters there as
ell as we afterwards learned them, we
ouId have run alongside of the Spaniards,
nd then the battle wouldn't have lasted
lore than twenty minutes or half an hour" e.
City Attorney Connell is proud of the de- V
elcpment his protege has made, and char II
,teristic Connel hospitality was dispensed II
ith lavish hand during the lieutenant $
sit. III