The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-27
until SATURDAY and address the Chau-


tauQua assembly.
Captain Coghlan was accompanied by
Mrs. COghlan, who has jOurneyed around
the world with him; and a cousin, Judge
c. w. Johnson, of ST. Louis. Governor
and Mrs. Stanley Joined the party here
and will go to Winfield with them. A.
H. Limerick, secretary of the assembly.
met Mr.. Coghlan in Kansas City, as did
Q. H. Coulter, department commander
of the Kansas G. A. r.
A reception was rendered the captain
in Kansas City this morning and he
will be the guest of honor in Winfield
until Saturday. Then he will return to
Belleville, Ill, to visit his former home.
The latter part of July he will leave
for the Pacific coast, having been
signed to command the naval station at
Brammertown, formerly Port orchard
on Puget sound.
Captain CoghIan took dinner in
this city today. While eating his din
ner the captain chatted pleasantly with
a Journal reporter. He is in stature
small man and very earnest in his man
ner. He is exceptionally good humored
and greets those who meet him with
much cOrdiality.
The captains appreciation of humOr
caused him great deal of trouble re-
Gently. When he arrived a New York,
completing the cruise from Manila, he
was made much of. He was wined and
Gined and was pressed into service for
speeches at many dinners and banquets.
At the Union League club dinner the
captain recited a poem which caused the
difficulty. 1t caused a sensation from
one end of the world to the other and
caused Germany to talk of war. He
was criticised freely by the New York
papers and his judgment was condemn
ed generously. The poem was written
by a Scotchman in British Columbia
and contains thirteen verses. That
number thirteen is probably what hoo
dOOed me- said the captain with a smile
today.
Naval officers are somewhat like
stand exactly what to do at times"
Capt. Coghlan said today. Il thought
of no offense to any one when l recited
the jingling little rhyme but was strong
ly cenSured."
This incident recalls another. At the
close of the civil war Capt. Bailey who
had distinguished himself at the siege of
New Orleans-he was naval officer
went to New York and like the heroes
of Manila bay, was being lionized. A
Sunday school superintendent thought
he would score a great hit by having
Capt. Bailey address the school on
Christmas day The captain readily
aSsented and was presented with great
ceremony to the school. He started out
by saying: This is a great day Then
he stopped. He had lost his compass.
He made another effort but his pro-
pellers would not work. He coughed
and took a new tack. This is a great
day he said. The superintendent be-
came uneasy but the captain got his
sails up and started in again. This is
a great day, he said There is much
we have to be thankful for. This is the
day upon which Christ died to save
men,
This was too much for the Sunday
school and the remainder of the cap
tain's speech was drowned in the con-
fusion which ended with his departure
through a side door into the street,
Captain Coghlan said today: I'm
not talking for publication now" He
referred to the incident of his speech
and said: ''Theer is no reason why so
much should have been said about that
poem. It's not written in an offensive
sense 1t was not offensive to many
who were present but the complaining
element took it up and got me into a
world of trouble. For this reason I say
nothing for publication