New-York tribune., 1906-12-08
HONOR REAR ADMIRAL
Message from President to CoghIaa
Friends Cheer His lSpeech.

rear Admiral Coghlan. who will reach the age
0t retirement from the navy tomorrow was the
guest OF honor at a dinner given at DeImonico's
Oy tne New York Commandery OF the Naval Order
"a the United States An enthusiastic crowd OF the
1unniraIs friends cheered him. and were particu-
+ATIy oemOnstrative when he referred to his com
mano OF the Brooklyn navy yard, which will con-
t1nue Tor some time Many letters Of regret from
tnose unable to be present read. including
one from the President. which follows:
I wish I could be present at the dinner to Rear
Admiral Coghlan. not only esteem him as an
officer and public servant but value him as a
join n paying 10 E@ he 6ue If be
admiration which he has amply earned.
Admiral Coghlan referred IN terms Of the highest
praise to the work OF the officers and men asso-
ciated with him in the Brooklyn navy yard. He
drew many laughs. particularly when he said that
sailors Were prOverbially Of short speeches,
such as Don't care II do"
The entrance the dining room was made to
the accompaniment OF a bit OF naval display novel
70 the guests. A bugler OF the United States
steamship Hancock blew The Roast Beef of Old
England" and then all hands were piped to quar-
ters and orders were given to splice the main
brace. The guests were then escorted to the din
ing tables each accompanied by q member of the
Naval Order. The bugler sounded "to colors" and
Immediately the color sergeant and two color
guards marched IN with the colors and stacked
them behind the presiding officers chair. The
main brace was properly spliced and the guests
various sizes and the rear admirars flag i'm
mediately behind Admiral Coghlan.
Vice-Commander Barton. acting toastmaster,
proposed first The President" which drunk
standing. He then introduced Admiral Coghlan
who was greeted by three rousing cheers from the
whole company, which stood as man. waving
napkins and programmes. He said, IN part:
You must excuse me if my voice fails me to-
night What has been said about me has been
hope it viii before get home feel ike the man
published Who afterWaTd toid his wife he wi he'd he
had died, for he could never live TO his obituary
had approached the age when he was useless or
about to be legally OsleriZed. but any sorrow on
TO veTy y yer pleasant night and hope viii
Since I have been IN New York it has been my
help sustain this honor it has been my good pleas
ure 10 be associated with a staff Of men working
good Of the United States navy. believe the only
sort OF jealousy has been 70 see who could most
quickly accomplish the work, assigned. Cnfortu-
nately. the man in command reaps most Of the
The education OF & naval officer does not tend to
make speechmaker. He does. speak sometimes
But he is apt 70 speak very briefly; for instance
Don't care if I do a little sugar. please
certainly appreciate wAat has been said There
are many Of my old friends and shipmates mere
Some Of Us were boys together. am not going to
tell them, for see some of the sons OF the old
that am utterly incapable Of conveying to your,
and long l am kept on duty shall use my
retire you can feel that the honor you have done
was not altogether wasted.
Rear Admiral Higginson. whose formal toast was
"Our Guest" said:
II is great pleasure to be present at the funeral
rites When we in the navy get TO the age where
they drop men from active service We feel that We
occasion feel like they did AT wake where,
after a time the corpse sat Up and took a drink.
So we know that Admiral Coghlan is able 10 sit
up and take q drink
Among the other speakers were General Horauo
c. King. Congressman SulZer, Rear Admirals Baird
and Smith Hart Lyman Colonel W. z. Church and
Commander z. c. Benedict.