The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-08
HOCH DER COGHLAN! THIS TIME.
JOYOUS FEAST TO MARK THE
REAR ADMIRAES RETIREMENT.

Naval C~Ommandery Testimonial Banquet
Carried Out In Ships kline
Words From Roosevelt Guest OF Honor
Gives His Receipt for Proper Living.
Rear Admiral Joseph b. Coghlan was
Toasted at Delmonico's last night in honor
Of his retirement by the New York Com
mandery of the Naval Order Of the United
States, of which he is the present COM
mander. The Admiral got a hearty recep-
ton.
The festivities were held in the Red room,
d decorated appropriately for the occasion,
with Old Glory aloft and beside the Rear
Admiral's pennant, directly back OF the
speakers table. Here on either side OF
the guests of honor sat George De Forest
Barton, Vice-Commander of the Naval
Commandery; Rear Admiral Francis j.
Higginson, L. S. ~, retired; Gen He. III
Chaplain Reaney; Congressman Villain
Sulzer, Jarvis B. Edison, L. C.. Benedict
Rear Admiral j. A. b. Smith, U. >. n,
retired; Rear Admiral G. w. Baird, U. 5. NJ
retired, and Rear Admiral j. b. Smith, Us
N, retired.
Bugler Charles Doctor headed the storm
ing column by marching upon the banquet
tables and sounding Mess Gear. Hard by
the DuRIeT was DO y u = Nho -
Beal. Following these came Rear Admiral
Coghlan with Vice-Commander De Forest,
leading a column of some two hundred
guests.
A handy orchestra a little aft Of some
dollhouse palms broke out with Strike
Tn the Band, Here Comes a Sailor" They
quickly switched to The Star Spangled
Banner" on sight of a color sergeant accom-
panied by two guards bearing down the
main aisle carrying a stand Of colors, which
was placed behind Admiral Coghlan's seat.
Then came cheers and the diners were
brought back to the stern sense of duties
only by the boson's mate. who gravely
piped all hands to splice the main brace,
which in navy p~arlance means to have a
drink.
Hardly was the rollicking crew seated
than a chorus broke out in unison from
somewhere:
Here's to Joe; here's to Joe,
oh, 50 devlsh! Hoch der Ksiserl
The merriment only quoted down long
enough for the health Of the President OF
the United States 20 be drunk amid cheers.
Vice Commander DE Forest propo ed a
toast TO Rear Admiral Coghlan, the Ad-
miral's country, his family and his host OF
friends He then introduced the guest OF
honor. As one man the diners jumped up,
singing fOr ne = "a lOlly ROOu ltllON'
Admiral Coghlan was much roNed' hut
got into action in a hurry.
This is honor enough to take any mans
breath away" he said. Il hope II does
take mine away before ] get home. Laugh
teri Such n Tecel ton should he most
pleasing except to a dihiiont man like
myself. | am in the same boat with the
fellow who died and then came to hte.
His wife said f~eeling!v as she showed him
some howery obituaries.
- sIAln dane xnlI fool vlAH nVnr fh9fp'
-'No,' he replied. | wish TO God | had
died daughter and roars Of Bully Jo'
and 'Hoch! Hoch'l. II should be a ,sor-
row for a man approaching the age where
he is legally Ostracised. but your spirit
does much to appease this"
He said the proper way 20 live a life
was so that a mans ~neighborS and friends
should not have a bad opinion Of him. re
had tried TO do that.
You all know navy officers are not well
trained on after dinner speaking. They
are not good orators at such times but
often to the point with such opigrans as
L don't care if I do or 4 little sugar in
nine please lFXplosjonsi."
He spoke al length Of his appreciation Of
the honor bestowed upon him, and sat down
amid applause that lasted several minutes.
One Of the diners arose and began read
ing numerous letters received.
The first" he said. lis in simplified
spelling" After the laughter subsided
he read as follows,
I wish ! could be present At the dinner in
honor Of Rear Admiral Coghlan lie Is nor
only an esteemed officer but a personal friend
Thru this | convey my keenest regrets at
having 10 he absent.
Very truly yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Other letters were read from Secretary
Of the Navy Bona parte. Admiral Dewey
Gen. Horace Porter. eX-Secretary of the
Navy McAdoo, Rear Admiral Evans. Rear
Admiral Schley, retired. and Cornelius
Vanderbilt.
Gen. Horatio C.. King told a humorous
story of Gen. Sickles. The latter net a
Southern planter and tried TO advise him
on the reformation of the negroes. The
planter retorted by saying:
Hell. if the other Yankee Generals dom
know anv more than You do ! can't sac how
the South ever got licked"
Gen. King wound up by reading an original
poem dedicated to Rear Admiral Coghlan.
In part il follows
Now douse my glim and shivcr my II mbers thro'.
Pore III believe that Joe Is az;
BY navy law ! hear that It Is writ
That he's a nautical wreck
Why, bless my timberS. he's Just as gooi
As the youngest MI on deck.
So here's TO sou. Admiral.
with hOch and roy al cheer,
And may you wear your natural hair
TIL you reach a hundred year.
And when old Father Time has lost his JOB,
III bet a key OF beer.
That you'li be round TO take his scythe
And start a new career.
Congressman Sul2er, when the hurrahing
and toasting had subsidized, arose TO speak.
Il brought on the Spanish war" he said.
why, Speaker Reed used TO shout out.
Say. oan't you shut off Sulzer from max
ing another speech against the SPANISH
"Gov. Black wouldn't muster my regi-
ment and me in. He was afraid Ia come
pack He mustered in another that did
come. He succeeded Black"
Among those present were Alfred Nander-
bilt, Capt. j. W. Miller of the Naval Militia,
DIR. MCGOWAN, NJ. h. Field and Loyal Farra-
gut. only son of the late Admiral Earragut.