The San Francisco call., 1896-03-29
OLD GLORY DEGRADED.
Soaked IN Beer by Booxy american
Youngsters.

Youngsters.
HAWAII, Honolulu, March 27.-Al-
though the incident happened as far back
as Tuesday, March 3, Honolulu has not yet
tired OF gossiping over an insult to the
stars and stripes, in which several officers
of the United States army and navy were
mixed up in anything but an enviable
way. The affair happened at the Hotel
Richelieu, where three young American
tourists with more means than sense have
been staying, and in the room occupied by
them. Their names were Porter, Packer
and Barnsal, and they are described as
three unripe young Americans, who gained
their first notoriety in Honolulu by parad-
ing the city in an elaborately decorated
wagonette on Washington's birthday.
On the occasion in question, which was
quite late in the evening, these young
bloods were having little ''do'' in their
rooms and the guests included DR.. Muir
ray, Bert Peterson, DR.. c. B. Cooper and
Captain Broome of this city, the latter be-
ing member of the National Guard of
Hawaii and on the staff of President
Dole; Lieutenant Lissak, U. S. A., who
came down with General Warfield's party ::
Lieutenant Elliott, q. S. N, and Past
Assistant Surgeon Hibbett, q. S. N, both
of the Bennington, and Messrs. Hackett
and Grear, tourists, of Oakland, Cal.
The party were having an exceedingly
good time, and during lull in the festivi-
ties very small American flags were
handed out for the coat lapels. DR.. Muir
ray, who is a Canadian, and one or two
others declined the decoration. Nothing
was said of this. The room was not large
and was very crowded. DR.. Cooper and
Bert Peterson stretched out on one of the
A number stood, some about table.
Porter went out after refreshments.
The story is that at this juncture DR..
Murray, at least in plain sight of Elliott,
Lissak and Broome and perhaps of one or
two others, took one of the American flags
from the table, dropped it on the floor,
ground his heel into it and jumped upon
it. Why he did this no one undertakes to
explain. Those who were not under direct
obligation to resent the affront waited for
Elliott and Lissak to say something.
Elliott muttered some curses which were
indistinctly heard, and later, it is said, he
remarked TO DR.. Murray that no further
insult to the American flag would be per-
mitted. There was q GOODNESS imme-
dlately, and considerable undertone COM
ment, but the party did not break up for
three-quarters Of an hour.
A continuation OF the story is that an in
vitation to breakfast aboard the Benning-
ton for the next morning was withdrawn
in note to DR.. Murray, and that the lat
ter before leaving town for circuit of the
island addressed an explanatory letter to
Ensign Blue of the Bennington.
The above account is the only one that
has been published, and as it has met with
no denial may be presumed to be substan-
tally correct. DR.. Cooper in short pub
lished card the next day after the affair
was made public said that his being there
was accidental, but made no statement as
to the flag incident The three Americans
in whose room the affair happened have
left the country. as have the Bennington
officers and Lieutenant Lissak, q. S. A.,
and Captain Broome of our own National
Guard is now in San Francisco.
DR.. Murray has declined to be iuter-
viewed on the affair, but your correspond
ent is enabled to give his version of it. He
says that being Canadian he courteously
but firmly declined to wear the flag, when
one member of the party proposed to pin
1t on his coat by force. which was no
sooner said than done.
The doctor was grabbed by three or