The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-27
LORD CHARLES BEREsFoRD.
One OF England's Bravest and Most
Popular Sailors.

One OF England's Bravest and Most
Popular Sailors.
Admiral Lord Charles Beresford is
net only the most conspicuous member
OF the grand old Irish house Of Reres-
ford, but likewise the most popuIar
sailor CT the British navy. the regard in
which he is held by the public being
probably enhanced by the KNOWLEDGE
that owing to his loss of royal favor ms
promotion has been unjustly DELAYED.
ana that he has not yet received due re
ward for his really very eminent serv-
ices He is broad shouldered. strongly
built man. with face which is deeplv
| bronzed by sea air and tropical suns.
| WITH hearty laugh and q frank and
pluff manner, which is fully in keep
ing with his appearance and his pro-
fession. His eyes are of the most .hon-
est blue and there fingers in them a
| glimmer of that mischief which in his
younger days was repeatedly on the
point Of wrecking his career In fact.
to this day fun and frolic are as in
separable from the name of Charles
Beresford as are courage and common
| sense. He wears not one but several
| dI
| occasion, while on board his shin at
Port Stanley, Falkland Island, a man
fell overheard. 1t was pitch dark, blow
ing hard, and Lord Charles. who had
| just come on board, was still wearing
heavy shooting clothes his pockets be-
ing loaded down with cartridges. With
| out minutes hesitation he jumped
| overheard, got hold of the drowning
| man and managed to grasp a rCpe
which had been thrown to him. to which
he chung until the boat had, come to his
| rescue.
| On another occasion, while serving
on board the Defence, he jumped over
| board to save a drowning man who had
tumbled into the Mersey. while in a
| third instance he leaped overheard to
/ rescue q drunken fellow in Plymouth
Bay.
His pranks are legion in number
The one which got him into most trou-
BILE was perpetrated while he was still
| midshipman, and almost led to his
dismissal. 1t was during the war be-
tween the North and the South in his
| country. Lord Charles, like so many
others of his class, who failed to appre-
accorded all his sympathies to the Con-
federates. His resentment reached such
pitch that, while in port at Kingston.
Jamaica, he on one memorable night,
In conjunction with his fellow midship-
man, the present Marquis of Queens
berry, climbed up to the balcony of the
United States Consulate and removed
therefrOm the shield emblazoned with
the national arms. and likewise a huge
gilt eagle, both of which he burned in
a bonfire. around which Lord Queens
berry and himself performed what they
believed to be a regular New-Zealand
war dance. OF course tie next morn
ing, when the indignity to which the
American Consulate had been subjected
was discovered, there was a terrible to-
do. Ultimately the affair was traced to
Lord Charles, and to the Marquis of
Queensberry, both of whom would have
been dismissed from the service had it
not been for the American Consul, who,
taking into consideration the fact that
the affair was a boyiSh prank, instead
of an outrage on the part of grown-up
people, interceded on behalf of the
youngsters, so that they got off with a
severe reDrimand 1t may be added
that the consideration of the American
and, above ali, the kindness and good
humor with which lie received them
when they went to his house for the
purpose Of presenting their apology.
had the effect of entirely changing
their opinions about the respective
merits of the North and South
On one occasion Lord Charles act
ually induced the Admiral whom he
was serving as flag Lieutenant TO par
ticipate in his pranks. 1t was While
they were at Davenport. Lord Charles
was driving his chief, Admiral Harry
keppel, along the high road in
a dog carr. after dining AT q country
house. On reaching the tollgate the
tollman declined to change the gold
ten-shiliflg piece proffered by Lord
Charles. and declared that he would
accept nothing but his exact tell money.
With that he disappeared into his house
leaving the tollgate closed. Without a
moments hesitation Lord Charles and
Sir Harry aiighted, fastened the horse
TO 2 fence, lifted the tollgate off its
hinges. tied it to the back of the cart,
and carried ii off in triumph TO Daven-
port before the Mortified tollman could
realize what had been done, or to take
steps to prevent it, On the following
day he brought a charge of larceny
against the Admiral and his flag Lieu
tenant But when the local magis-
trates learned that the object stolen
was a toilgate. and became aware of
the circumstances under which ii was
carried off. they dismissed the case on
the ground that there had been no GRIM
inal intent.
Perhaps the best and certainly the
most Irish proof of Lord Charles frank
nsss and honesty OF speech, is the re-
Spouse which he once made to an in
vitation to dine with the Prince of
Wales at Marlborough House. Royal
invitations are always considered in
the light of command, especially by
officers of the army and navy. Lord
Charles, however, had more agreea-
able engagement for the night of the
Princes dinner. so he sent to his flu
ture King the following telegram:
Very sorry. Can't come Lie fol-
lows by post. New York Tribune