Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-05
JUDGE WILLIAM G.. RILEY.
His Own Alleged Version Of Shooting
the Queen of Madagascar.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
OF the large. ever-increasing, yet vanish
ing army of celebrities wearing the ancient
and honorable prefix of ex' or former
that has at one time or another adorned
the federal city with smile and cheer or be-
moaned the ingrattude of republics. Judge
William G. Riley. formerly of Accomac.
/ but recently of Pennsylvania avenue was
by virtue of his remarkable and unique
personality, the most distinguished, widely
and favorably known.
He was affable, be was genial, he was
social, he was courtly; he had a ready.
fluent and entertaining command of the
queens vernacular. and could soar to as
lofty heights as the verieSt spellblnder that
ever tickled the fancy and imagination or
entranced the devotees of the rhythmic
rounded period.
The writer has on numerous occasions
heard the judge in superb diction and
classic style narrate the Zanzibar shooting.
So positive, earnest. forceful and dra-
| matte was he in portrayng this affair that
one was constrained to think that the judge
really believed 1t himself, to have heard
him. almost persuade the listener to be-
lieve and never failed to secure for the
judge abiding place in memory.
He said that when he betook himself to
his station as the envoy extraordinary,
| minister plenipotentiary and consul general
to the court of Zanzibar he took with him
all the retinue and paraphernala of a
southern gentleman-among which was his
trusty shotgun Being seated one evening
on the plaza of the embassy discussing
| matters of state and "other things of
no less Importance with his attaches, he
eSpied something akin to the hue of the
ebon pail of night bobbing up and down
and cavorting on the beach in the distance.
Not being familiar with the amphibious
deniZenS thereabout he knew not what 1t
was, but concluded at least to frighten it
away.
He accordingly called for his trusty shot
gun. ordered it loaded with a few small
birdShot and blazed away. Darkness in
the meantime intervening, he bestowed no
further attention upon the incident. but
proceeded with the discussion. which was
very abruptly terminated by the arrival of
the queens ministers OF state, who, after
bespeaking the distinguished honor and re-
newing their expressions of high regard
for his excellency-the American consul
begged to inform him of the astounding in
dignity which had been perpetrated on and
against their august queen-that she.
while taking her accustomed evening
plunge. had been peppered, but, happily, not
punctured, with birdshot, and further in
forming him that speedy apology and swift
reparation was demanded.
Then is was that the judge, with dplo-
matte technique and eloquence that would
have cuased unbreathing stones to yield,
smoothed the wrinkled front of grim WIS.,
aged war and re-established the relation
cordial.
He assured her majesty's ministers that
Identity; that such a diabolical idea as the
disfiguring of the person Of their most gra-
cious sovereign never even filtered acros
the labyrinths of his judicial mind; that for
nothing in the world would he disturb the
hitherto amicable relations existing be-
tween their governments. and certainly not
by complication of SO personal and deli
cate a nature. He scared aloft. told them
of the grandeur and prowess of the great
est republic of earth and the giOrius part
that he and his ancestors for two hundred
and fifty years had played in making 1t
thus; how he had whipped his weight in
wild cats and In an encounter with buzz
saw in motion completely worsted IT: he ex-
planned to them that there were numerous
methods and ways to settle such little mis-
understandings and differences. pre-emf-
nent among which was to drink 1t on,
and advised that as the form and manner
of adjusting the existing embroglto. Suit
ing action to the word he summoned his
charge de wine cellar and ordered him to
bring out a case of Kentucky's finest and
best and some of those Accomac perfectos.
Said he though as brave and courageous
a man as ever stepped in sole leather. and
grand old Accomac produces no other kind.
II believe in peaceful arbitrament. and
well adjust this by the cup and not by
the sword
The judge was asked ON one occasion