Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1909-11-21
RETURNED THE PRIZE
A Trophy That Did Not Remain
 Long In Captivity.
THE MISSING COAT OF ARMS.

t Belonged to the American Consulate
 In Honolulu and Was Carried Off by nParty of English Middes--Tae Res titution and Apology.
 "SpeakHg of old times on the coast" eRid an Dregcniaa, reminds me ci soMr of ike sterling characters Vs had there One was Governor Nc. Bride of Oregon. His first official du. ties were at Honolulu, where he was United States minister King Kane. hameha was tue ruler at the time. The minister was a heroic type of man, the father of fourteen children. and humber of his sons became diStin- guished men ill various professions. He was true American, cast in an lltra patriotic mold. and many stories are told among the oldtimers of his patriotism and bravery.
 When Mcbride reached Honolulu he found there were no outward ill. si.nia designating the American COZ sulate or minister's office, so he had large American coat of arms cut out # wood. gilded and decorated appro- prately and this was hung over the office door that all the world might see it. It was naturally a conspicuous ob- feet and of much interest to the pulp lic
 "One day an English man-ofwar came into port The sailors and mid shipmen were given liberty. and, as often happens. some of them had hi lariouS times. Among the then mid shpmen were Lord Gordon and Lord l Beresford. who. like all midshipmen i'll l from a long cruise. were out for jolly time. Walking down the street. they did not fail to notice that Yankee coat of arms. and IS Beresford was collecting bric-a-brac and curlositieS 1t occurred to him and Gordon that this would be a fine addition to tbeir col Iection a trophy worth having. So they selected time when the minis ter was away and the office closed, presumably at night. and took down the coat of arms hired q native vehi- cle to carry it down to the dock and actually succeeded in getting it aboard without any of the ranking officers knowing anything about it.
 "tEhe next morning when the minis ter came down to the office his assist ant said
 "..lr Minister. your birds taken night'
 ".SFhat dc you meany asked hia excellency.
 ",Your coat of arms is gone re- piled the aid.
 "'Gone where? Flown off?'
 "'Not exactly said the otber. Its just disappeared
 "The minister walked out into the street and looked up The coat Of arms. which was five or six feet across. was noticeable by it's absence It had taken wings and flown away. Exactly what the minister said has not been chronicled.
 '.It so happened that Beresford had given the carriage driver an extra fare for his trouble Some one discovered this and quickly reported it to the min" 1 ister who at once made demand upon the captain of the frigate for it's return. The captain. who was inno. 1 cent denied that the thing was aboard ! ship. The minister sent his evidence to the captain. reiterating his demand and demanding an apology for the in. suit.
 The captain now began an investi l gation. and the culprits owned up and took the coat of arms on deck. when it was promptly sent ashore and re- turned to the office of the minister. 1 Mcbride, who was there, refused to receive it.
 "'Tel the captain of your fri@ate that desire that the men who took il down bring it back. place it where they found it and apologize
 Back to the ship went the men with the coat of arms and reported The captain ordered the young men to go ashore take the coat of arms to the consulate. replace it as they found it and apologize 10 the minister.
 Tt was doubtless a bitter pill, and the young miuShipmen had to stand the badinage of their comrades. The two went ashore. ready to comply, and took the coat of arms to the con- sulate The American minister had not put himself out to keep the mat ter quiet. and as d fact the public was we'll posted. and the consulate was l surrounded by a crowd of Americans, natives and others. all laughing at the predicament of the young midship men.
 "Ihe minister had strong sense of humor and determined to get all there was in it. He preserved his dignity as best he could as he received the young men and listened to their apologies The midshipmen then took the coat of arms from the hack and amid the