The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-09-01
RETURNED THE PRIZE
A Trophy That Did Not Remain
Long In Captivity.
THE MISSING COAT OF ARMS.
1t Belonged to the American Consulate
In Honolulu and Was Carried Off by
Party of English Middies--The Res.
tituton and Apology.

III FEpHoittu was kdFTicQ III py
Party of English Middies--The Res.
titution and Apology.
speaking of old times on the coast"
said an 0regonian. reminds me OF
some of the sterling characters we
had there. One was Governor Me-
Bride of Oregon. His first official du-
ties were at Honolulu. where he was
United States minister. King Kane
hameha was the ruler at the time. The
minister was n heroic type of man.
the father of fourteen children, and Il
number of his sons became distin.
guished men In various professions.
lie was Il true American, cast In an
ultra patriotic mold, and many stories
are told among the oldtimers of his
patriotism aud bravery.
"When Mcbride reached Honolulu
he found there were no outward In
signid designating the American con.
sulate or minister's office, SO he had
large American coat of arms cut out
OF wood. gilded and decorated appro-
priately. aud this was hung over the
office door that all the world might see
1t. 1t was naturally conspicuous OBJ
ject aud of much interest to the pub
lie.
Zone day an English man-of-war
came into port. The sailors and mid.
shipnen were given liberty, and. as
often happens. some Of them had hi
larious times. Among the then mid
z..,J
Beresford, who, like all midshipmen In
from n long cruise, were out for u
jolly time. Walking down the street,
they did not fail to notice that Yankee
coat OF arms, and us Beresford was
collecting bric-a-brac and curioslties 1t
occurred to him and Gordon that this
would be a fine addition to their col.
lection. 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 native vehi-
Gle to carry It down to the dock and
actually succeeded in getting 1t aboard
without any of the ranking officers
knowing anything about 1t.
"The next morning when the minis
ter came down TO the office his assist
ant said:
"'Mr. Minister. your birds taken
flight
"'What do you mean?' asked his
excelency.
Your coat of arms is gone re-
piled the aid.
"Gene where? Flown OFF,
"'Not exactly said the other. It's
just disappeared
1.-THE minister walked out into the
street and looked up. The coat Of
arms. which was five or six feel
across, was noticeable by It's absence.
1t had taken wings and flown away
Exactly what the minister said has
not been chronicled.
sit SO happened that Beresford hat
given the carriage driver an extra fare
for his trouble. Some one discovered
this and quickly reported 1t to the min
lister, who at once made demand
upon the captain of the frigate for its
return. The captain, who was inno-
/ cent, denied that the thing was aboard
| ship. The minister sent his evidence
TO the captain, relterating his demand
and demanding an apology for the in
suit
'rhe captain now began an investi-
CATION, and the culprits owned up and
took the coat of arms on deck, when
II was promptly sent ashore and re-
turned TO the Office of the minister.
Mcbride, who was there, refused to
receive It.
"'Tell the captain OF your frIgate
that desire that the men who took 1t
down bring 1t back. place 1t where
they found II 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 1t as they found 1t
and apologize to the minister.
1T was doubtless "A bitter pill, and
the young mldshipmen had to stand
the badinage of their comrades. The
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 fact the public was
well posted. and the consulate was
surrounded by crowd of Americans,
=, natives and others, all laughing at the
predcameDt of the young midship-
men
"The minister had a strong sense Of
humor and determined to get all there
was in 1t. He preserved his dignity as
besi he could as he received the young
men and listened to their apologies.
Tho midshpmen then took the coat Of
arms from the hack and amid the
cheers of the crowd climbed to the
front Of The building and placed it in
position. then hurried down, followed
by laughter and cheers &C. Il. Holder
IN New York Evening Post