Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1909-10-19
RETURNED TIE PRIZE
A Trophy That Did Not Remain
 Long In Captivity.
THE MISSING COAT OF ARMS.

It Belonged to the American Consulate
 In Honolulu and Was Carried Of by
 Party of English Middies-The Res
 titution and Apology.
 'Speakng of old times on the coast" said an Orcgonian. reminds me of some of the sterling characters we 1 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 heroic type of a man. the father of fourteen children, aud number of his sons became dstin- guished men in various professions. He was q true -American cast in an ultra patriotic mold, and many stories i are told among the oldtimers of his patriotism and bravery.
 When Mcbride reached Honolulu he found there were no outward in- signia designating the American con sulate or minister's office, so he had a large. American coat of arms cut out of wood, Gilded and decorated appro- priately, and this was hung over the | office door that all the world might see It. It was naturally q conspicuous ob- ject and of much interest to the pulp i lie
 "One day an English man-ofwar came into port The sailors and mid shipmcn were given liberty. and. as often happens. some of them had hi larinu> times. Among the then mid shipmrn were Lord Gordon and Lord Berrsford. who. like all mi,Shipmen in from long cruise. We're out for a jolly time. Waikin. down the street they dil not fail to notice that Yankee coat of arms. aud as i'erest"r'l was collecting brica blac and curioS!it> # occurred to him and Gordon that this would be fine addition 10 their col lection. a trophy worth having. So l they selected d time when the minis 1 ter was away aud the office closed. presumably at night and took down | the coat of arms. hired Il native vehi- cle to carry it down to the dock and actually succeeded in getting it aboard without anv of the rankin. officers knowing anything ahou. il.
 "The next mornin@ when the minis ter came down to the office his assist l ant said:
 "'Mr. Minister. your birds taken flight
 "'What do you mean: asked his excellency.
 Your coat of arms is gone re piled the aid.
 "'Gone where? Flown otf?'
 "'Not exactly said the other. 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.
 1t so happened that Beresford haG given the carriage driver an extra fare for his trouble. Some one discovered this and quickly reported it to the min ister, who at once made a demand upon the captain of the frigate for its return. The captain. who was inno cent denied that tue 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- 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. Mcbride, who was there. refused to receive it.
 "'Tell the captain of your frigate that l desire that the men who took it 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 to the minister.
 Tt was doubtless q bitter pill. and the young midshipmen 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 fact the public was we'll posted. and the consulate was surrounded by crowd Of Americans. natives and others, all laughing at the predicament of the young midship men,
 "The 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 youn. nen and listened to their apologies The mdShipmen then took the coat of arms from the hack and amid the cheers of the crowd climo moed to the front nf tho hy1ijJtpr and plaoaJ i, ;,,