Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1909-10-13


Party Of English Middies-Ths Res
titution and Apology.
Speaking OF old times on the coast
said an Oregonian. reminds me OF
some OF the sterling characters we
nad 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 the ruler at the time. The
minister was heroic type of n man.
the father or fourteen children, aud n
number OF his sons became distin-
guiShed men in various professions.
He was n true American, cast In an
ultra 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 in
sigma designating the American con-
sulate or minister's Office, so he had
large American coat OF arms cut ont
Of wood. giIded and decorated appr,
priateiy. aud this was hung over the
Office door that all the world might see
IL. 1t was naturally conspicuous Ob-
Ject and OF much interest To the pub
lie.
"One day an English man-of- war
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
shipmen were Lord Gordon and Lord
Beresford. who. like all midshipmen In
from long cruise. were out for 4
Jolly time. Walking down th,. street.
they did not fail 60 notice that Yankee
coat OF arms. and rs Beresford was
collecting bric-a-brac and curioslties il
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 aud the Office closed.
presumably ut night. and took down
the coat Of arms. hired n native vehi-
Gle 10 carry il down TO the dock aud
actually succeeded In getting IL aboard
without any OF the ranking officers
knowing anything about It.
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 meant asked his
excellency
"'Your coat Of arms is gone re-
piled the aid.
"'Gone where? Flown ofT
"'Not exactly said the other. It's
Just disappeared
The minister walked out into the
street and looked up. The coat Of
arms. which was Eve or six feet
across. was noticeable by its absence
IL had taken wings and flown away
Exactly what the minister said has
not been chronicled
1T so happened that Beresford had
given the carriage driver m extra fare
FOR his trouble. Some enc discovered
this and quickly rcport.'d II Ia the min-
lister. who az once made demand
upon the captain ~ Tho fri-utr for us
return. The captain who WAS limo.
cent. denied that the thing WAS aboard
ship. Tie minister sent his evidenc,
10 the captain. reiterating his demand
aud demanding an apology for the IN
suit
The captain now began an luveStl-
cation. aud the culpri,S owned up and
took the coat ~ arms op deck. when
IL was promptly sent ashore ana ~,
turned lo the olhce OF the minister.
Mcbride. who was there. refused 10
receive Il.
s..Tnl tho ,onfotn - ,.o,,. T.f..., u,
that desire that the men who took Il
down bring il back. place il where
they found il and apologize
Back 10 the ship wen, tne men
with the coat OF arms and reported.
The captain ordered the young men Ca
20 ashore, take the coat OF arms TO the
consulate. replace it as they found lt
and apologize to the minister.
1T was doubtless n bitter PHI, ana
the young midshipmen had 10 stand
the badinage OF their comrades. The
TWO went ashore. ready TO comply.
and took the coat OF arms 10 the con
sulate. The American minister had
not put himself out TO keep the mat
ter quiet. and as a fact the public was
well posted. and the consulate was
surrounded by crowd OF Americans.
natives and Others. all laughing ut The
predicamept 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 rs
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
cheers of the crowd climbed 10 the
front Of the building and placed it in
position, then hurried down, followed
by laughter and cheers. &C +. Holder
In New York Eyep4ng Post