Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1909-11-03
RETURNED THE PRIZE
A Trophy That 9i4 Net Eenain
 Lo"g jG C2pti,.y.
THE MISSING COAT OF ARMS.

Party Of English Midaies-T7c he5
 titution sre Apology.
 "Speal,iug of old ;ir4es on the coast. 70 said an Org@on!9n, "rcmiuds me o! some of thr sterling characters we aad there. One Was Governor Me Bride of Oregon His first official du- .jeS were at Honolulu, where He W;Is United St,ites minister. King Kane han eha WAS he rUinr at thc 1iines TEc minister was heroic type of q man the father of fourteen children. and \ number of his sons became diStin guished men in various professions He was q true American, east ill Hsi lltra patriotic mold, and many stories are told among the olltimcrs of ilS patriotism and bravery.
 When Mcbride reached uouoiulH he found there were no out ward iu si@na designating the American cor5 sulate or minister's office. so he had Il large American coat of arms cut out If wood, gildcA and decorated apprn= priateiv. and this WAS hung over tne ;ljct dUur that al the world ini.shl see t. II was naturally Il conspicuous o!4- feet ,tnd of much interest to the pub= tic.
 "0ne day an English man-of-W1I "amc il:to port. The sailors and Hi6 sEipman were given liberty. and, as often happens, some of them had Iii larious times. Among the then miG- shiinnen were I.erd Gorduu Hhd I.ora Bcrc>,forG Wiio like all midShiprncH III from a long cruise. were eut for 2 jolly time. Walking down the stree" ;tev ,iiI nnt f;lii to notice that Hnk~s 'oat of arms. and ds R@rcsf&H! W,ts collecting blr-;t-hr:r and rurio<iIie& i. occurred to him @nl Gordon that this would be d fine addition to their coi .ection. a trophy worth having. Sa they selected ;i tim" when the Hini, ter was away and the office cio>.'t presumably at night, Hnd took d9MA tlio coat of artlS hired a native V"li- ..ie te carry 1t down To the dock a.s actually sllec"s'tIcd in getting il aboard without any of thc ranking officers knowing anYlhin@ ahout ii.
 "The next morning when the minis ter calaa down to the office his assist ant said:
 MT Minister, your birds taken flight
 What do you mem: asked his cxceliency.
 Your cnat of arms is gone. re piled the aid.
 "'Gonc where? Flown off?'
 "'Not exactly. said the other Its just disappeared.
 The minister walked out into the street and looked up. The coat C. arms. which was five OF six feet across. was noticeable by it's absence It had taken wings and flown ;swHA Exactly what the minister said haY. not hrr,l rhr"nic!ed.
 "lt so happened that Beresford has given thp carriage driver an extra fare for his trouble. Some one discovered tlis and quickly reported it 10 she min isirr. who ut once made a dcmauG upun the captain of the frigate for ir> return. The captain. who was inno cent. denied that the thing was aboard ship The minister sent his evidence to he captain. reiteratinc his dculaHt aud demanding an apology for the in suit
 The captain DOW began an invest. gation. and the cnlpritS owned up aitt' took the coat of arms on deck. whe}' f ,,,l, turned to tue office of the minister Mcbride. who was there. refused t, receive it.
 Tell tie captain of your fri:f;.'' that desire that the men who teo% i down bring it back. place it Whef. they found it and apnIoGiZe.'
 Back to the ship went the ;ns.:. with the coat of arms and reported The captain ordered the young men {. go ashore, take the coat of arms to th consulate. replace it as they found i, and apologize 10 tine minister
 Tt Was doubtless q bitter pill, ana the young midshipmeD had to stalt. the badina@c of their comrades. n. two went ashore. ready to comply. and took the coat of arms to the c0A. sulate. The American minister had not put himself out to keep the mat ter quiet. and as fact the public wa well posted. and the consulate was surrounded by a crowd of Americans natives and others. all laughing at the predicament of the young midshir men.
 ''Fhe minister had a strong sense oi humor and determined to get all there was in it. He preserved his dignity as best he could as he received the youA" men and listened to their apologies The midshipnep then took the con: o' arms from the hack and amid to. cheers of the crowd climoed to n. front of the building and placed i, i position, then hurried down followed by laughter and cheers."-C. E. Holder iu New York Evening Post.