Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-09-18


In Honolulu and Was Carried of by
Party Of English Middies-The Res.
titution and Apology.
Speaking OF old times on the coast"
said an Oregonian. reminds me OF
some of the sterling characters we
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 the ruler at the time. The
minister was heroic type Of man.
the father of fourteen children. and
number of his sons became distin-
guished men In various professions.
He was 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 a
large American coat OF arms cut out
Of wood, gided and decorated appro-
priately, and this was hung over the
office door that all the world might see
it. II was naturally a conspicuous OBJ
ject and of much interest to the pub
lie.
Zone 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 Ill
larious times. Among the then mid
shipmen were Lord Gordon and Lord
Beresford. who. like all midshipmen In
from a long cruise. were out for
Jolly time. Walking down the street.
they did not fail 10 notice that Yankee
coat OF arms. and as Beresford was
collecting bric-a-brac and curiosities II
occurred to him and Gordon that this
would be a fine addition to their COL
lection. 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 a native vehi-
Gle to carry 1t 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
excellency.
Your coat OF arms is gone. re.
piled the aid.
leone where? Flown off?'
"'Not exactly said the other. It's
just disappeared
The minister walked out into the
street and looked up. The coat or
arms. which was Eve or six feet
across. was noticeable by It's absence
II had taken wings and flown away.
Exactly what the minister said has
not been chronicled.
ut so happened that Beresford had
given the carriage driver an extra fare
for his trouble. Some one discovered
this and quickly reported 1t TO the min
lister. who ut once made demand
upon the captain OF the frigate for its
return. The captain. who was limo
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-
CATION. and the culprits owned up and
took the coat of arms on deck. when
1t was promptly sent ashore and re-
turned to the office of the minister.
Mcbride. who was there. refused to
receive 1t.
"'Tell the captain OF your frigate
that / desire that the men who took II
down bring II back. place II 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
10 ashore, take the coat of arms TO the
consulate, replace II as they found II
and apologize to the minister.
1T was doubtless 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
well posted. and the consulate was
surrounded by crowd OF Americans,
natives and others. all laughing at the
predicament OF the young mldshIp-
! men.
The minister had a strong sense OF
humor and determined to get all there
was In II. He preserved his dignity as
best he could as he received the young
men and listened to their apologies
The mldshipmen then took the coat Of
arms from the hack and amid the
cheers OF the crowd climbed TO th,
front OF the building and placed II II
position. then hurried down. followed
by laughter and cheers. &C. +. Holder
in New York Evening Post.