Evening star., 1909-05-22
BOGUS MAJOR FETEOCAR LINES LACKED EMMAGOOMAN GUEST
Secretary
Upon Governors Island Nrs Mayfower Feast
BRITISH OFFICER HE SAYS pRevEnAsE HE SAYS BERkMn ALSO
Dngond Of TrahonCo Ar Slow in
Kings0 Repairs Freeman Lund
IN Twaor Connecticut Freeman
Cereal AveueTh pdng-wu srnM fem v
lhughH Lived There JeseyPat ogah
BRITISH OFFICER, HE SAYS
Presents Himself as Dragon Of the
Kings Own.
ENTERTAINED BY ARMY MEN
But Knickerbocker Hotel Knew Him
Not as Maj. Berdie-McGreal,
Although He Lived There.

NEW YORK, May 22.-"Maj. A. c. P.
-McGrail. commanding 7th Dragon
Guards. his majesty's service" departed
from the Hotel Knickerbocker yesterday
by request Of the management
simultaneously with that incident, or
shortly thereafter. there was an epidemic
Of self administered kicks among the hos
pitable United States Army officers sta
toned on Governors Island. Likewise.
an epidemic OF laughter and funpoking
among certain other officers at the same
post.
For the ''major'-"Berdie of the
Guahds" they will always call him on
the island-had turned out, after having
been wined and dined and saluted for a
week or so. to be no major whatever.
but an umbrella salesman with a passion
for military honors.
He sought nothing else but honors, 1t
is admitted. He did not float any loans
or ask that any checks be cashed. But
the idea Of full-grown U. 8. A. officers
making a fuss over a civilian umbrella
agent will rankle for many a day In the
Department Of the East.
Looked the Part.
It was early last week when q tall,
distinguished looking parsonage. with an
erect carriage, q monocle and the Lun-
honest Of accents. stepped upon Govern
ors Island and asked for the officer of
the day Lieut.. c. A. Janney of the 18th
Infantry responded to the sentrys word
that he was wanted, and met the stran-
ger.
my card. SIR volunteered the person
age. He extended a pasteboard reading,
Major A. c. P. Berdie-McGreal, Cavalry
Club. London
Delighted, major" responded Lieut..
Janney, introducing himself in return.
Berdie-McGreal explained his presence.
He was just ovah from Canterb'ry-the
cathedral town, yknow-where his 7th
Dragon Guahds were stationed. He'd
had a jolly lot of social attentions paid
to him here, but chap y'know. likes to
get about among his own soht. He would
take 1t as ripping good of the Yankee
officers IL they'd show him about a bit.
He was at the Knickerbocker, with his
man and his car and his driver. he casu-
ally made known. Also he had as travel
ing companion his good old friend Com
mander Majoribanks of his majeSty's s
navy, who was similarly inspecting naval
in Brooklyn.
Warm Up to Britisher.
Lieut. Janney warmed to the imposing
stranger at once. He presented him to a
dozen officers Of various ranks immedi-
ately, and took him on an inspection tour
Of the island.
They had luncheon at the club, and
more officers were presented to the Brit
ish major. He was apt at service talk,
and narrated interestingly his expert
ences with dear old Viscount Gen. Wolse-
ley In the Boxer troubles and with Gen.
Sir John French in South Africa.
-E -, - kl~y
offered to purchase refreshment in re-
turn for what he had consumed at the
officers expense they waved him away
and couldn't think of such a thing.
delightful daily visitor. Maj. John 8.
Mallory Of the 18th and Capt. Halstead-
Dorey, who is Gen. Woods aid, got to-
gether and gave an elaborate semi-off-
cial dinner In his honor. Capt. e. B.
Smith kept him overnight in his home.
to whom the Britisher took an especial
fawncy.
There were one or two little things that
caused comment. For instance. the WIS.,
to salute him as he passed. tribute
which Is never paid to an ununiformed
foreign officer. Then he seemed to evade
visiting Gen. Wood. the post COM
mandant. He said about this that 1t was
beastly embarrassing to go about on a
furlough in the full-dress uniform which
he should have to don to visit the gen
eral. But he'd do 1t later. for FORMS
sake.
Was Just Little Bit OF.
The beginning of the end came Thurs
day night. Berdie McGreal struck the
island rather hilariously. Not too much
so-not any more than an officer and gen.
tleman might successfully get away with
on a furlough. He sought his young
chum, Lieut.. Dewey The lieutenant put
him to bed and then phoned the Knicker-
booker to allay any worriment that might
be felt there at the absence OF such dis
tinguished guest.
"All our interest in Berdie McGreal."
was the response that foated over the
wires, lis that he owes US $52. Send his
car? We don't know Of any car. No. nor
man, nor friend. Commander Majori-
banks. Wen send our detectives over in
the morning to interview this major
The house detectives visited Lieut.
Dewey's quarters yesterday morning. and
with them and the lieutenant, as escorts.
Berdie McGreal journeyed back to the
knickerbocker. Meanwhile his room-a
very small one-had been entered, and a
search OF his bag showed that he was
connected with a patent umbrella COM
pany Of Niagara Falls.
He phOned to q young woman friend
In Brooklyn and eventually secured 500.
paid his bill and departed.
AS for Lieut.. Dewey, all he had to say
was, ''stung" This later in the day.
was echoed by the Governors Island on
GERS who had entertained "Berdie," and
gleefully by all those who hadn't.