Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1909-09-15
RETURNED THE PRIZE
A Trophy That Did Not Remain
 Long In Captivity.
THE MISSING COAT OF ARMS.
T. Belonged tc the American Consulate In Honolulu ard Was Carried Of by Party of English Mddies-The Res titution and Apology.

In Honolulu ard Was Carried Of by Party of English Mjddies-The Res
 ttution and Apology.
 Speaking of old times on the coast" said an Orcgonian. reminds me of some of the sterling characters we had there. One was Governor Me Bride of Oregon His first official du- ties were at Honolulu. where he was i united States minister. King Kane hamchl was the ruler at the time. The minister was heroic type of man, the father of fourteen children, and a i number of his sons became distin- guished men in various professions. i He was q 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 n- signia designating the American con- sulate or minister's office, so he had large American coat of arms cut out of wood, Slded and decorated appro- Il IdtElN. dIu t1lS " uuDS ON VI tlIS office door that all the world might see it. IL was naturally a conspicuous ob- feet and of much interest to the pub i lie
 "One day an English manof-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 jolly time Walking down the street. they did not fail to notice that Yankee coat of arms. and as Beresford was collecting bric-a- brac and curiositieS it occurred to him and Gordon that this would be a fine addition to their col lection, trophy worth having. So they selected a time when the minis ter was away and the office closed, presumably at night, and took dow1N the coat of arms hired native vehl- cle to carry it down to the dock and actually succeeded in getting it aboard without any of the ranking officers knowing anything about it.
 ."rhe nest morning when the minis ter came down to the office his assist ant said
 "'Mr Minister. your birds taken fight
 ..'What do you mean:' asked his excellency.
 "'Your coat of arms is gone re- piled the aid,
 ".Gone where? Flown off?'
 Mot exactly said the other. It's just disappeared.'
 "The minister walked out into the street and looked up. The coat of arms. which was five or six feet across. was 'noticea ble by it's absence It had taken wings and flown away. E.a%t!y what the minister said has DC, been chronieled.
 Tt so happened that Bercsford bad given the carriage driver an extra fare for his trouble. Some one discovered this and quickly reported it to the miD- ister. who at once made demand upon the captain of the frigate for its return. The captain. who was inno- 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- 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 tC receive it.
 | "'Tell the captain of your frigate that l desire that the men who took il down bring it back. place it where they found it and apologize.' ] "Rack to he ship went the mer with the coat of arms and reported The captain ordered the young men t( go ashore, take the coat of arms to tht consulate, replace it as they found il and apologize to the minister.
 Tt was doubtless bitter pill. an( the young midshipmen had to stand the badinage of their comrades. The 1 two went ashore, ready to comply and took the coat of arms to the con sulate. The American minister hat not put himself out to keep the mat ter quiet, and as fact the public Wal we'll posted, and the consulate wal surrounded by crowd of Americans natives and others, all laughing at thu predicament of the young midship men.
 'The minister had strong sense O.
 humor and determined to get all ther
 was in it. He preserved his dignity a
 best he could as he received the youn!
 aen and listened to their apologies
 The midshipmen then took the coat Q
 arms from the hack and amid tn
 cheers of the crowd climbed to tn
 front of the building and placed it i
 position. then hurried down. followe
 by laughter and cheers. ."-C. F. Holde
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