Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-03-20
RETURNED THE PRIZE
A Trophy That Did Not Remain
 Long In Captivity.
THE MISSING COAT OF ARMS.

EMlO Hu OEeSOuldu, IeuuuuS Ale U4 come of the sterling characters we had there. One was Governor Mc- Bride of Oregon. His first official du- ies 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. tte father of fourteen children, and q number of his sons became distin- guished men in various professions. He was a true American, cast in an altra 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. signia designating the American con- sulate or minister's office, so he had large American coat of arms cut out of wood, gilded and decorated appro- priately, and this was hung over the office door that all the world might see 1t. It was naturally conspicuous ob- feet and of much interest to the pub tic.
 "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 a long cruise, were out for a 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 il 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- 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.
 "The next morning when the minis ter came down to the office his assist. ant said:
 ".NIr. Minister. your birds taken flight
 ".What do you meanY asked his exeellency.
 ".Your coat of arms is. gone re- piled the aid.
 "Gone where? Flown off?'
 "'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 five or six feet across, was noticeable by it's absence It 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 it to the min 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 1nvesti- kdIlOu, duu luO SOlpAAIo OWAC0 up AE0 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 to receive 1t.
 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 "Back to the ship went the men with the coat of arms and reported The captain ordered the young men to go ashore, take the coat of arms to the consulate, replace it as they found it and apologize to the minister.
 Ut was doubtless a 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 we'll posted. and the consulate was surrounded by crowd of Americans. natives and others, all laughing at tho predicament of the young midship men.
 "The minister had a strong sense 1f humor and determined to get all thert was in it. He preserved his dignity a. 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 clinoed to the front of the building and placed it in position. then hurried down, followed by laughter and cheers."-C. E. Holder | iu New York Evening Post.