The Detroit times., 1910-03-03
AbYSS|A|ANS
HOAX ADMIRAL
Jokers Made Up as Princes and
Party Receive Royal Honors on
Flagship Dreadnought.

LONDON. March 3.-The British
public, and more especially naval cir
cles, are very much amused over an
amazing hoax perpetrated last week
on Admiral Sir William May, com
mander In chief of the home fleet, and
the officers OF the flagship DreaA-
Inought, al Portland, by young wo-
mar and five young men.
After the woman and three Of the
men had stained their faces. necks,
and hands. disguised their features
with Oriental looking boards, and at
tired themselves in silk brocadea
robes with costly jeweled turbans TO
match. the party left Paddington IN d
special saloon carriage on the Great
Western railroad for Portland. They
represented themselves to be Prince
Sanganya, Prince Mandok. Prince
Makalen, and Prince Mikacl Golen, r.
spectively, OF Abyssinia. George kaun
mann, their German Interpreter, and
Herbert Cholmondeley. foreign Office
attache. To acarry out the idea prop
erly the "Abyssinians" wore patent
leather shoes with turned up toes,
which are worn only by eastern poten-
tates. and white kid gloves with heavy
gold finger rings worn outside.
Prince Makalen, as chief OF the
pseudo royal party wore the real
Order of the Imperial Star of Eth
opla attached 10 his breast by red.
gold. and blue ribbon, and between
them they wore $4,000 worth OF Orien-
tai jewelry. Their knowledge of the
Abyssinian language was practically
nil and each member of the party
reelet of any gibberish that came into
his or her head. To express approba-
ton OF the arrangements made for
their comfort by the railroad people
the princes muttered in their boards
"Bungay. Bungay," at which the uni
formed inspectors kow-towed to the
ground.
The makeup OF the interpreter was
work Of art. He was supposed 10 be
tanned by the Abyssinian sun. He
had faded fair hair. wore huge Cog
giles. and responded yes, vat is eet?'
10 any inquiries put by persons who
wished to address his party.
That afternoon Admiral May re-
ceiyod a dispatch signed "Hardinge.
permanent under secretary for foreign
affairs stating that Prince Makalen
OF Abyssinia and suite would visit the
Dreadnought that day When the
party reached the jetty they were met
by a flag lieutenant with the admiral's
barge. which conveyed them TO the
battleship Dreadnought, where the
princes were greeted with a guard of
hn no
playing the national anthem of Zanzl-
bar as they did not have the Abys-
sinian anthem on board.
Cholmondeley went up the gangway
first. and introduced the sham princes
to Admiral May on the quarterback.
and afterwards 20 his flag officers
Prince Makalen inspected the guard OF
honor and then the party was con
ducted around the ship to inspect the
guns which were explained by the
bogus interpreter. Chatting in the
wardroom with the officers. Cholmon.
deley gave a history OF the princes
which would have done credit to Baron
Munchauscn in its sublime mondacity.
The princes refused TO take tea be.
cause they were afraid 10 moisten
their lips and flag officer accompan-
led them again as far as the jetty.
While going slowly down the gangway,
to the music of the marine band. one
OF the princes tripped on his pointed
Oriental shoes. and nearly fell into the
sea but the officer caught him in
time, and Prince Makalen said that he
would send him the Imperial Order of
Ethiopia for his presence OF mind.
Cholmondeley and Kaufman. as
they called themselves, were the lead
ing spirits In the famous Sultan OF
Zanzibar hoax at Cambridge five years
ago, ard the young woman in the case
Is the latter's sister.
Admiral May has taken the Dread
nought To sea for cruise until the
affair blows over. In the meantime.
the admiralty is being inundated with
letters from all parts OF England sug.
costing that the name of the battle
ship he changed to "Black Prince"
The identities Of the jokers are known
to their friends. but have not been
made public