The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-10-14
Historic Old Desk
In The White House


the timbers of an old English ship,
the Resolute 1t was presented to
President Rutherford b. Hayes by
Queen Victoria, and since that time
has not only held an honored place
among the furniture of the White
House. but has been used by each
successive President. 1t can also lay
claim to fame from the fact that it is
the table on which the peace treaty
between this country and Spain was
signed during President Mchinleys
administration.
Attached to the table is a plate
bearing the following inscription:
"H. NJ. S. Resolute formed part OF
the expedition sent in search of Sir
John Franklin in 1852, was abandoned
in latitude "A degrees Al minutes
north and 1O1 degrees II minutes
west, May IA, 1854 She was discoV-
cred and extricated September TO-
1871 in latitude 67 north by Captain
Budington of the United States whaler
George Kenny. The ship was pur-
chased. fitted out and sent as gift
10 her majesty Queen Victoria by the
President and people of the united
states as token Of good Will ana
friendship.
"This table was made from her TIM
,.,,, whom eho was broken up, and is
presented by the Queen of Great BTU
ain and Ireland to the President OIL
tbe United States as a memorial OIL
the courtesy and loving kindness
which dictated the offer Of the GIT
of the Resolute.
The table was presented to PreSF
dent Hayes November %, lSSo' anu
forms the last chapter in a story OIL
more than twenty-five years Duration
prt the inscription, although OF a
oomnaratively descriptive nature
Foue far short of telling the entire
history of the table, and gives but d
scan+ idea of the suffering attendant
rron the ships desertion in ArcUc
saas and the ceremony and rejoicing
nnon its return to England.
The story begins with the sendlns
ont If four vessels, including the Res
o1ute by the British government II
1852. under Sir Edward Belcher' ~
.oorcb Of Sir John Franklin, the noteo
Drglish explorer, and his party liz
D-a,r+o was commanded by Captain
T,o,,o++ and during the winter OF 1907
70 was held fast in the pack aO Nlei'
..i,,o leland. In the autumn, Whlle -
q sIedge ride, one Of the heSolu'o
-, found trace of another snip
which was also fast in the ice a res
ono marty was dispatched from tn'
Do.oIr+a the ship located and thoS'
,,oord transferred to the ResoluI1
Tho following winter the Resolute wa,
also forced to winter in the pack an'
tbe following year, fearing siillll''
occurrence. Sir Edward Belcher OF
dered that the ship be aDahuoli7'
The officers and crew were taken u
Froland on the North Star, while tn'
Resolute was believed to be ineXVrlca
blv embedded in the ice. This rescue
on the mart of the Resolute made th'
chin of added value to England.
Il was in the following year. 1900
4,a+ contain Budington of New Lon
don. Conn, in command OF the Amer
loan whaler George Kenny, While OF
whaling voyage, sighted the keSo
r,,+o about twenty miles from Cape
Mercy in Davis strait and about Law
miles from her original locator
,vben abandoned. Captain Burlington
fool, nossession Of her, and DIVIDING
his crew put ten men aboard the I'es
o1ute and abandoning his cruise re
turned 70 the United States with hel
The British government wheh not
fed of the rescue generous
waived all claims to recover ana Re
nossess her in favor OF those D.
whom she had been found
Tho vessel was taken to New Lo'
don, Conn, and II was III june
mat Senator Foster of that state o
fered a resolution inquiring into tn
avnediency of issuing an America
register to the Resolute. This wa
dropped, however, at the suggestic
If senator Mason Of Virginia WI
stated that he intended to oi1er res
buttons for the restoration of the We
sci to England. This he did in II
same month, proposing that $4O'J
be appropriated for the purchase
the ship from her present owners a
for repairing her This resoluu'
was passed unanimously, sent to t
House, but Congress adjourned WI
out taking action,
AT the extra session called tn