South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-09-07
LORD SOON MADE
THEM DRINK TEA
British NObleman Makes Trip
to Northern Alaska and
Likes 1t.

WASHINGTON. Sept. Chief
McAIester told me this story. He is
chief Of engineers OF the United States
coast guard and a deep water sailor
of the old school.
Lord William Percy. a son of his
grace. the Duke of northumberland.
and a brother Of Lord Eustace Percy
Of the British embassy staff at Wash
ington. IS much Interested in birds.
Anything that wears feathers Of its
own production interests Lord VIII
liam. Some time ago he learned that
in the northern reaches of Alaska
were to be found several species or
feathered creatures, specimens Of
which he never had seen. At once
Lord williams curiosity was aroused
and ne cast about him for ways and
means 20 get to the haunt OF the
arctic birds.
Investigation revealed that north
ern Alaska has a forbidding climate
so f~Orbidding that about the only
white men who eve 90 there are the
officers and crew of the United States
coast guard cutter Bear. Annually,
the Bear makes a cruise Of Point Bar
row. the most nOrtheTly point of this
cOuntry's northern territory. The
Bear is a stout cutter, built to with
stand Arctic ice. She and her men
are Of steel.
At the time LORD William conceived
me lQtd OF EblIB 10 AldShds capt.
COmmandant Berthelf. the head OF
the coast guard service, was starting
for Europe. So, when Lord William
had obtained a letter from Sir Cecil
Spring Rice, British ambassador at
Washington, requesting that the cap
tain commandant permit his lOrdship
10 make the trip To Point Barrow on
the Bear. and presented it at the cap
tain commandments office at Washing
ton. he found Capt. Emery in the cap
tain commentaries chair. Capt. EN-
cry is one Of the coast guard sea
captains who cruise around the New
fOundland banks and the coast Of New
England in the winter He is of the
type that sails out of Gloucester
more used to sea manne and Gus
toms han to those of the land and
who'll innocent Of diplomatic and in
ternatiOnal etiquette. CT peers sons
ne has known but a few.
So when the tall. Observation-Disclosures
Lord William Percy appeared at the
captain commandments office. he found
one Capt. Emery with his feet perch
ed up on the desk.
Lord William presented his letter
of introduction. containing the re-
quest Of the British ambassador that
he be permitted TO go TO Alaska on
the Bear Capt. Emery, without dis
turbiuS his feet, perused the letter
deliberately. absorbed in it's contents.
and then looked up at Lord William,
and said by way of greeting:
How do, Lord"
Skipping details, Lord William was
placed aboard the Bear and cleared
for Alaska. Chief McAIester says
tina some weeks later he received a
letter from an old messmate aboard
the Bear. saying hat Lord William
had made friends with every man on
the cutter. Later came another letter,
saying that Lord William had intro
duced a custom. aboard the cutter.
which the oldest seaman swOre had
never been observed before on a
United States ship. Daily at 8 o'clock,
said the letter. every officer and man
had tea. Furthermore. they liked it.
There is no end TO the stories told
about the experiences of Lord William
on the Bear. He got his rare birds
and then came a wireless message
from London. calling him to war.
Leaving his birds and most Of his
baggage, Lord William answered the
call and now is at the front.