The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-19
HESAW THE new FORT
How a Powder Agent Fooled the
Sentries at Esquimault
AT THE FORTlFlCATlONS
The English officer Was Amazed
When lie Saw the American.
Who Was subsequently Ar
rested and Discharged.
FORTlFICATlONS

A well-known powder agent, formerly
with headquarters in Butte. but now To-
Gated at Victoria, B. c.. tells a story of
rather interesting experience he had in
the British Notifications at Esquimault
a few weeks ago. The Notifications are
still in course of construction, and when
completed will be the la 'gest in the
world. They command the straits of San
Juan de Fuca and the British government
has enforced a rule of strictest secrecy in
regard to the construction of the fort
The agent, however, did not know this,
neither did he know that they shoot men
sometimes for breaking that rule. but
prompted only by curiosity, he went over
to the Esquimault harbor and took a
walk through the forts. He probably i'm
pressed the guards as being the owner of
the whole works and no one stopped him.
He inspected every portion of the fortifi-
cation, counted IS guns, examined the
machinery and magazines, walked up into
the big tower and read the labels and d.
rections on the electrical board which
connect by wires with the submarine
mines and torpedoes, played with the
''you-press- the-button" machinery, and
after he had satisfied his curiosity he
started to leave the tower, but on his
way down he met an English officer. The
latter looked startled and then with an
oath he demanded to know where in
f1elen bldZtS lie came IRON anu now ne
got there. The agent informed him that
he had just been taking a look at the
works. Without any more time for ex-
plantations he was ordered under arrest
and was marched before the commanding
officer, where he was put through a Sc
we're examination as to his nationality,
etc. When the prisoner said he was an
American the officer gave vent to an ex-
clamation that indicated he thought he
smelled a mouse, and he quickly asked
him If he was a government officer. The
powder man said he wasn't and then
gave an account of himself. The officer
told him, however. that he had commit
ted a serious offense and ordered him
locked up in the guard house. He was re-
fused permission to communicate with his
wife or friends and during the night he
tried to bride sentry to carry a note for
him, but the fellow was afraid to run the
risk. The next morning the man was
again taken before the chief officer and
put through another close examination.
1t was beginning to get serious and he
became most earnest in assuring the off,
GERS that 1t was curiosity alone that led
him into the forts. and he explained that
he passed six sentries in going into the
fort and not one opposed him, and he
naturally concluded 1t was all right.
Upon this statement the officer called the
entire regiment together and the prisoner
picked out the six sentries and told where
each was stationed and the time he pass
ed them. The men could not deny IL and
some of them admitted seeing him.
They were ordered under arrest and
the agent was released after having been
asked by the commander not to divulge
what he saw in the forts