The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-03
a YANKEE SPY IN SPAIN.
"Fernapdez del Campo" Captain of the
Second Texas Rangers Dimes With Ca
mara
(From the London News.

mara
(From the London News.)
The following story from Cadiz throws
an interesting sidelight on the Spanish
American war. 1t ought to be Interesting
and instructive to Spanish as well as to
English readers. My description OF the
hero Is given from personal acquaintance.
About six or seven weeks ago there ar
rived in Madrid wealthy Mexican gem
tleman. His speech, manner and dress
showed him to belong to that class of
wealthy ana aristocratic Spanish Ameri-
cans that travel about Spain much in the
luxurious style Of English noblemen of
the last century, making the grand tour
on the Continent, i. e., accompanied by
couriers, hiring whole suites CT rooms at
hotels, sending presents to prima donnas.
spelling servants with their largesses,
and, in short, throwing their money
broadcast. An "Americano''-a Spanish
American-is looked upon in Spain much
in the same manner as "Milord' was
looked upon in France last century. Poo
DIG duIulF6 llllll lOI lid WCd1DA-I0bl VI ~
parent-and at the same time look upon
him as pigeon to be plucked and despise
him accordingly. Well, Senior Fernandez
del Campo Gas shall call hiln) came to
Madrid just after the war broke out and
hired a suite of rooms on the first floor In
the first hotel of the Spanish capital He
was soon great favorite in society, and
was known. by reputation at least, in
every Madrid drawing room. He was a
man of about thirty seven, good-looking,
q typical Spaniard, with oval face, raven
black hair, thick black mustache, black,
sparkling eyes and firm chin and lips,
showing character and determination.
The Mexican Minister to Madrid vowed
that hs had never heard of Fernandez
del Campo. But who will believe that
the Mexican Minister was uuacquaiuted,
at least by name, with one Of the largest
landowners in the State of Chihuahua
and friend of President Porfiro Diazs
And on the part of diplomatist is not
silence the highest eloquence? Fernandez
himself replied to illusions to this sub
ject that he had no further object than to
write his impressions of Spain in the
Etoile Beige. But that was little too
thin. Fernandez replied that he knew
French as we'll as his native language-a
fact to which can testify-he having
spent three years as boy at the Lycee
Napoleon In Paris. But that was no ar
gument, because he spoke German eq ual-
II we'll, and London correspondent in
troduced to him at the Casino found that
he had learned English grammatically,
and with little practice would soon be-
come proficient.
HIS OSTENSIBLE MISSION.
For the last fortnight rumors had been
af1oat in Madrid about a Mexican alliance
against the United States. was in
Madrid at the time, and remember read
ing several nice articles on the subject.
One of the best was, think, in the I'm
parcial. The writer showed that such an
alliance would be useful to Spain and
Mexico. 1t was just as these doctrines
were r1pening in the minds of the Madri-
lenos that Ferpandez del Campo came
ever, and after few days he told every
body that he would go to Cadiz, where
there was something to see. Everybody
in Madrid was very sorry. Statesmen
| called on Senior Fernandez del Campo
with offers of introductions to the Cover
nor of Cadiz and the Admiral in COM
mand of the reserve squadron. The
mexican Confidential Envoy flor even
that title was given him) declined the In
Productions rather haughtily. "lf the
Duke de Najera, he remarked, "and Ad-
miral Camara want to see me, they know
where to find me; I shall be staying at
the Hotel de Paris" Fernandez del
day after his arrival a major who sat next
to him (by chance Of course) at table
d'hote, asked him whether he would like
to see the governor. Fernandez said he
would be very happy, and few minutes
later he was comforting with the Duke de
Najera. "You will flnd Cadiz a dull
place after Madrid, am afraid" re-
best to- show you everything. By the
way, you would like of course, to see Ad-
miral Camara. He told me he would be
happy to see you. You hal better call on
him tomorrow morning." Some days af-
ter this Admiral Camara called in uni
form at the Hotel de Paris and asked Fer
nandez del Campo to dinner. my dear
Admiral" said Fernandez, IT think you
lad better be my guest this evening""
every WE'LL" said Admiral Camara,
"but only on condition you dine with me
this week. I will ask some suitable COM
pany tn meet you. This conversation
took pla,e in the hall of the Hotel de
Paris and was witnessed by an English
newspaper correspondent. The latter sub
seouently met Fernandez in the reading
room, but the Mexican, like a thorough
gentleman, changed the conversation the
moment it referred to military matters
-o ~,.uAr rPTENn,c CONEJ
DENCES.
"Are you staying long in Cadiz, Senior
fernandez" asked naval officer who
sat beside the Mexican at Admiral Ca
mara's table. ga few days." was the
reply. IT should like to see your squad
ron off," "a few days." exclaimed the
officer; "you mean few weeks. We can
not possibly be ready before month, and
you may take 1t that we shall not sail
from Cadiz before six weeks. Don t
write that to the 'Etoile Beige. called
out another officer, and the whole table