The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-09
EXPERIENCES OF A SPY
A WAR DEPARTMENT ATTACHES
ESCAPE FROM PORTO RICO.
Edward Emerson Tells of His Visit to
of "a German Correspondent.

NEW YORK, June 8.-Edward Emerson,
jr., an attache of the War Department Bu-
reau of Information, arrived here to-day on
board the steamer MadiaIa, from st. Thorn
as, after having performed some hazardous
service and undergoing some thrilling ex-
perienceS in Porto Rico. Transforming his
name into Emersohn, he procured bogus
German passport and went to San Juan, os-
tensibly as a correspondent of the Berlin
Deutscher Zeitung.
AT San JUAN" said Mr.. Emerson to-day,
they would not permit me to go through
the fortihcations nor would they allow me
to make a visit to the newspaper corre-
spondent Hampsted, who is held in prison
as spy. / was permitted to walk through
the streets, however. The War Department
may say, need have no fear of any diff
Guilty in taking San Juan whenever the at
tempt is made. While could not see that
any great damage was done by the bonn
bardment in the CITY,, the Notifications are
in such shape that they will offer almost no
resistance.
L succeeded in penetrating to the exact
center of the island to place called Caguas,
when my papers were examined. The alcalde
was not altogether satisfied with their reg
ularity. said that had been employed as
ing to German, situated beyond that place,
but was promptly thrown in jail The
alcalde said he would have to communicate
with San Juan to find whether or not it was
all right.
How long will that take?" inquired.
1t may take two or three weeks" he re-
piled. 1--WE will have an answer by the mid
die of summer, anyhow"
This was not cheerful prospect, espe-
cially as feared that my identity had been
discovered at San Juan. / wrote telegram
to the German consul and also offered to
pay for telegram to the governor of San
Juan. This gave me little better standing
with the alcalde and was allowed meas
ure of liberty. 1t was on May % when /
walked some distance from the prison at
noon and found q number of horses stand
ing outside blacksmith shop. The hostlers
We're taking their noonday sieSta and l ap-
propriated the best horse ! could find and
decamped. To get to Ponce must go to the
west, but that seemed dangerous l went
in an opposite direction, riding bareback for
Two days and two nights. 1t was then that
| met shepherd boy and offered him a
Jackknife if he would draw me map of the
surrounding country. From that grew the
published statement that a foreigner had
compelled boy to draw a map, under threat
or Sitting his throat That map I have now
in my possession for the War Department
ana found 1t correct in every detail.
When / rode again to the east I crossed
a range of hills and found the entire eastern
end of the island in the possession of the
insurgents. These insurgents welcomed me
anc gave me an escort to the coast where
l found small schooner at anchor Though
this schooner belonged to a Spaniard, the
captain was prevailed upon to take me
away. We headed for Santa Cruz. There I
boarded the Madiana and found a number
or newspaper correspondents and artists
abroad. The Spanish alcalde had sent tele-
gram to the Danish authorities, he said, to
hold hold me on arrival as horse thief Major
Moore the United States consul at St
Thomas, positively refused to surrender me,
ana even took me in boat himself out to
the Madiana."
When Emerson left San Juan he saw four
Spanish war vessels in the harbor the Isa-
bella III, Alicante, Concho and Terror.