Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-07-03
TWO NAvALW WAR HEROES
Exploits of Ensigns Buck and
Ward as Secret Agents.
WARD DID HAZARDOUS WORK

u 5erOuS ana delicate duties OF secret
agents in Spain and her Atlantic posses
! iions. 1t has been known for some time
" hat this government established a secret
service in Spain Immediately upon the
outbreak of the war, but it was not I'M
iii the other day, when the appendix to
The report Of the chief of the bureau Of
navigation was made public, that il
: was learned that two of the spies were
e hawai- officers. Their work Ia thus de.
e Ecribed by Captain Crowninshield in
c kn explanatory note:
: son April 80 Ensigns w. H. Buck
. tnd H. H. Ward, Oh duty at the bureau
e Pf navigation, left the country, having
/ volunteered for secret service duty
/ planned by the bureau, Both of these
y officers were in disguise and travelled
under assumed names and characters.
Ensign Buck remained in Europe, where
he followed and reported the movements
Of the force under Rear Admiral Ca
mara, and Ensign Ward, after visiting
Cadiz and reporting the strength Of the
Spanish naval forces there, went to the
West Indies, where he was employed
until July Is obtaining and reporting
information in regard to the Spanish
forces. He visited San Juan, Porto Rico,
in June, and was there seized and de-
tanned by the Spanish naval and port
authorities. He succeeded, however, in
getting the information which he
sought, and in leaving San Juan and
cabling his information to the depart
ment."
Behind this mere official outline there
lies a story Of courage and adventure.
Mr.. Bucks work was less productive Of
stirring developments than was that of
Mr.. Ward, hut both did splendid work,
and the officials have nothing but praise
for their gallant service. Mr.. Ward is
we'll and favorably known in diplo-
matte circles and to newspaper men,
and to prevent suspicion as to his absence
it was stated at the department. at the
time of his departure that he had been
assigned to duty in connection with
the coast signal service and was on an
inspection trip. The explanation was
satisfactory, and Mr.. Ward and Mr..
Buck, who was not so we'll known,
went to New York and secured passage
for England under assumed names with
out their identity becoming public.
So far as can be learned the plan Of
procedure under which these two off
GERS were to operate was simple and
was drawn up Immediately upon their
arrival in England. British passports
had been obtained for them. Mr.. Ward,
who as an American is a smooth shaven
young man, allowed his beard to grow,
and when it was cut in regulation Brit
ish style his friends say he became a
typical slime juicer." Mr.. Buck also
reveled in hirsute adornments under his
assumed nationality.
1t was determined that Mr.. Ward
should first proceed to Spain and get
generally all the important facts be
could regarding the whereabouts Of Ad-
miral Cervera's feet, the condition Of
Camara's squadron and its destination
and the character Of the Spanish de-
lenses. The audacity Of the plan pleased
Mr.. Buck, who was to follow and OBJ
tain the details, but it did not meet
with the views Of the department.,
which had no intention of permitting
two such brilliant young officers to i'm
peril their lives, but Mr.. Ward had left
England before he could be caught by
cable.
By steamer the young officer proceed
ed to Cadiz, and upon the presentation
of his passport was permitted to land.
You may be sure the American agent
used his eyes as he passed into the har-
Dor where Camara's fleet was lying.
Some embarrassment was undergone as
a result Of the persistence of several
in "mistaking'' him for an
and asking him, "How are
things going in the United States?"
But Mr.. Ward feigned ignorance and
he was a British subject.
Whether they thought him an American
not no hint was given to the Spanish
authorities Of their suspicion, and they
aided him in securing such information
IS he was DESTROYS Of getting. For SO
aours Mr.. Ward remained at Cadiz, and
hen went to Gibraltar, where he oabled
n cipher the information he had OBJ
;ained to q prearranged address il Lon
Ion, whence it was oabled to Washing
The Importance of the information
vas understood when it ia known that
he department on May 30 had cabled
o Dewey that Camara's squadron was
N its way to the Philippines. This re-
,ort was denied nine days later, when
he advices from Mr.. Ward had been
eceived.
At Gibraltar Mv. Ward remained for
everal days, collecting information and
making acquaintance. one Of whom
vas a prominent Spanish sympathizer.
1t the latter's request the young officer
onsented to give him a photograph.
had a photograph taken at onoe and
ave it to his friend. It had been his
Intention to 60 to the Canaries to learn
{ Cervera's feet was at that point, but
scertaining it was at Santiago and that
here were only a few torpedo boats in
hose islands, he determined to proceed
0 San Juan, Porto Rico, where he ar.
ived on June 10, having first visited
I. Thomas.
Evidently the Spanish consul at Sc.
suspected that the "English-
who had been wandering aimless-
about st. Thomas was in reality an
'merican spy, because, upon the ar.
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