The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-14
WAR NEWS GATHERED
BY CONSUL HANNA
WONDERFUL SECRET SERVICE
IN PUERTO RICO. ,.
During the Spanish War He Was
Able to Reach Every Part of the
Island and Keep Washington Well
Informed - Innocent Appearing
Cable Despatches-Mail That Es-
capped the Spanish Censor.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun
When Philip c. Hanna, United States
Consul at La Guayra, Venezuela, was
transferred to San Juan. Puerto Rico,
before the Spanish war began he set
about organizing a secret Sc y ice which
was of great advantage to This govern
ment during the ensuing events by
the system he established he was abla
10 communicate secretly with any part
of the island either from San Juan or
from any point outside the island
which could be reached by cable. No
one of the persons upon whom he re-
lied for information knew about she
system. Every man was led to believe
that he was the only one on confident-
tal terms with the American consul
Mr.. Hanna proposed to run no risk of
being trapped by Spanish detectives
and so different cipher was arranged
for nearly every man. If one was be-
trayed it would not help the Spanish to
read any other dispatches. He let il
appear to each one of his assistants
that he was simply gratifying a friend
by allowing him to prepare a code
whereby the consul might be advised
or anything of interest to him in the
future.
THE SYSTEM TESTED.
No sooner was he settled at st.
Thomas than the perfect working of
his machine was proved. From every
city, town. village and precinct within
the Puerto Rican group came letters
giving the latest detailed information
Ihere were charts of fortifications, de-
scriptions of new earthworks thrown
nd 90 ,,1,,
forts. by piling bags of dirt and sand
around them. They told of the arrival
of new arms, whether they were of old
or new pattern; of the ammunition. its
style, and whether it was old or new.
of the mounting of new cannon: of the
repairing of old forts; of the planting
OF large guns, giving their calbre, at
places along the seashore. They de-
scribed the movements of troops and
the arrival of new troops. They told
OF the arrival of coal for the Spanish
ships. and gave in detail the amount of
supplies of all kinds that had arrived
for the Spanish army. They told of
the shortness of certain kinds of food
in the island; they told whether the
people were contented or not. Every
ship arriving from the island brought
Nothing could pass through the mails
addressed to Mr.. Hanna, but matter
did reach him addressed to w. L.
Brown & Co.. l.. d. De Lima & Co.
II. G. Baker & Co., and a dozen more
names agreed upon. Such letters were
looked upon as purely commercial. BY
sailing vessels of all sorts and by fish
ing smacks daily communication was
held between the GA OF erp norte ~
island and st. Thomas Every boat-
man expected to receive a reward for
delivering any sort of mail or packara
TO Consul Hanna. One day an old fish
erlnan who had made landing on the |
east coast of Puerto Rico sought Com
sui Hanna on the arrival of his boat |
at st. Thomas and informed him that |
ne had caught the fish. He drew in his |
line and long fish, weighing several |
POUNDS, which had evidently been dead |
Tor many hours and had been allowed |
10 float in the water so as TO keep ont
OF sight, was drawn into the boat and
given to the consul. Mr.. Hanna took
the nsh without hesitation, asking the
price.
rms kind is worth $780," said the old
nsherman and the consul slipped a
t"enty-dollar gold piece into his hand
In the throat of the fish was tucked
away package carefully rolled up in
piece OF oilcloth and it contained
set OF valuable charts and other infor-
nation. The boatman had been afraid
NE might be overhauled by a Spanish
Suhpoat and the papers found upon his
person, so he deposited them in the
hsh' fastened great hook into its law
and threw it into the sea and brought
1t to st. Thomas.