Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-12
Story of How the Famous Carranza
Letter Was Secured.
an EPISODE OF TIE SPANISH WAR
Told by Former Agent Of the U
S. Secret Service.
SHARP PIECE OF WORK

Late one night some time in the middle
Of May. 1898. while I was working OUT
Of the New York office of the secret serv-
ice division, I received directions to go to
Montreal by first train and ascertain what
arrangements had been made for operations
during his absence abroad by Senior Polo.
who had been minister from the Spanish
court at Washington.
The next night about 9 o'clock 1 arrived
at the Balmoral Castle Hotel. Montreal.
The following day was Sunday and little
could be done beyond making calls at the
several hotels. At the Windsor 1 learned
that Senior Polo had left Montreal the pre-
vious Friday with most of his party. but
that two of his aids had remained to assist
the Spanish consul general. Senior Don En-
sebio de Bonille Martell this is his alb
breviated nance. whose residence was at
1913 Dorchester street.
1t was then impolittc to ask the names of
the gentlemen remaining, but in the even
ing 1t was easy to distinguish them in the
hotel corridor by their nervous manner.
They we're Senior Ramon Carranza, late
Spanish naval attache at Washington and
Senior Du Bose, the former secretary Of le
CATION, and they formed part of group Of
French Canadians which included Mayor
Prefontaine and other city officials. Among
the most frequent callers at the Windsor
Hotel was one c. n. Blakely, at that time
connected with the Dominion line office
and formerly for ten years Spanish consul
general at Manila. 1 found him useful
later on.
day or two after this, while passing
through Dorchester street. observed a
smart-appearing middleaged woman COM
ing out of 124S. Having nothing better to
do, I "shadowed' her to 153 Hutchinson
street. The door Of this house bore the
name plate Of DIR. Simpson" l rang the
bell after she had entered and my ring was
answered by a servant, who told me the
lady was Mrs. Simpson and that she rented
houses, furnished and unfinished, to the
upper class of people"
Tracing the spnniardx.
1t then occurred to me that perhaps Mar
tell intended to move, and the next morn
ing I called on Mrs. Simpson. inquiring
what she had to let in the West End or,
as it is called there. "Westmount.' l as
sumed to be an Englishman. and. with mon
ocle, London clothes, cockney accent and
references of the best. soon convinced her
that l would be desirable tenant, after
which she gave me a list Of houses that
were for rent and the keys to several
From the information obtained that day
1t was apparent that the Spaniards contem-
plated leaving the Windsor and taking a
furnished house. BY hard work I found
that they were negotiating for a house at
~ Upper street. 1t was the residence Of
Mr.. George Marler, broker. Later that
same night l went over to the West End
and located the house. 1t was an ideal Sc
lection for the Spaniards, being detached,
with an alley running on one side and
along the back Of the lot. My next move
was to get inside and obtain a knowledge
of the floor plans So I called on Mrs.
Simpson again, telling her that none of the
houses looked at would answer. Incidental
ly I mentioned that friend had told me
about house which an acquaintance of his
Is.ri rad 10 ft1rr sh.A6 nd n
the Marler house as the one in mind.
"Oh. but that house is already rented
said Mrs. Simpson. Two foreign gentle
men have taken it,
aldson was the name assumed by me at
that time), "are they there for the sea-
son?'
only for six weeks"
Every good" said Donaldson. my folks
cannot possibly be here until July. II we
might be permitted to see the house"
Mrs. Simpson thought it could be ar
ranged. and telephoned then and there,
tenant to see the house. The reply was
favorable.
Under Surveillance.
That night had AZ Upper street under
surveillance until am. 1t was very warm,
and the seniors had the windows wide open.
From the position I had taken I could
see, with the aid Of good pair OF binocu-
lars, that the senors were examining maps
and writing letters. Prompt action was
evidently necessary, but, realizing that II
went to the house alone suspicion would
be aroused, I determined to look for some
persons who could follow instructions The
following morning, in passing through Vic
toria Square, I noticed portly, happy
looking gentleman, whose face seemed Ia
miliar. He was accompanied by a petite
lady. ''shadowed' them a short distance
when remembered that had known him
in California as an operate star. They
brought up at the Queens Theater. enter
ing the stage door. Later I learned that
they were T. Wilmott Eckert and his wife,
Emma Berg, and that they were doing a
musical sketch, Master and Pupil" Then
knew who the man was. About 10 o'clock
the next morning 1 noticed Mr.. Eckert at
the news stand. He wore a miniature Amer
lean flag in the lapel Of his coat. When
saw that I addressed him and renewed our
acquaintance.
after little he invited me to his apart
ments, where he introduced me to his wife.
Before 1 left them the plans Of a visit to ~
Upper street were gone over, and arrange
ments made for meeting the next day.
About IL o'clock on the following day
Robert Donaldson, accompanied by his sis
ter and brother-in-law "a quickly arranged
relationship. arrived at AZ Upper street.
and to the maid who answered the bell
presented the card which I had obtained