The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-03

SOi4dSV lldh II I1llClCOCh, plopIlC
tor of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, in New
York. The story of Mr.. Hitchcock's
contribution to the success of the Amer
lean navy has been left to this late
day. when he is in his grave. Mr..
Hitchcock knew the code, too, n could
real the message. But even in New
York there were leaks TO Madrid, SO
another code was ready. Into this third
code Mr.. Hitchcock translated the mes
sage and sent II in cipher to a man in
Washington. This man did not know
the code, but he knew what was TO be
done He simply carried the message
10 the navy department and turned it
over. There it was quickly translated
into plain English, and the authorities
knew in fifteen minutes the information
CLEANED some hours before by Mr..
Hopkins" the gentleman from Montreal
who was so interested in his Liverpool
stock transactions.
SOME CLOSE CALLS.
To carry out his work successfully
Ward was Obliged to follow more OF
less closely the movements of the Span
ish fleet. 1t is remarkable that he was
able to do this without exciting more
suspicion han was actually the case.
More han once he was compelled to
show his passports, but the formidable
documents generally satisfied the Span
ish authorities; or, if they did not salts
fy, at least caused them to refrain from
active interference with Wards move
ments. But this was not the case in
the critical incident. which a writer
in the New York World now for the
first time relates. According 10 this au-
tnOritE, Ward. when Cervera'S course
had been located, set sail straight fOl
Porto Rico 10 look the island Yer He
touched at a West Indian port for coal.
The Spanish consul there didn't like
EnGliShmen any more than he did
Americans. He put up a protest against
the rakish yacht sailing away again as
soon as her bunkers3 were filled. She
was held. Night fell. In the tropical
darkness Mr.. Hopkins" apparently
Tuning at so much red tape. ordered the
cable slipped. ana started off. Twenty
four hours later found the Canadian
gentleman cruising off Porto Rico, OPP
pOsIte san Juan. The Spanish consul
had not slept. either, and the cable was
hot With his messages to both Cuba
and Porto Rico.
Suddenly from the land shot out a
Spanish g%unbOat. Nh. Hopkins his
Yacht md all his crew were taken pri@
0uerS in the name Of Spain.
"YOUT clearance papeTs?" demanded
The Spaniard.
kins'.
Aha
The Yacht was slowly conducted by d
Spanish pilot into the harbOr of San
Juan. Mr.. Hopkins was allowed on
deck. Dut no one saw that his calm eye
was taking in the channel and how ii
was poSs1bl" for IT ship to get in With
out running into the hidden mines.
Nov, sir. send for the British con-
sui ordered Mr.. Hopkins"
The consul came.
Sir" beloved M Hopkins" I an
-. 80 -,,Li1-- .S,.E, -, $500 ,.,,I,
in these waters. I have been arrested
or the nigh eas " this -0rsOn. The
| queen has been insulted. l demand my
instant release"
Thereuron Mr.. Hopkins produced
his passports, duly signed "Saulsbury,'
The British consul looked at the Span
ish officer.
An. yes.' that gentleman reuorted
but where are his clearance papers
from his last point Of sailing?"
Il have none,' responded "Mr
Hopkins"
so thought" fairly cried the
~Spaniard.
There is no reason for them,' sale
MI. Hopkins L am simply a British
subject cruising in these waters aboard
my own yacht, The law says that a:
long as l leave q port with the inten'
ton of cruising and returning thither
no clearance papers are needed for {
yacht. l was simply running arOunC
Porto Rico, and l had no intention o
landing. This person arrested me three
miles from land"
The bluff worked. The British consul
declared it an outrage and Mr.. Hop
kins' Clipped in that if he vas not re
leased instantly a British fleet would
descend Immediately upon Porto Rice
to demand r~eparatiOn. The consul salC
so, too. The result was that NJ Hop
kins" and his yacht sailed triumphantly
out of the port. Mr.. Hopkins taking
the ranges mentally the while, and il
twelve hours Washington knew how t.
get into San Juan harbOr, without hit
ting the mines.
This, as the narrator of this inciden'
from hos article the foregoing +
taken, we'll observes, was II of tn
most daring exploits of the war.
WAS HIGHLY REWARDED.
Wards reward was commensurate
with the risks he ran. Shortly afte1
the San Juan visit, he was promoted
He got ten for gallantry
n was speedily made a senior lieu
tenant, the youngest man in the nav!
to have this rank. After the war Lieu
tenant Ward went back to his Worl
/ in the bureau Of navigation. Then n
was married to the daughter of {
wealthy Californian. Ward was already
a rich man, n his marriage made hin
very we'll off indeed. He could affort
to relinquish his place in the navy, blu
he did not. He went on working a!
though his daily bread depended on hi
modest official stipend. When Crown
inshield was SEN to England to repre-
| sent the navy at King Edwards coro
nation, Ward accompanied him. AnC
now he has resigned. No one knows
why. The secretary of the navy, at tn
instance Of the president, has urge
him to withdraw his resignation. n
is almost an unprecedented course il
the history of the navy, but ii has no
persuaded Ward. He will retire in
few days from the service in which h,
so brilliantly distinguished himself
Richmond NeWS-Leader.