The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-26

- 49, -
behind the fleet. They were sure to
drop anchor somewhere. Again the
nearest wires were hot with orders to
buy" The United States Navy De-
partment a few hours later was finding
out where the fleet had arrived, and
If it still held the same strength or if
some of the ships had left the squad
ron. But "Mr. Hopkins was only in
terested in his stock transactions at
long range, spending most of his leis-
ure aboard his beautiful yacht scan
ming. the Spanish fleet curiously with
his binoculars.
But how did that dispatch reach
Washington without leaking out?
Easy
The man who knew the code in the
Liverpool office Immediately translat-
ed the Hopkins dispatch into a regu-
lar cipher. Great Britain and the
United States being friendly nations,
there was not the slightest objection
to code dispatch going under the sea
to New York, where such thing from
Spain would have been impossible
This dispatch from Liverpool went
to no less a person that Hiram Hitch
cock proprietor of the Fifth Avenue
Hotel in New York The story of Mr.
Hitchcocks contribution to the sue
cess of the American navy has been
left to this late day, when he is in his
grave.
Mr.. Hitchcock knew the code, too,
and could read the message. But even
. in New York there We're leaks to Mad
rid, so another code was ready. Into
this third code Mr.. Hitchcock trans
lated the message and sent it 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 to the NAVY
Department, and turned it over. There
it was quickly translated into plain
English and the authorities knew in
fifteen minutes the inforp1ation CLEAN
ed some hours before by "Mr. Hop
kins," the gentleman from Montreal
who was so interested in his Liverpool
stock transactions.
Ward Was Suspected.
This rich young Mr.. Hopkins"
wasn't always unsupported. More
than once suspicious Spaniards on
the coast of Spain forced him to show
his passports. Finally, when Cervera' s
course had been located, he set sail
straight for Porto Rico to look the
island over.
He touched at 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 sail
ing away again as soon as her bunk
ers were filed. She was held. Night
fell.
In the tropical darkness MIR. Hop
kins," apparently tuning at so much
red tape, ordered the cable slipped
and started off. Twenty-four hours
later found the Canadian gentleman
cruising off Porto Rico, opposite 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 gunboat. "Mr. Hopkins his
yatch and all his crew were taken
prisoners in the name of Spain.
Your clearance papers?" demanded
the Spaniard.
II have none" retorted Mr.. Hop
pins
"Aha!"
The yacht was slowly conducted by
a Spanish pilot into the harbor of
San Juan MIR. Hopkins was al
lowed on deck, but no one saw that
his calm eye was taking in the chan
iISl anu LOW IL NcS pOo5IDlS AOA n
ship to get in without running into
the hidden mines.
Now, sir, send for the British Con-
sul,' ordered "Mr. Hopkins"
The consul came.
Sir" beloved "Mr. Hopkins" 81
am a British subject cruising on my
yacht in these waters. 1 have been
arrested on the high seas by this
person. The Queen has been insulted.
I demand my instant release"
Thereupon "Mr. Hopkins" produced
his passports, Only signed Salisbury"
The British consul looked sharply at
the Spanish officer.
"Ah, yeG," that gentleman retorted
"but where are his clearance papers
from mis- last port of sailing?
81 have none" responded Mr.. Hop
kins.
80 I thought" fairly cried the Span
lard.
There is no reason for them" said
Mr.. Hopkins I am simply British
subject cruising in these waters aboard
my own yacht. The law says that as
long as leave port wi h the inten-
ton of cruising and returning thither,
no clearance papers are needed for a
yacht / was simply running ound
Porto Rico. and l had TO intention OF
landing This person arrested me
three miles from land"
All this in San Juan.
The bluff worked. The British consul
declared 1t an outrage. and Mr. Hop
kins" Clipped in that II he was not
released instantly a British fleet would
descend Immediately upon Porto Rico
to demand reparation. The consul said
so. too. The result was that "Mr. Hop
kins" and his yacht sailed triumphant
~ out OF the port. "Mr. Hopkins" TAX
ing the ranges mentally the while, and
IN twelve hours Washington knew how
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