Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-11-28
Spy Cheated
The Gallows
A Young Mans First Assign
ment In The Secret Ser
vice AT Beginning Of
War With Spain
TOLD "OPTIC" MAN STORY

Frank II. Lord OF New York VINO
was the guest OF Chief Justice w y
Mills in Las Vegas over Thanksgiving
day, who left that evening for Goth.
am from q tour OF mining districts
in Arizona and Mexico In the inter-
ests OF eastern b~ondholders aud whose
late father was for years a member
OF the firm OF Lord 4 Williams In
Grant county, New Mexico, Is a
Princeton graduate. He bore a letter
Of introduction TO Judge Mills from
the latter's brother who Is a Yale
graduate,
Thursday afternoon Mr.. Lord was
apparently In a communicative
mood than usual and TO a circle
friends gathered In the lobby OF the
Castaneda hotel he related some
startling adventures and experiences
that fell 10 his lot while serving In
the United States secret service at
the beginning OF the war with Spain.
He usually confines his story telling
to former college chums. but this
time under the inspiration OF the mo-
ment he broke owe his almost inva'
riable rule and unbosomed himself to
outsiders, as II were.
Mr.. Lords appointment to the gov.
ernment's secret service. after his en-
listment In the army In March, 1898.
was at the instance OF Secretary Gage
Of the treasury department, under
whose wing this extraordinary
service was rendered. congress
having just appropriated $780,
600 for its maintenance. The
appointee spoke Spanish fluent
~ and had resided In Spain for two
years. though he entered upon the
discharge Of his onerous and ~cxacting
official duties without the least
knowledge or experience and II ma,
be said with fear and trembling. prom
ising no results from his diligent ef
forts but pledging himself to follow
ing all instructions to the very sylla
BILE.
II is only Of his first assignment b.
Chief Wilkie OF the secret service bu
reau. where he won his first spur
and gained his first distinction fror
the common herd, that The Optic wi
speak. though columns might be Ellie
with accounts OF thrilling cscapade
and important captures that fell froI
Mr.. Lords Hips as the converts
rion grew more interesting and an
mated.
Mr.. Lord left New York on tw
days notice, fortified with the nece
sary credentials and with insifn
lions 10 80 up 10 Canada and shade
as closely as possible with safety
himself and the cause. tho Spania
embassy II WAS suggested that
call on the officials In charge. mgr
tiate himself into their good grace
secure such information rs he cou'
of value to the 4 4. government N
report progress promptly and in detg
10 The department by wire. using
cipher code.
Arriving IN Montreal on his qui,
but important mission he luckily VI
successful In getting il room In d d
tel immediately adjoining the one O
cufird by the very men whom he vi
assigned to shadow. The room WI
No. tGS and IL was obtained by a Il
Tie strategy on the part Of the 70
eminent detective rather, the go
eminent epy. Lieut.. carran1a was
charge Of the Spanish embassy y
will be remembered by close roadeI
as the naval attache who challengt
Gen Nelson A. Miles and Gen Ru
sell A. Aleer 20 mortal combat II
the reason that they bad accuse
Spanish officers Of blowing up II
Maine. OF course The challenge VII
not taken seriously. only being laug
GA AZ.
Between the rooms OF Mr.. Lord al
Lieut. carranaa there was a comm
niea;ing door From Lords bod
night he could easily hear all tint
was being said In the other room an
he certainly awaited himself OF ever
word thai was uttered One niei
his acute though unframed cal
caught something about tthe Brool
lynn" And YET, The speakt
was engaged IN IN intensely impo
fant conversation with the l~ieutenat
and he subsequently proved 10 be
man named Downing. a former a
tache Of the American navy lie tai
ed freely and n~nguardedly 10 III
lieutenant in the seciusion Of n
room about the warship Brooklyl
He also told him he was familiar wit
the location Of torpedo boats and SUI
marine mines. stationed and lai