The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-01-18
STOLE A SIGNAL CODE.

Hsw Americas e. SPY Secured Bxfflsl
Naval CipheF-~Ray's Arithaet1e SsA-
stituted fen Signal Book on q British
Vessel In B0aaen HaFbOr-Taken Il
Waahington ard Used by Secretary
Welles I'm Deeioherinx Important Dis.
patches.
(Pearsm's Magazine)
There was1a good deal Of bitterness
between EnSlana and the Northern
States at this time, and the Govern.
ment at Washington was deeply inter.
ested in the dispatches forwarded b,
the British Minister to his home Gov
eminent. ltzwas known that England
was friendly to the Confederacy and
willing to aid it secretly. if not by oper
recognition. Under such conditions, II
became necessary to know as much as
possible OF what was passing to and fro
between Washington and London IL
the form of cryptograms: and while
most OF this matter went by messenger
or mail to New York, there were many
cipher kilograms sent at the last mo.
ment to catch the outgoing steamer
| there being no ocean cable at that time
At the telegraph office all such mes
| sages We're subjected to examination
and copies were made of them. After
brief conversation with Secretary
Welles. the old gentleman brought ou
one of these cipher copies and placing
1T in my hands said:
MIR. Osborn. you have way of find.
ing out secrets. Do you think you car
solve that? If you can. it will be WORTH
$1,000 to YOU"
BY Fair Means or Foul.
/ dad not know even the nature OF
the paper at the time, but / saw that il
was q cipher made up partly of word:
and partly of a combination of mum.
lys0lC llxyf to- -
Something about 1t suggested to me 8
naval signal book. and the thought oc-
Cured that perhaps If we had q copy
Of that used by British service we
might unravel the mystery. I studied
the paper for some time, and the more
l considered the matter, the more Ger.
tain l became that the British nava
signal book would furnish the key.
finally Informed Mr.. Welles that be.
lieved 1 could work the matter out. but
that I would need several days leave
from my paper and perfect copies OF
the ciphers. The former I obtained
without difficulty. and the latter were
promptly supplied. With them in ar
inner pocket left that night for Bos-
ton, where a British man-o'war was
lying. 1t was my purpose to secure her
signal book at whatever hazard and by
whatever means, for in such cases the
old adage of "All is fair in love and
war" holds true.
What I had undertaken to do was
risky business. The two Nations were
at peace, Outwardly at least, and if my
attempt were detected I could expect
neither mercy from one side nor sue
cor from the other. I think, however,
l gave this phase II the matter but
slight consideration. My chief thought
was Of the signal book, and how to
get it.
The Coveted Book Located.
Arriving at Boston, I promptly used
my naval acquaintance to get intro
auctions to the officers in Her
Majesty's service, and by diplomatic
course Of winning and dining presently
made myself a welcome visitor on Her
Majesty's vessel. Indeed, I soon be-
came favorite with all on board, espe-
cially with the signal officer. to whom
l told my best yarns, often inviting him
to a dinner ashore to hear them. OF
course, this resulted in return invita-
TONS and sometimes IT happened that
when I wished to brush my hair or 9TH
vited to make use of his room for that
purpose.
1t was but brief time before I had
located the coveted signal book-a tidi-
ly bound volume with leaden plates
riveted to the corners, so that in event
of capture it could be handily dropped
overheard and lost. The whole was en-
cased in canvas bag. suspended by
a shoulder-strap. During my next
visit / had sufficient opportunity to ex-
anime the book for few minutes and
found to my delight that it did, in
reality, furnish the key l wanted.
had .memoriZed a few of the cryptic
graphic words, and with the book be-
fore me and the signal officer at mus
ia 7 Ions
The next thing in order was to secure
this priceless volume. / reasoned that
as there were no other English vessels
near by, 1t might be weeks before the
book would be needed, and that If
could remove the contents from the
covers, substituting them with leaves OF
the same bulk and appearance, there
would be a good chance not only to gel
safely clear of the vessel, but for a con-
siderable period to elapse before the
loss was discovered, by which time II
would be by no means certain when
the abstraction had occurred.
A Successful Ruse.
/ therefore took careful measure.
ments, and the next time / boarded the
ship my dummy book was with me
a copy of Rays Arithmetic, If / remem.
Der correctly, picked up on a second.
hand STALL That was a foggy night
l.
going ashore, my friend, the signal Off.
Ger. protested, and offered me the use
Of his room. l had hardly dared hope
for this stroke Of fortune.
had plenty of time that night to dc
the job in a neat and Workmanlike
manner. / was really proud Of the re.
semblance the Rays Arithmetic bore
to the signal book when it was properly
in it's neat covers and riVeted leader
plates. Then, after carefully adjusting
my prize to its new dress, l lay dowr
and slept the sleep that comes Of we'll
doing and a clear conscience.
did not hurry away next morning
that would not do. / even fingered 6
little, and finally babe them all good.
by with a good deal Of regret, I mus
own, for they were jolly fellows.
Arriving on shore, lost no time ir
getting train for the Capital, and once
aboard the strain told on me, for haG
been keyed to a pretty high pitch dur.