Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-08-30
SOLVED THE PUZZLE,
A Cipher Telegram and the Clever
Work of a Spy.
RlskED HIS LIFE FOR A BOOK.

RlSkED HIS LIFE FOR A BOOK.
Tho Way Great Britain's Naval Signal
Code Was Stolen by an Agent Of
Secretary Weiles In the Days of the
War Between the States.
Il There was a good deal of bitterness
between England and the northern
states at the time of the war between
the states, and the government at
Washington was deeply interested in
the dispatches forwarded by the Brit
ish minister to his home government.
1t was known that England was friend
B " to the Confederacy and willing to
aid it secretly, if not by open reeDg-
nition
Under such conditions it became
necessary to know as much as pos
sible Of what was passing to and fro
between Washington and London in
the form of cryptograms, and while
most Of the matter went by message
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
messages were subject to examination
and copies of them were made. After
a brief conversation with Secretary
Welles, the old gentleman brought one
of these cipher copies and, placing it
In my hands, said: VS.:
"Mr. Osbon, you have a way Of find
ing out secrets. Do you think you can
solve that? If you can, it will be
worth $1,000 to you. = .5
/ did not know even the nature of
the paper at the time, bat saw that it
was cipher made up partly of words
and partly of combination Of numer-
ais. usually in groups Of four figures.
Something about 1t suggested to me a
naval signal book, and the thought
occurred that perhaps IL we had copy
OF that used by the British service
we might unravel the mystery. l stud
led the paper for some time, and the
more considered the matter the more
certain / became that the British naval
Signal book would furnish the key.
q 4 finally informed MFR. Welles that I
believed could work the matter out,
but that would need several days
leave from my paper and perfect copies
Of the ciphers The former I obtained
without difficulty, and the latter we're
promptly supplied With them In an
inner pocket left that night for Bos-
ton, where British man-of-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 had undertaken to do was q
risky business. The two nations we're
at peace, outwardly at least, and If my
attempt was detected could expect
neither mercy from one side nor sue
cor from the other. think, however, I
gave this phase of the matter but
slight consideration. My chief thought
was OF the signal book and how to get
It. sss
N Arriving at Boston, promptly used
my naval acquaintance to get introduce
lions to the officers Of her majesty's
service, and by diplomatic course OF
whining and dining presently made my
self a welcome visitor on her majesty's
vessel Indeed, soon became favor
lite with all on board, especially with
" the signal officer. to whom told my
best yarns, often inviting him to din
9ler ashore to hear them OF course
this resulted in return invitations, and
sometimes it happened that when /
\ wished to brush my hair or otherwise
I attend to my toilet I was invited to
make use OF his room for that purpose.
Tt was but brief time before / had
located the coveted signal book, tidi-
& ~ bound volume with leaden plates riV-
eted to the corners. so that in event of
capture 1t could be handily dropped
overheard and lost The whole was en-
cased In a canvas bag suspended by q
shoulder strap During the next visit
4 had sufficient opportunity to examine
the book for a few minutes and found
to my delight, that 1t did In reality fur
nish the key wanted. had mem
4 orized a few of the cryptographic
words, and with the book before ME
and the signal office at muster on deck
verified my conclusions.
The next thing In order was to Sc
cure this priceless volume. u reasoned
that as there was no other English yes.
I sci nearby, 1t might be weeks before
I the book would be needed and that Il
could remove the contents from the
Z covers. substituting them with leaves
z Of the same bulk and appearance, there
would be good chance not only to gel
Y safely clear of the vessel, but for 8
8conside rable period to elapse before the
loss was discovered, by which time fl
j would vbe by no means certain WheI
n the abstrac tion had occurred
therefore took careful measure
ments. and the next time boarded thu
ship my dummy book was with me, =
copy OF Rays arithmetic. IL ! remem
Il Der correctly, picked up on q second
Yfrt4s. u