The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-04-21

Win eoIue SUBSTANCE IN tuc Maine
this substance was cement II the
explosion came from within the ship
this cement filling would all be on the
bottom OF the bay. II the explosion
came from without the ship much OF
this cement was blown In the air, and
as there were plenty OF vessels In tho
harbor some of II must have alighted
on their decks Sailors OF these
ships had probably swept II over
board. but there was a chance that
| Cheney would find out The Ward
line steamer City OF Washington was
| there the night OF the explosion. and
was still In the harbor. Cheney
boarded this ship and found not one
| piece OF this cement but a dozen,
some OF them as large as mans
| head.
One piece he took with him. In his
own mind he was satisfied; but he
wanted proof beyond peradventure.
| II the Maine had been torpedoed
her keel would be bent up; H. how.
ever. the explosion OF one OF her own
magazines caused the harvest OF
death and destruction the keel would
be bent downwards. Cheney secured
a crew and, putting on diving suit,
went down to see Ii was a new cx.
perience to him, but he was equal to
II. Sigsbee had carefully explained
TO him the location OF magazines, etc,
OF the vessel, and went with him to
the ship. The waters OF Havana har.
Dor are black as night and the bottom
is soft mud All one afternoon Che
ney worked around this sepulchcr OF
the American sailors. He came up
only when he had TO, md on his last
ascent he brought up a piece OF cleo
trio cable. That night he sat dowa
and drew a diagram OF what he had
discovered The keel was bent up
the explosion had come from the
ontside. Spain was responsible, The
true story OF the blowing up Of the
Maine has never been told, but It Is
known, and some day in the future
the country will know how II hap
pened-and who touched of the tor
pedo.
Cheney returned TO Washington
made his report and from then on was
actively in the government service
In April, when the volunteer army
was authorized, he was commissioned
a colonel and given charge Of the So
cret service. Hero his splendid mon
tality and energy came into play. HI
sedentary, abstcmious life renderc'
him physically At for anything. HI.
headquarters were with the army ir
the field. but he operated solely undr'
the direct orders Of the president
His command over his department
was absolute. and he ran things viii
an iron hand Among his other duties
he was required to take charge OF ant
entertain all the foreign military al
tachcs who Joined the army to wit
ness its maneuvcrs. They came frou
every quarter OF the globe, and wcr,
: given the best Of everything Paisct
of the Royal British navy. and Ice
| OF the British artillery; Won Goetzcn
Of Germany; Enver Pa.ha, Of Tur
: key; Shiba. OF Japan, all were there
, and one morning Cheney heard ia
= miliar voice say:
3 Il am looking for Col. Cheney"
Glancing up he beheld his Russian
:, friend. Count Yarmoleh.
Il am Col. Cheney, Count. How dt
4 you do?'
I "you-ore-colone,- chi,
. the count, slowly. "Why-the las
. time saw you was at Yarvahar, Rus
: sia-and your name was Bradley"
= "Yes. count that's all true nut
v was then bu.ily engaged irving Il
keep out of the way of your 'Thir
Section"
Z "You succeeded I see" repIled tn
l. count
"Ye, hut Il was n close shave
Q Cheney and Y,rmoIen thus resume
y their very plea,.nt friendship
9 Information wa, wanted bv Sinai
u a, To lust what the American arm
o wa, going 10 do. and numbers =
.nies were turned loose in Tamna an
"