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

Tor tho government In December,
1897. He landed In San Francisco
and lost no time making his way
across the continent to Washington,
| where he made his report To the gov
ernmept The president, secretaries
OF state, war and navy were all inter.
ested in this report and conference
| was held at the White House the eve
ming Cheney arrived. Brieny, but con
| cisely, Cheney recited the results OF
his years trip. Just as he was about
to sail from Hongkong for home he
| had received a message directing him
| to make trip To Manila and report
| on fleet and Notifications there. lie
knew that meant war with Spain. In
making his report, he emphasized
the weakness Of the Spaniards In the
far east. The morale OF their army
| was low, their navy was little better
! than scrap iron. Cheney was mildly
taken TO task by the secretaries OF
war and navy for his conclusions, but
subsequent events proved he was
right To Cheney destruction OF Mon
tojos feet by Dewey was not such a
L
aboard every one Of the Spanish
ships; he had seen rust and decay,
lack OF discipline and inattention. One
real good American battleship could
blow the whole Spanish fleet out OF
the water. But the torpedoes! Sure,
plenty OF them, most OF which had
been down for years and were worth
less. and the forts were in exactly
the same condition as the fleet. AS
las been remarked, the secretaries
we're little inclined to be skeptical.
but the calm, teep-thinking, brown
eyed president knew Col. Cheney was
telling the truth. The president did
not say much at the conference; he
smoked and listened. but the next
day. by special appointment, Col
Cheney lunched at the White House
and again went over the most saliant
points Of his report. The president
knew and said there would be war,
and when 1t did come Col Cheney
was TO be in charge OF the army secret
.ervice.
II am at your command. Mr.. Presi-
dent" quietly said Cheney.
Il know II, Colonel, and ! thank
YOU" replied the president, shaking
his hand at parting.
Cheney returned TO his ONCE In Chi
cago and Guthrie and Lonergan were
overjoyed to see him. A quiet dinner
was discussed at the colonels apart
ments. after which Cheney listened to
their report. Everything was in ship
shape. as he knew II would be. The
business was being transacted as he
would have II done. and he said:
Now that you fellows have your
hands in so we'll you can Just keer
them there. I'm not going TO resume
active charge OF the work. I'll have
my ofrce here and will be glad TO con
suit with you. But my active days In
E this concern are over"
] Guthrie looked solemn, but Loner
gan just grinned and said:
You make me smile, Cheney. You'll
give up this work when you're dead
and not before; it's in your blood. :
Lonergan had a pretty good faculty
OF intuition and knew whereof h'
spoke. Guthrie said nothing, but wa,
doing a heap OF thinking.
S "All right. boys, think as you like
but wait and see"
O Public events moved apace; Spair
!, was getting more and more arrogan
in Cuba. people were clamoring 70
the government 10 act: but the grea
y man in the White House was no
3 ready He was getting ready, how
D ever, as rapidly as he could. He knew
A more than the people. and the peopl
| must wait. Then came that memor
able day in February. when som
II Spanish bastard sent 260-odd Amer
d can sailors to their doom. That wa
the deciding straw: before that ther
a was faint hore that diplomac
e might avert the crisis: but with tn
@ blowing up OF the Maine all hope O
peace fed. The country was ahr
from one end TO the other.
Cheney heard OF the blowing mp c
the Maine In his apartments. ii
L knew what that meant and packe
e his suit case.
p "Whar yo' goin' now. kunnel?" sal
n Jen, noting the preparations.
# Washington. Jen, and then som
!. place else. I'll get telegram in tn
;, morning" And he did
A day later he again stood In IN
presence OF the president, and ths
III afternoon he started for Havana. Tn
O. regular court Of inquiry would NEE
n and render a decision. but the pres
dent wanted quicker information tha
would be allowed by red tape.
Cheney reached Havana four day
y. after the Maine was blown up an
IL quietly went to work. Only two mel
In Gen. Lee, consul general. and Cap
IL Sigsbee. OF the Maine. knew his idel
u tity and for what purpose he we
n there. One fact was firmly fixed
III Cheney's mind after he had his tai
"A with Sigsbee, and that was that II
n. Maine was blown up by an explosic
II. under her hull. She had been a
"a chnrad over n tornado and soma Gna