New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-02

port but a few weeks old, should OBJ
tain another before going to France.
1.-THE first passport" said he, the
one which he came on, was issued By
the American Embassy in London.
When Swoboda sought passage on the
French line he was told that it would
not suffice; that he would have to Sc
cure one from the State Department in
Washington. This was but two days
before the Touraine sailed, and il was
close work. The passport reached here
only the morning that he sailed"
Hooper did not know where Swoboda
lived in this city, or any OF his friends
here, other than those with whom he
brought him into contact. Neither did
he know Nine. Preischleo. Eugene
Davis. another acquaintance, to whom
he brought a good letter of introduc-
ton and who vouched for him to the
State Department yesterday, said he
was of the impression that Nine.
Preischleo was Swoboda's wife.
"If it is there is no mystery as TO
where she is" he said "She is in
Geneva singing"
Hooper is the one man in New York
apparently who knew Swoboda prior to
his coming here in January. He knew
him in Paris two years ago, and, &C
cording to him, Swoboda had had an
interesting time of IL IN his thirty-five
to thirty-eight years. lie was born
he told Hooper, in San Francisco, Of a
Russian father and a Scottish mother
the maternal family name being Nc
GreGor. At the age of seven he was
taken to Russia. Subsequently, he
went to Paris and then, as the agent
of French investors, spent seven years
in China. After that he returned to
France. In all he lived, according 10
Hooper, seventeen years in the French
capital and was well connected there
in business.
Hooper saw him in Paris last sum-
mer in connection with the floating OF
a loan on Victoria, p. c., property
He left Paris on July 20 for London
and sailed soon after war was declared
lie wrote 10 Swoboda in Paris, but did
not hear from him until December 16
when letter dated November Ia
reached him in Victoria
In this letter. Swoboda told Of the
financial troubles that had overtaken
him since the outbreak of the war.
Gets Job as Chauffeur.
Business at a standstill, the Stock
/ Exchange closed, without any money
at all, there was nothing else left 10
me, as all my friends had left towr
by fright, but to turn myself into 8
chauffeur" he wrote. knowing thor
oughly how to drive a mo.or car,
easily earned my living in this way
| during some six weeks, taking people
to Bordeaux. Nantes. Boulogne and Ca.
lais. At the last named place | took
on some English newspaper correspond
ents wishing to visit the battlefelds.
There Is one great opening in this
very moment, and this opening will
hold good for some time to come. Hav-
/ ing thoroughly thought over the ques-
ton, | have come to this conclusion
/ The man who wants to make money in
/ present times has TO be a puryeyor OF
| the government, or to explain myself
/ better still, of the army and navy, who
are at present the only customers like
: ~ to pay good prices Friends of mine
VINO started in that line OF business
1 some few weeks ago only are on the
| best way to make fortunes, and as
! don't want to be left in the shade,
| have decided to do as they did.
What we are wanting, frightfuily
wanting, is the stuff to sell. And here
| is the point where I believe that you
Mr.. Hooper, could be coming in most
| usefully TO our mutual profit. CsnGds
and the United States are about the
/ only countries in q position to furnish
us. Certainly, you have among your
/ friends or relations either in Canada
/ or the states, some wholesale traders
general merchants likely to provide
T France or Belgium with coal, petrol
/ livestock or beef frigorifed, horses
/ clothing material, foodstuffs, such as
| dried vegetables conserves or any other
stuff likely TO be used in warfare"
IL showed this letter to Price Ellison
/ Finance Minister of British Columbia
1t so impressed him that he advised me
/ TO take the thing up, and that day
sent q cable message accepting the Of
/ fer. The next day received message
saying:
Leaving 26th for New York. Man
4 haitian Hctel. Can you come p"
/ "0n December % | wired that
would meet him at the Manhattan
and in reply received a cable stating
that he was coming on the Rocham
/ beau. That brought him here later
[ than | had anticipated.
! Hooper said he arranged with The
| Cunard company to permit Swoboda e
take samples OF gasO!ene, Dut nj
/ changed his plans 70 use the French
! Line.
Then the French Line refused abso
lutely TO allow any gasolene samples
| 70 go out. Other concessions theJ
would make.
The trunks were packed under M
eyes of Mr. Mohr. MacLea. Davis and
myself and Swoboda did not even get
the keys until they were ready to ship
Then he left.
IF he was spy he was very poorly
provided for by his government"
William F. Mohr, II Battery Place
\ said:
NO spy would go TO all the trouble
\ that Swoboda did 10 get lines on mer
disc The whole thing is q bis
/ tlunder.'
! Or. Henry J. Swoboda. chemist