It was a case now of getting safely off the ship and reaching the
nearest cable office for had Schmidt suspected anything, the boat
would never have docked until everybody on board had been searched.
There was small danger of this, however, for nothing had occurred to
alarm Herr Schmidt. The lotion paper used by the German Secret
Service has been perfected to such an extent that when taking the
print it does not leave any signs on the original. Accordingly, there
would likely not have been a clew--only on close scrutiny would it be
seen that the seal had been tampered with--even had Schmidt examined
his kiste again before landing.
My luggage passed, I made my way to the nearest cable office outside
the zone of the steamship offices. At Fourteenth Street and Broadway
I entered a Western Union office and wrote out this message to
"Buzzing" London. A copy of this being herewith reproduced:
February 12, 1913. Buzzing, London.
Obtained sample. Letter most important. Not safe writing. Will take
to-morrow night's steamer Queenstown. Not sufficient fare. Wire
twenty-five pounds W. Union, Broadway 14th.
Trenton Snell.
It may be of interest to note that at the time of my announcing my
presence in this country through the medium of the _New York American_
that a copy of this dispatch was secured from the cable company; also
that Hearst reporters identided me at the cable office as "Trenton
Snell.
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