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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

John Calvin Willever to Morrell Marean

Washington, D.C.,

(New York, May 19, 1898).

To “M” (M. Marean,Washington,D.C.)

     Please go at once to Department1 and tell them that we have a cipher message from Hellings2 stating that Spanish fleet is now at Santiago and that the Spanish Admiral3 at 2 P.M. local time, or 3 P.M. Washington time, was in telegraphic communication with Blanco.4 Please entreat them not to indicate to any one the source of this information, so as to protect Mr. Hellings’ informant. We do not, of course, guarantee it, but we have every reason to believe that it’s true. He (Hellings) is an intelligent and loyal man, and is in a position to get confidential information of this character. Let us know if it is news to them.

 “W” (J.C.Willever).             

Correct copy:

     M. Marean, Mgr.

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     The above dispatch was sent to me personally about 4 P.M., May 19, 1898, over a private wire from New York, by Mr. J. C. Willever, Secretary to President Eckert5 and Vice president Clark,6 of the Western Union Telegraph Company.

     Mr. Hellings has been, for many years, Superintendent of the Cuba Cables, with headquarters at Key West, and was in a position to communicate directly and secretly with his operators at Havana during the Spanish War.

Washington, D.C.,October 10, 1901.         M. Marean

Mgr.              

Source Note: CyS, DNA, AFNRC, M625, roll 230. Stamp: Rectangular “BUREAU OF NAVIGATION” stamp dated to 11 October 1901. Note: Letter written on Western Union Telegraph Co. stationary.

Footnote 1: The Navy Department.

Footnote 2: Martin L. Hellings.

Footnote 3: RAdm. Pascual Cervera y Topete.

Footnote 4: Captain General of Cuba Ramón Blanco Erenas Riero y Polo.

Footnote 5: Thomas Eckert.

Footnote 6: Thomas F. Clark.

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