The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-12

during the year in which the Senator
POmeroy deal was exposed. After leav-
ing Topeka Major Pangborn took an ex-
ecutive position with the B. & o. rail-
road in Baltimore and held this position
up to two years ago, when he went
abroad. He met Prince Hilkon in
Russia, and arranged to take charge
of his trip when he came to this coun-
try. Major Pangborn will also ac-
company the prince to Russia.
Prince Hillzon viii visit and inspect
several Of the large eastern railroads
and will leave a week from next We'd
nesday for London. He will stay one
day IN London and then go direct to
St. Petersburg.
Although this was the first visit Of
the prince to this city, it was not the
first time that he has been in Kansas
In 1857 he came to this country with
a letter of introduction to President Bu-
chanan from Car Alexander II At
that time the princes father was I'M
mensely wealthy, and the young prince
had unlimited means. but instead Of tax
ing up social life for which he was emil
nentIy fitted, having learned the Eng
Iish together with the French, Spanish,
German and Italian languages, he gave
his attention to the railway enterprises
of the east. After travelling over the
eastern states he decided to come west
and Travelled as far as Vincennes, Ind.
by rail That point was then the
western railway terminus, and from
there he Travelled by horse and boat to
ST Louis and afterWard to the Rocky
mountains. After spending some time
in the mountains he re urned to the
east ard from there to his home in Rus
sia During his trip he became thor
Oughly impressed with American ideas,
and left the country with the resolve
to introduce, if possible, some OF these
ideas in his native country
The emancipation of the serfs in 1861
by Alexander II was an epoch to young
Prince HilkOff. He was full OF demo-
cratic ideas. To his father. however,
I'M
was a revolution of the existing order
of things and really embittered the old
mans life. His absolutism was bound
to clash occasionally with his sons
democratic spirit When the emperor
finally appointed the young man a judge
arbitrator so that he had to settle diff
ferences between the former sefIs ana
mobiles, the father and son became
farther apart with the result that young
Hilkoff asked his father to leave all he
had to another son, as he would not ac-
cept q TOuble from him. From this
point in his career self reliance became
one of the principles of his lfe.He was
married then, but the princess took up
his fight and together they left Russia
with nothing, not even a parent bless
ing.
Of course, America was his destina-
ton. and in due time this prince OF Rus
Sia blood with q family line longer than
the RomanOffs presented himself at
the machine shop Of Quaker w ain
wright in Philadelphia and asked for
he could do, but would like to be put at
almost anything in which he could
show what he could do. He was put to
work on bolt heads at 81 per day When
asked his name he started to say MI
chae1 E1iIkoff, but stopped hesitatiDgly
at Michael What Magill2" asked f4r.
Wainwright and the prince answered
quickly John Magiu, and so he was
known in America
Some time afterward, Wainwright and
others having taken q contract to build
q railway in Argentine Republic, John
Nagiu, otherwise Prince Michael Hll-
lxoff went too his salary being raised
to g per day When he was settled his
wife followed him to his new field, and
now 1t is one of his boasts to tell how
he got along without assistance on
salary of 81 and 81 q day and made
both ends meet.By diligence and apph-
cation IN the new field he arose success
sively from a blacksmith's helper to
subforeman, foreman, superintendent Of
the division rOundhOuse, the last paying
a salary of 81 a day When the road
was ready to have a train run over 1t
the engineers and fremen struck. The
general manager jumped into the cab
and called Magin to follow him, and
the S24 GOO year man ran the engine
While the prince ShOVeled the coal. The
prince was soon given the engine to
run, and to this day can get in a cab
and give most engineers pointers" on
locomotives. About this time letters
from home told him that his five years
absence and stubborness on the part Of
the son had softened the heart of the
old prince, and while he would not
agree with his son or give up his pre-
JUDGES, he wanted to close the door on
the past. The young prince was aware
of the great awakening in his native
land and so decided to return there and
seek employment
His first employment was that of en-
gineer, and for some time his progress
was slow. He at last obtained an Off
cial position and from this advanced
step by step to the position he now