New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-06

L. A
nEsFRTED HIS POST. LEAVING A MAN
NAMED ATTERBURY IN CHARGE.
u...,,,gton Dec. : (SpeclaD.-The State De-
.,,,e,t is in somewhat OF a Quandary over
,ho ,recjpitate haste with which Consul Macrum
PERSISTS in deserving the important interests con-
6ded TO his care at Pretoria, where. in addition
- his representative capacity as the only
american Consul in the Boer republics. he has
Re, charged since hostilities began with the
.-o,ec.,on Of such British affairs as are recog
,,Ad by civilized nations unaffected by q
state Of war.
Tho importance OF the post TO which MT
vacr,,m was appointed last year on the recon-
,endation Of Senator Hanna was raised 10 one
~ unusual dignity by the South African
,,onbles and for time II was regarded as eN-
,-sroelv fortunate that the United States shouid
.a,..ss such a capable man on the spot. Ever
-, 10 has become charged with British inter-
-. however Mr. Macrum has been assiduous IN
"a. asor,s 70 be freed from his responsibilities
and permitted 10 return home his only expiana-
.,o, bejng TO the mysterious effect that the au-
.hori,iss Of the state Department would GER
,s,nlv he satisfied with his reasons, which ne
cou,d only irnpart after he reached washington
7, was strange that he declined stuooornly 10
rive any inkng Of their import by caole' espe-
ca,,v as his cipher messages received at the
state Department showed that he was allowed
70 send anything Of private nature over the
wires that he chose -,
Secretary HAY refused for a while TO permit
Nscrpro 10 come home just when his services
,,era most needed and endeavored 10 induce the
Consul 70 remain at Pretoria until some one
oo,ld he sent 10 relieve him. This did not meet
Nacrum's views He insisted that a young
American named Atterbury IN Pretoria was
easily competent 70 take charge OF the consulate
and transact its business for the present he
did not tell who Atterbury was, or even give MS
initials II is the understanding that Macrum
has finally turned over his affairs 10 the I'M
known Atterbury and started for nome "he'o
his future official status will be determined
In the mean time the President has directed
Adelbert 6. Hay. Secretary Hays SON. 10 go "
Pretoria and take charge OF the cohsuiate. W
Vav is expected TO leave New \ orK lO-WoIIoM
hrt can hardly reach his destination, by way OF
Delagoa Bay. in less than six weeks IN lne
mean time under ordinary CIRCUMSTANCES AIieii-
ran and British representation at the seat Vi
ne roer Government is concentrated in young
man whose initials antecedents, AFFINITY or otnei
attributes are absolutely unknown quah''leS
o. the State Department -, 81,
This condition was already causing much OF
hcial perturbation which was deemed lmpos-
sble 10 remedy. and it was augmented to.uaS
on reports from the West intimating that After
bury might be identical with one OF the same
name who was said TO have left the CHl ~.
States and sought the TransVaal as the or,I!
secure place from extradition proceedings. inc
ofcials heard that Macrums successor was
probably one l. G.. Atterbury, Of Chicago Who
kh 800 600 in bad debts when he hurried out Oh
Inc inrisdction of the United States. and IL was
represented that he was Just the man TO hooo-
wink Macrum. especially when the Consul was
anxious 10 find substitute.
The only plausible explanation or Macrunl
sraons is that he is frightened out OF his WIS,
Els conduct is in sharp contrast 20 that OF the
British Consuls who represented the Unlteo
Sates In Spain last year, and parucuIa ATTY -
Ina, NJ tho heroic Ramsden whose instru-
rsntality In securing the surrender Of Santiago
vas incaIculabe. and whose death was due 10
bis devotion 10 duty.