The Indianapolis journal., 1903-09-02
PRAISE FOR MAGELSSEN
HAS CONDUCTED HIMSELF WELL IN
DIFFICULT PROBLEM.
Two Well Known Men Who Have a
Good Word for the Vice Consul
at Beirut-Has Made Record.

new 1ork special In Philadelphia Press.
Two persons in this city who very re-
Gently saw much of William c. Magelssen.
the United States vice consul, who was
shot at in Beirut have been interviewed
concerning the man and agreee in their
praise of his abilities. They are Chancel-
lor MacCracken, of New York University,
and Walter S. Bigelow, the explorer.
Mr., Magelssen was born it seems. thirty
years ago at Bratsburg, Mimi, and was a
son of Lutheran minister. He was edu-
Gated in the common schools of Minnesota,
and was student of the Lutheran Col
lege at Decorah, Ia, for three years. For
a time he was assistant city assessor of
Sioux Falls, s. D.. and also associate edi-
tor OF paper called The Echo, published
there When he was appointed vice con-
sui, on Sept. 20, 1899, he was consular
clerk in Turkey. Magelssen was appointed
on the recommendation of Senator Nelson,
OF Minnesota. He was a brother-in-law
of Consul RavndaI
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Magelssen,' said
Chancellor MacCracken, who has just re-
turned from Beirut, "are Norwegian by
name and by parentage, and are fine speci-
mems of the Scandinavian American. The
vice consul has been prompt, intelligent and
able In the transaction of business. The
American consulate, under his chief and
himself. easily held the first place in repu-
tatlon among the foreign consulates in
Beirut L lived within block of the con-
sulate during my months stay. 1 observed
That as young, patriotic American, the
man was Jealous in helping every Ameri-
can interest. A celebration of the Fourth
or July was organized by the consulate,
and held in a suburb of Beirut. The Syrian
PROTESTANT College, which exists under
Doard or trustees chartered by The State
or New York, found the vice consul a help
ful friend He promoted zealously field
day held this year and helped to secure
the attendance of the Governor of Lebanon,
who came with full staff and a military
band playing American national airs. 1
met MIR. Magelssen also at the commence
ment OF the college in July. / had been
told that the vice consul had more than
once taken part in securing the punishment
OF crimes by natives in Beirut which were
committed under his notice"
The chancellor was inclined to think that
Mageissens courage In pursuing criminals
had probably caused the attempt on his
life. Old residents of Beirut had assured
| him that for Christians to appear in court
| against Moslems to testify to their crimes
was TO Invite assassination. a recent mur-
der of man in American employ had been
| left almost without inquiry because wit
| nesses were completely terrorized.
THEY TAKE GREAT RISKS
''The Turkish government" continued DR..
| MacCracken, leaves Beirut and every sim
liar district under petty vice autocrat,
who is energetic in little except unwise and
cruel extortion of taxes and taking of
bribes. / have been for ten years chair
man of New York board of five trustees
who carry on St. Paul's Institute in Tarsus
Asia Minor. Nothing saved this school,
made up largely of Armenian teachers and
students, from the horrible massacre of
few years ago except the presence through
| out an entire summer of the United States
warship Marblehead in the harbor near by.
The whole Beirut American colony of about
one hundred persons, and the British colony
/ of fifty persons, would be at the mercy of
| a Moslem mob If such should be excited
by the growing misrue. We have noble
| citizens there. One medical faculty of some
t halr dc dozen American physicians, two of
| Adams, from our New York University
| Medical School, is the most noted Ameri-
| ca. DIR. Harris Graham, of this faculty
a graduate of Michigan University, to
whom owe my sons life, is coming to this
country the present autumn. The United
| States government has recently extorted
from the Sultan the same rules for licensing
! graduates under the American faculty at
Beirut that were granted the French
Walter S. Bigelow, who has business in
terests in Turkey, where he spent six
months last winter, says that the attempt
on Mr.. Magelssen's life was probably an
affair provoked by personal revenge rather
than sI IL inspired s;i by any political motive;
rut." said Mr. Bigelow, land, meeting Mr..
Magelssen the first day, / saw a great deal
of him, and came to know him very inti-
mately. The news is a great shock to me.
and yet in way may say that am not
altogether surprised, knowing Mr.. Magels-
sen so well as did, and knowing also the
almost total absence of personal protec-
| cyiS ir al Tn icl, rtt It'll.
vice consul is a splendid physical specimen
large frame. Haiilng from Minnesota, he
possesses the characteristic daring and
nerve Of the westerner. He is absolutely
fearless. For these reasons he is known
and beloved by all Europeans along the
and perhaps for the same reason he in
voked the enimity of the natives.
Soon after arriving at Beirut was told
several stories of encounters which Mr.
Magelssen had had with native highway
men. On ore occasion he was waylaid by
two desperate characters along the shore
road ON a dark night, and, although un-
armed, he disposed of his assailants single
handed. The punishment he administered
was said to have been as severe as it was
unexpected. Later, another native cut
throat attempted to hold up Mr.. Magelsseu
one night in a lonely part of the town, but
he was so badly used UP as a result of the
were necessary. Naturally, in small place
like Beirut, the reports of these affairs
spread.
INSOLENT CAB DRIVERS
Possibly one or two little encounters
with cab drivers might be mentioned.
remember one distinctly, in which both Mr.
Magelssen and myself had part OF al
cab drivers, the Turkish variety is the
most insolent and exasperating. The help
, less victim of one of these Oriental Jehu:
has only option when it comes to al
, issue, and that is. give up or defend him
self as best he may. On the occasion an
thinking of the cabman, who had started
i'm by force to collect an excessive fare
met a reception he was not looking for
and since then has probably thought twic,
before he has attempted to practice extor
, tion on Americans of athletic appearance
) 1 remember asking Magelssen at the tim
il he went armed IL abroad at night, an,
, he replied that he seldom carried a re
volver and was not afraid to go into an,
) part of Beirut at any time of the day o.
night. 1t seems strange now, but i re
! call saying to him, half seriously, hal
? jokingly:
! 'Magelssen, if you don't take bette
! care of yourself, / shall expect to hea
! some day that these ours have done yol
: UP. You must be more careful
: II do not believe they will ever catcl
: the man, for there is no such thing as polio
r | or detective work in Beirut. If driven, tn