Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-09-01
NEWS OF MURDER
PROVES UNTRUE
Vice Consul Magelssen Not Assas-
sinated at Beirut as at First
Reported.
ATTEMPT is MADE, HOWEVER,
But OFFICIAL is UNINJORED

CableEram from Minister Leishman
Tells of Serious Condition of Az.
fairs in Turkey-Wnrships Sail Acc
corainS to Original Orders-Insur-
geAts stu Active.
Constantnople. Aug. Sit trans
pires that the report that Vice Consul
Magslssen was killed is incorrect An
unknown individual fred at him and
the bullets passed close to the vice
consul, but did not touch him. The
vail Of Beirut afterwards visited Vice
Consul Magelssen. expressed his re-
grets for the outrage, and ordered
measures for the arrest of the perpe-
traitor. Tho error in stating that Vice
Consul Magelssen had been killed
arose from q mistake in a cipher tele-
gram.
Attack Premeditated.
= New York, Aug. BIN response to
. telegram Of inquiry regarding the
reported assassination of Vice Consul
Magelssen at Beirut, Syria. Mr.. Frey
Or, treasurer of the board of the Pres
byterian mission at Beirut, has cabled
As follows:
Beirut. Syria, Aug. 2s.-Although
che attack made on Vice Consul Ma
eelssen was evidently premeditated,
The bullets missed him and he escaped
Nninjured.
"FREYER."
situation IL Serious.
Oyster nay, N. Y. Aug. Silt has
developed that the cablegram from
Minister Leishman, at Constantinople,
transmitted late Friday night to Presi-
dent Roosevelt contained, in addition
80 statement Of the incorrectness Of
the announced assassination of Vice
Consul Magelssen at Beirut, an impor-
tant report upon the situation in the
Ottoman empire. Minister Leishman
takes serious view of the condition
Of affairs In Turkey. Practically the
entire dominion of the sultan is In q
state OF unrest and in some parts the
existing turbulence is equivalent to in
purrection.
Minister Leishman apprehends seri-
Gus trouble and indicates his belief
that American interests and American
lives are in peril on account of the
fanaticism Of the Mussulman popula-
ton.
The minister's report confirmed in
formation received by President
Roosevelt and Secretary Hay from I'M
ofiieial sources. For these reasons 1t
WAS decided by the president that Adj
miral Cotton's squadron should pro-
coed to Turkish waters. in accordance
with his original orders. notwithstand-
ing the inaccuracy Of the report of the
assault on Consul Maselssen. In any
svent that was regarded by this gov
eminent only 90 an incident. The fact
that the assault upon the consul was
not attended by . fatal result simply
mobiles the action Of the United
States by removing one serious phase
pf situation that otherwise may be-
some intolerable very soon.
It has not been decided definitely
whether or not Admiral Cotton's
squadron Will rendezvous at Beirut
ss originally ordered. The dsstina-
lion Of the vessels will be determined
By the developments Of the Turkish
situation.
Hay BACK at Washington.
Washington. Aug. 31.-Secretary of
State Hay returned to his desk in
ehe state department Saturday morn
Ing. It was said that his arrival in
Washington at this time was not due
10 the occurrences in Turkey, but in
accordance with arrangements made at
khs time-o his departure for Oyster
Bay. Mr.. Hay said that while up
risings IN Turkish dominion were
more or less chronic the present state
Of Affairs assumes the proportions Of
IN insurrection Of considerable magni-
Aude. He would not disclose the con-
tents Of the cablegrams received FRI
day night from Minister Leishman,
but said that the minister's advices
were that the erroneous report on the
assassiuation Of Mr.. Magelssen was
due to the use Of the wrong code
number and not to any error in trans
mission. The Information given in
the cablegram was that the governor
called at the consulate and offered
prompt action ana would make every
effort to find out and punish the
would-be assassin. Mr. Leishman fur
ther advised the secretary that sey-
sral OF the consulates have reported
20 the governments that the condition
OF the city OF Beirut at the present
moment 10 unsafe.
With the view to furnishing Sec
rotary Hay with the fullest facts con-
corning the reports which have come
from the missionaries in Turkey. a
committee representing the board of
American missions will call upon him
Sunday or Monday, he having indicat-
cd . desire, to meet such committee
and obtain from them all information
In their possession.
sultan VIII BE Held Accountable.
The state department Saturday re-
ceived cablegram from Minister
Leishman in which he stated that adj
vices from the American consuls at
Hsrpoot and Beirut were to the effect
that while the Americans in those
places are In danger of suffering from
An uprising at any time the situation
was not at the time of sending the
dispatches as grave as earlier reports
would indicate. Mr.. Leishman has
been instructed to notify the Turkish