New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-28
STORIES OF MAGELSSEN.
Il Man of Great Physical Courage
His Encounters 5Cith Mattress.

In the opinion of Walter S Bigelow Of No. "a
Safest. an exporter who has business inter
ests in Turkey, where he spent six months last
winter, the assassination of Mr.. Magelssen was
probably an affair provoked by personal re-
venge rather than inspired by any political
motive.
Last April I spent three weeks in Beirut"
seid Mr.. Bigelow last evening, and. meeting
Mr. Magelssen the first day. I saw a great deal
of him, and came to know him very intimately.
The news of his murder is a great shock to me,
and yet in a way may say that am not alto
gether surprised, knowing Mr.. Magelssen so well
as / did, and knowing also the almost total alb
sence of personal protection existing in all
Turkish cities. The vice-consul was a splendid
physical specimen of a man. He was unusually
tall and of large frame. Hailing from Mime
sofa, he possessed all the characteristic daring
and nerve of the Westerner. He was absolutely
fearless and his disregard for personal danger
amounted almost to recklessness. For these
reasons he was known and beloved by all Euro
peans along the Syrian coast far south as
Alexandria, and perhaps for the same reason ne
invoked the eumity of the natives.
Soon after arriving at Beirut I heard
several stories of encounters which Mr.. Magels-
sen had had with native highwaymen. On one
occasion he was waylaid by two desperate char
acters along the shore road on a dark night,
and, although unarmed, he disposed of his as
sailants single handed. The punishment he ad-
ministered was said to have been as severe as 1T
was unexpected. Later, another native cut
throat attempted to hold up Mr. Magelssen one
night in lonely part of the town, but he was
so badly used UP as a result of the encounter
that the services of a doctor were necessary.
Naturally, in small place like Beirut, the
reports of these affairs spread. but 1t was sup
posed that the American Vice-Consul had in
spired such respect among the native des-
perate characters that he would be immune from
further molestatior.
Possibly one or two little encounters with
cab drivers might he mentioned. I remember
one distinctly, In which both Mr.. Magelssen and
myself had part OF all cab drivers. the Turk
ish variety is the most insolent and exasperat-
ing The helpless victim of one of these Oriental
Jehus has only one option when it comes to an
issue and that is, give up or defend himself as
hest he may. On the occasion am thinking of
the cabman, who had started in by force to col
lect an excessive fare, met a reception he was
not looking for and since then has probably
thought twice before he has attempted to prac-
tise eXtortion on Americans of athletic appear
ance / remember asking Magelssen at the
tiIae If he went armed if abroad at night. and he
replied that he seldom carried q revolver. and
was not afraid TO go into any part OF Beirut
AT any time of the day or night 1t seems
strange now. but recall saying to him. half
seriously. half jokingly:
Magelssen if you don't take better care of
yourself I shall expect TO hear some day that
these ours have done you up. You must be
more careful
But he only laughed in reply. and said he
was q match for them all. so. my fears. half
expressed at the time. am afraid. have come
true Ny friend has been killed by some
stealthy hand from behind. or else shot from a
distance. And, furthermore. / DO not believe
they will ever catch the man. for there is 10
such thing as police detective work in Bel
rut IF driven, the Turkish authorities may
put 10 death some innocent nobody to satisfy
American demands. but Il is than likely
that the real criminal viii escape