The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-29
Vice Consul MageIssen Was
Not Killed,
ASSASSIN MISSED HIM
Vail Of Beirut Visited Magelsser. Expressed His
Regret at Outrage and 0.derd
Measures for Arrest of
PerpetraIor.
(By the Associated Press.)


Constantinople. August 2S,-It trans
pires that the report that Vice Consul
Magelssen was killed is incorrect. An un-
known individual fired at him and the
did not touch him.
The Vail of Beirut afterwards visited
Vice Consul Magelssen, expressed his re-
grets for the outrage and ordered meas
ures for the arrest of the perpetrator.
The >error in stating that Vice Consul
Magelssen had been killed arose from d
mistake In a cipher telegram.
In response to a telegram of inquiry
regarding the reported assassination of
Vice Consul Magelssen at Beirut Syria,
Mr.. Freyer, Treasurer of the Board of
Presbyterian Missions at Beirut, has cabied
the Associated Press as follows:
Beirut, Syria, August 28.-Though the
attack made on Vice Consul Magelssen
was evidently premeditated the bullets
missed him and he escaped uninjured.
(Slgned) "FREYER."
Washington, Aug. 2S.-Minister Leish-
man has cabled the State Department
that he called at the Foreign Office again
last night and presented the American
demands for an immediate investigation
OF the reported assassination of Vice
Consul Magelssen at Beirut The Minis
ter of Foreign Affairs while denying all
knowledge of the affair and attempting
to discredit the report, upon he>1nsistence
of Mr.. Leishman promised that an imme-
date investigation would follow and that
the Turkish government would take all
possible steps to find out and punish
the guilty. ~
Mr.. Leishman states that Macedonian
conditions are growing constantly more
acute and that the situation in that sec
ton is extremely grave.
In his cablegram to Minister Laishman
last night regarding the report. of the
American Board of Missions that an at
tempt had been made to burn the
Euphrates College buildings at Harpoot
Acting Secretary Loomis instructed him
to demand of the Turkish government
that it take immediate steps for the pro-
lection OF the lives of all Americans
there.
The Brooklyn and San Francisco will
proceed with all speed to Beirut and will
not wait for the Machias which is
much slower vessel. Acting Secretary
Darling this morning telegraphed the
commanding officer of the Machias at
Genoa to follow the Brooklyn and San
Francisco to Port Said where he is to
coal and await orders.
Another urgent appeal has reached the
State Department from the American
Beard of Missions at Boston that imme-
date steps be taken for the protection
of the American citizens at Harpoot. The
boards dispatches from there for sew
eral days past have represented the sit
Gation as extremely grave. There are at
the Euphrates College at Harpoot four
teen, American teachers besides women and
children and property to the value of
100000. 1t is learned that there is an
American college at Beirut in which are
number OF American teachers No word
has reached the State Department re-
gardlng any attack on them.
Boston, Mass, Aug. 28-The appeal of
the American Board to the government at
Washington on behalf of American citi-
zens at Harpoot is based upon series of
incidents which to the mind of the board
managers indicate increasing danger to
the interests of the American residents.
Not only has the appeal been made to
the State Department but letter has
been sent to President Roosevelt asking
Tor an opportunity to present to him the
situation
The boards first appeal was made be-
cause OF an attempt to burn the American
college at Harpoot, news of which was re-
ceived by cable last Monday. The second
appeal was made also on Monday, when
cablegram was received from W. w. Peet,
Treasurer of the American Board at Con-
stantinople, saying that the fanaticism at
Harpoot was almost beyond control and
that delay of action would be dangerous
This cablegram from Mr.. Peet was mailed
from Constantinople to Vienna to avoid
censorship and was cabled from Vienna
August %. The cablegram follows:
'Vienna, August %, 1908.
Norton wires fanaticism Harpoot al
most beyond control. Delay of action
dangerous
(Signed) "PEET"
AS far as the American Board has been
ADVISED the attempt to burn the Ameri-
can college, the date of which is not
known, resulted in little damage, as the
building was of stone The fact that the
attempt was made however is viewed as
evidence of the hostility of the Turks to-
wards Gvilizing influences and an increas
ing daring in their attitude towards the
United States.