The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1921-10-20
IRON Cbe Eand u David

1.-THE following is the second in
stallment and conclusion of letter
published last week from Willard r.
Fuller, instructor in the American
College at Beirut, Syria. Mr.. Fuller
is the son Of Mr.. and Mrs. N. z. Full
Ter of Spencer and well-kI;own in this
county. Another equally interesting
letter from Mr.. Fuller will begin in
the next issue Of the Sentinel. The
letters published by the Sentinel
were written by Mr.. Fuller to his
parents, and are both interesting and
informative Editor.l
was conducted to the customs
house where the four inspectors were
interested only to find out just what
a pack of films was. They then
wanted their fee and after quite an
argument they finally decided that
they had nothing coming to them.
was ably assisted by my boatmar
who had decided that the more he
saved me the more he would get. He
hired a porter for my baggage being
above such things as carrying bag
gage himself.
Our Arab led the boatman and me
thru several alleyways, thru bunch
Of Sengalese soldiers, a herd Of
scrubby cattle and to the doctors Of
fee. There / was greeted in efusive
English by a young, tall, fat and
good natured man who asked me a
lot Of questions that were none Of his
business, but which / did not mind
answering. He informed me that l
was to report at between nine and
ten every morning for five days and
would not get my passport back. As
they had the passport and / could not
go without it I thot was stuck for
five days, the outlook did not look
very bright. At that time little be-
ieved the rights of an American
above other people.
MY Arab friend then conducted me
to the American Mission. A Mr..
Wilson is director there and had
letter of introduction to him. At
the door I dismissed my boatman and
porter after paying them far too
much--80 cents. You see I had a
boat for three-fourths hour, three
rowers for three-fourths hour, boat
man who assisted me thru the GUS
toms house and spent one and one
half hours with me, and porter for
one-half hour, besides saving the Gus
toms house fees. How much do you
think one would have to pay for that
in America. l was also the only
passenger in the small boat, and
Americans are supposed to be mil
lionaires.
met Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson at the
time they were entertaining the
French Governor of the city and the
new Passport Controller. 1t being
July A they had come to pay their
respects. One year before three
French war vessels had paid high
homage to an American destroyer off
the coast and had had regular cele-
bration, but nothing of the kind was
in sight this year, there being 20
war vessels near.
! told the Governor of my arrival
and of my reception. He said that
they should not have vaccinated me,
an American, that he was sorry and
that if wished I might leave for
Adana the next day. He requested
me to come to his Office so that he
could send for my passport, and have
it brot to the Mission. On the way
to his Office we met another officer
who wanted to know the result Of the
Dempsey Carpenter fight. He was
quite disappointed when I could not
tell him.
By this time the Governor and !
were good friends so told him about
my friends on the Umbria who wish
ed to land for the day. He said it
would be very easy to fix them up a
permit so they could celebrate the
4th on land.
We had now reached headquarters.
There, on either side of the broad
walk leading up to the steps of the
house and on into the stairway,
were two lines of native gendarmes
who Strengthened up and presented
arms as we went thru the lines. The
Governor sent soldier for my pass
port and sent a note that any or all
the fellows in my crowd on the ship
might land for the day. When the
l soldier and / walked cut thru the
lines, all the gendarmes presented
arms again and then / realized that
it was not for the officer but for me,
who had quite a reputation in Mer-
sina by this time for hob-knobbing
with the Governor.