The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-01-12
Zaharof, at 81,
Lonely Old Man
Worlds Leading "Peddler
Of Death" for Many
Years Fears End.

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manufacture of ornaments has
brought thousands of men to see the
face of death, Is taking elaborate
precautions to postpone his own
meeting with the Grim Reaper, Nor
ris Gilbert, N. e. A. Service writer,
tells us, in the New York World
Telegram.
Sir Basil is now eighty-four,
lonely old man and a recluse, seldom
seen, always guarded. He sees few
indeed of the great people who
sought his help in building up their
ornaments. In fact, he sees almost
no one. He seldom ventures out of
e,oors except when the weather is
very good. Two doctors are in at
tendance on him continually, and one
or the other sits at his bedside at
night while low light burns. Some
how Sir Basil Zaharoff doesn't like
the dark.
A strange and silent end draws
near for the man who has always
led a strange and silent life.
Sir Basil, armament salesman de-
luxe to Europe, Asia and other con-
tinents for more than fifty years,
has gained incalculable wealth by
peddling death in the form of high
explosives, machine guns, subma-
rines. heavy artillery and ordinary
rifles to any country that had the
cash.
The Turkey born Greek Frenchman-
Briton (Sir Basil personally en-
bodies the true cosmopolitanism of
the international armament ring)
was always mystery.
His big house in the Avenue
Hoche, near the Etoile in Paris, is
shattered, save for the ground floor
where his famous built-in window
boxes flourish. Years ago he defied
the local police regulations prohibit
ing such contrivances by having
them built behind glass.
Behind the secrecy which sur
rounds the aged plutocrat, his rou-
tine of life is fairly simple. 1t is the
routine of any old man Of great
wealth nursing his dwindling
physique. In winter and early spring
he lives in Monte Carlo-though his
once far-famed ownership of the Ca
sino there has now been liquidated.
Later in the year he lives in his
luxurious London home. Then, in au-
tumn he comes back to Paris.
Only one intimate shares his de-
clining years. This is Mackenzie.
Captain Mackenzie, deur, powerful,
discreet and Scotch. Mackenzie is
his Secretary" by title, but he serves
also as Sir Basil's bodyguard, valet
and nurse.
Sir Basil and Mackenzie have been
associated SO long and so closely that
Sir Basil rarely has to speak any
more. He has got out of the habit
of speaking. Instead, he snaps his
fingers. Mackenzie understands.
Two more men keep vigil by Sir
Basil Zaharoff's side. They are al
most as intimate with him as Mac
kenzie. Both are Greeks, the elderly
Levantine Millionaire having perhaps
returned in spirit to his beginnings !;
which took place in 1S49 in humble
lnud-walled Turkish village. called
Mighla.
Both also are doctors. People
used to think they were bodyguards,
because when he went strolling on
the Riviera few years ago, they
always walked respectfully ten PAGES
behind Zaharoff. But this is not so.
Mackenzie was the man who Tended
Off the beggars and the press. The
doctors walked behind him because
of the possibility of sudden illness
And that is why, according to in
formed persons, they sit up with him,
turn and turn about all night, by his
bedside, where the light is never ex-
tinguished.
Sir Basil doesn't even trust food
very much. Whatever passes his
lips is boiled or otherwise sterilized.
But two personal physicians aren't
enough for Sir Basil when he is in
Monte Carlo. There, each winter.