Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1895 — Fortune’s Whirl. [ARTICLE]

Fortune’s Whirl.

John James Magee, the Guatemalan millionaire, twenty years ago was a poor collector of Insects, occasionally acting as British vice-consul at San Joae. One day the comiuandante sent for him, and Magee returned answer that hki would come presently. The official sent a squad of soldiers, seized Magee, and gave orders that be should receive seventy-five lashes on his bare back. At the close of this ceremony the commandante cried: “Give him twenty-five more, Just for luck.”' Magee complained to England, and that country jordered Guatemala to punish the official and to pay the victim five hundred dollars for every lash. Thus Magee received fifty thousand dollars tn a lump, which made him richer In coin than most men In Guatemala. Naturally, President Barrios Went Into partnership with him, and the entomologist became a big coffee planter and a dock builder for the ports. Nearly every one who lands In Guatemala now has to pay tribute to him, and he also owns rich mines and timber tracts. Three-fourths of his time he now spends in Paris. His nephew, William Magee, Is a member of several San Francisco clubs.