Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1903 — CONSOL IS NOT DEAD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONSOL IS NOT DEAD.

REPORTED MURDER OF AMERI* CAN OFFICIAL UNTRUE. Macelsaen Was Fired Upou. but Ballets Missed Him —Warships Will Enforce Turkey’* Guarantees for Safety of Lives of United States Citizens. United States Vice Consul William Q. Magelesen was not assassinated at Beirut, Syria, as first reported. An attempt

to assassinate him was made, but the bullets fired by his unknown assailant did not touch him. This Startling but satisfactory news was received by the State Department Friday afternoon, and immediately made known by telegraph to President

Roosevelt at Oyster Bay. The President at once directed that the orders to Rear Admiral Cotton should not be countermanded, but that he should proceed direct to Beirut with the Brooklyn, San Francisco and Machias. President Roosevelt considers the attempt on the life of Vice Consul Magelasen as serious from a diplomatic point of view as though the assassin had succeeded in kilting him. If Turkey does not promptly comply with each and every demand of the Washington government Rear Admiral Cotton will be instructed to seize one or more ports and hold them until the American demands are granted. Mr. Leishmnn states that conditions are growing constantly more acute, and that the situation in that section is extremely grave. In his cablegram to Minister Letehman regarding the report of the American board of missions that an attempt 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 protection of the lives of all Americans there. United States Minister Leishmnn at Constantinople says the mistake in making the original announcement was due to an error in the transmission of the cipher dispatch from Consul Ravndal at Beirut in reporting the incident to the minister. The dispatches from the minister were extremely gratifying to the officials of the government in Washington, as they

relieve the situation of its extreme tension and leave the way open for an amicable and peaceful adjustment of the incident. Acting Secretary Loomis declined to make public the text of Minister Leishman'a dispatch, but he gave a summary of its contents- It showed that Mr. Magclssen had been shot at by some person, at the time unknown to the officials, but that lie had not been hit- The local Turkish officials were prompt to express regret at the occurrence, and were exert-

-•! ■ " ~ ing themselves to apprehend the assassin, but thus far had been unsuccessful. | Situation at Helrnt Critical. The minister's dispatch also said that Consul Ravndal had reported to him that some of the foreign consuls located at Beirut had reported to their governments that the situation at that place had become exceedingly unsafe, that this condition of affairs had' existed for some time, and that something ought to be done to relieve the tension. The opinion was expressed that the attempted assassination of Magelr.en probably would bring matters to a focus, the attention of the Turkish government being drawn to the matter in this forcible way, and some effort thus be made to avoid further trouble. The latest development in the Turkish situation was discussed in official circles,

where the view is held that the denial of the report of the killing of Mr. Magelsson relieves the situation of its immediate awkward and embarrassing feature, but will not prevent our naval vessels continuing to the East. Minister Leishmnn in one of his dispatches to the department suggested that conditions were such that it might be well to have some American naval demonstration in those wuters. Reports also have come to the government from the missionary interests of the threatened destruction of their property at Harpoot, and because of this Admiral Cotton, it is expected, will bo allowed to proceed with one or more of, liis vessels to Beirut. ’ 1 Warships on the Way. The action of Acting Secretary Darling in ordering the Brooklyn and San Francisco to. proceed to Beirut without waiting for the Machine meets with the hearty approval- of -the State Department. The condition of affairs and the methods of the Turkish government as already developed indicate to officials here that only a show of force will secure the redress demanded. It is believed that the dispatch of American warships to the scene in such haste will convince the Sublime Porte ■that the United States means to make nil its demands effective. The American squadron will be useful in protecting Americans who are located in the disturbed districts of Turkey and Macedonia, aEd further will furnish a refuge for those who are near the sea coast and n'lay suffer from the disorders. Another urgent appeal has reached the State Department from the American board of missions at Boston that immediate steps be taken for the protection of the American citizens at Beirut. The board’s dispatches from there for several days have represented the situation as extremely grave. There are at the Euphrates college at Harpoot fourteen American teachers, besides women and children, and property to the value of SIOO,OOO. It is learned that there is an American college at Beirut in which are a number of American teachers. No word has reached the State Department regarding any attaek on them. Minister Leishmnn, in his cablegram to the State Department, confirms the press dispatches regarding the hews of the dynamiting of a train fifty miles outside of Constantinople, stating that many of the passengers were killed.

MR. LEISHMAN.

MAP OF DISTURBED DISTRICT.