by The Lost Cyclist: The Epic Tale of an American Adventurer;His Mysterious Disappearance
Sachtleben made several follow-up visits to the vali, but the results were invariably disappointing. The governor revealed that he had sent gendarmes to Chilkani, Karakalissa, Zedikan, and Dahar to interview the locals, but all denied seeing a wheelman pass through. At one point, Sachtleben divulged the names of the suspects, already known to the porte. The vali was furious to discover that Sachtleben had been withholding that information. "Why did you not give these names to me?" he stammered. He then demanded to know Sachtleben's source, but the investigator coyly refused to reveal the names of his Armenian informants.
The vali then launched into a tirade, cursing Lenz's stupidity. "Why did he go traveling among the Kurds without a zaptieh on a jansizat [soul-less horse]?" he shouted. "Of course he would be killed!" In the midst of his rant, Khadouri handed the vali a photo of Lenz. The official suddenly fell silent as he examined the image. "Oh, he was quite young!" the governor remarked at last in a much softer tone. Replied the interpreter: "Young, yes, but very strong."
On July 12, unbeknownst to Sachtleben, Terrell visited Yildiz, the sultan's fortified palace, to discuss the Lenz case with the supreme ruler himself. Terrell described his host, Abdul Hamid II: "The sultan is over fifty years old, of medium height, with clear olive complexion, dark hair, high forehead, and large dark brown eyes. His habitual expression is one of extreme sadness. Though his pashas are decorated with regal splendor, he always appears in plain garb, wearing a red fez, a frock coat, dark blue trousers and leather shoes. A broad sword which he holds sheathed in his hands completes the costume."
The American minister found the sultan "agreeable in conversation" and, unlike most European sovereigns, "free from that stilted dignity that repels confidence." The despot was indeed a man of many eclectic interests, ranging from opera to wrestling. And he loved nothing more than a good mystery, being a voracious reader of the Sherlock Holmes novels. Indeed, the sultan took great pride in his vast spy network, and he was reportedly obsessed by the fear that would-be assassins were forever lurking in the shadows. He listened intently as Terrell's dragoman recounted the Lenz case.
When Terrell concluded, the sultan inquired about Lenz's gear. Indeed, that past fall, he had asked Terrell to procure from America "two bicycles of the best sort." The minister relayed the request to Uhl, stressing that the wheels were not to exceed $150 each. Abdul Hamid was also a photography buff, having commissioned thousands of photographs throughout his empire. He had only recently presented the British Museum and the Library of Congress with a collection of fifty albums chock-full of images depicting the progress of the Ottoman Empire.
Terrell finally steered the conversation to Lenz's assailants. This time, however, the minister referred to Khazar's report, telling the sultan that Lenz's bicycle tubes had been found in the hands of the Kurdish chief Moostoe Niseh, a resident of Chilkani and an officer in the Hamidieh regiments. Terrell demanded that the porte instruct the vali of Erzurum to arrest at once the Kurd and his accomplices.
Visibly shaken, the sultan replied that anyone could have purchased those articles. He declared that it was his duty to provide justice under his reign, and he insisted that nothing would be done contrary to justice. Therefore, nobody would be arrested without reasonable and definite grounds. Terrell countered that if the suspects were arrested and interrogated, the elusive truth could be established.
Unmoved, Abdul Hamid reiterated that the mere possession of those articles was insufficient grounds to arrest the Kurd. He maintained that before anyone could be arrested the authorities had to determine if, and where, Lenz had entered Ottoman territory. Terrell replied that Lenz had come from Tabriz, Persia, and had even sent him a postcard from that place. Upon reaching the border at Kizil Dizeh, Lenz had sent him a letter stating that he had been well treated by Turkish authorities.
Abdul Hamid expressed incredulity that Lenz would have come that way, insisting that he must have debarked at a port such as Batum on the Black Sea (now Batumi, Georgia). Told that Lenz had come all the way from China almost entirely overland, the sultan stared incredulously. "How could he possibly have cycled across the vast deserts of central Asia?" he gasped.
In any case, the sultan asserted, even if Lenz had crossed the Persian border into Turkey, he could easily have gone back to Persia or headed into Russia. His officials would therefore need to consult with their Russian and Persian counterparts to make sure that Lenz had not wound up in either of those countries.
As their animated meeting came to a close, Abdul Hamid expressed his deep regret that this "small affair" had become such a sore point between the two countries. He expressed his concern, judging from the ambassador's insistent demands, that the American government was simply using the Lenz affair as a pretext to compel the porte to arrest and perhaps execute a few token Kurds from the Hamidieh regiments—a reprisal of sorts for their alleged abuse of the Armenians. For his part, he insisted that his government would not be cowed and would adhere to proper legal procedures.
Terrell's initiative seems to have spurred the porte into action, at least temporarily. The day after his visit, the grand vizier cabled the governor of Erzurum to remind him that the Lenz case was not an ordinary one and that the suspects should be arrested immediately. The day after that, however, the sultan's chief official cabled the vali again and ordered him to suspend all action in the case until further notice.
Sachtleben, meanwhile, continued to press for his men. On July 23, he returned to the vali and was astonished when the official indicated that he was now prepared to supply a dozen zaptiehs. An elated Sachtleben wrote Langhans: "At last, at last, I am triumphant over the Vali! I hope to leave shortly for Alashgerd to search for Mr. Lenz's remains personally." Alas, a few days later, the vali reneged, maintaining that he was still awaiting permission from the porte. Per the vali's suggestion, the investigator again cabled Terrell asking him to press the porte on the matter.
On August 1, Terrell wired back: "I will answer your cable in three days." Not until August 6, however, did he send a second cable reading: "Unless the Vali is taking effective steps to arrest and punish the guilty, your stay there is useless. In returning to the Wheelmen of America come by this city." Sachtleben was stunned. He could not fathom turning back now, not after all this time and tribulation. He cabled back: "I do not propose to abandon search until you inform me that you cannot obtain such instructions without which nothing will be done here."
The investigator was hardly cheered, a few days later, when he received a rare letter from the minister written several days before his latest cable. "You must be aware that no American Minister has the authority to demand indemnity, or, as you term it, 'blood money,' until his Government instructs him," Terrell admonished. Nor would he demand the ten zaptiehs: "To give you a force to search suspected parties and houses is not to be thought of. No government can be expected to authorize a foreigner to go to the houses of its people and search them. Their government can find the murderers if it will. To demand that it shall do this is all that I can until I hear from Washington."
Terrell, however, suggested that Sachtleben might yet receive a force sufficient to retrieve the body, if only he exercised patience: "The business methods of the Turkish officials at the Porte are always slow, and I cannot wonder that you are impatient," the minister consoled. "But you must have realized this before you agreed to undertake the present work." The minister pointed out that the recent Armenian troubles were now absorbing the porte, making their response time to minor issues even slower than usual. On a more positive note, the minister added: "As soon as you hear from America and have the means of identifying the skeleton of Mr. Lenz, I will see that you are authorized to exhume it."
Up to this point, the State Department had been largely supportive of Terrell's handling of the Lenz case, virtually apologizing to the minister for Sachtleben's "impetuosity and ill-temper." By mid-August, however, Sachtleben's overtures to the American public were beginning to pay off. The new secretar
y of state, Richard Olney, successor to the late Walter Q. Gresham, felt increasing pressure to demonstrate that the department was doing everything possible to resolve the case.
On August 13, Acting Secretary Adee instructed Terrell to demand a larger force for Sachtleben, although he stopped short of specifying the number of guards. Read the cable: "Governor of Erzerum offers Sachtleben inadequate guard of two soldiers. Ask escort to insure and permit practical investigation of Lenz murder."
Terrell cabled back: "I have renewed demand for a guard to protect Sachtleben in identifying Lenz's skeleton." He stressed, however, that even with a larger force, Sachtleben's plan to search the homes of the Kurdish chiefs for evidence was pure "folly." Huffed the minister: "It would require an army to protect Sachtleben in his scheme. Though Turkey has armed that race she has never been able to control it." He also expressed doubts that Turkish soldiers would respect Sachtleben's authority, pointing out that "German officers of the highest rank employed in the Turkish service are never allowed to utter a word of command to their soldiers, it being degrading for even a private to move at the command of a Christian officer."
Terrell was nonetheless determined to placate the State Department. A few days later, he paid a visit to the foreign minister to make a personal appeal for a larger force. The minister pointed out that the United States had vouched for Turkey's sovereignty, having thus far refused to back European demands to intervene in Turkish affairs on the Armenian question. Naturally, he expected Turkey to show its appreciation by facilitating the arrest and conviction of Lenz's murderers. Warned the minister: "Sixty million Americans are carefully following this affair, and any further delays will certainly have harmful effects on public opinion."
Terrell then cabled Sachtleben promising to send another cable shortly detailing "final action." Though unclear on what exactly that phrase meant, Sachtleben hoped it signaled that he was about to get his men at long last. He was more eager than ever to conduct the house searches, even if they were unlikely to turn up evidence. In any case, a large force would come in handy in the search for Lenz's grave. He had just received the revealing photo of Lenz's teeth along with his mother's graphic description and was now confident that he could identify the bones once recovered.
As August closed, however, no further word came from Terrell. Writing a friend in St. Louis, Sachtleben expressed his exasperation.
I am sorry that governmental affairs move so slowly. I had hoped to return to the United States by September at the latest and enjoy in company with the boys a few trips out of town on the bicycle. But fate has decided otherwise. I am still here trying to induce the stubborn Turkish officials to travel in the ways of justice. I am eating to keep up my energy for so difficult and hopeless a task, and silently praying for a speedy release from so trying a position.
Meanwhile, Sachtleben continued to search locally for more evidence. On August 20, he received word from two Armenian informants that one of Moostoe's gang was in town, a certain Achmet of Chilkani. He was in fact visiting with the Armenians, unaware that they were discreetly assisting Sachtleben. Per the investigator's request, the Armenians had themselves photographed with their visitor. Achmet had allegedly told other friends that he personally killed Lenz, and one witness even claimed to have seen Lenz's silver revolver in Achmet's possession. Sachtleben was pleased to obtain an image of the murderer. A short while later, another person of interest, Moostoe's servant Garabed Hovagemian, also came to town. Sachtleben instructed his informants to induce the man to talk about the Lenz affair, but they failed to extract any testimony.
Finally, in late August, Terrell cabled: "Sufficient guard has been ordered for you. See governor." Sachtleben rushed over to the official residence. The vali, in fact, promised to give him as many zaptiehs as he wished. Elated, Sachtleben began to make preparations for his trip to Alashgerd. Once again, however, the vacillating official reneged at the last moment, saying he still needed the porte's approval. Sachtleben was "dumbfounded." He immediately cabled Terrell: "Vali declares he has received no orders and still refuses me escort. How much more delay must there be?"
Sachtleben dashed off another irate letter to Terrell. "I do not see why there should be any more delay in this Lenz case. Even if there were a dozen mighty questions, like the settlement of Armenian affairs, before the Porte, any able government should have the necessary force of officials to carry out minor affairs, as you term this Lenz case. It seems to me that the murder of an American citizen is about as important a case as can arise in international relations."
The wheelman proposed that the minister stage a show of force to budge the Turks, such as sending a warship into the harbor of Constantinople. He again explained at length why Terrell should immediately demand an indemnity. Although Terrell did not respond to Sachtleben right away, he forwarded a copy of the letter to the State Department, remarking dryly: "Its disquisition on International Law will give you a faint idea of the embarrassments I have to face." Added the minister: "The bold effrontery shows that it is intended for publication."
As tensions between Sachtleben and Terrell mounted, even Lenz's friends back home began to worry that the outspoken cyclist might be pushing the State Department a bit too far. Wrote Purinton to Adee: "I know that Sachtleben has chaffed under delay and has been pretty blunt in some of his remarks. But I am sure that his position at Erzurum is calculated to make one crabbed. You will no doubt take this into consideration before passing judgment upon him."
When September opened, Sachtleben appeared destined to stew indefinitely in Erzurum, while the hopes for any consolation in the Lenz affair continued to fade. On the sixth of that month, however, Sachtleben at last received some encouraging news. Graves delivered a terse telegram from Terrell reading: "Postpone your departure until the arrival of Shakir Pasha, who will furnish suitable escort."
Lenz in China, wearing traditional Mandarin dress.
Above: A letter from Lenz to his step-uncle Fred, written aboard the Oceanic en route to Japan. He expected to be out of China by February 1893, but he was still there in late June. Right: Lenz's calling card.
Scenes from the Great West, summer 1892. Above: Lenz reflects in the woods. Left: Lenz watches a train go by after another close call. Below: Lenz marches his wheel along the tracks during a sandstorm, probably in Oregon.
Above: Lenz fixes one of the four flats he suffered in the United States. Left: Lenz poses for a local photographer in Missoula, Montana, August 1892.
Lenz heads up a mountain road as he nears the Pacific coast in California.
Lenz in front of the royal palace in Honolulu, shortly before the overthrow of the monarchy.
Lenz in a contemplative mood aboard the Oceanic, en route to Japan.
A page from Outing showing Lenz and friends by a giant Buddha.
Japan, November 1892. Lenz hired coolies to help him cross a mountain.
A crowd observes him as he stops on the national highway.
Lenz crosses the famous Five Arch Bridge in southern Japan.
Lenz crosses a much narrower bridge in China.
Chinese villagers strain for a view of the foreigner adept at using chopsticks.
Top: Lenz cycles past a group of onlookers in China. Bottom: Lenz crosses a stone bridge, probably in western China.
Lenz's route around the world (east to west), ending prematurely in Turkey.
Middle: Lenz in a city of temples, possibly in Burma. Bottom: Lenz admires the fortress in Agra, India.
Lenz unpacks his new bicycle frame and parts in Calcutta, September 1893.
Lenz's abandoned trunk, marked "Hold Until Arrival."
Middle: Lenz chats with a local. The Taj Mahal looms in the background. Bottom: Lenz rests at a milestone on the way to Allahabad.
Above: Lenz with camels, probably in Beluchistan or Persia. He relied on them to cross the desert between India and Persia. Below: Lenz photographed himself at rest. He was probably at a government bungalow in India.
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br /> The Selamlik ceremony at the sultan's mosque near Yildiz Palace in Constantinople.
Left: The Reverend William Chambers interviews locals in Erzurum about the Lenz affair while Sachtleben takes notes. Middle: Shakir Pasha, Sachtleben's escort to Alashgerd. Right: The future sultan Abdul Hamid II, on a visit to London in 1867. In July 1895 he would discuss the Lenz case with the American minister Alexander Watkins Terrell.
The prison at Erzurum where five Armenians implicated in the Lenz murder were held. Two of them died in captivity.
The Armenians of Erzurum bury their dead, October 31, 1895, a day after the massacre. Photo by Sachtleben.
The contents of Lenz's trunk. Sachtleben recovered it in Constantinople and brought it to Lenz's mother in Pittsburgh.
The last known photo of Frank Lenz, taken by the crown prince of Persia in Tabriz in late April 1894, about two weeks before Lenz's death.
The envelope that contained Lenz's last letter to Petticord, sent from Tabriz.
The graphic published in Outing in the fall of 1892 announcing Lenz's series.
13. ERZURUM
September 9, 1895
SHAKIR PASHA ARRIVED in Erzurum "amid a great deal of trumpet blowing and firing of cannon." This distinguished soldier and diplomat was about to embark on a tour of troubled Armenia to implement reforms mandated by the three overseeing powers—France, Russia, and Great Britain—designed to improve the condition of Armenians and to stem the rising tide of regional violence.