NOTED SPORTSMAN

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1931, Page 2

NOTED SPORTSMAN

IN SEARCH OF FISH

MAGAZINE PUBLISHER

LUXURY IN UNITED STATES. Distinguished sportsman, and publisher of many magazines in the United States, Captain W. H. Fawcett, of Minneapolis, accompanied by Mrs Fawcett, arrived in Wellington by the Monowai on Monday, mainly with the intention of going to the Bay of Islands for deep-sea fishing. The . present is Captain Fawcett’s third trip round the world, although it is his first visit to the Dominion. With Mrs Fawcett lie went big game hunting in Tanganyika Territory, British East Africa, last year. He scoured a total “bag” of 44, which included three lions, an elepliant i and in all 21 different types of animals. He was head of the United States shooting team at the Olympic Games at Paris in 1924. The type of shooting was “trapshooting,” with ti clay target, and the team was successful in taking the world's championship. Captain Fawcett lias been twice to Alaska on sporting tuiife, title! while there shot liodiuk IjCii rlq a lid also secured the fifth largest moose in the World oil tllS'Kenai Peninsula, its antlers having a-66'inch- spread, Another interesting .tour also undertaken last year was to Soviet Russia by Captain and Mrs Fawcett.

Captain Fawcett during the last twelve years has, from nothing, built up a corporation which controls eleven publications which have a combined circulation of over two millions monthly. Cantain Fawcett, who is a Canadian by birth, but is a naturalised United States citizen, joined up with the Canadian Army on the outbreak of the World War. When tin? United States entered the conflict, Captain Fawcett, in company with his brother, Captain Roscoe Fawcett, of the Air Service, enlisted with the C.S. Regular Army.

Captain Fawcett, relating his experiences on Tuesday prior to leaving for Rotorua, said that he had been a newspaper man all his life, and in common with most newspaper men, never had enough money to satisfy his wants. More particularly was this so. on the demobilisation of the foioe.s on the cessation of hostilities, and lie decided to look round for some way to increase his income.

initial enture. “I got the idea of getting (Hit a sflappy magazine cidled ‘Whiz Bang’ after th© bursting and shrieking shells of the war. I took the soldiers’ ‘jolieti and jests and jingled fittd presented them in a bright way in the magazine, with the result that the publication scored a wonderful success- It ‘just like Topsy, grew,’ as we say in the States. After the success of my initial effort I have extended and extended my business, until now we are printing over two million copies a month.” Describing some of Ids publications, which are controlled by a corporation known as Fawcett Publications Inc., with Captain Fawcett as publisher, and his brother as editor, Captain Fawcett said that “Modern Mechanics and Inventions,” which was a review of the latest scientific and mechanical developments in the world, had a circulation of .200,060, and “Battle Stories)’.’..which was started because of the experience of the two brothers in the war; and' “dedicated to the fighting forces of the United States and Canada’ whose gallant daring and deathless, courage always distinguished their deeds on Jfiril and sea or in the sky,’’ had a circulation of 150,000.

Two magazines produced by the corporation which enjoyed a fair measure of popularity in New Zealand were “Screen Play” and “Hollywood” the former having a circulation of 250,C00 and the latter 80.0C0. Another publicaton', “Mystic Magaainc,” had its genesis as the result of Captain Fawcett’s observations in British countries of the very great interest taken in clairvoyance, and in particular the ideas and writings of the late Sir Conan Doyle. The most nonulnr seller in America at present, said Captain Fawcett, was the “Startling Defective Adventures,” a magazine which had a circulation of 275,000, while “True Confessions,” his second venture, reached 350,000 monthIv. Two ot’’er magazines were "The Amateur Golfer and Sportsman” 0300,000 monthlv) and “How to Build It,” a book of suggestions to budding engineers.

AMERICAN LUXURY

Although the headquarters of the Fawcett Publications are situated in Minneapolis, Captain Fawcett lives about 150 miles to the north, "fn what is known as Fawcett’s Breezy Point, a summer resort on the Big Pelican Lake, Pcquot. Minnesota. Breezy Point is owned by Captain Fawcett, and consists of a main hotel and annexes, stables, garages, a boat house, a power plat, a deer shed, an athletic club, a golf shelter and links, a bathing dock and diving platforms, a water slide, tennis courts, shooting platforms, and countless other things that, help one. to enjov a holiday “The resort,” be continued, “is situated on a. wooden point jutting into Big Pelican Lake, and is flanked by timbered bills, traversed by pineneedled shady paths. One does not expect luxurious rooms, private baths of

FIRE AT WELLINGTON. OLD BUILDING DESTROYED. WELLINGTON, January 15. Fire completely destroyed on old twelve-roomed house situated in Tennis Court Road, Khandaliah, this evening. The binding, which is- a twostoreyed one constructed of corrugated iron and wood, was owned by the Hanna estate and was occupied by Mr C, Boseley and his son. The back portion only was used. The fire broke out in the front part which was rarely entered*. Fanned by a heavy wind the blaze rapidly destroyed the structure and the occupants had only time to snatch up a few belongings. The city brigade was called, but it was unable to do more than safeguard the neighbou ring dwe 11 ings.