MACHARG, WILLIAM [BRIGGS] (1872–1951). Born in Chicago,
William MacHarg was a journalist, editor, and publisher of The American
Mercury, as well as a fiction writer. He collaborated with Edwin Balmer
(1883–1959) on mystery, romance, and adventure stories, some of which
are set in the Chicago and Great Lakes* area. Their best-known novel, The
Indian Drum (1917), deals with Chicago shipping empires and has its
climax in a great winter storm on Lake Michigan. Corrupt ambition, disguise, madness, a purported Native American legend, and shipwrecks* contribute to this story of betrayal, blackmail, restoration, and atonement. Both
authors also wrote short fiction, including stories of the Great Lakes, for
newspapers and magazines.