The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-17
Onoo Patriot and Politician, now
a 1Tinancier.
PLANNEDDOM PEDRUSOYER7H2OT
lie was Prominent Figure In BRAZIL.
ian Pol!tics..-llow he Camo to Leave
That Country.--Now ut the Head Of
II Dig Steamship Company...h Hc.
marliaDlc Man.

sells would ply between tho United
States and Brazil, was about TO be or.
ganized. The prospectus Of tho compa.
ny was setiorth ut great length. twas
stated that 4 fleet OF eight steamers and
numerous sailing vessels were 10 make
trips between Now York AID Rio do ia.
metro, and that the big South American
Republic would not only give subsidy
TO the company, but would also guaran-
tee its bonds.
The capital OF the company was to be
S3,OO0,0OO, and the officers OF II vas us
follows: EX-Judgc Dittenhocfnr, prcsi-
dent, Thomas l.. James, vice president;
john \. Hayward, treasurer, and Rufus
Il. Wilson, secretary.
The company has now been formed,
and III few weeks the first vessels will
sail. While every one engaged in COM
icrCiai enterprises is cogniHant OF the
advantages which such steamship
line will give TO both countries, very
few except those financially Interested
i'll the company know to whom tho
circuit oil organizing u IS que.
lie is simply known us II brazilian pa.
triot who is interested in tho welfare OF
his country. Really he is one OF the
most remarkable men OF the century.
whose lie would make story seldom
surpassed for adventure and daring in
the realms OF fiction.
Antonio IIilario dc Paula Coelho, the
organizer OF the company, is man OF
rare physical and mental accomplish
mGnts. lie was born In the state Of
Niinas GoraCs, aid Is Il member Of ole
OF tho most famoua families Of Brazil,
being Il grand nephew OF Latino Coclho
leader Of The liberal party i'll the portu.
Gucsc Parliament. Three OF his broth
crs arc now members OF the Brazilian
Congress. lie is also the intimate
friend OF President Dcodorc da Fonseca
Senior Coelho was educated in Rio
Janciro and enlistcl as 4 prlvat, SOL
dicr in the Brazilian army Mt the conl-
mcncCmcnt OF the war With Paraguay.
He was soon promoted, however, TO the
rank OF colonel, title which he now
holds. During the course. OF the war
with Paraguay he was wounded seven
times, and five OF tho bullets arc still
imbeddcd in his bod". At the close OF
hostiliiies I'LL the officers who had dis
tinguishcd themselves by deeds Of
bravery were summoned before the
Emperor in order that they might re-
ceivc his thanks in person. When the
officers went to the palace theymarched
in single file through the room in
which Dom Pedro stood. As each
passed him he kissed his hand. Colonel
Coelho had certain peculiar demo-
cratic ideas OF his own. lie believed
that all men were equal, and he refused
10 kiss the hand OF Dom Pedro. The
Emperor demanded to know the reason
OF such disioyalty, and Colonel Cociho
answered that, while he respected him
rs 4 man, he refused to pay homage to
IN Emperor. From this time he be-
came q marked man.
Shortly after this incident Colonel
Coelho's father died. and lie inherited
the greater part OF his vast estates. His
first act was to SGT free 400 slaves. This
was really the Inauguration OF the move
mentor cmancipating slavery i'll Brazil.
1t was through his influence that the
emperor was led TO issue, in 1883, the
proclamation announcing the cmaucipa-
ton OF all the slaves in the empire.
In 1877 the iact reached the ears OF
the emperor that Colonel COelho, who
was then ono OF the leaders OF the Iibc-
raj party, WIS ut the head OF conspi.
racy to overthrow Dom Pedro and pro-
claim Il republic. lie was living in
Minas at the time, and on learning that
the emperor had discovered tho consDi-
racy, left on the first steamer. which
was bound for Lisbon, where he arrived
in due time. Shortly uitGrwnrd Dom
Pedro went to Europe himself, and in
dine time arrived in Lisbon. His secrc-
tary, in looking over the hotel register,
found that Colonel Coriilo Wis stopping
in the same house with the emperor.
Dom Pedro Immediately sent his score.
tary to the colonel to announce that lie
desired to have an audience with him.
Colonel Coelho told tho secretary that
he had no wish to sec the emperor, but
after another request he consented to
nj interview Dom Pedro wished 10
know what WIS Colonel Coelho's mission,
in Portugal. The answer was that he
was travelling for recreation and inior.
nation"
THAT is good" answered Dom Pedro,
"and ii YOU desire any more recreation
and information, / earnestly advise
you to visit the United States OF Amer
lea before returning to Brazil"
lie then volunteered to give Cociho
letters OF introduction 10 number OF
prominent citizens OF New York, in.
Guiding Peter Cooper, Samuel J. Tildon
n,NI nj al al L.
acted OH the cmperor's suggestion and
started for New York, arriving here in
1878.
On his arrival he met General Grant,
and was induced to invest 500 600 in
the firm OF Grant & Ward. At that
timo he had plenty oil money, and was
drawing ali cnormous income from his
brazilian estates. llo aitcrward be.
came commission merchant, doing
business with the leading houses OF
Brazil. Ho imported coffee to the
United States. and was really the Pic.
Mccr OF that business in this country.
Both while here and in Brazil lie has
earnestly advocated the overthrow OF
Dom Pedro, and deserves Il great share
OF Tho credit for tho establishment o,
tho republic. He was in constant
communication with the army and
navy officers in Brazil, and kept up
voluminous correspondence with his
Liberal friends. In TACT, he was one OF
the leaders OF tho Liberal party. 1t is
no breach of faith 10 say that it was
his mind that planned the revolution
Less than fifty mon knew that Dom
Pedro was to DO cxilcd, but these were
al in Colonel Coclho's confidence
When tho wonderfully wcll-workod