Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-17
WHEEL OF FORTUNE.
Tho Remarkable Career of Colom-
bian Soldier In China.

The Remarkable Career OF n COlOm-
bian Soldier in China.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
PANAMA, July 4, 1894.
In the last century Peruvian adven-
turer became a Turkish pasta and died as
Bey Of Tunis. Not many years ago an
other South American Of the same nation
atty reached high distinction in the Egyp-
tan service, dying finally while defending
the cause OF Arab Pasha-
Now the story comes from China that one
Jacinto Perez once a common soldier in
the Colombian army and we'll known in
Panama, where he served his last two
years IN the ranks, eied four months ago
in Canton, a mandarin of the Chinese en-
pire and military governor of the province,
leaving a widow. the aunt Of the emperor,
and three childreI. Relatives OF Perez now
upon the isthmus received the news here
BY the last China nall, coming via San
Francisco. After leaving the army here in
1873 Perez kept for a time a little shop
near the old railway depot where he re-
paired pistols and patched up old guns.
mended sewing machines and antiquated
locks. A year later he suddenly took his
ruvian. who had been a sailor on one OF the
steamers OF the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company. They reached Canton. after Wis
iting San Francisco and Australia, In 1881,
and established themselves as street ped
dlers, In which business they seem to have
accumulated some little wealth. Perez called
himself "Thito-Fa-Le." and the Peruvian.
his partner, took the name Of "Pan-I.an."
They were natural linglists, and soon
spoke Chinese perfectly. They made many
friends. and were admitted to membership
in several Chinese secret societies.
After two years residence In the country
they settled down in a prominent street
and branched out as importers Of British
and American improved firearms. display
ing a fine line OF samples. including Span
ish swords and cutlasses and daggers as a
side line. In connection with this they
opened a fencing school in a back room.
numbering shortly among their scholars In
the art many OF the local military officers
OF the Chinese service. Fencing became
popular lad" in Canton, and the influence
Of the two South Americans grew as their
patronage increased.
When, In 1884. the great Istieli rebellion
occurred on the frontier of Mongolia, both
the Columbian and his Peruvian partner,
leaving their establishment In the hands OF
native Chinese clerks, Joined the military
expedition sent by orders of the emperor to
quell the uprising, in the capacity Of In
structors and staff officers. In the very
first battle they so distinguished themselves
as to be brevetted major generals Of the
empire In the second engagement the
Peruvian WAS killed. The revolt put down.
"Thito-Fa-Le" was promoted to lieutenant
general, second in command Of the imperial
guard at Pekin. In that capacity he dis
covered a plot of his superior officer against
the emperor, killed the officer and was then
made chief Of the guard. grand marshal Of
the empire. He was for time the intimate
finally married the latter's aunt and re-
turned to Canton as mandarin. governor and
military commander OF the city and prov
ince. which position he held at his death,
leaving an enormous fortune and three chill
dren. who have since been adopted by the
emperor.