The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-07-22
MANDARIN PEREZ.
Remarkable Adventures
of a Peruvian Soldier.
Leaves the Army, Becomes a Lock-
smith and Finally Marries the
Chinese Emperor's Aunt.
Special Correspondence.

PANAMA. July Am the last century a
Peruvian adventurer became Turkish
Pasha and died as Bey of Tunis. Not
many years ago another South American
Of the same nationality reached high dis
tincton in the Egyptian service. dying
finally while defending the cause of Arab
PAsha.
Now. the story comes from China, that
one Jacinto Perez, once common soldier
in the Colombian army. and we'll known
In Panama, where he served his last two
years in the ranks. died 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 children. Rela-
tives of Perez, now upon the lsthmus, re-
ceived the news here by the last China
mail coming via San Francisco.
After leaving the army here in 1878
Perez kept for time little shop near the
old railway depot, where he repaired pis-
tolls and patched up old guns, mended
sewing-machines and Anticipated locks.
A year later he suddenly took his de-
parture in company with young Peru
Wan who had been sailor on one of the
steamers of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company.
They reached Canton, after visiting San
Francisco and Australia, in 1881, aud es-
tahlished themselves as street-peddlers, in
which business they seem 10 have accumu-
lated some little wealth. Perez called
himself 'Thito- Fa- Le," and the Peruvian,
his partner, took the name of "Pan-Lan."
They were natural linguists 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 COUP
try they settled down in a prominent street
and branched out as importers of British
and American improved firearms. display
ing 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 back room,
numb ering shortly among their scholars
in the art many of the local military Off
GERS of the Chinese service. Fencing be-
came popular "fad" 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 Colombian ana 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 them
selves as to be brevetted major-generals of
the empire. In the second engagement the
Peruvian was killed.
The revolt suffocated, "Thto Fa- Lee,
was promoted to leutenant-general. sec
ond in command of the imperial Guard at
Peking In that capacity he discovered a
plot of his superior officer against the Eu-
peror, killed the officer, and was then
made chief of the guard. Grand Marshal
of the Empire. He was for time the 10
innate companion and trusted friend of
his Majesty. finally married the latter's
aunt, and returned to Canton as Man
DARN. Governor and military commander
of the city and province, in which capac-
ity he died, leaving an enormous fortune,
and three children, who have since been
adopted by the Emperor.
GEORGE EUGENE BRYsoN.