The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-12-16

polls and into the line entirely on his
own merits General Fremont's son
was his chum at the academy. Nc
Lean was an oar and football player.
He had fine courage but bit too
much of a temper.
After leaving the service, Mclean
was tactician for prominent military
college. Then he had some sort of an
assignment abroad for an American
ordnance company. He was an author
ity on heavy pieces, high explosives
and rapid fire batteries. Mclean was
simply passing away time between
Washington and New York when the
Admiral De Mello revolution of Brazil
reached it's greatest proportions. One
day, the American was summoned from
the capital to the metropolis. By a
friend he was presented to the Brazil
ian commissioners at that time we'll
located in New York. These gentle
men had purchased the steamer Ell Cid.
Her name was changed to Nichteroy.
Her most important gun was Zalin-
sky Dynamite cannon with the muzzle
sticking clear over the bow. Her crew
was a very rough gang recruited in
New York.
Said the commissioner to Mclean:
'!You have been highly recommended
to us. We should like to engage you.
The task is simple. The pay will be
big. Take command of the Nichteroy.
Make such changes in officers and
crew as you like. Complete taking on
supplies within ten days. Then sail
Steer for Rio harbor De Mello has
possession of it with all our navy. En-
gage him if he does not flee. We be-
lieve he will run. If he stands your
| dynamite gun can sink his flagship
Then the rest will surrender. You gel
| $4,000 and become Admiral of the
Brazilian navy
This is the way Mclean tells the re-
mainder of the episode: 81 asked fol
$4,000 more right on the spot. The.
said yes and I think it would hav,
been the same if had asked for $50,
600. The money was to be deposited
| conditionally in a New York bank
| The interview ended and I was to re
ply the next afternoon. The following
morning I received by wire an offel
| from Minister Thurston to take charg,
of the Hawaiian military forces. Al
night had thought of the expedition
to the South l weighed everything
very carefully There was crew o
regular mustangs, likely to mutiny a
the drop of a hat. The ship was {
| shell. De Mello had a pretty goot
navy. In the dynamite gun, I had NJ
confidence whatever. I don't believ'
any other naval man had at that time
| had witnessed experiments with i
and knew we'll there &as great DANCE
in handling it. Some of De Mello'
men probably knew about that. Tn
$40. 900 looked mighty fine and so dit
the prospective command of fleet
but at daylight it was Hawaii and he
regiment for me. The Brazilian gentle
men expressed disappointment. l fel
a trifie embarrassed, but soon left TO
the Islands.
Its just fearful how things happel
sometimes" sighed Mclean afte
smoothing some ribs that horse ha
fractured for him a few days before
"They finally left New York with tina
old tub. After one Of the longest voy
ages on record they anchored to avail
developments in a sheltered and pre-
teeted cove a few miles from Rio
Finally they mustered courage to fac
the music. As the Nichteroy was sight
ed. De Mello lifted his mud hooks
made out of the harbor and steame
hard for deep water. The Nichtero
came in like an excursion boat. TIL
moral effect of that long stovepip
supposed to be dynamite gun did tn
business"
For a long, long time, Mclean wi
regret that he failed to accept the Pre-
, position of the gentlemen from Brazi