Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1898-05-30

the city on the Colorado river. Yuma
city has a destiny which is now in full
} view.
ABOUT CRESPO.
Some Good Stories OF the Late Presi
dent of Venezuela.
In appearance Crespo was more In
dian than negro, though he was very
sensitive regarding his color, as the
following amusing anecdote will
show:
A few years ago young American
to whom he had taken quite fancy
was invited to accompany him on a
ride over his estates near Maracay.
The party stopped for lunch at the
coffee hacienda of LA Providencia. y
When Crespo learned that the visitor
had brought along a kodak" he was
wild with delight, and insisted upon
being photographed on his favorite
horse. The plate was great success
at least so thought the young anna
teur-and a dozen photographs were
handsomely mounted and sent TO the
president with courteous note of
thanks for his hospitality. Imagine
the Americans surprise upon meeting
Mrs. Crespo few days after to learn
that the president was very much dis
| pleased with the photographs The
reason was not clearly stated. but dur
ing the conversation the sonora sig
nificantly asked if it were not possible
to make. the genehals face a little
whittier, for he was really not so dark
as the photograph showed. The young
man attempted to explain that the ex-
posture had been an instantaneous one
in the bright sunlight, and that the
wide-brimmed straw hat had cast a
shadow over the presidents face 1t
was evident that the explanation was
not satisfactory, for from that day the
artist became a persona non grata,
and was never again hidden to Santa
inez," the home of the president
| Another little incident that occurred
during the winter OF 1896 showed Ores
pos thirst for notoriety and theatrical
display: Shortly after the episode
with Great Britain there came to Car
acas travelling American variety
company. Among the performers was
a young woman who did marvellous
fancy shooting with a rife. The news
Of the fair Americans prowess soon
reached the ears of the president, who
invited her to give private exhibition
at Santa Inez." She and her manager
were not slow in accepting, and they
reached the executive mansion one
bright Sunday morning as the cathed-
raj bells were calling the good people
of the dreamy little capital to the late
mass. After the usual stock variety
performance number of glass balls
were smashed with the rifle in every
imaginable position. CrespO was
amazed, and, turning to the young wo-
man, said:
do you think you could hit one of
those balls if l placed it on the top o.
my head?"
Il should esteem it the honor of my
| life, Senior Presidente,' she CALAMITY
replied.
Mrs Crespo and the entire cabinet
were present and endeavored to per-
suade the president not to do any
thing so foolhardy. 1t was all in vain
however, for, removing his hat and
placing one of the glass balls upon his
head, Crespo turned to the bystanders
and said dramatically: The United
States has been the friend of Venezu-
Ella, and l will show my confidence in
the aim of an American"
| The president of Venezuela then
took position across the courtyard
and from distance OF seventy-five
feet the young woman smashed the
target at the first shot, and Crespo
brushed away the fragments with his
handkerchief
| The next day the little incident was
| the talk of Caracas, and many were
the criticisms heard of the presidents
lack of dignity. No newspaper, how
ever, dared make any comment. The
young markswoman and her manager
were quick to realize the great adver-
tisement, however, and after leaving
Venezuela they announced the episode
in display type. They even went SO
far as to say that the revolutionists
had offered the woman 100000 to ac-
IcIdentally miss her target and place
a bullet in the forehead of the presl-
dent, knowing well that Crespo's brav-
ado would make him suggest her at
tempting the shot.-From Golfers
weekly.