The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-04
VENEzUELKS DEBT.
Owes Giovanni Turini, the Sculptor,
an Account Of $4,000.
Reduced to Poverty While Awaiting Money
Promised, but That Came Not

New York, May 4.-Giovanni Turini,
cent in the world now, but soon he ex-
poets TO be made happy by the payment
Of claim that Venezuela has promised
10 honor for several years. Making
statues that should perpetuate the me-
mpries OF great men OF Venezuela
brought him 10 the verge OF bank
ruptcy. Indeed, last November he was
forced TO confess judgment for $309o,
which should have been paid for a
granite pedestal on which was 20 rest
a statue OF Venezuela's great general,
PaeZ.
Peter b. Olney. a brother of Richard
Olney. who was Presidem5 Cleveland >
attorney general, has Turinis claim. II
has been placed before the state depart
hent I'm Washington, whence IL was re-
.ferrcd 10 Minister Loomis, in Caracas.
lie laid the matter beTore the NeneZue-
tan government, srrd reports that IA
vorable action viii soon be taken. Sc
nor Anlrade. the Venezuelan minister
in Washington, is heartily in favor of
payment.
Turini had made several statues for
Venezuela, and had by his skill won the
favor OF President Crespo, who called
him 10 Caracas in 1897. The president
told Linn then that the nation intended
to honor several OF her heroes by erect
ing bronze statues Of them, and that
there was to be placed on a Hill over
looking the capital great statue of
Liberty.
To Tugini President Crespo gave a
commission for the work Terms were
agreed upon and the sculptor was in
structed TO make statues OF Gen. An
tonic Paez ana Marshal Sucre, and also
the big representation of Liberty. All
a l. ...ss 4, IL.
destals. which were 10 be shipped with
tha statues.
ON his return from Caracas he went
briskly TO work on the statue OF Mar
shall Sucre. which was cast in bronze
and shipped 10 Caracas, where IL was
placed in one Of the public squares.
Then he made the clay mode/for the
-rtsrttrr- of Gen. Paez.
Turlni began to feel the need OF mon
ey about this time. his friend says and
asked. President Crespo for part pay
men1.- Letter after letter full OF prom
ises came. according TO the story but
for "A long time no money was given
to him. Then in small amounts he re-
ceived about $1,000 That was needed
for Immediate necessities The contract
called for the payment Of money ON the
completion Of the clay models. more
when the % lestals were made, and the
remainder ON the casting of the statues
ia bronze
He managed TO continue work on the
two statues. The pedestajs were COM
pleted still no money came. Then MS
favoritc child. Florence. died after a
shot Illness. He was scarcely able 60
pay the burial expenses, although. he
declared. the Venezuelan government
owed him S75 900. Creditors were clam
orous. Venezuela paid no heed except
to send promises In letters. When Cres-
DO went out OF Office. his successor,
President Andrade, was appealed TO
without result.
Finally Turinl was compelled TO
mortgage his house and furniture. In
Guiding his daughters piano. He could
not pay the interest. The mortgage
was .orecl0sai. and he was homeless.
Next he had 10 confess judgment for
sG0q5 for ono Of the pedfftals. The
creditor was Joseph Carabcll who made
the PEDESTAL for tho Paez statue. which.
with the statue of Liberty. Is lying in
n foundry i'm Forsyth street.
There is no way pf compelling the
Venezuelan government 90 make paw
nent The st-,te department deals with
Venezuela I'm the matter of private con-
tracts only IN way of courtesy between
nations. However = IS said. the Nene-
zuelan minister in Washington has taxi
er interest I'm Turinrs case ani has
spoken favorably OF ". So hat $4,000
O. likely soon 90 come TO relieve his dis
trpss