Evening star., 1901-06-01
apa-s. tu. .th-1Ost.4 ~
BLUFFED AND ESCAPED,
The Exciting Experience of Admiral
de MeIIO of Brazil.

from the New Orleans Times Democrat
Il by the papers, said New Or
leans coffee importer. that Custido de
Mello. who is described as "a banker was
arrested in Rio the other day for conspi-
raCy against the Brazilian government
No doubt the average reader passed the
little cable dispatch by without recalling
the fact that De MeIIo was the hero about
ten years ago of one of the most desperate
and dramatic exploits of recent times. 1t is
an interesting story. In 1898 Admiral de
Mello was in command of the Brazilian
navy. which was undoubtedly the queer
est cOnglOmeration in ;ne world. 1t con-
sisted Of half dozen old scows and one
tip-top. bang-up. first-class battle ship-the
Aquidaban-the equal at the time of any
thing afioat. 1t was the admirals flag
ship. and one fine day ne astounded every
body by sailing into Rio harbor and calmly
sending word to President Peixotto that
he wanted his resignation. When Pexotto
recovered from his astonishment he told
him to go to blaZes, and De MeIlo there
upon declared the city under blockade.
Rio lies, as you know. on the inner side of
a large bay, with a very narrow entrance.
There We're no guns at the town heavy
enough TO do the big battle ship any dam
age. but at the harbOr mouth there were
two forts that could easily blow her out of
the water. So De Mello had really sailed
into rat trap. stalking everything on the
chance of bluffng Peixotto out. He could
not shell Rio on account Of foreign inter-
ests. and for three solid months he circled
. round and round the bay, trying repeated
~ to make a landing and q dash into the
. City. He was enormously Outnumbered by
the shore garrisons and always beaten
back with loss. and eventually his situa-
ton became about desperate as can be
readily imagined. Food and water had
both run short; 1t was impossible to get
more supplies; all hands, including De
Mello himself, were reduced to walking
skeletons. and meanwhile the batteries at
the harbor mouth had been powerfully re-
inforced- In this plight Peixotto supposed
he would be only too glad to surrender.
and sent demand 10 that effect. You are
bottled up. he said in substance; YOU can't
get out, and you can't make a landing. It's
a case OF surrender or starve' De Mello
sent back word that they would starye In
the Aquidaban Of actual starvation Then
De Mello decided 10 end 1t all in grand
coup de theater. and one night he started
at full speed for the harbor mouth Con-
cealment was out Of the question and the
battle ship made its dash with lights bIaz-
ing. flags flying and band playing I met
the admiral afterward in Caracas. and he
told me they had no expectation whatever
of getting through, but their sheer audac-
1ty so disconnected the gunnerS at the forts
that they failed to land a single effective
shot AS she passed the narrows the
Aquidaban let loose a double broadside and
steamed triumphantly out to sea De Mello
in exile for years, but he was finally
pardoned and returned to Rio This is the
man who has just been arrested for a new
conspiracy. and l think you'll agree with
me that he is individual who is ant To
make things pretty hot when he gets
started III 1 We're president OF Brazil I'd
put him in the bastile and throw away the
key.