The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-21
FIVE DAYS A PREMIER.
THE ROMANTIC CAREER OF Gaze
SAR CELSO MORENO.

tOyed in Former Days the Friend
ship and Favor of Kings and Rui-
ers-DecOrated by Napoleon Ill for
Rescue of shipwrecked French
men FavOrIte of King Kalakaua,
for Whom He Made a Trip to Eu-
rope.
From the Washington Post.
An old man halted on c street, near
Four-and-a-half, Friday of last week. and
moment later fell TO the asphalt para
lyzed and speeches.. Policemen picked
him up and cared for him. Father C. w.
Currier, of St. Mary's Catholic Church,
was sent for and had him moved to Prov
idence Hospital. Life fingered till O'Clock
yesterday morning. Then ended the ca
reer of Caesar Celso Moreno, who had
visited nearly every civilized portion OF
the globe, had enjoyed audiences with
kings and potentates, and claimed many
Of them as his steadfast friends. His was
a picturesque life, indeed, reading like
some story out of fairy book.
The three or four years last past Mo-
teno ied a precarious existence here in
Washington. Few knew his place OF
abode, for he was very proud, in spite OF
adversely. He befriended his Italian
countrymen in the Police Court or else
where when opportunity offered, for which
he obtained an occasional pittance. Once
in a while he found a more powerful
client to whom he could be of service be-
fore the departments, and from whom he
received tribute of a few hundred dollars.
This paltry income that kept body and
soul together was in sharp contrast to mis-
days of affiuence and power, when King
Humbert, Ii Hung Chang, King kala-
kaua, Napoleon III, Sherman, Blaine, and
Stanford were his friends. From a humble
Piedmontese he rose to riches and the
confidence of rulers. In his zenith as an
adventurer and citizen of the world he
was once for five days only, prime minis
ter of Hawaii. For fifteen years his star
had been in the descendant and he even
served a three months sentence in the
District of Columbia Jail for criminal libel.
Served in the Crimenn War.
Caesar Celso Moreno was born near
Chiavassa, Piedmont, Italy, in 1880, or
Whereabouts. For many years he had had
no communication with relatives, but he
had an elder brother, Joseph, and cous-
in, Lieut.. Moreno of the Italian navy, the
latter born near Alba. Little is known
about the station of his people, but an
uncle a Catholic Bishop, superintended
his educa ton. He first attained great pro-
ficiency in the languages, and by middle
life was able to speak some fourteen dif-
ferent tongues, including Arabic, Spanish,
French. German, English. Portuguese,
modern Greek, a little Chinese, little
Japanese and numerous dialects he
learned Latin thoroughly, and retained
his knowledge of it till his death. Grad
uating as lieutenant in the naval acad-
envy at Genoa, he saw service in the Crl7
mean War, as Piedmont sent DOOO men
for the assistance Of England ana france
against Russia. Moreno participated IN a
conflict between the Russian forces and
a detachment of men from an Italian snip
of war and received a wound in the neck
which caused a slight tilt of the head
very noticeable in his striking appear
ance.
He was sent back to Genoa with other
wounded, and while he was convalesclnS
there decided to study civil engineering
at the University of Genoa. He graduate
there in 1854, but never followed his pro-
fession of civil engineering. He did not
like the navy, but appears to nave hau
sufficient money to purchase merchah.-
nan Of which he became captain. This
shin Piled between Genoa and southeast
cast of India and Singapore. Al tha'
time as a young man, he was very
s+r,lrine. figure. He was medium hight,
broad shoulders, dark grey eyes, abund-
ant black hair and beard, the latter many
wears before his death having turned al
most white His voice was pecull1r
one. firm and rasping. his thaIi'er "aa
narsistent. but courteous, and as he grew
nIder suggestive of much impatience.
Married n SuItan's Daughter
can't. Moreno, sailing his merchant yes
sci in those far-off seas, discovered an Isl
and. which he offered to several 'iaSloils'
md finally settled in Sumatra. There
bout the year 1860, he started on MS
wonderful career of power and decline D.
marrying A daughter of the sultan. l.
was a Dutch dependency, and Moreno
natural bent for agitation and adventure
soon led him to melting the natlVes TO
ravol+ against Holland Being the son-ln-
law of the Sultan, he was able TO Wlelu
wide influence, and the uprising assumed
such PROPORTIONS that Holland sent an
army 20 fight the rebellious people aii0
Moreno had to flee for his lie his wlie'
n is said. was left behind, and, as far
nc known. he never heard of her again.
We was taken to Europe on French
1Varship and went to Italy, Victor EN-
manuel ii then reigning as King at the
canital of Florence. To this sovereign
Moreno proposed a scheme for planting
a colony in Sumatra, but Victor Emman-
nal was not enthusiastic, and Moreno
went to France, where he urged sim
lar undertaking under the auspices OF tho
French government.
Nanoleon II was ruling, and Moreno
was given most cordial reception While
i'm Sumatra he had heroically rescued
several people from the wreck OF a
French vessel, for which Napoleon be-
slowed upon him the medal of the Lee
gion Of Honor. Napoleon, like Victor EN-
manuel was wary of colonization schemes
in Sumatra, where the Dutch already had
q firm foothold. but on that visit TO PAR
is Moreno became we'll acquainted with
many notables, including Victor Hugo
| Leon Gambetta, and De Lesseps. Finally
| he was sent TO Tonquin by the French
government In some official capacity, ond
| after a Term Of service in that quarter
OF the world, during which he projected
a canal across the neck OF land near sin
! gapore he drifted to China.
Project for Trnns-Pacihc Cable.
In the land of the Celestials, Moreno
quickly gained favor with high officials
and was given certain commissions there
| officially or semi officially. The project
| of building a trans-Pacifc cable from
| San Francisco to Honolulu, China, and
japan. which become the hobby Of his
| life. originated with him, while he was
a resident Of Shanghai, and shortly after
| the Civil War he landed at San Francisco
! He had experience with legislators on the
| Pacific coast and secured. the enactment
he To-