Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-05-12
Maiseellaneuus asaains.
clPRIANo CASTRO.
A Pen Sketch Of the Little Autoorat
of Venezuela.

A Pen Sketch Of the Little Autoerat
Of Venezuela.
There seems to be hardly a month In
which his Excellency Cipriano Castro,
president Of Venezuela, is not In the
black books Of one or the other Of the
European powers and, indeed, he Is
| at this moment in very bad odor at
washington. One time 1t was Great Bri-
tain. then Germany, then Italy, and af-
Iterward France, Belgium and Holland,
who in turn threatened to seize the
Venezuelan custom houses, and, II nee
Iessary let loose their marines on Cas-
tro's ragtime "machetatos."
They told me in La Guayra, the port
Iof Caracas. that this now notorious
Iautocrat was originally muleteer and
cattle smuggler down In the state of
Los Andes. But he suddenly appears
Fin Caracas Hall Of Congress In patent
Heather boots, which so amazed Senor
Castro himself (they wore no boots
where he came from). that he was
obliged to take them off and put them
on the desk In front Of him!
A distance of thirty-six kilometers
by rail separates the Venezuelan cap
ital from its port; and on my way to
see the president I noticed an ascent,
on the tortuous journey. Of nearly
1000 feet. Caracas has an almost per-
feet climate and population Of about
120. 900. was amused to see in all the
big office buildings the notice display
ed, Politics are not allowed to be
talked here" The principal plazas OF
the town are noted for their music and
their fruit stalls, where one can buy
the most delicious oranges for six
pence a hundred.
The career Of Cipriano Castro Is more
romantic than any fiction. He Is par
amount now. and has been for years.
All his enemies are killed, or impris-
oned In the dungeons under Bogota,
Paris, New York or London. How
Castro started with an army" OF %
muleteers and smugglers; how this
force grew and grew; how he directed
battles from a horse-litter where he
was confined with broken legs-these
and other episodes are but incidents
In this wonderful mans career.
Everybody In the town speaks OF
/ him with bated breath-some OF them
pretty boldly. for he was away In his
little mountain resort Of La Victoria,
where he utterly disregarded cable
grams about international blockades
and such like boresome things. on the
principle that "they will arrange them
selves II they are let lone!" Indeed
the president will often disappear al
together. leaving no address at the
American legation perhaps, just at the
time when the asphalt controversy
one of the myriad Venezuelan troubles
is most acute.
Castro is always popular with his
people, for he gives them no end oil
concerts, dances and bull fights. He
frequently retires to bed at o'clock
in the morning. and receives visitors
at midday in his night dress. He Is
thick-set, keen-eyed man, much below
middle height, and with his Indian
blood showing most plainly. I do not
think he Is an inch over five feet, and
he is STOPPING at that.
And yet here is the man who has
conquered a country with a handful
of mule drivers, and has given sleep
ness nights to the diplomats Of the
world. He asks all his visitors many
questions about the navy and army OF
their country, and fully believes that
the one warship he has seen In his nte
the Presidente Sarmiento, Of the Ar
gentine Republics the most power
fu! battleship In the world!
During our long and rambling con-
versation President Castro did moi
conceal his contempt for England and
Germany: and I afterwards heard he
was unaware of the very existence oi
India and Australia Often he will
shave and dress himself In the pres
gnce of mis- visitors and then take the
latter for a walk around the towr
when he has satisfied himself In his
mirror that he looks his best In froci
coat and silk hat.
So you see there Is no side" abou
Venezuela's autocrat. Any one may
approach him. He does, however
carry a revolver in the outside breast
pocket of his frock coat. An ASSASSIN
tried to shoot him once, but the pres
ident famed the fellow with a we'll
aimed shot and then sent his owl
doctor to wait on the fellow.
He will throw money to small boy!
in the street and treat the country
peasants to cigars and cheap spirits
1t Is no wonder the masses love him
while the substantial men Of busines!
curse his name. Perhaps the strang
est function he ever gave was th'
great feast in the Mirafiores Palace, II
Caracas, when costly viands and fin'
champagne were free to all, even TIT
beggars In the streets.
| Often he will invite casual passers
by into the palace, and give impromptl
balls, in which the stranger Is amaz
ed to see poor Indians In canvas cloth
es, little better than rags, and rougf
sandals, side by side with brilliant uni
forms, gold lace and orders. 1t Is al
ways noticeable at such functions II
the palace that the president dances
with short women and girls, for he Il
very sensitive about his diminutiv'
stature.
| 1t liz common knowledge in Carcar
as that the president detests Mr.. Bow
en-. the American minister, solely OF
the ground that this now famous dip
lomat Is almost a giant. One thint
Cipriano Castro Is certain Of, and tina
Is: If the Germans, or the English o.
the Americans would only stop talkinl
and threatening. and land troops ol
Venezuelan soil he would settle thei
hash for them in way that would ad
NIT Of no further argument!
President Castro Is above all things
| onA rytpn hnUS lik