The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1912-08-02

Ada, brigantne OF 300
HM TONS and got general
II No. go for Rosario, Brazil on
- the River Parava. From
Rosario 1 went 100 miles
up the river to ST. Stephens and took on a car
go OF wheat for Rio Janeiro. While the cargo
was being unloaded my expectant eye distin-
guished signs of a nice little revolution which
was Just being shaped up. so l sold my ship and
took quarters at the Hotel Freitas to watch
Developments
When the last emperor of Brazil Dom
Pedro H.. dragged out of bed at night
and deported without the firing of a shot, in
the peaceful revolution" of November Is.
1883. Deodora da Fonseca was made presi-
dent BEFORE his weakness had become
apparent he was made constitutional presi-
dent and Floriano Pexotto was elected
Vice-president Deodoro's policy was weak
and vacillating, and his popularity waned
rapidly revolution had been quietly
formed by Floriano, the vice-president.
He soon had the army at his back and
gained the support OF Admiral Mello. ranking
onicer of the Brazilian navy and Admiral Sol
oanha da CANA, commandment of the naval acad-
envy They brought matters to head on the
morning of November %, 1891. Mello took up
position at the foot of the main street of Rio
In the cruiser Riachuelo, the finest ship in the
navy. trained his guns on the palace Itumary
and sent word to Deodoro that he would
open fire on him In two hours If he did not
aDdicate in favor of Floriano. Deodoro abd-
Gated in two minutes dropping dead soon
afterward from heart disease and Floriano was
proclaimed president.
Before he had time to get his new chair
well warmed he had with Melo who
considered that he was rigt fully entitled to
be the power behind the throne
Mellc worked chiefly among naval officers.
artstocrats. adherents of San Pedro and the
Catholic clergy. and In the end they all became
his allies.
Az Mello's plot shaped up began to sus-
pect that his real purpose was to restore
Dom Pedro to the throne and make himself
the power behind 1t.
It was amusing to watch the development of
Mello's revolution. One would have thought
two friendly leaders were planning rival sur
prise parties. IN which there was to be nothing
more serious than the throwing of confetti
1t was along In July Of August. 1898 that
Mello sent for me and expressed wish that
D go down to Santa Catarina island off the
southern coast or Brazil and blow I'D the
Republica. the one Brazilian warship whose
officers had SO far remained loyal to Florano.
While We were still negotiating | received
call from one OF Florianos aids, who asked
me to accompany him to the palace He took
me In the rear entrance and up g back stairway
to F1oriano's private sala where. after present
ing me. he left me. alone with the president
Il understand" said F1oriano that you
were In Venezuela with President Guzman and
have had military training and experience
That is correct, sir"
81 am told. too that you have made a study
Of high explosives. and have invented a remark
able torpedo"
THAT is also true"
Would you be willing to undertake.
. mission that would involve considerable
danger. but for which you would be well paid?.
Il am open to anything except vulgar assas-
anation. That is MY business"
What do you charge for your services?"
THAT depends entirely on the nature OF the
work"
Consider yourself, then. In the service q,
Brazil"
A few days later the revolution was declared
under conditions such as one would look for
on the light-opera stage, but never in real life
not even in South America. On the evening
of September s. Floriano went to the opera
accompanied by Mello. Soldanha and several
other officers OF the army and navy. and thew
all sat together In the presidential box Mello
and Sodanha excused themselye. after m.
second act. They left their cloaks in the hoy
and said they would be back in a few min.
utes Knowing full veil the reason of their
departure. Floriano bowed them out with an
ironical excess of poteness.
AT daybreak Mello seized all of the gov
eminent shipping In the bay and announced
q blockade OF Rio harbor. He then sent
word TO Floriano that II he did not abdicate
without naming his successor by four
O'Clock that afternoon. he would lombard
the city.
FIoriano's reply was an emphatic refusa,
% abdicate. and precised at four o'clock
Mello answered 1t with one shell from a
threeinch gun. which exploded near the Amer
lean consulate and killed foreigner. During
the next week Mello fired 40 or 90 shots into
the city every day. but they did little damage.
Very soon after the firing of the first shot.
italian English. German, Austrian and Portu-
lguese warships appeared at Rio. ostensibly 10
lprotect the rights OF their citizens
About week after the firing OF the first
shot ] was on my way to the water front to
witness the regular afternoon duel between the
iAQuidaban and Fort Santa Cruz when I was