The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-08-17

master at arms and placed me in his charge
ordered his launch and dashed off to the
Charleston He returned In half an hour and
without another word to me ordered heuten-
ant to take me aboard the Charleston.
will not deny that was bit easier in my
mind when saw my own flag flying over me,
yet had I known the treatment l was to re-
ceiye under 1t would have felt quite Differ
emily.
1t was easy to see, from the reception
Captain Picking gave me, that he had been
Influenced by the attitude of Captain Lang.
/ told him that I was an American citizen.
temporarily in the employment Of the Bra
lillian government: that I had vifslated noS,
law Of the United States or of BI I'll, and
/ demanded that be set ashore. 3e coldly
informed me that I would be CONT to the
ship, at least until he had consulted with the
American minister and communica ! with
Washington, and soon after / arriH Sn tho
Charleston was confined to my fssszss, as
dangerous character who threatsgsd the
peace Of nations With this decidedly I'M
pleasant recollection, however, 1t is a pleas
ure to know that the other Amer san naval
officers, who arrived later took G4hctly my
view of the whole situation ard became
champions Of my cause They told Picking
that Mello was a pirate and should be
treated as SUCH and that was being de-
prived of my liberty without the slightest
warrant of law, but they were poWerIess to
accomplish my release.
Looking forward little, the matter in
which that old fighter, Rear Admiral Benham,
put end to the revolution" in the follow
ing January, soon after his arrival at
Rio, should be well remembered, for it was
noble deed and an example OF the good
Judgment generally displayed by American
naval officers when they are not hampered
by foolish orders from Washington In the
vain hope Of arousing enthusiasm for his lost
cause Mello had gone down the coast
where he fguratively and literally took to
the woods when he saw the folly of his mis-
sion, leaving Da Cana in command Of the
blockading feet. The captains Of several
American merchant ships, who had been
prevented for weeks from landing their car
goes for Rio appealed to Admiral Benham.
who took prompt action.
To show his contempt for the rebels.
whom he properly regarded as pirates.
Admiral Benham assigned the smallest ship
Of his squadron, the little Detroit. com.
manded by that great little man, Com
mander (noW Rear Admiral retired) w H.
Brownson to escort the merchantmen IN 10
the dock.
The revolution" ended right there, but I'M
fortunately I was pot present to witness its
collapse
1t was in yexed venezuela that was destin-
ed to end my days of deviltry but not until aft
er protraeted warfare none the less bitter be.
cause 1t was conducted at long range with Gas.
tro the Contemplate, who came into power
two years after had finally settled down a,
Santa Catalina as manager for the Orinoco
company. Cipriano Castro had been in con
gress as dputado, as member of the ho1sa
from one Of the Andean districts while was IN
Il Caracas with President Crespo and. though hs
was regarded as a good fighter and dtsturbins
element, he never considered az a nresi
Dental possibility.
After getting the development work vel
started I returned to Caracas and early II
1879 resumed my old confidential position will
President Crespo. His term expired the fol
lowing February and found that he had AL
ready decided on General Ignacio Andrade Al
his successor. He had planned to continue a
dictator Of the country, q la Guzman, and spen,
much of his idle time and money abroad. an,
he wanted a man who could be relied on Il
keep his organization intact and turn the O,
Ace back to him at the end of his term 70
the Venezuelan constitution prohibits a pres
dent from succeeding himself
The poems idoIized Crespo, and he had sue
strong grip on the country that he was abb
to carry out his plan but with disastrous result.
For a popular election 1t was the Weirdest thin
that could be imagined.
IT was Immediately followed BY m11fterings {
discomfort from the better class of citizens an
on the night of Andrades Inauguration Geuers