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


ordered his launch and dashed off to the
charleston. He returned in half an hour and
without another word to me ordered lieuten-
ant to take me aboard the Charleston.
Will not deny that was bit easier in my
mind when l saw my own flag flying over me-
yet had | known the treatment | was to re-
celVe under it would have felt quite differ
emily.
1t easy to see. from the reception
captain Picking gave me, that he had been
influenced by the attitude of Captain Lang
| told him that | was an American citizen
temporarily in the employment Of the Bra
lillian government; that | had violated no
law of the United States or of Brazil and
| demanded that | be set ashore He coldly
informed me that 1 would be confined to the
ship, at least until he had consulted with the
American minister and communicated with
Washington, and after 1 arrived on the
Oharieston was confined to my room, as a
dangerous character who threatened the
peace of nations. With this decidedly un.
pleasant recollection, however. it Is a pleas
ure to know that the other American naval
officers, who arrived later took exactly my
view OF the whole situation and became
champions OF my cause They told Picking
that Mello was a pirate and should be
treated such, and that l was being de-
prived of my liberty without the slightest
warrant of law. but they were powerless to
accomplish my release.
Looking forward little the matter in
which that old fighter, Rear Admiral Benbam.
put an end to the revolution" in the follow
ing January. after his arrival at
Rio, should be well remembered. for It was
a noble deed and 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 fleet 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 shin
of his squadron, the little Detroit. com.
manded by that great little man, Com.
mander (now Rear Admiral, retired) w. n
Brownson to escort the merchantmen up To
the dock.
The revolution ended right there. bur m
fortunately 1 was not present to witness II.
collapse
1t was in vexed Venezuela that was destin-
ed to end my days Of deviltry but not until aft.
protracted warfare, none the less bitter he
cause 1t was conducted at long range. with Cas-.
tro the Contemplate, who came into power
two years after had finally settled down at
Santa Catalina manager for the Orinoco
company Cipriano Castro had been in con.
gress diputado, as member OF the house
from one of the Andean districts while was In
Caracas with President Crespo and though he
was regarded as a good fighter and a disturbing
element, he was never considered as a presi.
Dental possibility.
After getting the development work we'll
started / returned TO Caracas and early in
1879 resumed my old confidential position with
President Crespo. His term expired the fol-
lowing February and l found that he had al
ready decided on General Ignacio Andrade as
his successor. He had planned TO continue as
dictator of the country. la Guzman, and spend
much OF his idle time and money abroad and
he wanted a man who could be relied on to
keep his organization intact and turn the OF.
fee back to him at the end of his term for
the Venezuelan constitution prohibits a presi-
dent from succeeding himself.
The poems idoized Crespo. and he had such
q strong grip on the country that he was able
60 carry out his plan. but with disastrous results
For a popular election IL was the wa:rdest thing
that could be imagined
1t was Immediately followed by mntterings of
discomfort from the better class Of citizens and