The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1912-08-02

CN IONS, and got a general car
~ go for Rosario, Brazil, on
~ the River Parava. From
WIS -' Rosario l 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., was dragged out of bed at night
and deported without the firing of a shot, in
the peaceful revolution" of November Is,
1889, Deodora da Fonseca was made presi-
dent. Before his weakness had become
apparent he was made constitutional presi-
dent, and Floriano Peixotto was elected
Vice-president. Deodoro's policy was weak
and vaciilating, and his popularity waned
rapidly. A 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
ofhcer OF the Brazilian navy, and Admiral Sol
oanha da Cana, commandant of the naval acad-
envy. They brought matters to a head on the
morning Of November %, 1891. Mello took UP
a 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
abdicate in favor of Floriano. Deodoro abdi-
Gated in two minutes, dropping dead soon
afterward from heart disease, and F1oriano was
proclaimed president.
Before he had time to get his new chair
well warmed he had a row with Mello, who
considered that he was rightfulIy entitled to
be the power behind the throne.
Mello worked chiefly among naval officers.
aristocrats, adherents of San Pedro and the
Catholic clergy, and in the end they all became
his allies.
AS 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 it.
1t 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, 1893, that
Mello sent for me and expressed a wish that
l go down, to Santa Catarina island, off the
southern coast of Brazil, and blow up the
Republica, the one brazilian warship whose
officers had so far remained loyal to Floriano.
While We were still negotiating / received
a call from one of Floriano's aids, who asked
me to him to the palace. He took
me in the rear entrance and up a back stairway
to Floriano's private sala, where, after present
ing me, he left me, alone with the president.
Il understand" said Floriano, that you
were in Venezuela with President Guzman and
have had military training and experience.
That Is correct, sir" -
Il 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
a mission that would involve considerable
danger, but for which you would be we'll paid?'
Il am open to anything except vulgar assas-
nation. 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 of
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 6, Floriano went to the opera.
accompanied by Mello. Soldanha and several
other officers of the army and navy, and they
all sat together in the presidential box. Mello
and Soldanha excused themselves after the
second act. They left their cloaks in the box
and said they would be back in a few min
utes. Knowing full we'll the reason of their
departure, Floriano bowed them out with an
ironical excess of politeness.
At d~aybreak Mello seized all of the gov
eminent shipping In the bay and announced
a blockade of Rio harbor. He then sent
word to Floriano that if he did not abdicate.
without naming his successor. by four
o'clock that afternoon, he would lombard
the city.
Floriano's reply was an emphatic refusal
to abdicate, and precised at four o'clock
Mello answered it with one shell from a
three-inch gun. which exploded near the Amer
lean consulate and killed a foreigner. During
the next week Mello fired 40 or so 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-
guese w~arships appeared at Rio. osoensibly to
protect the rights of their citizens.
About a week after the firing of the first
shot / was on my way to the water front to
witness the regular afternoon duel between che
Aquidaban and Fort Santa Cruz, when l was
overtaken by a government carriage, and Colo