The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-08-01

master at arms and placed me in his charge
ordered his launch and dashed of 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 WIS bit easier In my
mind when saw my own flag flying over me,
yet had | known the treatment was to re-
ceive under II I would have felt quite differ
entity.
II easy TO see, from the reception
Captain Picking gave me- that he had been
Influenced by the attitude OF Captain Lang.
l told him that | 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 | would be confined to the
ship, at least until he had consulted with the
American minister and communicated with
Washington and soon after | arrived on the
Charleston / 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 Melo a pirate and should be
prved of my liberty without the slightest
warrant Of law but they were powerless to
accomplish my release.
Looking forward a little the matter In
which that old fighter, Rear Admiral Benham.
put All end to the revolution In the follow.
ing January, soon after his arrival at
Rio, should be we'll remembered, for 1t was
a 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
handed by that great little man. Com
mander (now Rear Admiral. retired) W. H.
Brownson to escort the merchantmen up to
the dock.
The revolution" ended right there, but I'M
fortunately was not present to witness its
collapse.
II was In vexed Venezuela that was destin.
ed to end my days OF deviltry, but not until aft.
or a protracted warfare, none the less bitter be-
cause It was conducted at long range. with Cas-
tro the Contemplate, who came into power
two years after | had finally settled down al
Santa Catalina as manager for the Orinoco
company. Cipriano Castro had been In con
gress as diputado. MS member of to house
. from one of the Andean districts while was In
d Caracas with President Crespo, and, though he
' was regarded as good fighter and disturbing
element he was never considered as a presi
Dental possibility.
After getting the development work wei
started | returned to Caracas and early II
1879 resumed my old confidential position will
presidens Crespo His term expired the fol
lowing February and found that he had al
ready decided on General Ignacio Andrade a
his successor. He had planned to continue a
dictator OF the country. Ia Guzman, and spen'
much of his idle time and money abroad. AM
he wanted q man who could be relied on 4
keen his organization intact and turn the Of
Ace back to him at the end Of his term. TO
=, the Venezuelan constitution prohibits pres
dent from succeeding himself.
The peons idolized Crespo. and he had sue
y strong grip on the country that he was abb
IN carry on. his plan. but with disastrous results
For n popular election It was the weirdest thin
that could be imagined.
7, was Immediately followed by mutterings {
I a,srontsnt from the better claAs Of citizens an
I: nm tha night OF Aadrades Inauguration Generi