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

(N0 Ada, brigantine OF 3uV
Va tons, and got general car
= XXI 20 for Rosario, Brazil, on
the River Parava. From
Rosario went 100 miles
I'D the river to st. Stephens and took on car
so of wheat for Rio Janeiro. While the cargo
was being unloaded my expectant eye dlstln'
guished signs OF a nice little revolution winch
was just being shaped up SO sold my snip anu
took quarters at the Hotel Freitas to Watcn
developments.
When the last emperor Of Brazil Dom
Pedro H., was dragged out Of bed at night
and deported without the firing OF snot, n
the peaceful revolution" Of November 10,
1889, Deodora da Fonseca was made presi-
dent. Before his weakness had become
apparent he was made constitutional presl-
dent, and Floriano Peixotto was elected
vicepresident. Deodoro's policy was weak
and validating and his popularity Waned
rapidly. A revolution had been quietly
formed by F1oriano, the vice-president
He soon had the army at his back and
gained the support of Admiral Mello ranking
officer of the Brazilian navy and Admiral Sol
danha da CANA commandant of the naval acad-
envy. They brought matters to head on tho
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 him In two hours If he did not
abdicate in favor of F1oriano.1 Deodoro abdi-
Gated In two minutes, dropping dead soon
afterWard from heart disease, and FIoriano was
i proclaimed president.
Before he had time to get his new chair
well warmed he had row with Mello, who
considered that he was rghtfuIly entitled to
be the power behind the throne
.,-s Melo wopked chiefly ope naval officers
81 81 sherents Gil rgdro and the
catholic clergy, and In the end they all became
his allies.
AS Mellos 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
Mellos 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
HIello sent for me and expressed wish that
4 60 down TO Santa Catarina island of the
southern coast Of Brazil and blow up the
Republica, the one Brazilian warship whose
officers had so far remained loyal to F1oriano
While we were still negotiating / received
a call from one Of F1orianos aids who asked
1HG W dGCompGuy I'LL W JN6 pdlhCS re JOCK
me in the rear entrance and up 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 remark
able torpedo"
THAT is also true"
Would you be willing to undertake
danger, but for which you would be well paid 2,
q am open to anything except vulgar assas-
ination. That is my business"
What do you charge for your serviceaP"
That depends entirely on the nature OF the
work
Consider yourself, then, In the service OF
Brazil.
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, Foriano went to the opera,
accompanied by Melio, 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 bax
and said they would be back in few min.
utes knowing full well the reason of their
departure, F1oriano bowed them out with an
ironical excess of polteness
AT daybreak Mello seized all OF the gov
eminent shipping In the bay and announced
blockade of Rio harbor. He then sen,
word to Floriano that If he did not abdicate
without naming his successor, by fou,
o'clock that afternoon. he would lombard
the city.
Fiorianos reply was an emphatic refusa
to abdicate, and preeised at four o'clocl
Msllo answered 1t with one shell from :
three-inch gun, which exploded near the Amer
ican consulate and killed foreigner Durins
the next week Mello fred 40 or so shots int
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 warships appeared at Rio ostensibly Il
protect the rights OF their citizens.
About "a week after the firing Of the frs
shot was on my way to the water front t
witness the regular afternoon duel between tn
Aoaldaban and Fort Santa Cruz when wa
ayertaken by government carriage. and Cole