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

~ M | toHs ana got general car
+ %I go for Rosario, Brazil on
the River Parava. From
Rosario | went 100 miles
up the river to st. Stephens and took on car.
90 of wheat for Rio Janero. While the cargo
was being unoaded my expectant eye distin.
guished signs Of nice little revolution which
was just being shaped up. SO 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 n shot in
the peaceful revolution" of November Is,
1889, Deodora da Fonseca made presi-
lent. Before his weakness had become
apparent he was made constitutional presi-
dent, and Floriano Peixotto was elected
vice-presdent. Deodoros policy weak
and vacillating. and his popularity waned
rapidly. revolution had been quietly
formed by Florano, the vice-presdent.
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 the
morning OF November 20, 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 the palace Itumary.
and sent word to Deodoro that he would
open fire on him In two hours II he did not
abdcate in favor Of F1orano. Deodoro abd
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 rightfully 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
bis 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.
II was along in July of August. 1893, that
Mello sent for me and expressed wish that
go 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 Florlano
While we were still negotiating | received
call from one Of F1oriano's aids, who asked
me to accompany him to the palace. He took
me In the rear entrance and up a back stairway
to F1oriano's private sals, where, after present
ing me, he left me. alone with the president.
II understand" said Floriano. that you
we're In Venezuela with President Guzman and
have had military training and experience.
THAT ia correct sir"
II am told too, that you have made study
of high explosives and have invented a remark
able torpedo"
THAT is also true"
Would you be willing to undertake
mission that would involve considerable
danger, but for which you would be well paidT'
81 am open to anything except vulgar assas.
nation That ID 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"
few days later the revolution was declared
under conditions such one would look for
on the iight-opera stage, but never In real life
not even In South America. On the evening
of September s, F1oriano 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. Mellc
and Soldanha excused themselves after the
second act. They left their cloaks in the boz
and said they would be back in few min
utes. Knowing full well the reason OF theii
departure F1oriano bowed them out with ar
ironical excess Of politeness.
At daybreak Mello seized all of the gov
eminent shipping In the bay and announced
a blockade Of Rio harbor. He then sen
word to Florinno that he did not abdicate
without naming his successor. by fou
o'clock that afternoon, he would bombart
the city. f- ~ 81 +
Florianos reply was an emphatic refusa
to abdicate. and precised at four, oclocl
Mello answered It with one shell from
three-inch gun, which exploded near the Amer
lean consulate and killed a foreigner. Durin
the next week Mello fired 40 or 80 shots int
the city every day. but they did little damage
Very soon after the firing of the FIRST sho
italian, English. German. Austrian and Portt
xuese warships appeared at Rio. ostensibly I
protect the rights Of their citizens
About o week after the firing Of the frs
shot was on my way to the water front I
witness the regular afternoon duel between th
Aquidaban and Fort Santa Cruz, when / va
4 ovsrtaken by q government carriage, and Coli