President of the Republic

The President of the Republic, Dr António José de Almeida, was in Funchal on 9 October 1922. He arrived in our harbour at 7 o’clock in the morning aboard the British steamer Arlanza, on a voyage from Rio de Janeiro to Lisbon.

At 6 o’clock a salvo of shells announced that the steamer was in sight, at 7 o’clock a girândola (wheel of rockets) signalled that she had arrived, and at 8 o’clock the Fort of São Tiago (St James the Greater) fired a 21-gun salute. The landing took place at about half past ten at the Cais da Pontinha (‘little point’), because the sea was quite rough and it was difficult to come alongside the quay opposite the Avenida de Gonçalves Zargo. At the start of this avenue a superb triumphal arch had been raised, covered in box, bearing a double photograph of the President of the Republic and, at the top, the following motto: ‘Supreme incarnation of the Homeland’. Beside it were the quinas (the shields of the Portuguese arms) wrapped in green and red.

The President of the Republic received the appropriate military honours beside the Cais da Pontinha from a naval detachment of the destroyer Guadiana. His Excellency then travelled by car from there to the Palácio de São Lourenço (‘St Lawrence’), followed by the various officials who had gone to greet him.

All along the Estrada da Pontinha and at the entrance to the city an enormous crowd had gathered. Three large girândolas of shells and rockets were set off along the route, and the artillery battery posted near the Pilar de Banger fired a 21-gun salute when the Head of the Nation reached the triumphal arch at the start of the Avenida de Gonçalves Zargo. Before this, a detachment of the 27th Infantry Regiment (Infantaria n.º 27), drawn up beside the Praça do Marquês de Pombal, had rendered His Excellency the military honours due to him.

Near the quay the Municipal Council (Câmara Municipal) went to meet the Head of State and greet him. The President of the Council handed him the keys of the city, which he did not accept ‘because they were in good hands’. This ceremony was followed by the greetings of the diocesan prelate, the district judges, public prosecutors and other judicial officials, the Judge Advocate, etc.

When the Head of State arrived at the Palácio de São Lourenço the national anthem was played, and the civil governor gave a short speech there, for which His Excellency thanked him. The civil governor accompanied the Head of State throughout, having gone to greet him aboard the Arlanza as soon as she dropped anchor.

The reception at the Palácio de São Lourenço was followed by a visit to the town hall (Paços do Concelho), where Dr Teixeira Jardim, President of the Municipal Council, read a fine address, to which the Head of State replied. The guard of honour at the building was provided by the volunteer firemen.

He then left by a train provided by the Companhia do Caminho de Ferro for Terreiro da Luta (‘ground of the fight’), where he was offered a glass of champagne and another of Madeira wine. His Excellency showed himself truly delighted with the superb views to be enjoyed from that fine resort, as he made clear in a few lines he wrote on a sheet of paper presented to him, which is duly preserved in the archives.

On returning to the city, at about one o’clock in the afternoon, in wicker sledges, the President of the Republic visited the building of the District General Council (Junta Geral), where he was offered a glass of champagne. To the greetings addressed to him by Dr Tolentino da Costa, the distinguished President of that body, His Excellency replied with a short speech in which he once again displayed his gifts as an orator and the prestige of his talent.

At about two o’clock in the afternoon a lunch was held at the Palácio de São Lourenço. Those present included, among others, the diocesan prelate, the civil governor, the two Presidents of the Municipal Council, the Military Commander, the harbour master, the President of the General Council, António Luís Gomes, former Portuguese ambassador to Brazil, Francisco António Correia, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Finance, General Bernardo Faria, Admiral Neuparth, Dr João de Barros, Dr Juvenal de Araújo, Dr Manuel A. Martins, the municipal administrator (administrador do concelho, the government's representative), and the consuls of Brazil, the United States and England, etc., etc. The civil governor and the diocesan prelate proposed toasts to the Head of State, for which His Excellency thanked them.

The lunch was followed by a drive to the locality of Cancela (‘gate’), in which 21 motor cars took part. His Excellency embarked at about 5 o’clock in the afternoon, and the launch that took him on board was accompanied by many boats full of people, who cheered him enthusiastically.

The civil governor and the diocesan prelate accompanied the Head of State on board the Arlanza, and the steamer left the harbour of Funchal for Lisbon at about half past five in the afternoon.

On returning from the drive to Cancela, the President of the Republic went to the Palácio de São Lourenço, where the diocesan prelate was waiting; His Excellency invited him to accompany him in his car as far as the Pontinha.

Also travelling from Brazil with the Head of State were the already mentioned António Luís Gomes, Francisco António Correia, General Bernardo de Faria, Admiral Neuparth, Dr João de Barros, etc., who took part in all the festivities held in Funchal in His Excellency’s honour.