Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-10-13
THE EnRTRESS oF RELEu.

posed to protect Lisbon harbor, though even
more useless than the so called Notifications
Ct New York has beauty and picturesque
ness which the dismal barracks command
ing the Narrows can never lay claim to.
1t is alike the glory and the wonder of the
modern Portuguese, who seems TO have Gu
tirely lost the daring and skill which placed
his ancestors among the first architects Of
Europe.
Au American may we'll feel proud when
gazing upon the artistic little tower that 1t
is owing entirely 10 the calm good temper
and moral courage of an American naval
officer that Belem is standing to-day in all
It's beauty instead of lying a shapeless mass
of neglected ruins, like SO many other beau
tiful buildings in degenerate Portugal
The story Of how Belem was saved from
destruction is here told partly i'll the words
Of the Hon. James E. Harvey, United
States minister 10 Portugal under Lin
coin, from whose lips the narration was
heard:
You see,n said Mr.. Harvey, ''the Portu-
guc>a are ! very trying people 10 have DIP
lomatic dealings with. You have TO be eN-
ceedugly firm with them, and it is only by
strong insistence upon your point that you
can carry it. Twice during the time l was
at Lisbon had fully made up my mind to
demand my passport. Nothing but my evi-
dent determination to suspend diplomatic
relations unless my demands were complied
with brought the Portuguese ministry TO
terms. The first occasion was when the
Confederate cruiser StoGewall came III 10
Lisbon for coal and provisions. / said very
plainly 10 the ministry of foreign affairs that
either the Stonewall must 90 in q certain
time or / would go The ministry hummcd
aud hawcG, and tried to get out of ii. But
finally lie agreed TO my demand, and il was
settled The Stonewall would 60 at once. Be-
fore she got away IL new trouble arose from
the L. s frigate Niagara crossing The
bar in pursuit .! the StoGemall. Before his
vc.sc anchored l consulted Capt. Craven
IL 10 wl.!her he could whip The Stonewall
or MOI. He said he was perfectly willing TO
fight if wished him to, but he thought it
would simply he throwing away his vessel
aud the lives of his men, the Niagara being
an old wooden frigate, though heavily
armed and the Stonewall an ironclad.
Under these circumstances it was concluded
not TO make the fight, but to let the Stone
wall depart in peace.
AT the urgent request Of the Portuguese
ministry, who were .carfut ntan engagement
taking place in their waters should the YES
sells aGchur near each other directed Capt.
Craven 10 anchor near the fortress of Belem,
some two or three miles down the river, un-
Il! the Stonewai ha;l put |" sea. As soon hs
she had gone he was 10 cons up and anchor
opposite th. city where the Confederate was
then lyiug. had promised the Portuguese
ministry that, in accordance with lnterna-
tionai law the Niagara would not, OF course,
leave the barbour untl! the StoDewall had
mad twcmty- four hours start. But the min
istry, not altogether trusting either my as.
surances or Capt Craven's pledged word,
had given the officer in charge of the garri-
sou i'll Becm orders TO fire upon the Niagara
should She attempt to leave the harboT
sonn after the Stonewall. OF this instruc-
ton knew nothing. Within the appointed
time the Stonewall steamed slowly past the
Niagara, which vessel, with steam up and
guns loaded, iny ready TO show good fight
were any insult offered TO the flag. Nothing
ii the kind being attempted, when the
StoneWali was well overthe bar the Niagara
began leisurey 10 get under way, in order
to proceed up 10 the city. She had hardly
started when bang! went n gun at her, fired
from Belem, followed by another and an
other. At first, all on board was amaze
meut, followed by more amazement, and
then indignation with desire speedily to
return shot for shot The boys, disappoint
ed in having had no brush with the Stone.
wall, soon became not ill-peased at this
chance to have shot at somebody. The
eleveuinch guns were trained on the
little bird cage Of fort; the prize
mark smen took good sight, every gunner
seized his string, and in twenty sec
onds more Belem the Beautiful; Belem, the
choicest work of Emanuel the Great; Reie;n,
sacred TO the mighty Vasco di Gama-in
twenty seconds more Belem would have
been knock ed into cooked bat. But the
command 10 fire was delayed and delayed
until the men thought Capt. Craven must
have lost his wits Not SO. He had ideas
rs 10 what was the true cause of his vessel
being fred on and wished, if possible, to re-.
strain the men until it could be shown his
idea was correct.
suddenly the firing ceased. Every man
waited 10 hear another shot, but no more
came. There was huge disappointment
on board the Niagara at thus second time
being baked of fight and much grumb-
ling. but no disobedience. The vessel an
chored opposite the city without further ad-
venture" :,
You may be sure Mr.. Harvey speedily
asked from the Portuguese ministry the
meaning OF this (apparent) gross insult to
our flag. The ministry were all apologies.
1t was mistake. The officer in charge at
Belem, when he saw the Niagara heading
out to sea, thought she was pursuing the
Stonewall and fired at her per instructions.
He did not realize that the Niagara. being long
vessel had to make considerable circuit before she
could turn her bow up stream. As soon as the
| yyhI 1y al.,I ro
necessary semi-circle, began to head up toward
the city the officer perceived his mistake aCd
ceased firing. This was all the explanation the
ministry proposed to make, and doubtless it was
the true one. But Mr. Harvey knew very we'll that
i flnrx nx,ll lnd