Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-08-21
BELEM'S ESCAPE.
How the Fortress of Lisbon Uarbor
Was Preserved.
rhe Story a. Told BY an American
Ex-Minister 10 Portugal-Es-
cape OF the Confederate
Cruiser StoneWall.

The little fortress Of Belem, which is sup
posed TO protect Lisbon harbor, though even
moro useless than the so-called Notifications
of New York, has beauty and picturesque
ness which the dismal barracks commanding
the Narrows can never lay claim to. 1t is
alike the glory and the wonder OF the modern
Portuguese, who seems to have entirely lost
the daring and skill which placed his ances-
tors among the first architects Of Europe
An American may well feel proud when
gazing upon tho artistic little tower that it is
owing entirely to the calm good temper and
moral courage Of an American naval officer
that Belem Is standing to-day In all its
beauty, instead Of lying shapel-ss mass OF
neglected ruins, like so many other beautiful
buildings In degenerate Portugal. The story
of how Bclem was saved from destruction IS
here told partly in the words OF Tho Hon.
James E. Harvey, our minister to Portugal
under Lincoln, from whose lips the narration
was heard:
"You see,r said Mr.. Harvey, "the Portu-
guose are very trying people to have
diplomatic dealings with. You have to be
exceedingly firm with them, and it is only
by strong insstance upon your
point that you can carry it. Twice
during the time 1 was at Lisbon l
had fully made up my mind to demand my
passport. Nothing but my evident deter
mination to suspend diplomatic relations un-
less my demands were-complied with brought
tho Portuguese ministry to terms. The first
occasion was when the Confederate cruiser
Stonewall came ia to Lisbon for coal and
provisions. said very plainly to the minis
ter of foreign affairs that either the Stone
wall must 60 in a certain time or l would go.
L 4 1. nnI trtn1
to get out of it. But finally he egreed to my
demand, and it was settled the Stonewau
would go at once. Before she got away
new trouble arose from tho United htates
frigate Niagara crossing the bar in pursuit
of the Stonewall Before his vessel anchored
consulted Capt Craven as to whether he
could whip the Stonewall or not. He said he
was perfectly willing to fight il wished him
to, but he thought it would simply be throw
ing away his vessel and the lives Of his men,
the Niagara being an old wooden frlgate,
though heavily armed, and the Stonewall an
ironclad Under these circumstances it was
concluded not to make the fight but to ict
the Stonewall depart in peace.
At the urgent request OF the Portuguese
ministry, who were fearful of an engagement
taking place in their waters should the ves
Craven to anchor near the fortress of Belem,
some two or three miles down tho river, un-
til the Stonewall had put to sea. AS soon as
she had gone he was to come up and anchor
opposite the city, where the Confederate was
then lying. had promised the Portuguese
ministry that, in accordance with intcrna-
tional law, the Niagara would not, of course,
leave tho hurbor until the Stonewail had had
p,,t Ln
not altogether trusting either my assurances
or Capt Cravrn's pio.IScd word, had given
the officer in charge Of the garrison at
Bel M order, to fire upon the Niagara
should she attempt to leave the harbor
soon after the Stoncwan. OF this
instruction knew nothing Within the ap-
pointed time the Stonewall steamed slowly
past the Niagara, which vessel, with steam
up and guns loaded, lay ready to show
good fight were any insult offered to the flag.
Nothing Of the kind being attempted, when
tie Stoncwull was well over the bar the Nj
agara began leisurely to get under way, in
order to proceed up to the city She had
hardly started when Lang! went a gun at
her, fired from Belom, followed by another
and another At first, oil on board was
amazonent, followed by mere amazement,
and then indignatict. with desire
sleelily to return shot for Shot
The boys, disappointed i'll having had
no brush With tnc Stonewal, soon
became not ill-pleused at this chance to have
a shot at somebody. The tloven-nch guns
were trained OH the little lir,l-cage of fort;
the prize marksmen took good sight, every
gunner seized lis string, and in twenty sec
onds more Belem the beautiful: Belem, the
choicest work of Emanuel the Great; Belem,
sacred to the mighty Vasco di Gama-in
twenty seconds more Belcn would have been
knocked into cooked hat. But the com
nland to fro was delayed and delayed until
the men thought Capt. Craven must have
lost his wits Not So. He had ideas as to
what was tho true cause of his vessel being
fired OH and wished, if possible, to restrain
the men until it could be shown his idea was
correct.
Suddenly the firing ceased. Every man
waited to hear another shot, but no more
came There was huge disappointment on
board the Niagara at thus a second time be-
ing baked of Il fight and much grumhng,
but no disobedience. The vessel anchored
opposite the city without further adventure.
You may be sure that Mr.. Harvey speedily
asked from the Portuguese ministry tho
meaning of this (apparent gross insult to our
flag. The ministry were all apologies. 1t
was a mistake. The officer in charge at
Bclem, when he saw the Niagara heading
out t, sea, thought she was pursuing the
Stonewall and fired at her per Instructions
He did not realize that the Niagara, Icing
long vessel had to make considerable cir
cult before she could turn her bow up stream
AS soon as the vessel, which steadily pro-
ceeded to describe the necessary semi-cirle,
began to head up toward the city the officer
perceived his mistake and 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 unless
more ample and public apology were made
tho insult to our flag would be tcle-
graphcd all over Europe, tho explanation
would not he considered sufficient, the Con-
fedelates would laugh at us, and the national
honor would suffer He therefore insisted
upon two things: ~ that the officer who had
ordered the firing at Belem be dismissed. (2)
That our flag be publicly saluted. To the
lrst of these demands the Portuguese govern
nlent readily acccdeI; the second they siren
uously resisted 1t was only chen MIR. Har-
vey threatened second time to demand his
passport that they finally gave way. Ac-
cordingly, the next day the American flag
was hosted at the fort and saluted with
twenty ono guns; the Niagara replied Iy
hoisting the Portuguese flag at her mau.mast
and similarly Saluting il, when all was peace
and harmony once more
Cro9uot threatens TO come again into fash