Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-03
Written for THE EVENING STAR.
JOHN BULL AND JONATHAN.
An OHcer of the Old Navy Who Could
Not be Bullied.


the 'old navy showed he was not to be
bullied, even when confronted by a vastly
superior force.
In the early part of 1854, during the Crimean
war, the US. frigate Savannah, the flagship of
the Brazil squadron, lay at anchor in the
harbor OF Rio de Janeiro. large force of
English and French men-of-war we're also
there.
Nothing is more tiresome than the daily
routine on board man-of-war, and anything
is welcome that promises to vary it. We had
been at anchor four or five months and were
almost, as Jack says, aground ON our own
beef forces" when a little thing happened that
gave us plenty of excitement for the time
being and something to talk about for the
balance Of the cruise.
one day small steamer called the America
came into port from New York bound to San
Francisco. Scarcely any notice was taken of
her, as our flag In foreign ports was not then,
as now, conspicuous by its absence. Soon, how
ever, rumors began to float around that the
America was a Russian privateer under Amer- |
can colors. An Englishman who had been dis
charged from her SO reported to the British
consul; who at once laid the matter before the
English admiral, Sir Hope johnson. who. in a
communication to our commodore, w. d.
Salter, demanded that he be allowed to search
the America, as. from the information he had
received, he was confident that she had guns
ana ammunition concealed in her hold in the
guise OF boxes said to contain spare machinery
Commodore Salter at once sent for Capt Hud- |
son, who branded the story as a falsehood.
DETERMINED CAPTAIN
He said his vessel was what her papers
showed-an American merchant steamer; that
he had no arms or ammunition on board and
no other papers than those he had submitted
10 the Brazilian customs authorities, and that
he was perfectly willing and anxious that our
naval officers as well the Brazilian should
overhaul her, but that the first English or
French officer who came ON board his ship for
such purpose would go overheard. CON-
Salter then detailed board of officers, of
which the late Admiral Chen lieutenanD lie
Roy was the president. The America was ex-
amlned from stem to stern, the boxes opened
and found to contain nothing but spare
machinery. In fact there was not one iota of
evidence to substantiate the charge. and the
English and French admirals were so informed.
The Frenchman was perfectly satisfied In
fact, he had from the first remained quiet pre-
ferring to leave everything to Com Safter.
Not SO MIR. johnson, who commenced with the
usual British brag and buster to prepare his
squadron for sea- saying that if he could not
overhaul the America In port he would do it
outside. All was hustle in the English SQUAD
ron. The ships were at once got ready for
service and the English officers boosted to
their friends in Rio how they intended to
thrash the Savannah il she interfered And
things did look rather blue. Here was one SOL
itary frigate, without her full complement of
men, and opposed to her was a squadron COM
posed of much heavier frigate, two steam
gunboats and two 10-gun sailing briggs. The
odds were fearful, but no one aboard of the
Savannah seemed the least alarmed.
THE EXCITEMENT IN RIO
rose to fever heat. Nothing else was talked Of
on the street or at the clubs. Steamers were
chartered to go out and see the fun The only
really cool people were those most interested
ourselves Our boats went to the landing at
the regular hour. Visitors were, as usual
allowed on board. In fact, for three days there
was not sign that anything unusual was going
forward. At length the decisive moment came
The America, having completed her repairs
and coaled up, was ready for sea.
on BOARD THE SAVANNAH.
On that eventful morning the men on the
Savannah were given an early breakfast. Sails
had been bent, running rigging rove. boats
hoisted on board, the ship unmoored and riding
to single anchor, and we were now waiting
for the America to take us in tow. The English
were ready. One steamer was ahead of the
frigate. the other was giving line to the brigs.
few minutes after eight bells 6 a. m } the
America was seen steaming through the shin
ping in the upper harbor. And then was heard
the call OF the boatswain and his mates: "All
hands up anchor;" and how that anchor did
come up.
NO THOUGHT THEN OF THE ODDS AGAINST Us.
We only knew that the commodore intended
to baulk the Englishman if possible, and we
were prepared to stand by him to the bitter
end. The English now got under way the
frigate leading. AS they passed us we could
see their men at quarters. AS soon as the
America came down we gave her a line and
then the drum beat to quarters the guns were |
cast loose, and everything made ready for |
action. Five hundred women on board a large
English emigrant ship bound to Australia |
cheered as we passed; the French admiral |
in the spirit of true chivalry, dipped bis colors
while his band played the ''Star Spangled Ban
ner." The beautiful harbor of Rio, one of the
finest in the world never looked lovelier than
it did that bright morning. Boats of every de-
scription, filled with excited Brazilans, passed
every instant all bound to the mouth of the har-
Dor to see-they knew not what. Neither did
we, whom all this excitement more nearly con- |
cerned. We only knew that if the Englishman
carried out his threats there would be hot work
for awhile. Though the odds were against us
there was no thought of backdOwn. The first
gun fired by the Englishman to stop the
America would be the signal for us to take
hand, and Commodore Salter determined at
knowing as he did that he had a crew who
would stand by him to the last.
YANKEES COULD NOT BE pLurFED
On we went down the harbor past Fort Santa |
Cruz, whose ramparts we're lined with soldiers; |
past the lofty Sugar Loaf rock, which stands |
like grim sentinel at the entrance.
The English were already well out, lying to, |
seemingly waiting for us. No attention was |
paid to them as We passed out of the harbor, |
When off RaZa Island, some distance from the |
entrance, the tow-iine was cast off, the Amer
lea gave us three cheers and bid us goodbye. |
steaming away to the southwark. Sail was at |
once made on the Savannah, and We stood |
off and on, watching the motions of the English.
who did not make the slightest move to inter,
cept the America. They had evidently come
to the conclusion that the Yankees could not |
be bluffed They returned back to their
anchorage, officers and men completely dis
gusted with the ridiculous farce they had been |
forced to play by their bull-headed admiral.
They were the laughing stock OF Rio for months.
and to make an Englishman wild 1t was only |
necessary to say Savannah! to him.
Admiral johnson was ridiculed by the English
papers and q short time afterward was re- |
ieved from the command Of the squadron on
that station. l.