The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-07
They Purchase Two Powerful Tug
boats in New York City.
WILL RAM PEIXOTO'S VESSELS.
Their Purchase Conducted With Much
Skill, and No laws Have Been vio-
lated-Dangerous Enemies to Meet
With ON Dark Night.
SPECIAL To ruB NEWS.


NEW YORK, Nov. 1.-TWO OF the most
powerful tugs in the barbor, the r. c.
Veit and the p. II. Wise. have been prac-
tcally purchased by the Brazilian rebels.
They will undoubtedly be used In waging
war against the fleet of impromptu war
vessels which President Peixoto's gov
ernment is gathering in Amer can
waters.
Both vessels are ocean tugs OF the
strongest build. They have made trips 10
West Indian and South American ports,
and they can do it again. The Veit Is
considered to bs the strongest tug in the
harbor. She has saved dozens
of vessels which today would be float
ing about as derellcts. She has
weathered gales which ocean steamers
could not Withstand, and she towed ves-
sells to safety when the seas were the
toughest.
One OF the achievements OF the Wet
was to bring the dismas,ed bark Egeria
into this port. although hurricane
how1ed for days along her track.
The negotiations have been carried on
for the past two weeks. Two men who
came here ostensibly as Brazilian mer-
chants have been holding frequent con-
ferences with NJ. Moran e. Co., tho tug
boat owners
The agents of Admiral Msllo-that they
arc the emissaries OF the insurgent leader
there can be no doubt-havs conducted
this purchase with care aud prudence.
There is no law against two Brazilian
merchants purchasing tugboats.
Had they bought torpedo boats or
steamers to convert into cruisers they
would have met a serious obstacle In the
neutrality laws.
These tugs can gd>And como where they
please. Some morning they may
quietly 90 out of the barbor with n
barge or line of scows In tow, timirg
their departure to the sailing OF FL Cid
or the Britannia. Then At some conven-
lent point they may leave their consorts
and become instruments OF destruction.
Perhaps, flying an American flag, they
may pass the Brazilian vessels. The
cruisers would hardly fire upon what
was to all appearances an American tug.
There Is no great difference in the lines
of ocean tugs. Ths Vrit or the Wise
could turn upon the Britannia or FL
Cid and crush them in amidships before
these vrsseis could get beyond reach or
use their guns. In the night the tugs
could easily escape.
An old sea captain said to me yesterday
that so strong and compactly built was
the Veit that she could disable FL Cid
with one well-directed blow. Whether
the attempt upon the Brazilian fleet
should be successful or not these
tugs will hardly be seen in this
harbor afterward. Should they come
here they would be captured By the Unit d
States authorities. Rather than permit
the vessels to be seized the agents OF the
rebels would cause the tugs to be scut-
tied.
When FL Cid and the Britannia 90 be-
yond Sandy Hook and pass the three mile
limit they may lind the
ocean highway hard road to
travel. Perhaps some tug, flying the
flag OF friendly nation may hesve in sight
and without making a y signs or hostil
ity suddenly turn and send her bow crash
inginto steamer side. Under the cover
OF darkness great ocean tug may silent
ly approach within few hundred yards
and then, rushing with tremendous force.
rend gaping hole in.one of Brszil's un-
armored cruisers.