The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-28
BrallIianS Apparently Have No Re-
speCt for Yankees.
AMERICAN FLAG HAULED DOWN.
Other Indignitios Heapcd Upon q sea
Captain-The American Consul Gen.
eral Turns Deaf Ear to the Report
ed Outrage,

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 27.--The American
three-masted schooner Grace Andrews,
Captain o. A. Andrews, arrived here yes
terday from Natal, Brazil, with cargo
OF sugar.
Captain Andrews tells story of having
been molested by the government troops
at Brazil, and, despite his protestations
and displaying OF the American flag, he
and a number of his men were cast into a
dungeon and kept prisoners for 30 hours
without food. American Consul W. II.
Towne, he says. treated his complaint In
most contemptuous manner.
The ship was Mt San Concaho on Sept. 3,
when the captain found IL necessary to go
TO Rio on business, and he took the
steamer for that port. On his arrival he
started out for the home of his brother,
l.. 5. Andrews. who is in business in Rio,
and tells this story Of what transpired:
Captain Andrews story.
81 was halted by Peixoto's soldiers and
held captive that night, but managed
early the next morning to get to hotel.
Two days later started back for my YES
sell and on reaching there was informed
by my consignee that owing to the revo-
luton it would be impossible to load my
vessel, and II would be necessary for me
TO return to Rio and cancel the charter.
IL started for Rio in my ships small
boat, being careful to have the merchant
flag in the stern so that might be dis
tinguished from the insurgent or Bra
lillian boats. This was necessary, as
Mello's forces had captured the steam
boats, which were the only means of
transportation between the two Yoints.
/ took with me an interpreter, a Portu-
gucse sailor, and two colored sailors,
Edward Tasker and Edward Washington.
A fresh breeze was blowing and in six
hours we were within hailing distance of
n small settlement the name of which
cannot remember, but as we approached
it / saw hundreds of soldiers running
toward the beach, all centering at the
point where had to pass.
Compelled to Stop.
81 hoisted the American flag, but they
shouted in Spanish what my interpreter
said was: If you don't stop, we will shoot
YOU The wind was blowing hard and
we had to turn the boat in a peculiar way
TO prevent jibing her. The soldiers
thought we were trying to get away, so
they took aim at us and fired several
shots. then hauled the boat around and
drove her upon the beach among them
and they sprang into the water after US
and placed ms under arrest.
'Then they hauled down the American
flag and placed us in a barrack for several
hours. i was then taken to Rio Janeiro,
while my men were held at Santa Cruz
After reaching there l was taken before
the chief of police, who recommitted me
to prison, without any food whatever /
protested against such treatment, and
begged for something TO eat, and finally
was sent out in charge of detective TO
procure food. When / got the detective
clear of the prison knew / was as good
man as he was, neither of us being armed,
and forced him to permit me to see the
american consul.
Consul Townc's Action.
eve reached Mr.. Towne's Office, and
when Il explained to him the unjust man:
ner in which myself and men, who were
still imprisoned at Santa Cruz, had been
treated, he accompanied me back to the
chief of police, and after some argument
was released.
81 made long report to the consul
about the pulling down Of the American
flag from my boat, but he paid no atten-
tion to it."
Captain Andrews says Towne is not fit
to represent the United States in Brazil.
''He is no American" says the skipper.
While visiting his brother at Rio, Captain
Andrews says several stray shots during
the time of the bombardment went di-
rectly through the walls of the house and
demolished some Of the furniture.