New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-07

REACHING BRAZILIAN wATEaS-AGENTS
OF THE REBEL ADMIRAL WELL
SUPPLIED WITH MONEY. Ar-
PARENTIY FROM EUROPE.
,fthe plots now being contrvcd by the friends
- Admiral Meo in this city succeed FL ca
nd her consorts will never reach BraZii.
Alarmed by the rapid way in which PRESIDENT
peixoto has improvised fleet in this haroor'
,ho rebels have been searching desperately for
.ome means by which their most formidaoe
,,e FL Cid. could be prevented from carrying
ont her errand of vengeance Every dlplomauc
or legal means whereby her departure could be
DELAYED or prevented has been tried. only 10
result in failure. Now a last resort it has
hae, resolved to attempt to attack and destroy
ber in mdocean by treacherous means. If the
nresent plans are carried out two powerful tugs
will approach her as if on friendly Intent. and
then without warming ram her again ana
again. until her battered and broken hull SINKS
beneath the waves, carrying down win her
her dynamite gun, her Hotchkiss rliles ana her
crew of American tars. once she is gone the
other members of Peixoto's new fleet will be
rapidy sent to follow her, until all are de-
stroyed.
MYSTERIOUS SOUTH AMEEICAES HERE
Mello's agents here have been busy for some
time negotiating for the purchase OF the IN
tended rams but have had difficulty in finding
vessels to suit them that their owners are
willing to part with. Ten days ago several
mysterious South Americans approached the
agents of the Boston Towboat Company, in this
city. and offered to buy their two stoutest tow
boats. the r. C. Veit and the p. II. Wise.
They made generous offers for the vessels. but
when requested to show that they were able
10 carry out their agreements. they failed to
do so. They seemed to have little money.
although they made large promises. Finally
they declared that they would have money
within two weeks. Certain persons in Portu-
gal and in Austria. they said. would supply
them with all they needed Meanwhile they
wanted to see the boats at work. and ascertain
OF what they were capable. When the Neit
left here for Boston last Wednesday. in order
to tow some Standard Oil Company barges there,
a representative of Mello's agents. 1t is said.
accompanied her The voyage was to be in
the nature of a trial trip.
Yesterday the mysterious South Americans
again approached the owners of the boats. This
time they had plenty Of money, most OF 1t III
drafts banks that do business with Portu-
GEL Spain and Austria. The men were anxious
TO buy the Veit and Wise at once. but certain
difficulties arose over the adjustment Of the
price and the final arrangements have not yet
been completed.
POWERFUL TUGS BARGA1NED FOR.
Michael Moran. agent Of the company yester-
day said that the matter secret
There have been negotiations on the
subject" said he. but the sale has not been
consummated, and cannot speak about It,"
who are the men who bargained with you?"
was asked.
he Gnpth
he replied
Were they Meo's agents, or Peixotos?
"Oh, Meo's of course. But really cannot
talk the sale has not been made yet That is
all l say
The r. c. veit is the largest and most power
full tug in New-York Harbor She is built of
wood but is exceptionally solid. She has made
several long voyages from the West Indies
and elsewhere. once towing the disabled bark
Egeria heavily laden with marble and other
cargo, from Nassau 20 NewYork. she is excep-
tionaIy steady and hrst-class boat
Why" said the captain of another Of the
Moran boats Yesterday. she would go through
FL Cids side like knife through cheese, If she
once struck her fairly.
She was built i'm 1891 by Wentworth Allen of
Athens. n. Y. her engines and machinery being
put in by Neane & Levy. of Philadelphia. She
is Of 1872 tons gross measurement, has triple
expansion engines. and is JOG feet long. "a feet
beam and II feet deep. Her speed is about
fifteen knots an hour. She has $50 horsepower.
She was due at Boston last night. but will re-
mander is Captain T. Curran.
The p. II. Wise is smaller boat 81 feet long,
10 feet beam. 10 feet deep, and III tons gross
measurement. She is constructed of iron and
steel throughout and is a stanch seaboat Her
engines not powerful as those Of the
veit, but her speed is nearly the same Her
present captain is James r. Lucas. She
laid up at the Erie basin yesterday morning to
have her boilers washed and cleaned, and in the
afternoon towed a number Of street cleaning
barges down to Sandy Hook. While not SO
dangerous the Veit she could DO great dam
age by weil-directed blow.
HOW THE BOATS MIGHT BE USED.
The few people who knew Of the practical
sale Of the boats yesterday eagerly discussed
the probable way in when they would be used.
One man. who thoroughly understood the sit
uation, said: THE sale never will be an
nounced openly IL it can be kept secret The
plan of the new owners simply to so
board day or two before FL Cid leaves. and
start out. ostensibly for Boston or some other
coast city. Then they would watch for Ell Cid
outside the Hook or down the coast out of sight
of land. When she up they would ap-
proach her quietly and easily. AS they would
fly the American flag FL Cid would not suspect
them or II she did. would find il difficult to
decide how to act before they had declared
themselves open enenies. When the tugs got
into the right place they would suddenly ram
the cruiser 1t full speed. They would unques-
tionably sink her. and they would take good
care that no one escaped to tell the tale on
shore. El Cid would simply he missing. that Is
all The tugs could return to New-York and
their crews leave them. and vanish long be-
fore suspicion would be aroused Their act
would be rank piracy. of course, but how could
they be punished? If necessary their crews
could take both tugs TO Brazil elsewhere.
scutte them off the coast, and escape In their
boats to the shore. where they could never be
found. Fortunately forewarned is forearmed.
and El Cid will now be the lookout for such
treacherous attacks. and able to avoid them
The problem of finding crews for the two tugs
would be a difficult one. There are many
South American sailors around the piers who
could easily be secured for such an enterprise
Only small crew would be required"
TO CAST THE TORPEDO GUNS.
Philadelphia. Nov GA dispatch from Norris
town. Penn, says: The Norristown Steel Company