Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-09-30
BOYNTON'S BREAK.
Supposed To Be the Noted
Diving Suit Man.
GETS INTO GRIEF AT RIO JANEIR0

And incidentally DraGs UucIe Sam Into
the Difficulty-Acting for the Brazilian
Government He lilies the British Flag
in nm Attempt to DO the Torpedo Act
and Is CnuEht-Morgan Starts IA Serial
in the Senate Debate.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 39-A spice of inter.
national interest has been injected into
tie situation of affairs IN Brazil through
two incidents that may lead to some COM
plcatiOns The first of these is based on
the action of merchant vessels flying the
stars and stripes in furnishing provisions
20 the rebel fleet which threatens Rio ia
metro; the other is best explained by the
cable message received by the secretary of
the navy to the effect that one Boynton or
Boyton-not known whether it is Paul
Boynton the swimmer with the unsink-
able rubber suit-had been captured on
tug flying the British flag and having
with him a torpedo, presumably to blow
up one Of the rebel vessels At any rate
he is described in the dispatch as an Amer
lean citizen and he had no right TO fly the
British flag. Secretary Herbert tele-
graphed to hold Boynton until further or
ders.
1t IL Very Probably Paul.
1t is believed that the man captured is
Paul Boynton, the diving suit man. He
He is likely to do such things Some years
ago he was detected trying to swim under
the bows of a British warship in New
York harbor to show how, clad in one of
his suits, he could carry dynamite bomb
out to a hostile ship and blow her up. The
state department is in daily communica
ton with Minister Thompson at Rio, and
is well informed rs to the course of events
there, which many think this Boynton
prank Will see Uncle sam mixed up in Ii
was Thompson who reported that Amer
lean merchant vessels were furnishing the
insursent fleet with provisions, AID he
asked for instructions with reference to
the matter
May Require Us to Explain
1t is understood that in reply the state
department has directed the minister to
caution captains of American merchant
vessels from giving stores to the
belligerents, the United States not having
recognized the rebellious faction. Whether
American vessels have actually given
the government of Brazil if it be successful
In the present trouble, will ask for an ex-
PLANTATION perhaps something more, from
the United States, are questions that can
not be considered in any other form than
as mere surmise. 1t is understood that
other questions submitted by Thompson
for advice as to his attitude in the
premises, are covered by his general in
structlOns and that he has been so in
formed
Is the Doynton Man a Pirate?
SO far as the Buynton case is concerned,
the navy department interprets it this
way: y tug of the Brazilian government
flying the British flag attempted to blow
up an insurgent ship The commander of
the tug, United States citizen, WAS ar
rested by British officers on the charge of
piracy in showing colors under which he
had no right TO sail, and was turned over
TO the United States naval authorities for
conveyance TO the United States for trial
In support of the assertion that Boyuton
Is pirate naval officials point to an act of
congress of March 3. 1919, which author
lies the president of the United States to
instruct commanders of the public armed
vessels of the government "to seize and
send into port any vessel the crew of
which shall have committed or attempted
any act of piracy upon any vessel of the
United States or the citizens thereof, or
upon any other vessel" and on this clause
Boynton may be held pirate.
Think the Incident Not Serious.
But nj the state department, where the
matter has been examined with some care
it is said that the incident is not at ali
serious. Boynton had been captured on
suspicion of intending to commit an as
sault on one of the rebel ships and had
been through courtesy turned over to the
United States commander for whatever
action the United States saw Fit to take in
his case. 1t is stated that no severe pun
ishment could be inflicted on Boynton,
and that neither Great Britain nor Brazil
would attempt to hold the United States
responsible for the matter.