Huntsville gazette., 1893-12-02
LATE NEWS FROM RIO.


/ Admiral Stanton's Breach OF Internation-
! al Etiquette as Viewed by Those on the
Ground-The Sinking of the Javary No
| Serious Inconvenience to MeIlo, Who is
Believed to be Receiving Supplies from
Europe.
New YORK, Nov. 29.-The steamer
| MaslSelyne, Capt. Gregory, arrived yes
terday from Brazilian ports She left
Rio de Janeiro on the 5th of Novem Der.
| and brought as one of her passengers
| a sailor of the United States steamer
Charleston, which was anchored in the
harbor when Admiral Stanton dropped
his flag to Mello and received the Bra
lillian revOlutiOnists aboard his ship.
The Charleston man said that he was
tired of yellow fever country, and
came here on leave of absence to
breath pure air once more. The
Charleston, he said, was in the harbor
of Rio when Admiral o. f. Stanton
committed the breach of national eti-
quette for which he has been recalled.
The Charleston tar" who said his name
was James Letford, states that there
can be no question as to the American
admirafs action, although he did moth
ing more than every other foreign YES
sci did that entered the bay But that
he did salute the revolutionary COM
mander with full knowledge of what
he was doing, says the sailor, there
can be no doubt. AS he steamed down
the bay, the American streamer was
sent to the peak and his guns belched
forth. According to the man-ofwars-
man, there was no other boat in the
river which flew Brazilian flag that
did not belong to or was not un-
der the command of Mello. So
an error could not have been
committed. No comment was created
there, he says, as other foreign war
ships had done the same thing, and
Admiral Stanton's recall occasioned
the greatest surprise in the Brazilian
city and to the commanders and men
on other vessels stationed there.
According to the officers of the Mas
kelyne, who were told of the sinking
of the Javary, her loss would not occa-
sion Mello much inconvenience, for.
they say, she had been floating about
the harbor for some time partially dis
q ocACu' ocliCVllLS dpptI CAtiy " do
wrong with her machinery.
A passenger who refused to give his
name came up on the Maskelyne from
Pernambuco, and stated that Mello
was greatly favored in the city
whence he came, not because the peo-
pie opposed republican form Of gov
ernment, but for the reason that they
hated Peixoto personally for his despotio
manners. He said that it was also
generally believed in Brazil that Mello
was receiving support from Europe,
and that his feet was met off shore by
European steamers and supplied with
fuel, provisions. and ammunition.
In commenting on the Stanton affair,
the Rio News of October 81 contains
the following leading editorial:
The kilograms received here on the Goth OF
the recall of Admiral Stanton, commander-in-
chief OF the United States naval forces at this
station, occasionedsa general surprise 1t was
not known that the Brazilian government had
complained of HIM. nor was it known that any
breach of etiquette had been committed. We
have no disposition TO discuss a question
which only be settled by the authorities at
Washington: we have heard only side of
the case and the other can not be known until
Admiral Stanton makes his official reply to
the charges made. All that can be said is
that he is accused OF receiving and returning
calls which were of the briefest character and
devoid of all political interest. The rea-
tions between the officers OF other national-
ties and the insurgent chief probably led to
the impression that no Importance was at
tached to the calls. Whether an error was
made or not we do not presume to say, but In
view Of the fact, that officer Of large ex-
perience unblemished character and good
judgment is concerned there can
certainly be no foundation for the harsh crit
cisms on his conduct which some OF the par
tisans Of the government have seen fit to
make. That no intentional slight or offense
committed no one can dispute for Ad-
miral Stanton had only Just arrived. and could
have formed no opinion on the conflict We
are glad to say that his recall, not dismissal"
as some native journals say, is universally re.
GREETED, not only by Americans, but by foreign
ers Of every nationality. He had won the con-
fdence and esteem Of q large number OF resi-
dents who not only sympathze with his mis-
fortune, but who deeply regret his departure.