The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-02-07
DA GAMA'S GUNS
TURNED ON AMERICAN MERCHANT
MEN At RIO.

Admiral Bsnhsm's Vigorous Measures
The Rebels Quail-Masket Shots Xxx
chaneed-Insurgents Contemplate Sur
rendering to Bsnham.
RIO JANEIRO, Jan .30.-The following
statement has been made to the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent by Admiral
Benham, commander of the United
States fleet in this harbor:
"The lnsurgent forces on Cobras Is.
land last, Friday fired upona ship flying
the United States flag. l protested to
Admiral Saldanna De Cana against
this action, and his response was lie
had warned the commander Of the ship
when it was at the bar Of Rio de Janti.
70 as TO tbs whereabouts of the danger
line. I ordered Admiral De Cana 10
cease the firing. Both the guns on the
Island of Corbras and the guns Of the
insurgent war ship Trajana opened fire
Saturday on the bark of Agate, a YES
sci hail:ng from New York. l warn
ed Admiral De Cana st once that if
the fire was repeated, would fire back.
l also warned him that if he touched
an American ship OF American goods,I
would consider him pirate. I told
nim that I would protect American
property absolutely from the fire of his
guns, and that / would retaliate upon
him for any damage done, unless il was
entirely apparent that the damage was
due to chance shots.
Admiral Bgah20 says that he noti-
fed Admiral De Cana, unclllaiallv,
that firing BY the Insurgents upon the
wtsrvss, for the rIrpose merely Of Gre
ating terror aai TO prolo x a blockade.
void not be permitted, 50 fs,r us
Americans and American vessels were
concerned.
The captains of three American YES
sells, Admiral Benham continues, init
mated that they wanted to go to the
wharves, and the American admiral
notifed Admiral De Cana that it was
his intention to convey them at sunrise
on Monday. Fearing trouble, Admiral
Benham ordered that the vessels of his
fleet be cleared for action. The three
ships referred to we're the Amy, the
| Good News and TIE Julia Rollins.
The captains of two of the ships
weakened and failed to come into the
harbor. The Amy was the only one
| that ventured ip, and she was escorted
by the United States cruiser Detroit.
AS precaution against any possible
| aggressive action on the part of the in-
surgeDts, the cruisers New York, Char
lesion and Newark were assigned to
watch the actions of De Gama's ships,
| the Aquldahap and Tamandare, while
the Detroit and the San Francisco were
signalled to take positions near the
Trajano and the Guarabara. These
precautions certainly proved effective
and the insurgents, in the face Of the
| formidable array of American vessels,
made but the feeblest attempt to him
der the Amy's progress to her wharf.
No guns were opened upon her by De
Gama's vessels, and, as a matter of
course, the American vessels did not
| fire upon the lnsurgent ships.
The insurgent protest consisted of
his: AS the Amy got abreast Of the
| Guanabara, a mariue on the last named
vessel aimed a musket at her and fired.
Two muskets were fred at the Guiana
bara and the TIajanc from the Amy's
escort, the Detroit in return. This was
all the firing done during the Amy's
trip and it was enough, All opposition
| ceased at once, and the use of heavy
guns was not considered necessary at
any time.
The reason that the other two ships
which had notified Admiral Benham
that they wished to 60 to their wharVes
failed to do so, was that their COM
manders were persuaded from entering
the harbor by man of the name Of
Rollins, who is believed to be the agent
of an English firm, who has. been fur
nishing the rebels with money.
At later hour. Admiral De Cana
conferred with his officers upon the ad-
! visibility of surrendering to the De-
| troit, in consequence OF the musket
shots fired. He was dissuaded from
doing so, but it is thought possible that
he may yet decide to surrender to the
American commander.
There is no doubt that Admiral De
Cana is in bad way. a proposed
compromise has been refused by Pick
oto's government and it seems to be
only matter of time when he will
have to give up the struggle.
The complications of tiI. insurgent
situation are increased by the absenca
of Admiral De Mello. The failure cf
the latter admiral to arrive here to the
assistance of the insurgent. fleet has
given rise to the report that he is dead.
The commanders of sixteen Warships
here, including five American and four
English and French, have sent messs-
ges to Admiral Benham, congratulate
| ing him upon his prompt action. The
Austrian commander cleared his ship
and made ready to help the American
admiral in case help was necessary.
THE STORY FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-An import
ant dispatch from Admiral Benham to
Secretary Herbert was received today
and is to the following effect: 1t seems
that Admiral Benham lost patience
with the insurgent forces for their care
less firing in the harbor of Rio. When
Admiral Da Cana persisted in this
reckless course, Admiral Barbam yes
| terday cleared T., decks for action.
| Adirira! Da Cana did not choose TO
take the hint, t,whereupon AGn:ra. Ben
ham .ired several shots across the BOWS
of Da Gama's flagship. 1t is under.
stood that this action was Salutary, and
that the matter ended at that point.
This, IL brief, is the dispatch, 50 it
is said. The complications that may
follow are regarded as likely to be seri-
Gus. Our fleet at Rio is, of course,
much stronger than that of the rebel
admiral, and it is not likely that the
latter would add to the number of his
assailants by engaging in 3 conflict
with Admiral Benham.
INCIDENT OF TIE EPISODE.
Rio DE JANEIRo, Jau. 30.-A con-
| flict between the American and ipsur-
gent fleets is still pJssible. Admiral
Da Cana IS angry bo'ause the young
er insurgent officers are eager to fight.
The admiral said today: at would be-
better to be conquered by foreign
oouor thuD RI Wild 13tar RI pp;Ynto y