The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-01-31
A Bloodless Naval Battle in
the Bay Of Rio.
American Ships Fired Upon by
the Insurgents.
The Volley Returned by the Detroit
With Interest.
Only Small Arms Used in the Encounter.
Da CANA Inclined to Surrender
to Admiral Benham-Ex-
citing Rumors.


By the Associated Press.
Rio DE JANEIRo, Jan. 30-[Copy-
righted, 1894, by the Associated Press.l
The following statement has been
made to the Associated Press corres-
pondent by Admiral Benham, COM
mander of the United States fleet in
this hsrbor:
THE insurgent forces on Cobras
island last Friday fred upon ship fy-
ing the United States flag. / protested
to Admiral ds Cana against the action,
and his response was that he had
warned the commander of the ship
when at the bar at Rio as to the where
abouts of the danger line. l ordered
Da CANA to cease firing. Both guns on
the island of Cobras and guns on the
insurgent warship Trajano opened Ere
Saturday upon the bark Agate, vessel
hailing from New York. 1 warned
Da CANA at once that If the fire was re-
peated would fire back. also warned
him that if he touched an American
ship or American goods would consider
him pirate. 1 told him would pro-
tect American property from the fire Of
his guns and that Ishould retaliate upon
him for any damage done, unless entire
ly apparent that the damage was due to
chance shots"
Admiral Benham says he notified Da
CANA unofficially that firing by the in
surgents upon the wharves for the pur-
pose Of merely creating terror and to
| prolong the blockade would not be per-
mitted 60 far as Americans and Ameri-
can vessels were concerned. To this
communication the insurgent admiral
made no answer.
Captains of American vessels intimated
that they wanted to go to the wharves,
and the American admiral notified Da
CANA that it was his intantion to con-
voy them at sunrise on Monday. Fear
ing trouble, Benhsm ordered the vessels
of the fleet cleared for action. The cap
tains of two of the chips weakened and
failed to come into the harbor. The
Amy was the only one that ventured in,
and she was escorted by the United
States cruiser Detroit. AS a precaution
against possible aggressive action on the
part Of the insurgents the cruisers New
York, Charleston aud Newark were as
signed to watch the actions of Da Gama's
ship Aquidaban, while the Detroit ana
San Francisco were signaled to take
positions near the Trajano and
Guanabara. These precautions proved
effective, and the insurgents, in the
face of the formidable array of American
vessels, made but a feeble attempt to
hinder the Amy's progress to the wharf.
No guns were opened upon her by Da
Gama's vessels, and, as a matter of
course. the American vessels did not
fire upon the insurgent ships The in
surgent protest consisted of this:
As the Amy got abreast Of the Guiana
bara, marine on the latter vessel
aimed musket at her and fred. Two
musket shots were fred at the Guiana
bara and Trajano from the Amy'e es-
cort, the Detroit, in return. This was
all the firing that was done during the
Amv's trip, and it was enough. All
opposition ceased at once, and the use
of heavy guns was not considered nec-
essary at any time.
At late hour Ds CANA conferred
with his officers upon the advisability
of guaranteeing to the Detroit in conee-
ouence OF the musket shots fred. He
was dissuaded from doing so, but it Ia
thought possible he may yet decide to
surrender to the American commander.
No doubt Da Cana is in bad way |;
his proposed compromise has been re-
fused by Peixoto's government, and u
seems to be only question of time
when he will have to give up the
struggle.
The complication OF the insurgent sit
uation is increased by the absence OF
De Mello. The failure OF the latter ad-
miral to arrive to the assistance of the
insurgent feet has given rise to the r6-
port that he is dea1.
Commanders OF warships here, in
Guiding five American and four English
and French, have sent q message to Adj
miral Benham conGratulating him upon
his prompt action. The Austrian com,
mander cleared his ship and made ready
to help the American admiral in case
help was necessary.
Alarming reports have been received
of government disasters at Curutiaba.
Paranagua and Aontina. 1t is stated
that these places have been captured by
insurgents and the government troops
fed, abandoning their arms and muni.
} tions of war.