The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-02
THE OFFICIAL REPORT.
ADMIRAL BESHAM AND MINJsTEB
THOMPSON ON RIO INCIDENT.
Secretary Herbert Approves of the Course
OF Our Admirai-No More lnterfer-
ence With Commerce.

NACf1lNIl ON, ~. -, Il GU. is-SNSiN'~
ry Herbert today made public the des-
patch received from Admiral Benham
Monday night telling Of the trouble with
DeGama as follows:
RIO, Jan. % 1894.
Secretary Of Navy, Washington, d. c.:
Two American merchant vessels Satur-
day were prevented from going alongside
the wharf. To-day at q a. NJ. 1 sent
the Detroit to take a position that
would protect the vessels going along
side the wharf and if fired upon 70 re-
turn fire. My vessel was under way and
cleared for action. After the Detroit"
took position, a boat from one of the
vessels running line preparatory to haul in
was fired upon with muskets from the
insurgent ship. The Detroit returned fire
with one FOUNDER. shot striking under her
bow. The insurgent ship fired broad
side gun leeward.
Later, Insurgents fired broadside gun
over American merchant vessels. DE
| troit" returned fire with musket striking
! Insurgent stern post Passing by lnsur-
| gent, he was hailed saying: If you IRE
| again, | will return your fire and II ne
| cessary will sink your vessel. Detroit
! anchored TO command both vesses-one
| merchant vessel having been carried u a
| new position near the wharf, and a tug
| having offered services gTatuitousiy TO
| discharge the cargo. The insurgent lead
! tr was rotined mat these vessels would
| discharge from the present positions, Dut
] that my determination was not changed
| to give the American merchant vessels
| full protection to the wharf, they de-
| sired It.
| Minister Thompson's Report.
The following telegram. dated yesterday
| has been received from Minister Thompson
| by Secretary Gresham
Rio Janeiro. Jan. 81, lSi
Had an interview with Benham. He has
| reported the matter fully 70 the Navy
| Department The United States squadron
| got under way cleared FOR action, and
| having notified the city and the Insurgents
OF his intention 10 protect by force II
| necessary and place alongside Of the
! docks any American vessel wishing TO
| 20 there. the Detroit took the position pest
AFFORDED 70 protect. with orders that II
the vessels were fired upon TO return
the fire.
A boat from one Of the American YES
sells running line preparatory TO hauling
in was fired upon from the insurgents
ship, but was not struck.
The Detroit returned the fire with six
FOUNDER. which struck under the bows OF
the insurgent cruiser
Insurgents then fired broadside guns
10 leeward and later Detroit returned
fire. the muskets striking insurgents stern
post.
Passing by the Detroit the commander
hailed the insurgents vessel telling him
that if ne fired again the Detroit would
return the FIRE. and il necessary sink
him. one OF the American vessels having
now been carried into a new position
near dock. and the tug having offered
services gratuitOusly TO discharge the
cargoes Of ALL the insurgent leader was
notified that the vessels would discharge
from the positions they were then in. but
that the determination OF the Commander
in Chief Of the United States squadron
remained unchanged to give American
vessels full protection and placa them IN
their berths at docks If they 50 desired
Later Detroit was Withdrawn and the
squadron anchored. Bcnham has not in
terferred in the least with military OF
naval operations OF either side, nor is Il
his intention 10 do SO.
He has notified insurgents that u /.
his duty TO protect Americans and com
m arce of the United States and this he I'm
tends to do. and says American vessels
must not be interfered with I'm their move
| monts. but they must take the cOnse
quences when getting I'm the line o
fire where legitimate hostilities are actual
Is in progress. Until belligerent rights ar
accorded the insurgents have no right q
exercise authority over American yes
sells or property. Right of insurgent
to search neutral vessels or TO seize an,
| portion OF their cargOes is denied, eNci
though they be within the class whicl
may be defined as contraband Of war
during hostilitles between the independen
governments. Forcible seizure OF suci
articles in the present status of insur
gents would constitute an act Of piracy
Since the effective action Of Monda,
everything is quiet. Attempted blockade
Of commerce and trade is broken and III
events move smoothly All foreign com
manders concur as far as 1 am ad
yised
Benham'a Course Sustained.
The discrepancy between Ministe
Thompsons statement that the Detroi
fired a six-pound gun and Admiral Ben
hams that a one-pounder was used. {
due TO a telegraphic error or 10 Ministe
! Tbompson's > -snfamiliarity With naval ord
nance
Secretary Herbert to-day sent tho fol
lowing telegram TO Admiral Bcnham:
Further information received froH
| United States Minister. We are Satisne
entirely with the prudence and iudgmen
with which you have carried out lnstruc
tious and protected American commerce
Rely upon you Tor continued exercise
wise discretion
secretary Herbert's telegram seems
Indicate that the Admiral In making
show OF force and I'm firing on the insuI
gents. had acted under specific instruG
| tions IL is explained al the Navy De
, | uartment that Admiral Benham was acl
, | inc only under general instructions 10 pr,
- | tect American interests and 10 avoid u
| terferenca or partizanship. and that d
| o,d not 90 beyond the letter or the spri
of these directions in his decisive actio
| of Monday. The Admiral, however, pr
yiously informed the department OF n
| intention to put stop TO ia Gamas ili'
! gal interference with American commerce
yic,im ~ the Iio Incident.
ur,crrINcTON. y. c., Feb. l.-Th
~, ,,,ctin, ~ the hostilities between ID
c,,ra and Benham I'm Rio harbor, so IA
! os vet rsported is Passed Assistant ray
: master George Washington Simpson, G
tse cruiser Detroit. According TO q di.
natcb from Admiral Benham, received b.
80 bis message concerning Monday
incident Mr.. Simpson accidentally she
/ hinself In the leg while handling n
volver. The injury IL slight. It Is PR
, su,ned at the department that Mr.. Simf
son was putting his weapon In order 10
e rha expected battle when the accidcr
a occurred.
xBfG REBEI TJCfOHf.
pr.,,,ian Insurc~ni. said 10 Have Car
= ..~t ,,,. Tov, of Nlctheroy,