The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-31
WANTS TO Be CAPTURED.
The Brazilian Insurgent Admiral da
Cana Is in a Mighty Bad
Way.
Too Muskst Shots From Our Do
troit Make Him Want to
Surrender.
barking Up the Wrong Tree when lie
Got After Benham-MeiIo's where
shouts Mystery.

lcopyfighted. 1891. By the Associated Presal
hIo Dh JASEmo. Jan. 30.-Ihe following
statement has been made 20 the Associated
p ess ooriespondent by Admiral Benham.
commander Of the United States fest In
this habo; "The insurgent forces on
Cobia .a.an5, last Friday. fired on a ship
flying the Unitsi States flag. protested
20 Admiral da Cana against the Ection. and
bis response was that he had warned the
commander Of the ship when at the bar at
RIO 40 10 the whe sabouts OF the danger
line. ordered dA Cana 20 cease firing.
Both the Runs on the island Of Cobras and
the guns Of tho insurRent warship Traiano
opensd Gre Saturday upon the bark AQats,
vessel sailing from New York.
Il wa ned d. q ANA at oncS that il the
fire was rspeatsd would FIRE back. / also
warned him that If he touched an Amsri-
can ship or American goods. would con-
rider him pirate. l told him / would FRO.
teet American property from tho fire Of his
guns. and should rstaliats upon him for
any damage done unless II was entirely ap-
parent that the damage was due TO ohanos
shots."
Admiral Benham says he notified da Cana
unoffcially that firing by insurgents upon
the vhHrves for the purpose Of merely Gre
Hting terror and 20 prolona the blockade
would NOT be permitted so far as Americans
and American vessels are concerned. To
this communication the insurgsnt admiral
made no answer. The captains of three
American vessels intimated that thsy
wanted TO 60 90 the wharves. aud the Amsr-
loan admiral notihet da Cana that II was
his intention to convey them in
al sunrise Monday. Fearing trouble.
cleared for action. The captains Of two OF
the ships weakened and failed TO come into
the hafbor. he Amy was the only one
that ventured in and she was escorted bv
the United States cruiser Dstroit. As a
prscaution sRainst possible aggressive ao-
tion on the part OF the insurgents the
cruisers Nav York. CHARLESTON and Newark
were assigned to watch the actions of da
damA's ship. the AQuidaban, while the De-
troit and san francisco wers siRnaled 20
take positions nesr she siano aud Guiana.
bars.
These q eoautions certainly p,ovsd effsc-
tive, and the insurgents In the face Of the
formidable array of American vessels, made
but feeble attempt TO hinder She Amy's
progress to WHARF No guns were opened
/ upon her by da 0ama's vessels and az a
matter of course the American vessels did
/ not nre upon the insurgent shipS. The in
surgent protest consisted OF this: AZ the
/ AmV got abreast of the Guanabara a marine
l on the last named vessel aimed a musket al
/ her and cred. Two musket shots we're fred
at the GaanabArA and the Trajauo from
the Amy's escort. the Detroit. Ia return.
This WAS all tho firing done du,ing tht
AmY's trip. and 1t was enough. All opposi.
/ tlon ceased at once ami the use Of heavy
guns was not eonside ed necessary at AM
time. At a later hour da Cana conferred
with his officers upon the Hdvisability oi
surfendeTing 80 the Detroit in conseauenc,
Of the musket shots fired. but was dissuadeC
| from doing so. but 10 is thought possible b,
may yet decide TO surrender 20 tbs Amer
/ lean commander.
! No doubt dA Cana u in n bad way. His
Z Toposed compromise has been refused by
PeiIoto's government, and II seems 10 bs
only matter of time when he will have tc
give mp the struggle. Complications in the
insurgsat situation have increased by the
absence of de Mello. Failure OF the latter
admiral to arrive here TO the assistance Ol
the insurgtni fleet has given rise TO a re
/ port that he is dead.
The commanders OF sixteen warshipi
here. including i've American and foul
English and French. have sent a meassg,
to Admiral Benham eongratulating hin
upon his prompt action. The Austrian
commanded cleared his ship and mad
ready TO help the American admiral in oas
help was necessary.