The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-31
Copyright, 1894, by Associated Press.

Copyright, 1894, by Associated Press
RIO DE JANEIRo, Jan. 3O.--The fol.
lowing statement has been made to the
Associated Press correspondent by Ad-
miral Benham, commander OF the
United States fleet in that harbor:
1.-The insurgent forces on Cobras Island
last Friday fired upon a ship flying the
United States flag 1 protested to
Admiral Do Cana against this action,
and his response was that he had
warned the commander of tho ship when
it was at the bar at Rio De Janeiro as
to the whereabouts OF tho danger line.
~ ordered Admiral d. CANA to cease
the firing. Beth the guns on the island
OF Cobras and the guns of the insurgens
warship Trajano opened fred Saturday
upon the bark Agate, a vessel hailing
from New York.
81 warned Admiral De CANA at once
thai If the fire was repeated l would fire
back. l also warned him that IL he
touched en- American ship or American
goods l would consider him pirate. l
told him that I would protect American
property absolutely from tho fire of his
guns, and that | should reta!iate upon
him for any damage done unless it was
entirely apparent that the damage WAS
due to chance Shots"
Admiral Benham says that he notified
De Cana unofflcially that firing BY the
insurgents upon the wharves for the
purpose merely of creating terror and
to prolong blockade would not be per-
mitted, so far as Americans and Ameti-
can vessels were concerned
To this communication the insurgent
admiral made no answer. The captains
M A =
Benham continues, intimated that thew
wanted to go to the wharves, and the
American admiral notified Admiral Ds
Cana that il was his intention TO con-.
vey them at sunrise on Monday. Fear
ing trouble, Admiral Benham ordered
that the vessels OF his fleet be cleared
tor action. The three ships referred to
were the Amy, the Goodnews, and the
Julia Rollins.
The captains Of two OF the ships
weakened and failed to come into the
harbor. The Amy VAS the only one
that ventured in and she was escorted
by the United States cruiser Detroit.
No guns were opened upon her by De
course, the American vessels did not
fire upon the insurgents ships.
The insurgents protest consisted of
this: AS the Amy got abreast of the
Guanabara, marine on the last named
vessel aimed musket at her and fred.
Two musket shots were fired at the
Guanabara and the rrajsno from the
AmYs escort, the Detroit in return.
This was all the firing done during
the Amy's trip and it was enough
at later hour Admiral De CANA
conferred with his officers upon the
advisability of surrendering to the De-
troit in conseqa ence Of the musket sh OTIS
fired. He WAS dissuad ed from doing so,
but IL is thought possible that he may
yet decide TO surrender to the American
commander.
There is no doubt that Admiral
De- CANA is in a had way A proposed
compromise has been refused by
PelXoto's government. and it seems to
be only matter of time when he will
nave TO give up tho struggle. The com
plications of the insurgent situation are
Increased by tho absence of Admiral
Mello.
The failure OF the latter admiral to
arrive here to the assistance OF the
insurRent 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 messages
" fA" hh"i peHuau ConRratulatlng hlm
upon his prompt action.
Alarming ports have been received
here OF government disasters at Curu-
tiba, Paranagua and Antonina. 1t is
stated that these places have been cap
tured by the insurgents and that the
government troops have fed, abandon
ing their arms and munitions of war.
Another Account OF the Situation
Copyright 1881 by the United Press)
Rio JANEIRo, Jan. 3O.-A conflict be-
tween the American and insurgent fleets
is still possible. Admiral De CANA is
angry because the younger insur on
officers are eager to fight.
The admiral said to day: alt would
re better to be conquered by foreign
power than to yield later to Peixoto"
Killed Over Land Line Dispute
COLUMBUS. Ga, Jan. 30.-A special
from Hamilton. Ga tn tho Enouirar-