The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-02-02
AN OBJECT LESSON.
Brazilians Must Show Respect
For the American Flag.
A Day OF Intense Excitement at Rio de
Janeiro-The Bark Amy Escorted to
Her Wharf by American Warships.

Her Wharf by American Warships
| LONDON, Jan. 30.-A special dispatch
from Rio de Janeiro gives an interesting
account of an exciting episode there yes
terday.
The United States naval feet in the har-
Dor furnished the excitement Provoked
beyond the endurance of patience by the
continued carelessness of the gunners
aboard the rebel warship Aquida ban, and
tired by the Indifference shown on the part
of the revolutionary admiral to all his
protests that American vessels entering
! and leaving the harbor were not afforded
proper protection by the rebel feet, Ad-
miral Benham made a demonstration with
the American war vessels under his COM
mand which has taught much needed
lesson to the belligerents on both sides.
In the events of yesterday the foreign
colony were particularly interested, and
the action of Admiral Benham will prob
ably furnish a precedent by which the
commanders of the other foreign vessels
in this port will be guided in the future.
Insurgents Were Careless.
The cause of all the trouble was the
treatment to which three American bar ks
were subjected on last Saturday by the
indiscriminate fusilade from the insur-
gent warship. The American vessels
were the bark Amy, Captain Blackford; !;
the bark Good News, Captain Myrick,
and the bark Julia Rollins, Captain
Kiehne.
On Saturday last, while lying at anchor,
all three vessels were endangered by the
chance shots fired by the insurgents
These whistled through the rigging and
passed the men at work on the decks.
After suffering a great deal of annoy
ance and running great risks, the three
captains held a conference and determined
to appeal for protection to the United
States warships and to request that the
barks be given an escort to the wharves.
Captains Kehne. Myrich and Black
ford put off in small boats at great dan
ger to themselves to the flagship New
York, had conference with Admiral
Benham who listened TO their story, and
promised that he would do everything in
his power to afford them the fullest pro-
lection.
He said, however, that before making
any display of force on the part of his
fleet, or giving the captains the escort
which they requested, he thought it only
right to first notify the insurgent ad-
miral, Da Cana, of the captains com
plants.
Benham's Ire Aroused.
Accordingly Admiral Benham sent one
of his officers to the Aquidaban with or
ders to acquaint Admiral Dd Gama with
the facts in the case and to ask him to |
have an end put TO the reckless cunning. |
When the American officer had finished |
making his statement Da CANA, with a |
shrug of bis shoulders, said in very |
sharp tone: 1T is not my fault The |
American ship captains should know |
enough TO keep themselves and their |
crews out of the range of our guns /
shall not take any notice of this matter"
This curt response to his message
aroused the ire of Admiral Benham, and J
he determined to make such a showing
that it would produce lasting effect
upon the insurgents. He allowed Sunday
to pass quietly. Early Monday morning,
however, the greatest activity prevailed
on board the fleet. Shortly after day
break the decks of the flagship New York,
Of the Newark, San Francisco, Detroit
and other United States war vessels hert
were cleared for action and their anchors
we're raised.
Admiral Benham then sent word to tn e
captains OF the GOod News julia RobblEs |
md the Amy that as soon as they wer
.eady to proceed he would escort them t.
he wharves. At this moment Captains
kiehne of the Julia Robbins and Myric,
If the Good News weakened. They dit
rot care to embitter the insurgent All
niralty by putting themselves under the
.scort of the United States naval fleet.
A Formidable Escort.
Captain Blackford of the Amy, how
'ver. announced that he would accept the
protection which Admiral Benham had
,ffered him.
Accordingly the Amy took her position
n the ranks of the United States war
-essels, and the formidable processio.,
tarted on its way up Rio harbor.
The Detroit took the leading part in the
recession. The fleet, as it approached (
Iearer to Rio, came quite close TO ths '
hore. causing great excitement among ,
10Th the soldiers and civilians on land I
nd the sailors ON board the various
essels. The Amy proceeded on her way
o the wharf and was safely moored there.
Sot until her captain had reported that
10 WAS fully satisfied did his Dovyerful !