The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-10
THAT FAMOUS SCENE AT RIO,
Icy THE DETROIT THREATENED TO
,,yK TWO or 0zMh's SHIPS,

-.-8oyy the L.ittis WHITE Cruiser
-. the Yaukee Msrehsutueu 20 Thsir
v,.r, =, spite OF the TbreatsninE I,s Mr.
-. s.,p.-The Bri,ish Flag Dragged In
mir, os the Prsea uaru,enis-Ene-
go, say They Mn-t Apply to ere
y.,,.s. Now r. They Want Protectiop.
mann J,SrrRo. Feb. 8-Ths first gun fred
al rarIlke intent by an American war
=, another ship within thirty years was
-, ,r,p, the Detroit early on the morning Of
I.s opat the insurGent Brazilian ship Trajano
mi, harbur A second shot was fired few
%,rn,ss later at the Guanabara. another in
.n,s.nt Brazilian lying not far from the one
go assaulted. Some Of the facts OF this incl
a., we're told in THEsuN on the next day after
49,, occurred. but the whole story will he found
s,Io,.rsst even ut the date when this can be
rubisbod after transmission to New York by
nail
.,oss Unexpectedly early in the last week OF
,.,u.ry. For some time before that date
.dnIrat CANA. the insurgeht leader. had
80 in communication with Admiral Benham
,h n view Of existing the services Of the
Iu.riean Admiral as mediator in compro-
,i.oo the fight that had been wasting the
,nh.tance OF the nation for moro than four
,nonths. So far as any ons could see. CANA
-.s sincere in saying that he desired peace
"a would make all onorable concessions to
: oh,.in IT, Peixoto's Government was notified
o,thsse negotiations. and in answer promise
N submit propositions for peace was OBJ
,.i,.d. But before tho Government had
had sufficient time for delberation In the mat
ter several Captains Of American merchant
vessels made application to Admiral Benham
A.
vhile en- route to the piers to discharge
eareoes The insurgents had notified the
merchantmen that IL they attempted to 60 to
the piers TO discharge cargo they would be
fred upor
This matter was brought to the attention OF
CANA when. as a private citizen. he called on
Beuham TO talk over the propositions for COM
promise. CANA explained his position ut
length. He did not wish. he said. to prevent
the American ships from discharging their car
goes: he wanted only that they discharge into
lighters while moored in the bay in order that
he might inspect their carCoes aud search for
munitions OF war destined for the Governm emit.
lie added that this right had been conceded to
him By all the foreign naval commanders
theretoiors-Capt. Lang. the British senior
officer Capt Picking. the Am erican senior Of
fser before Benham's arrival. and others. had
anited in prohibiting the landing OF even a
sarch light intended for Government use. and
he machine had in consequence been sent
round to Santos and landed. CANA. in
short claimed the right to blockade the port OF
Rio on the ground that he was the Brazilian
fanction to any extent whatever on the waters
e,the bay.
To this position Benham mt once objected.
Ee piled up all the laws and decisions in Ad-
nIra!ty bearing on the subject, and proved
that an insurgent to whom belligerent rights
had not been accorded could not lawfully in
terfere with the movements OF foreign ships
within any harbor. 1t was not intended that
the American ships should cross any line Of
FIRE. or serve as a bulwark for Government
troops 1t was stated that they would assume
the risk OF damage from fire when OF the piers
Il Government troops took refuge behind
them. and all risk Of damage from stray shot
Tho contention was for freedom OF m ovement
and freedom from search at the hands OF an
insurgent. no matter what their
saraaas- -..
To tho plain statements of authorities to
the bearings OF Admiralty decisions. aud to
the friendly arguments OF the American Ad-
niral the insurGeIt Admiral remained i'm
peryious- 1t therefore became necessary for
Admiral Benhan TO say plainly that Ne Amer
lean merch ant ships should GO freely about
the harbor as their Captains might wish them
TO do. and that any interference with such
movements would be resisted with force. Be-
cause Benham was ailable and courteous as 1t
now appears. Cana did not believe force
would be used. and so reiterated the threat to
IRE Oh the first American nip that tried to go
10 the piers
It was on Sunday. Jan. 20. that tn. issue was
al Fhall raj h.p a..
eisvsly and at once. The Captains of the
various American naval ships in the harbor
were called on board the flagship San Iran
cisco and were instructed imm ediately to pre-
pare their ships for action at daylight the next
morning. that being the hour when the Ameri-
can merchant ships wanted to start for the
piers
At D o'clock that evening the work OF strip !
ping ship began on the white squadron. The |
transformation thus wrought was remarka- |
Die. With their awnings spread. their boats at |
the dAyits. and their bunting aloft they had |
seemed to tower out Of the water. and the Eng |
lish officers had Iocosely rem arked that more
beautiful targets could scarcely be found. And |
90 they seemed as the sun went down But
with the break OF day not an awning or
Sanction or q boat davit was In sight to OBJ
1'uet the view or the sweep OF the long black
sN"S' anu tue WAll-slGeu Ehlps mad 6hrunk
Gown Into the semblancs OF tigers ready to
sprng.
apparently the insurgents had anticipated
ana were ready to fight. The white steam
was Kissing from the safety valve pipes on the
APuidaoAn and the Tsnandare. lying well up
me Day above Wanna Island. and the chains
VI uelr anchors had been hove short. ready
lo' tripping on al instant's warning. The
s'eSS OF The Iralano, the GuAnabara. and the
uee' OF armed tugs had been augmented by
.imost the entire force Garrisoning Cobras
aau ,llleGa!Gnon, The Liberdade. with her
a"e tlue ensign futterinG from tho flag hal
rAids on the main. showing that Admiral
lama was on board. was also under steam
-nG' Win the Traiano and the Guanabara.
Va ylng Just north OF Enchados Island and
..'nlH pistol shot Of the trim Yankee bark
49, one Of the number that wished TO 90 to
me piers to discharge.
ASH 10 the north Of these lay the Yankee
AsaNhe Good News. a handsome craft. too.
Wv n0' alone. for one OF the swift Brazilian
.ts's's' the iarahyta. which Mello had seized
- armed. was at anchor not far away with
up and crew at the guns: So too. tho
AEAte was guarded by one Of these armed