The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-01-31

Rio De Janeiro, Jan. 30.--[CopT-
righted. 1894. by the Associated Press.l
The following statement has been
made 10 an Associated Press cores
pondent by Admiral Benhan, -son-
nander of the United States fleet III
this harbor:
The insurgent forces on Cobras island
last Friday fired upon a ship flying he
United States flag. 1 protested to Adj
miraI Da Cana against this action and
his response was that he had warned
the commander of the ship when at
the bar at Rio as to the whereabouts
of the danger line.
1 ordered Da Cana to cease firing.
Both the guns on the island OF Cooras
and the guns of the insurgent war
ship Trajano opened fire on Saturday
upon the bark Agate, a vessel sailing
from New York.
Our Admiral Meant Business.
[ warned Da Cana, at once, that
if~the fire was repeated l would fire
back. 1 also warned him if he touched
an American ship or American goods,
1 would consiuer him pirate. told
him 1 would protect American property
from the fire of his guns, and 1 should
reta!iate on him for any damage done
unless it was entirely apparent the
damage was due to chance shots.
Admiral Benham says he notified Da
Cana unofflcially thai the firing by in
surgents upon the wlIarves for the pur-
poses Of merely creating terror and
permitted 50 far as American vessels
were concerned. To this communica-
ton, the insurgent admiral made no
answer. The captains of the American
vessels intimated they wanted to go
to the wharyes and the American ad-
miral notified Da Cana it was his in
tention to convey them at sunrise on
Monday. Fearing trouble, Benbam
ordered the vessels of the fieos
cleared for action. The captains
of two of the ships weakened and
failed to come into the harbor. The
in. and she was escorted by the United
States cruiser Detroit. AS a specula-
tioa against O. possible aggressive ac-
ton on the part of the insurgents, the
cruisers New York, Charleston and
Newark were assigned to watch the
actions Of De Gama's ship, the Aquida-
ban, While the Detroit and San Fran
cisco were signalled to take positions
near the Trajano and Guiana Bara.
These precautions certainly proved
effective, and the insurgents, in the
face Of the formidable array of Amer
lean vessels, made but a feeble attempt
to hinder the Amy's progress to the
wlar.
No guns were opened upon her by
De Gama's vessels and, as a matter of
course. the American vessels did not
fire upon the insurgent ships.
4 Very Weak Protest.
The insurgent protest consisted Of
this: AS the Any got abreast of the
Guiana Bara a marine on the last
named vessel aimed a musket at her
and fred. Two musket shots were
fired at the Guiana Bara and Trajano
! from the ATny's escort, the Detroit in
return. This was all the firing done
during the Amys trip and it was
enough. All opposition ceased at once
and the use Of the heavy guns was
not considered necessary at any time
AT late hour, Da Cana conferred
with his officers upon the advisabiKty
OF sllrrendering to the Detroit, but in
consequence Of the musl1et shots fred
was dissuaded from doing so, but 1t is
thought possible he may yet decide Ia
surrender. The American commander
has no doubt De Cana is in a bad
way
The proposed compromise has beer
refused by PeiXoto's government. and
it seems TO be only a matter Of time
when he viii have to give up the strug.
gle
The complications of the insurgent
situation have increased by the alb
sence Of De Mello. The failure Of the
latter admiral to arrive here to the as
sistance CT the insurgent feet has given
rise to the report that he is dead.
BeRham Congratulated.
The commanders of sixteen warships
here. including five American and four
English and French, have sent a mes
sage to Admiral Benham, congratulate
ing him on his prompt action.
The Austrian commander cleared his
ship and made ready to help the Amer
lean admiral IN case help was neces-