The sun., 1894-08-29
DA GAMA,S PERSONAL COURAGE
An Americas Omcer's story OF the Braziliaa =
Rebels Coolness and Pluck.

An American Omcers Story OF the Brazilisn =
Rebels Cooiness and Pluck.
~ saw an exhibition of the personal bravery
Of Da Cana which was alone worth the trip to
Rio," says Lieut. Robert b. Dashiell of the
United States ship New York.
1T was on the morning of March 13, when we
1.-THE New York; had Just returned from our
outside airing to let the ocean breezes sweep the
microbes out Of us, and when we, with the San
Francisco, Detroit, and Chicago, moved TO the
upper Rio Bay and anchored there. We did this
as word had been sent around to US and all the
foreign fleets that the Government would that
day lombard Da Gama's feet and we moved to
where we would not interrupt a free scope for the
shelling. As we moved up we could see that Da
Gamas fleet was all broken up, his despatch boats,
torpedo boats, and improvsed torpedo boats
were scattered and scurrying up the harbor for
safety under live.y fire from the land forts as
they passed. l was on deck making notes for
the log when saw q launch shoot out from the
city and head for the Portuguese man -of-w
Mendello. The launch. In making the trip, had
TO run the gauntlet of all the forts, and observ-
ing the incessanS and particularly hot fire di-
rected at her, began to suspect that she carried
the Mendclio, which lay about fifty yards from
U.S. the launch passed close under our bow and
from one of the hill batteries passed over our
forecastle with aterrifc shrek and struck about
thirty feet astern OF the launch. drenching its
used to that shrek OF a passing shell
Head proving grounds, but the effect OF
4 on the nerves found to be quite a different
talnty that you are free from danger OF being
hit. But observed, even as was thinking OF
stern OF the launch did not iiinch as the she'll
struck, and just then recognized him as Da
nsoS saea ID Usp p Say g. sms
was IN the launch. and he and all our officers
rushed s, ,sd, to & the rail TO see him As we did 80
right under the stern OF the launch. As the
shell passed over us admit that we ducked. It
was inst ncuve, involuntary, but IL Is fact that
we ducked, and some of us gave a yell the
shell struck. a yell like that you hear when
when the shell exploded the water it tossed
up completely hid the launch from our sight,
But in moment she emerged from the fountain
OF foam, and still standing impassiyely In the
sling, for he had been wounded few days be-
fore. lie saw us leaning over the side anNOusly
raised lis right tar arm nam and S waved % Sis hd; hand. Or
sisnaipg US, 3G. that is ali right We We after Tie
ward learned that piece of the exploding
shell had wounded the other two fingers Of that
hand, or suppose he would have given us full
:" | am certain that II discipline had allowed II,
the cool, smiling courage Of the man would have
" He went on TO the MendellO. where he had a
long talk with her commander. and then. after
lidHsltrrink some refugees 10 her, returned TO
shore in the launch, facing the shots OF every
land battery within range, cool and indiffer-
ent ss before. That WAS the last time we saw
Da Cana, for II was dark when he came ont
and boarded the Portuguese.
That same morning | saw another plucky
little performance. Da Cana had a despatch
boat; lOO-ton schooner r-rigged steamer yacht |
much resembling Mr.. Benedct's Oneida She |
had two one-inch Nordenfeldt machine guns
one mounted forward one aft. When she |
steamed away from the shore the hill batteries. |
as soon as she was In range. directed the live |
liest kind Of fusillade at her. Instead OF get
ting out OF range as fast possible she slowed |
up and answered the shore fire with her two |
guns in very smart fashion. and objected her |
nre SO well that she drove the crew away from |
one shore gun. Then she steamed on, but kept |
was in sight. - 0
Nothing can truthfully be said against the
personal courage OF the Brazilians. fonly hope
mat when IL comes my turn to stand fire will |
my pride"