The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-02-14
OUR FLAG Was INSULTED.
PROMPT VENGEANCE TAKEN
BY ADMIRAL BENHAM.

cnanCmen -Our CTulSer DcGFOtb
Sends a Six-pound Shot Into the
Flagship Guanabara -Brazilians
Ask for Quarter.
A late dispatch from Rio de Janeiro, Bra
zil. gives the following interesting partic-
ulars Tho American bark Julia Rollins, Cap
tain Kiebne, from Baltimore, and the Amer
lean schooner Millie J. H., Captain Suits,
from New York, were fired on by the insur-
gents during night forny last week. Ad-
miral Saldanha da Cana. the commander OF
the insurgent forces here, visited Rear Ad-
miral Benham. commander Of the American
squadron. and was emphatically told that the
insurgents must at once abandon the idea
that they could with impunity fire upon
American vessels. Admiral Benham as
serted that American ships would be pro-
tected by his feet no matter in what part
of the harbor they might happen to bp.
Admiral da CANA protested against this
decision, but finally apparently yielded the
point.
On Saturday the American bark Amy,
Captain Blackford, from Baltimore, the
American bark Good News, Captain Myrlck.
gave notice that they were going to the
Saudre piers. Admiral ds Cana learned of
this and on Sunday he notified Admiral Ben
ham that If the three vessels attempted to
go to the piers referred to he would fire on
them.
Admiral Benham at once replied that the
vessels could 60 to the piers II they wanted
to, and that he would send the Detroit to
protect them. II the Detroit could not fur
nish protection every vessel Of the American
squadron would be employed In the work OF
protection.
Early in the morning five insYrgent tugs
and armed merchantmen proceeded to the
place where the American vessels were lying
at anchor, and lowered about them, appar-
emily waiting for them to get under way,
when they would fire upon them.
There was great activity displayed on
board the American war ships, and soon the
sharp tones of the boatswains' whistles
could be heard piping the crews to clear the
ships for action.
At O'Clock the Detroit hoisted her anchors
and with shotted guns steamed In beside the
insurgent war ships Trajsno and Guanabara,
both OF which were lying close to the Good
News. As the Detroit took up her position O
musket was fired from the Guanabara at the
Good News.
The Detroit at once fred six-pound shot
across the bows OF the Guansbara, where
upon the latter vessel replied with what Is
supposed to have been blank cartridge.
The Detroit then turned one OF her guns
upon the Guanabara and sent small shell
into her stern post, and was on the point OF
delivering broadside ut the insurgent ship
when the Guanabara signalled that she
would stop firing.
In the mean time n American citizen, G.
NJ. Rollins, who has acted rs the agent OF
Admiral da Cana In the arbitration negotia-
tions. had visited all three OF the American
merchantmen and offered to have. them
towed at the expense OF the Insurgents II
they would not go to the piers. This the
Captains Of the merchantmen agreed to.
This arrangement was reported to Admiral
da CANA on board his flagship, the Liber.
dade. He then said:
s.Ir is too late The glass Is broken. I
must Weld to this foreign feet OF superior
force. will resign and give my sword to
the American Admiral"
Later in the day Admiral de Cana called
a council OF his officers, expecting that all OF
them would seek an asylum on board the
American feet, but the younger officers
would not yield. 1t was said at the council
that Admiral Benham had offered Admiral
da CANA and his officers asylum on board of
the American war ships.
WHAT the final result OF the trouble be-
tween the fleets will be Is not known, but
there Is one thing that is evident to every
body, and that is that the American mer-
chant vessels are protected in every part OF
the bay.
Admiral Bsnham said that Admiral da
CANA, by his failure to surrender. had lost
an easy way out OF his trouble. He added )
However. that is nothing 10 me, but we
have established our principle"
A conflict between the American and in
surgent fleets there was thought still pos
sibie. Admiral da Cana was angry because
the younger insurgent officers were eager
to fight. The Admiral said TO the United
Press correspondent sit would be better
to be conquered by foreign power than to
yield later to Pei1oto."
The tug and launches promised to the
bark Good News were not furnished. The
insurgent steamer Parahyba anchored in a
threatening position near her, and It was
thought she might fire when she started In.
In that case a serious conflict would be IN
eyitable.
The situation was extremely delicate when
the Detroit was beside the Good News. The
Guanabara and Trajano had their guns
loaded and aimed on all the American YES
sells. while two heavy insurgent tugs were
ready to ram the Detroit.
The Guanabara and Trajsno together have
eight splendid rifles but when the Detroit
fred six-pound shell into the Guanabara,
and CAPTAIN Brownson warned them that II
another gun waA.lred, even by accident, ht
would sink them. and advised they take the
men from their guns, theG weakened.
Admiral Benham had theNNewark ready to
aid the Detroit, while the New York. Charles
ton and San Francisco were alertto receive
the Aquidaban and Tamandare, which'wers
under steam.
Admiral Benham said to-day: eff Ad.
miral Da Cana was contending for any
oipla in
Nation would sustain him, he ought to make
fight but he is wrong in law everywhere.
The commander Of the Austrian warshiD
has asked Rear Admiral Benham to be a.
lowed to help In case Of fight. The German
naval officers applaud Benham. The English
officers naturally are in opposition. while not
DENYING that Benham's position is lawful.
While angry at his decision, the insurgents
comment upon Benham's great courtesy and
tact in the negotiations. The day before the
conflict Benham notified the authorities that
the water front would likely be endangered.
At Washington the course OF the American
Admiral finds warm endorsement in offlcia
circles. An official of prominence said that
Admiral Benham had perfect right TO in
terfere with De Gama's movements when
they became a menace to the interests OF
American vessels. The insurgents. he said.
had not been recognized as belligerants by
the United States or any other Nation.
They had no right to establish blockade,
but they had done 40. Yet II establishing II
they took no means to enforce it by giving
warning TO incoming vessels. Hp believed
Benham had done right. and tina! he would
be endorsed by the Administration for slop-
| ping the arrogance Of Da Cana.
Those who know Admiral Benham say ne
is O gallant officer. ever ready to resent an
insult to the flag. but exceedingly conserva-
tive, and not likely to do ANYTHING without
considering it carefully. Besides. he had
the example of Admiral Stanton before him.
and that was enough to make him douoly