Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-01-31
But 1t Was Sufficient to Create a
Tremendous Furore and
SETTLE THE REBEL OPPOSITION
To the Free Movement of Ameri-
can Vessels at Rio-By the
Time That Muslxet Shot Got to
the United States 1t Had Grown
Into a Terrific Bombardment,
Reverberating Canonading, Etc.
How IL All Came About.


following statement has been made to
the Associated Press correspondent by
Admiral Benham, commander OF the
United States feet in this harbor:
The iusurgent forces on Cobras ISL
! aud last Friday fired upon a ship flying
the United States dag. protested TO Ad-
miral Saldanha ia Cana against this
action and his response was that he had
warned the commander Of tbs shi p when
II was at the bar at Rio DE Janeiro as to
the whereabouts OF the danger line.
ordered Admiral da Cana to cease the
! Gring.
Both the guns on the isla nd o, CO.
bras and the guns OF the insurgeut war
ship Trajano opened fire Saturday upon
the bark Agate, vessel hailing from
| New York
IL warned Admiral da CANA at once
that II the fire was repeated / would fire
back. ] also warned him that II he
touched an American ship or American
! goods would consider him a pirate.
told him that / would protect American
]
guns, and that | should retaliate upon
phim for any damage done, un-
less II was entirely apparent that the
DAMAGE WAS DUE TO CHANCE SHOTS"
Admiral Benham says that he notified
Admiral da Cana unnfiicially that firing
by the insurgents upon the wharves for
the purpose merely OF creating terror
and to prolOng blockade would not be
permitted so far as Americans and
American vessels were concerned. TO
this communication the insurgent Ad-
miral made no answer.
The Captains OF three American yes
sells, Admiral Benham continues, inti-
mated that they wanted To go TO the
wharves, and the American Admiral
notified Admiral da CANA that IL was
his Intention TO convey them at sunrise
on Monday. Fearing trouble Admiral
Benham ordered that the vessels OF his
feet be cleared for action.
The three ships referred to were the
Amy, the Good News and the Julia
Rollins.
The captains OF two OF the ships
weakened and failed to come into the
harbor.
The Amy was the only one that ven
tured IN, and she was escorted by tho
United States Cruiser Detroit AS
precautIon against any possible
aggressive action on the part
OF the insurgets the cruisers New York,
Charleston and Newark we're assigned
to watch the actions OF da Gama's ships
Aquldaban and Tamanrando. while the
Detroit and the San Francisco were sig
nailed to take positions near the Ira
Jana aud the GuaDabaTa. These pre-
cautions certainly proved effective, aud
the insurgents. In the face Of the for
midable array OF American vessels,
made but the feeblest atsemp pt TO hinder
the Amy's progress TO her wharf.
so GUNS WE'RE OPENED
upon her by da Gama's vessels, and as
n matter OF course, the American ves-
sells did not fro upon the insurgent ships.
The insurgeDt protest consisted OF
this:
As the Amy got abreast Of the Guiana
bara, a marine on the last named vessel
aimed musket at her and fred.
Two musket shots were fred at the
Guanabara and the Trajano from the
Amy's escort, the Detroit in return.
This was all the firing done during
the Amy's trip and IL was enough. All
opposition ceased at once. and the use
OF heavy guns was not considered neces-
ssry at any time
The reason that the other two ships
which had notified Admiral Benham
that they wished 10 90 10 thelr WharVes
failed 20 do so, is that their commanders
were persuaded from entering the har-
Dor by man Of the name OF Rollins.
who Is believed 10 be the agent Of an
English firm which has been furnishing
the rebels with money.
AT A LATER HOUR
Admiral da Cana conferred with bis Of.
hcers upon the advisabillty Of snrren-
dering % the Detroit 10 consequences Of
the musket shots fired. lie was dis
suaded from doing 90, but IL IL thought
possible that he may yet decide 10 sur
render 10 the American commander.
There is no doubt that Admiral da
Cana is in bad way. a proposed com
promise has been refused by PeixotO's
government, and 10 seems 20 be only
matter OF time when he will have 70
giv6 up the struggle. The cOmpllca-
tions Of the insuTRent situation are in
creased by the absence OF Admiral de
/ Mello. The failure OF the latter Ad-
miral 70 arrive here % the assistance Of
the insurgents has given rise 10 tho re-
( port that he is dead.
The commanders OF sixteen warshiDs
here, including five american and four
| English and French have sent messages
] 90 Admiral Benham cOngratulating him
upon bis prompt action.
The Austrian CON mander cleared ship
and made ready 90 help the American
Admiral in case help was necessary.
RIO DE- JASEHo. January 3O.-
| Alarming reports have been received
here Of government disasters at Curu-
| tiDa, Psraugua and Antonio. It IS
] stated that these places have been cap
tured by the insurgents and that the
government troops have fed, abandon
Ing their arms and munitions OF war.
THE SITUATION ~ SERIOUS.
| The Report That the Americas ships
Are Involved Received - Buenos
avres.