Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-02
THE RIO INCIDENT.
REPORTS FROM MINISTER THOMp-
SON AND ADMIRAL BENHAM.
The Latter's Action Monday Fully APP
proved at Washington--tmeric
Interests TO BE Protected.


WASHINGTON, u. c., February l.
TIE following cablcgram dated yesterday,
has been received from Minister Thomp-
son by Secretary Gresham
RIO JANEIRO. January 81. 1871.
Had an interview with Benham. lie
has reported the action fully 70 Navy De-
partment. The United States squadron
got under way, cleared for action. AMI.
having notified city and insurgents Of his
intention to protect by force, IL necessary,
and place alongside OF docks any Amer!-
can vessels wishing to go there. the De-
troit took position best afforded 70 pro-
tect. with orders that n the vessels were
fired upon 10 return the fire.
a boat from one OF the American vcs-
sels. running line preparatory 10 haul
Ing IN. was fired upon from insurgent
ship, hut was not struck. The Detroit re-
turned fire with siN-pounder, which strucN
under bows Of insurgent cruiser. lnsur-
gent then fired broadside guns To loeward.
and later Detroit returned fire. muskets
striking insurgents sternpost.
Passing by Detroit. commander hailed
lnsurgenr vessel. telling him that If he
fired again. Detroit would return FIRE, and
r.. necessary. sink him. one Of tho
American vessels. now having been car
ricd into new position near dock. and tug
having offered services gratuitiously to
discharge cdrg0es OF an. insurgent leader
was notified that the vessels would dis
charge from the positions they We're then
in. but that the determination Of tho
commander-in-chief Of the United states
squadron remained unchanged 10 give
American vessels full protection and place
them in their berths mt docks. il they 20
desired. Later. Detroit WAS withdrawn.
and squadron anchored Benham has not
inter.ercl IN the least with military Or
naval operations Of either side, nor is IL
his intention 20 do so.
"He has notified insurgents that II IS
his duty 10 protect Americans and COM
merce of the United States. aul 'his he
intends - DO. and says Amercan vessels
must not be- intcrfarod with in their move
ments. but they must take the consc-
queuccs whem getting in the line ~
fire where legitimate h0stliues are
actually in progress Gnul belligerent
rights are accorded. insurgents have NO
right To- exercise authority over American
vessels or property Right Of insurgents
10 search neutral vessels or tO seize any
portion OF their cargoes is denied, ov 'n
though they Dee within the class which
may Dee defined as coutrlhaul of war dur
iug h0stilities between two independent
governments Frrcille seizure of such
articles i'm the present status ot insurgents
would constitute au act of piracy.
"Since the effective action of Monday
everything is quiet. Attempted blockade
~ commerce AMI trade Is broken, AMI
events move smoothly All torcien COM
mauiers concur. as FAR as am advised
BENHAMs REPORT
Secretary Herbert to-day made public
dispatch received from Admiral Ben
ham Monday nisht telling OF the trouble
with Da CANA, az follows:
RIO. January -. 1894.
secretary Of the Navy. Washington,
-. c..
"rhe American merchant vessels Sat
urlay Were prevented from going along
side wharf To-day. 6 A. NJ. scnt re-
tr0it o. take position that would protect
vessels going alongside wharf and II
fred uuou tO return iire. Ny vessel under
way and cleared for action. After Dee
troit took position boat from one vessel
running line preparatory 10 hauling I'm
was fred upon with muskets from in-
eurgent ship. Detroit returned fire with
l-pounder shot striking under her bow.
Iusurg MT lrtl hro3dsle gun leeNard.
Later insureout fired broalsid, gun over
American merchant vcsscl.- Detroit rc-
turned ire with muskct. striking iniur-
gents stcri,-post. P.Ssng by iusurgcnt he
was hailed and told. III you tire again | vii
return your fire. and If necessary. viii
sink your vessel Detroit anchored t0
command both ygsscs-oue merchant yes
SCI having been carried 20 new position
near wharf and tug having offered ser
vices gratuitouslv to discharge cargo. In
surgont leader was notified these vessels
would discharge from present positions.
but that my determination was not
changeI-to give American merchant yes
sells fun projection t. wharf II they de-
sired IT,"
The discrepancy between Minister
Thompsou's statement that tie Detroit
fired six-pouud gun and Admiral Ben
hams that ouc-p0under was used is
Inc o. tol graphic error or - Minister
Thompsou's uufdmili3rIty with naval ord
nance.
TENHANG APPLAUDGD.
Secretary Herbert to-day sent the FOL
lowing t,le-ram to Admiral Benham.
Further Information received from
United states Minister We are satisfied
entirely with the prudence and Judgment
with which you have carried out lnstruc-
ti1rs aul protected American commerce"
Rely upon yoI for ccatiuued exercise Of
wise discretion.
Secretary Uerhert's cab'egram seems 10
indicate that thr Admiral. I'm making q
show OF force ana in firing on The luSur-
gents had ac-od under specific iusti7ic-
tious II Is e.plained m the Navy be-
plrtmaut that Admiral Benh.m was act
iug only unIrr general instructions 10
protect American interests and 10 avoid
Interference or partisanshp. and that be
did not go beyond the letter or the spirit
~ these directions in his decisive action
Of Monday. Tho Admiral. had. however.
previously Informed the department II mis-
Intention to put stop 10 Da Gama's ILL.,
gal interference with Amerir IN COM
mcrce.
THE SOLE CASUALTY.
The only victim Of the hostites be-
tween Ia Cana and Beuham in Rio har-
Dor so far as reported IS Passed-As-
slstant-Paymaste George Washington
Simpson. of the cruiser Detroit.
According 10 q mdlspatch from Ad-
mlral Benham. received before his
message concerning Mondays Incl
dent came to hand. Mr.. Simpson acct
IDENTIFY shot himself I'm the Leg while hand
ling q revolver. The injury Is slight. "
is presumed At the department that Mr.
Simpson was putting his weapon In order
for the expected battle when tie accident
occurred.
NICTHEROY REPORTED FALLEN.
BUENOS AYRES, February Ii is re-
ported here that the town Of Nictheroy
which has long been the main object OF
attack upon the part OF the rebels at Rio
de Janeiro has yielded to the insurgents,
who have occupied II with their forces.
THINK GENERAL HILL WRONG.
Drs. Mcclure aud smith Believe the Legend