Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-02-03

de idllflANt Jul tN--l IL ltlAtN
inc statement has been made to an
Associated Press correspondent by Adj
mural Benham, commander of the
United states fleet in this harbor:
The insurgent forces on Cobras isl
and last Friday fired upon a ship fly
rpg the United States flag. | protested
% Admiral D'C;amma against this ac-
ZION and his RESPONSE was that he had
warned the commander of the ship
when it was ut the bay at Rio Janciro
as to the whereabouts Of the danger
line.
Il ordered Admiral D'Gama to cease
firing Both the guns on the island
of Cobras and the guns of the insurgent
warShip Traiaud opened fire Saturday
on the bark Agate, Il vessel hailing
nom New York.
80 warned Admiral D'Gama at once
that if the fire was repeated l would
tire back l also warned him that il
he touched an American ship or
American goods | would consider him
q pirate. l told him l would protect
American property from the fire of his
guns and l should retaliate upon him
for any damage done unless it was en-
tinely apparent that the damage was
due 10 a chance shot"
Admiral Benham says he notified
Admiral D'Gama mofiicially that the
firing by insurgents upon the wharves
for the purpose of merely creating ter
uor and TO prOlong the blockade would
not be permitted 50 far us Americans
and American vessels are concerned.
To this communication the insurgent
admiral made no answer.
The captains of the American vessels,
Admiral Benham continued intimatcd
that they wanted 10 go to the whalyes,
and the American admiral notified Ad
miral D'Gama that it was his inten-
5on 30 convey them at sunrise on
Monday. Fearing trouble, Admiral
Benham ordered the vessels of his
feet to be cleared for action.
The ships referred 10 were the Amy,
Coodnews, and Julia Rollin. The cap
tadnS of two of the ships weakened
and failed to come into the harbOr
The Amy was the only one that yOlun-
ceGred and She was escorted by the
United States cruiser Detroit. As a
precaution against any possible ag.
greEsive action on the part of the in
surgcntS, the cruisers New York,
Charleston, and Newark were assigned
20 watch the actions of D'Gamas ship
Aqmdaban. while the Detroit and
san Francisco were signalled to take
positions near the Trajano and Guiana
Bara. These precautions certainly
proved effective, and the Insurgents,
in the face Of so formidable an array
Of American vessels. made but a feeble
attempt to hinder the Amy's progress
to her wharf No guns We're opened
upon her by D'Gama's vessels, and,
as a matter of course the American
vessels did not fire upon the insur-
gents ships.
As the Amy got abreast of the
Guiana Bara, a marine on the last
named vessel aimed a musket at her
and fired. Two mrSllet shots were
ared at the Guiana Bara and the Ira
aLo from the Amy's escort, the De
uOit, in return.
This was all the firing that was
done during the Amy's trip and it
was enough. All opposition ceased at
once. and the use Of heavy guns was
not considered necessary at any time,
The reasons the Jther two ships, which
Modified Admiral Renham they wished
ro 60 to the wharyeS failed to
do ~, is that their commanders were
uursuaded from entering the harbor
Hy a man named Rollins, who is be
twcd to he an agent Of an English
.rm which has been furnishing the
."relS with money
Az a late hour Admiral de Cana
pnforTcd with his officers upon the
advsability of SuI1cndering to the De
Eptr i'm consequence Of the musllet
SLOTS fired He was dissuaded from do
.nc 80. but it is thought possible thai
may vet decide to surrender to the
American commander
There IS no doubt Admiral D'Gama
is i'm a bad way A proposal to com
Fomi~a has been refused by peixOtO's
-'F@ument and it seems 10 be only
matter of time when he viii have to
Hp Inc struggle
Iae complications Of the insurgcnt
e.'a't"n are Increased by the absence
Admiral DMello The failure of
latter admiral to arrive here To as
%" usmgent feet has given rise
port that be IS dead
" commanders Of sixteen warships
including five Austrian and four
-.-.-a Uui French, have sent q mes
- = Admiral Benham congratulat-
.# non ms prompt action The
commander cleared his ship
- Y a ready TO help the American
2 ease help was needed
OFFICIAL ADVICES.
t1l'9n, Jan 3o-At late hour
Tie following "details from the
meal adrices Of the navy department