The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1894-01-31
Copyriq.at 1904 by Associated Press.

Copyright ise. by As cciated Press.
NO DE JAGERIo. Jan. 3l.-The following
statement has been made TO the assoc.-
ated press correspondent by Admiral BEN
ham, commander OF the United States
fieet in this harbor: "Thc insurgent forces
on Cobras island last Friday fired upon a
ship flying the United States flag. pro-
tested to Admiral De Cana against this
acton, and his response was that he had
warned the commander Of the ship when
at the bar al Rio as to the whereabouts of
the danger line. / ordered De Cana 10
cease firing both guns on Cobras. A gun
oil the insurgcnt warship Trajano opened
fire Saturday upon the bark Agate, n vcs-
sci sailing from New York. warned De
llama at once that il the fire was repeated
would fire back. also warned him If
he touched an American ship or Ameri-
can goods would consider him pirate.
told him would protect American prop
erty from The fire OF his guns, and should
rctaliate upon him for any damage done
unless it was entirely apparent that 1t was
due 10 chance Shots
Admiral Benham says he notified De
Cana unoiIlcially that the firing by tho
insurgents upon the wharyes for the pur-
pose of merely creating terror and
prolonging the blockade would not
be permitted SO far as the Americans
and American vessels were concerned.
To this comm unication the insurgent ad-
miral made no answer. The captains of
American vessels minated that they
wanted to go to the wharves. and the
4. Il N. H..
il was his intention to convey them at
sunrise on Monday. Fearing trouble Benz
ham ordered the vessels OF his feet
cleared for action. The captains of TWO
of the ships weakened and failed TO come
into the harbor. The Amy was the onl
one that venlured IN. and she was es-
corted by the United States cruiser De-
troit.
As precaution against possible aggres.
sive action on the part of the insurgents.
the cruisers New York, Charleston and
Newark were assigned to watch the ac.
,ions of De Gama's ship, the Aquidaban,
while the Detroit and san Francisco were
signalled TO take positions near the Ira
jano and Guanabara. These precautions
certainly proved eifectual, and tho instr.
gents in the face of the formidable array
of American vessels made but feeble al.
tempt TO hinder the Amy's progress TO the
wharf. No guns were opened upon her by
De Gama's vessels. and. as q matter of
course. the American vessels did not fire
upon the insurgent ships.
The insurgent protest consisted Of this
As the Amy got abreast of the Guanabnra,
a marine on the last named vessel aimed
a musket at her and fired. Two muskei
shots were fired at the Guanabara and
| Trajano from the Amy's escort, the De
troit. in return. This was all the firing
during the Amy's trip, but il was enough
All opposition ceased nt once and the ust
| Of heavy guns was not considered neccs
sary at any time. At a later hour d,
CANA conferred with his officers upon The
| adyisab.lity OF surrendcrinE "a the Detroit
| in consequence of the ruusEeI shots fired
| lie was dissuaded from doing so. but IL il
thought possible that he may yet decide
| 10 surrender to the American commander
No doubt De CANA Is in bad way. I'll,
| proposed compromise has been refused hi
| Peixoto's government. and il seems TO ID
only matter OF Time when he will h1y,
TO give up the struggle. The complica
lions Of the insurgrnt situation are ia
creased by lhc absence Of De Mello. Tn,
| fAllg,e of the latter admiral TO arrive heFt