Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-02-09

Da CANA Fires on American NIer
chantmCn Our Cruiser Detroit
Sends "a SiN-pouud Shot into tho
Flagship Guanahara BraZIlians
Ask for Quarter.
lat" dispatch from RIO 10 Janriro, Ers-
al. gives IN" following interesting p,rttc-
nlars Tho American bark Julia Rollins. Cap
tain kiehne, from Baltimore. and tho Nulor-
lean schooner MilHo J. H.. Captain Suits
from New York, wcrc fired on hy tho insur-
gents during a airht fornv last wack Al
Hlrai Saidanha da CANA. the commander vt
the InSurgent fCrccs here, visited Hear Adj
miral Benham, commander Of the American
squadron. and was emphHticailytold that tho
insurgents must at once abandon the idea
Shat they could with impunitv nro uppu
American vessels. Admiral Eonhnm as
serted that American ships would he pro.
t"rted by his fleet no matter in what part
ot tho harhor they might happen tp nr
Admiral ia CANA protested against thts
decision. but inaIiy apparently yiolaeI tho
point
ON Saturday the American hark ANY.
Captain Blaekford, from Reltimoro. tho
American bark Good News, Captain Nyri,k.
also from Baltimore. ana the Julm Eo,nn.
gave notice that they were going t. tho
Saudre piers. Admiral Ia Cana learned ot
ham that II the thr"n vessels att"mut"I 70.
20 to the piers referred to he would nrr ON
them.
Admiral Benham at once replied that tho
vessels could go 70 the piers IL they wautol
to. and that he would SEMI tho Detroit l.,
protect them. II tho Detroit could not far.
nish protection every vessel Of the American
squadron would be employed in tho work OF
protection.
Early in the morning Ave insurgrnt tags
and armed mcrchantmCn proceeded g. tho
place where the American vessels wcr" lyn,
at anchor, and hovered about them. nppar-
entity waiting for them 10 get under way,
when they would fire upon them.
There was great activity displayed uu
board the American war ships. and soon ia"
sharp tones OF the boatswains whistles
could be heard piping the crews to clear tho
ships for action.
At ) o'clock the Detroit hoistci her anchors
and with snotted guns steamed IN beside tho
insurgent war ships Ira jnno ani GuauaharI.
both Of which were living clos" To- tn" Gupi
News. As the Detroit took up h"rpositiou
muskct was fired from the Guanabnra nt tho
Good News.
The Detroit at once fred "a six poun shot
across tho bows Of the Guunuharl yhcrr-
upon the latter vessel replied with what "a
supposed TO havb been blank cart triil,r.
The Detroit then turned one Of h"r gums
upon the Guanabara and sent "A small ,uell
into her stern post, an I was ON tn" point of
delivering a hrOldsidc at the iusurgrut ship
when tho Guanabara signAllod that shr
would stop ilrng.
In the mean time an American citizen, q.
NJ. Rollins, who has nctei as the agent or
Admiral da CANA in the arbitration negota-
tions. had visited all three OF the American
merchantmen and Offered to have thcm
towed at the expense of the insurgents II
they would not 20 to the piers. This tho
Captains of the mcrchantmcn agreed to.
btg ant ttavn,q t.I
da Cana on board his flagship, the Libcr-
dade. He then said
1T is too late The glass IL broken I
must yield to this foreign fleet OF superior
force. | will resign and givc my sword 10
the American Admiral
Later in the day Admiral dc Cana called
n council of his officers, expecting that all OF
them would seek an asylum on bOnrd tho
American fleet. but the younger officers
would not yield. It was said at III" council
that Admiral B"nham had offered Admiral
da CANA and his officers asylum on board ui
the American war ships.
What the final result of the trouhi" be-
tween the fleets will hc Is not known, hut
there is one thing that - evident 10 every.
body and that is that tho American m"r-
chant vessels are protected IN every part OF
the bay.
Admiral Benham said that Admiral ia
CANA 10y his failure to surrender. had lost
an easy way out OF his trouble. ii" added
However, that is nothing to me, but wo
have established our principle
A conflict between the American and in
surgent fleets there was thought stilI pos
siblc. Admiral dn Cana was angry b""1ua"
the Younger insurgcnt officers wer" eager
10 fight The Admiral said 10 tho United
Press correspondent 1T wOuli bo better
to be conquered by foreign power than 10
yield later TO PeiXOto.
The tug and launches promised TO tho
insurgent steamer Parahyba anchored IN
threatening position near her, nnd II was
thought she might fire when 3hc started IN.
In that case "A serious conflict would be IN
evitahlr.
The situation was extremely delicate when
the Detroit was beside the Good News. The
Guanabara and TraianO had their guns
loaded and aimed on all tho American YES
sells, while two heavy insurgent tugs wero
ready TO ram the Detroit,
The Guanabara and TraJano tOg"th"r hhve
eight splendid rifles but when the Detroit
fred a six-pound shell into the Guanabarh,
and Captain BrOwnSOn warned them thht u
another gun was fired, even 10y n"'id"nt. hp
would sink them. ani nIvisoI thov tax" tho
men from their guns. they wcaN"u"I
Admiral Benhnrt had Tn" N"War. ready 10
aid the Detroit while the New York. Charles
ton and San Francisco were ALERT 10 rr""iyp
the Aquidahan and Jamandarr, which w"r"
under steam.
Admiral Benham said to-day "If Al.
miraI Da Gana was cOntcniing for any
principle or position in which any civilized
Nation would sustain him. h" ought 70 make
a fight bnt he il wrong in law "y"rvwhcr".
The commander Of the Austrian warshiD
has asked Rear Admiral Bcnham g. b" al.
lowed to help in case O' n night. Tn" German
naval officers applaud Bcnham. Tn" English
officers naturally are iu opposition whil" not
denying that Benham 3 position il lawful.
While angry at his decision. tho insurycntJ
comment upon Bonham's great courtesy and
tact in the negotiations. IN" day before mo
conflict Benham notified the authorities that
the water front would likely 3" endangered.
At Washington the course Of the American
Admiral finds warm endorsement iE Ofl"lHl
circles. An official Of prOmn@n"" said that
Admiral Benham had n perfect right % In
terfere with Da Gama's movements when
they became "A menace to tn" Interest," NJ
American vessels Tho Insurgents. he SAID.
had not been recognized as b"liy'rnnis by
the United States or any other Nation.
They had no right to establish blockade,
but they had done So Yet in establishing y
they took no means TO enforce II by giving
warning TO incoming vessels. H believer
Benham had done right. and that he would
be endorsed by the Administration for stop
ping the arrogance Of Da Cana.
Those who know Admiral Benham say h"
is gallant officer. ever ready to resent an
insult to the flag, but exceedingly cOns"ryh-
tive, and not likely to do ANYTHING without
considering II carefully. Besides, n" hai
the example Of Admiral Stanton betOr" hun,
and that was enough 10 mako him dpuDiy
discreet.
It is the general opinion that Admiral j. N
ham had ample grounds for bringing Dl
Cana 10 a sense ot the dignity Of the United
States and its ability 10 take care oil the IN
'erests of its citizens.