The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-31
monday SEVENTSAT RIO.
History Of Events Leading Up
to Yesterdays Trouble.
FIRMNess OF ADMIRAL sENHAm
Warmly Commended by the Foreign
Commanders-Late Dispatches Ex-
pected to Give the Details on Yes
terday's Encounter.

RIO DE JANEIRo, Jan. 3l.-The follow
Ing statement has been made by Admi-
raj Benham. commander of the United
States feet in this harbor:
"The insurgent forces on Cobras island.
last Friday, fired upon ship flying the
United States flag. / protested to Ad-
miral Da CANA against this action, and
his response was that he had warned the
commander Of the ship when 1t was at
the bar at Rio Janeiro as TO the where
abouts OF the danger line. i ordered Ad-
miral Da Cana to cease the firing.
Both the guns on the island of Cobras
and the guns of the insurgent warship
Trajano opened fire Saturday upon the
bark Agate, a vessel haiiing from New
York. i warned Admiral Da CANA at once
that If the fire was repeated / would fire
back. also warned him that IL he touched
an American ship or American goods, /
would consider him pirate. told him
that would protect American property
absolutely from the force of his guns, and
that should retaliats upon him for any
damage done, unless It was entirely ap-
parent that the damage was due to chance
shots"
Ds Gama Didn't Reply.
Admiral Benham says that he notified
Admiral Ds CANA unofficially that firing
by the insurgents upon the wharves for
the purpose merely of creating terror and
to prolong blockade would not be per-
mitted so far as Americans and American
vessels were concerned To this COM
munication the insurgent admiral made
no answer.
The captains Of three American vessels
intima:ed that they wanted to 20 to the
wharves, and the American admiral no
titled Admiral Da Cana that IL was his
intention to convey them at sunrise on
Monday. Fearing trouble, Admiral Ben
ham ordered that the vessels in his feet
be cleared for action.
The three ships referred to were the
Amy, the Good News and the Julia Rol-
Inns. The captains of two OF the ships
weakened and failed to come into the har-
Dor. The Amy was the only one that ven
tured in. and she was escorted by the
United States cruiser Detroit.
Ready For business.
As precaution against any possible ag-
Qressive action on the part Of the insur-
gents, the cruisers New York, Charleston,
and Newark were assigned to watch the
actions Of Da Gama's ships, the Aquidaban
and Tamandare, while the Detroit and
San Francisco were signaled to take posi-
tions near the Trajano and the Guiana
bara. These precautions certainly proved
effective and the insurgents made but the
feeblest attempt to hinder the Amy's pas
sage to her wharf.
The insurgent protest consisted of this:
As the Amy got abreast of the Guiana
bars, q marine on the last named vessel
aimed a musket at her and fired. Two
musket shots were fred 1t the Guiana ba ra
and the Trajano from the Amy's escort,
the Detroit, in return. This was all the
firing done during the Amy's trip, and it
was enough. All opposition ceased at
once and the use Of heavy guns was not
considered ne cessary at any time.
Insurgents In . Had Fix.
At later hour Admiral Da Cana con-
ferred with his officers upon the advisa-
bility Of surrendering to the Detroit in
consequence of the musket shots fired.
He was dissuaded from doing SO, but it is
thought possible that he may yet decide
TO surrender to the American commander.
There is no doubt that Admiral Da
CANA is In a bad way. and it seems to be
only matter of time when he will have
to give up the struggle. The compiica-
tions of the insurgent situation are in
creased by the absence of Admiral DE
Mello. The failure of the latter admiral
to arrive here to the assistance of the in
surgent fleet has given rise to the report
that he is dead.
The commanders of 10 warships here.
including five American and four Eng
lish and French, have sent messages to
Admiral Benham congratulating him
upon his prompt action. The Austrian
commander cleared ship and made ready
to help the admiral, in case help was
necessary.
Government Troops Routed.
Alarming reports have been received
here of government disaster at Couri-
taba, Paranagua and Antonina. It is
stated that these places have been cap
tured by the insurgents and that the gov
ernment troops have fed, abandoning
their arms and munitions of war.
The News az Washington.
WASHINGTON, Jap. 3l.--Details from the
official advices OF the navy department
concerning the incidents on the 10Th at
Rio de Janeiro say that two ships were
conveyed to the wharves by the Detroit.
the insurgent warships following them.
When nearly at the wharf and while a
tug was taking a cable ashore. the insur-
gent warships opened fire, sending a vol
ley of musket shot under the bow of the
tug. The Detroit answered with warn
ing shot and the insurgent ship then sent
a shot over the Detroit The Detroit in
reply sent shell which reached portion
of the stern of the insurgent ship, doing
little damage.
Then the insurgent commander fired in
warning broadside to leeward In the OPP
posite direction from which the Detroit
lay. This being answered by another shot
from the Detroit, the insurgents signaled
that unless the Detroit ceased firing they
(the insurgents) would sink the American