The morning call., 1894-03-12
CAPT. BRUCE'S EXPERIENCE.
His Ship the First In From the
Scene of War.
SHELLS FELL ABOUT HIS SHIP.
A Graphic Though Humorous Mar
ratiYe of the Workmanship or
South American Gunners.

When the good American ship Alameda
arrived in port on Friday last 279 days
from New York she brought with her a
whole lot of Brazilian bullets.
They were not part of her cargo, but
had been plunked into her sides by both
Peixoto's and Mello's forces at various
times during the stay OF the vessel in the
harbor of Rio Janero.
In fact Captain Bruce. who is sturdy
State of Maine mariner and the COM
mander of the Alameda, was quite dis
gusted with the inaccuracy of the aim Of
the South Americans.
His is the first craft to drop anchor in
this harbor that had put in months watch
ing the daily duels between the Aouida-
ban and the balance of the rebel navy
with the forts and land batteries of the
naughty President Peixoto.
When the captain vas lnterrogated by a
CALL reporter yesterday on board bis
ship as to his experience in Rio harDor he
remarked:
''Those fellows can't shoot for sour ap-
Piles. Why, do you know if | had been an
active enemy of either party | would not
have been alarmed at all. but being a
neutral merchantmen, and out OF the way
as l supposed, was in constant danger of
did any shells come near you?" was
asked.
well, rather. | was standing on the
quarterback one morning smoking a cigar
when a ten-inch shell whiZZed between he
fore and main mast and not six feet above
the deck. 1t was the most random shoot
Ing L ever saw. At other times they were
falling all around me, and why we were
not struck by one of the big boys do not
know"
(which side did these erratic shots come
from?" was inquired
From both. They were excited l sup
pose. l felt like the seconds in the cele-
brated duel. who, after the first volley, re-
ouested the principals to be kind enough
TO shoot at each other instead of Them"
did you have no protection?"
None whatever when ] went in there
Later on when the Charleston came along
/ was treated with little more consider
atiou. Why. the American schooner James
Simpson bad over two hundred bullets put
into her. At times her crew had 10 keep
out of sight altogether"
The reason Captain Bruce put into Rio
was that he was in distress. having
met with heavy weather and hurricanes
which carried away his sails and other
wise disabled him.
When he got into the Brazilian harbor
he SAYS everything was panicky and grim
visaged war stalked abroad. 1t was the
Both day OF August last when he dropped
his mudhook and endeavored tc have his
repairs made. He found it impossible to
make any headway, as workmen were
afraid 10 board the ship lest they should
be captured by the rebels and pressed into
service. In consequence of such a state
Of affairs he was almost hopeless as well
as utterly helpless.
Every day the AQuidaban would steam
In and give the forts rally, and the latter
vTnn raTt xrh In fhsaa IL
out of range would 60 below.
The first engagement the captain saw
was on September 1, which lasted about
an hour, when the rebel feet drew off.
This business followed every day nearly.
AT night the small boats of Mello would
run along shore and turn fierce fire from
machine guns and rifles on to the city
front. In daylight citizens were constant
~ killed on shore.
At last the United States cruiser
Charleston arrived, aud when Bruce saw
Old Glory waving above lot of Uncle
Sans 'barkers" he felt as he never did
before in a foreign land.
Captain Picking said he would give
him protection. and he did il. The next
day Bruce went ashore under escort, aud
brought workmen from the CITY to make
bis repairs, and he was not fired upon
either. 1t required until the middle of
December to complete the necessary work.
twentieth OF that month.
In the meantime the Newark and the
Detroit had come IT, the support of the
Charleston, and the FIVE or six American
vessels in the harbor felt much more
secure.
Not long before the Alameda departed
Captain Gushing, of the American ship
Robert Dixon, died of yellow fever He
was one OF the closest friends of Bruce,
1t was not all without some 'fuD," how
ever, the jolly captain declares. As an in
stance, he saw the Aquidaban struck with
a solid shot one day from one of the forts
and seven men killed. On another occa-
sion he had his shin barked while on shore
from a rifle bullet. Then again, it was
magnificent 10 see the loyal foris and land
batteries turn themselves loose on the
recalcitrant Villegaignon and knock the
dust out of her.
From his observations Captain Bruce
states that the English aud Germans were
entirely IN sympathy with the rebels The
people also appeared to be until the tide OF
battle seemed to favor Pexoto.
When he left the city was almos: aban-
doned by people who could afford to get
out at all. There was no money ip circu-
lation and there was great deal of dis
tress.
To-day the Alameda will! dock at the
EalSom-Street wharf, where the bullets
will be picked out of her and her cargo dis
charged.