Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-31
ADMIRAL BENHAM'S STORY
Authentic Account of the Affair in Rio
Harbor.
Only . Couple of Muskets Were Shot
While the Amy Was Being Convoy.
ed-Admiral Da Gama's Intentions.

The following statement has been made
at Rio Janeiro by Admiral Benham. COM
mander Of the United States feet in that
harbor:
The insurgent forces on Cobras Island
last Friday fired upon a ship flying the
United States flag. i protested to Admiral
Saldanha Da Cana against this action, and
his response was that he had warned the
commander Of the ship when IL was at the
par at Rio de Janeiro TO the Whereabouts
OF the danger line. I ordered Admiral Da
Gama TO cease the firing. Both the guns
on the Island Of Cobras and the guns of the
irsurgent warship Trajano opened fire Sat
urday upon the bark Agate, a vessel hall
iEg from New York.
Il warned Admiral Da Cana at once
that II the fire was repeated l would fire
back. 1 also warned him that IL he touch
ed an American ship or American goods 4
would consider him a pirate. 1 told him
that would protect American property
absolutely from the fire Of his guns, and
that 1 should retaliate upon him for any
damage done unless it was entirely appar-
ent that the damage was due to chance
shots"
Admiral Benham says that he notified Ad-
mirai Da Cana unofficially that firing by
purpose merely of creating terror and to
prolong . blockade would not be permitted.
SO far as Americans and American vessels
were concerned.
To this Communication the insurgent ad-
mirai made no answer.
The captains Of three American vessels.
Admiral Benham continues, intimated that
they wanted to go to the wharves, and the
American admiral notified Admiral Da
Cana that II was his intention to convoy
them at sunrise on Monday. Fearing trou-
pie: ADMIRAL Benham ordered that the yes-
sells or his fleet be cleared for action. The
three ships referred to were the Amy, the
Good News and the Julia Rollins.
The captains Of two of the ships weaIfsn-
ed ana failed to come into the harbor Tie
Amy was the only one that ventured in,
ana she was escorted by the United States
cruiser Detroit. AS a precaution against
any possible aggressive action on the part
Charleston and Newark were assigned to
watch the actions of Da Gama's ships
AQuidaban and Tamandare, while the be-
troit and the San Francisco Were signaled
Guanabara
These precautions certainly proved ef-
fective, and the insurgents. in face Of the
formidable array OF American vessels, made
Amy's progress to her wharf No guns
were opened upon her by Da Gama's YES
| sells. and. as q matter OF course the Ameri-
| can vessels did not fire upon the insurgent
ships.
As the Amy got abreast OF the Guana-
| bara- marine on the last named vessel
aimed a musket at her and fired
Two musket shots were fired at the
Guanabara and the Trajano from the
Amys escort, the Detroit, In return
This was all the firing done during the
Amys trip. and il was enough. All oppo-
sition ceased at once. and the use Of heavy
guns was not considered necessary at any
time. The reason that the other two ships
which had notified Admiral Benham that
they wished to go to their wharves failed
to do so is that their commanders were
persuaded from entering the harbor by q
man of the name OF Rollins.
At a later hour Admiral Da Cana confer
red with his officers upon the advisability
of surrendering TO the Detroit in conse-
quence of the musket shots fired He wss
doubt that Admiral Da Cana is In q Lad
way. A proposed compromise has been re-
| fused by Peixoto's government and ft
seems to be only matter of time when he
| will have to give up the struggle. The
complications OF the insurgent situation srs
increased by the absence Of Admiral Mello.
The failure of the latter admiral to arrive
| at Rio to the assistance Of the insurgent
| feet has given rise TO the report that be
| is dead.
The commanders Of sixteen warships q
Rio. Including five American and four En-
glish and French. have sent messages %
| his prompt action. The Austrian COM
mander cleared ship and made ready 70
help the American admiral. in case helD
was necessary.