The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-01-31
PROTECTING OUR SHIPS
Admiral Benham's Prompt Action
at Rio Janeiro.
AwARNING TO ADMIRAL DA CANA
Tho American Ship Amy Escorted UP the
Harbor by the Cruiser Detroit - A
blockade OF American Vessels VIII
Not be Permitted.

Harbor by the Cruiser Detroit - A
blockade OF American Vessels VIII
Not be Permitted.
Rio DE JANEIRo, Jan. 8i.-The following
statement has been made to the Associ-
ated Press correspondent by Admiral Ben
ham, commander of tho United States
fleet in this harbor:
1.-THE insurgent forces on Cobras Island
last Friday fired upon n ship flying the
United States flag. protested to Admiral
Saldanha da Cana against this action,
and his response WINS that he had warned
the commander of the ship when 1t was
at the bar at Rio de Janeiro as to the
whereabouts of the danger line. l ordered
Admiral da CANA to cease the firing.
Both the guns on the Island of Cobras
and the guns of the insurgent wsrship
Trajano opened fire Saturday upon the
bark Agate, vessel hailing from New
York.
II warned Admiral da CANA more than
once that II the fire was repeated would
fire back. also warned him that If he
touched an American ship or American
goods would consider him pirate.
told him that l would protect American
property absolutely from the fire of his
guns. and that should rctaliate upon
him for any damage done unless 1t was
entirely apparent that the damage was
due to chance shots"
Admiral Benham says that he notified
Admiral da Cana, unofficially, that firing
by the insurgents upon the wharves for
the purpose merely Of creating terror and
to prolong q blockade would not be per.
mitted so far as Americans and American
vessels were concerned. To this communi-
cation the insurgent admiral made no
answer. The captains of three American
vessels, Admiral Benham continues, init
mated that they wanted to go to the
wharves and the American admiral noti-
fed Admiral da Cana that il was his in
tention to convey them at sunrise on Mon
day. Fearing trouble, Admiral Benham
ordered that the vessels of his feet be
cleared for action. The three ships re
ferred to were the Amy, the Good News
and the Julia Rollins.
The captains of two OF the ships weak
ened and failed TO come into the harbor.
The Amy was the only one that ventured
in, and she was escorted by the United
States cruiser Detroit. AS precaution
against any progressive action on the part
Of the insurgents the cruiser New York
Charleston and Newark were assigned to
watch the action OF Da Gamas ships
Aquidaban and Tamandare, while the
Detroit and the San Francisco were sig
nailed to take positions near the Trajanu
and the Guannbara. These precautions
certainly proved effective, and the insur-
gents, In the face Of the formidable array
Of American vessels, made but the feeblest
attempt to hinder the Amy's progress to
her wharf. No guns were opened on her
by Da Gama's vessels. and as matter OF
course the American vessels did not fire
upon the insurgents ships The insur-
gent protest consisted of this.
AS the Amy got abreast OF the Guiana
bnra marine on the last named vessel
aimed muskct at her and fired. Two
musket shots were fired at the Guanabara
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 necessary at any time. The
reason that the other two ships which
had notified Admiral Benham that they
wished to 90 to their wharves failed to do
90 is that their commanders were pcr-
suaded from entering the harbor by a
man named Rollins, who is believed to be
the agent OF an English firm which has
been furnishing the rebels with money.
At a later hour Admiral da Cana con-
ferred with his officers upon the adyisibil-
lily Of surrendering to the Detroit in CON
sequence of the musket shots fired. He
was dissuaded from doing so, but il is
thought possible that he may yet decide
to surrender to the American commander
There is no doubt that Admiral da CANA
is in bad way. A proposed compromise
has been refused by Peixoto's government,
and it seems to be only matter of time
when he will have oRive up the struggle
The complications of the insurgent sit
uation are increased by the absence OF
Admiral de Mello. The failure Of thu
latter admiral to arrive here to the as
sistance of the insurgent fleet has given
rise TO the report that he is dead Thu
commanders of sixteen warships here, in
Guiding five American and four EnRlisi.
and French, have sent messages to Ad
miral Benham congratulating him upon.
his prompt action. The Austrian com
mander cleared ship and made ready tt
help the American admiral in case he'll,
was necessary.
Alarming reports have been received
here OF government disasters at Curutibu,
Paranagua and Antonina. 1t is stated
that these places have been captured by
the insurgents and that the government
troops have fled, abandoning their arms
and munitions of war.