Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-01-30
AN OBJECT LESSON.
Brazi|ianS Must Respect
the American Flag.
DAY OF EXCITEMENT AT RIO
The Bark Amy Escorted to Her Wharf
by American Warships.

LONDON, Jan. 30.-A special dispatch
from Rio ie Janeiro gives an interesting
account Of an exciting episode there yes
terday.
The United States naval feet In the har
Dor furnished the excitement Provoked
beyond the endurance Of patience by the
continued carelessness of the gunners
aboard the rebel warship Aquidaban, and
tired by the indifference shown on the part
of the revolutionary admiral to all his
protests that American vessels entering
and leaving the harbor were not afforded
proper protection by the rebel feet, Ad.
miral Benham made demonstration with
the American war vessels under his com.
mand which has taught a much needed
lesson to the belligerents on both sides.
In the events of yesterday the foreign
colony were particularly interested, and
the action of Admiral Benham will prob
ably furnish a precedent by which the
commanders Of the other foreign vessels
In this port will be guided In the future.
Insurgents Were Careless
The cause of all the trouble was the
treatment to which three American barks
were subjected on last Saturday by the
indiscriminats fusilade from the insur-
gent warship. The American vessels
were the bark Amy. Captain Blackford; |;
the bark Good News, Captain Myrick,
and the bark Julia Rollins, Captain
Kiehne.
On Saturday last, while lying at snchor,
all three vessels were endangered by the
chance shots fred by the insurgents.
These whistled through the rigging and
passed the men at work on the decks.
After suffering a great deal of annoy
ance and running great risks, the three
captains held a conference and determined
to appeal for protection to the United
States warships and to request that the
barks be given an escort to the wharves.
Captains Kiehne, Myrich and Black
ford put off in small boats at great dan
ger TO themselves to the flagship New
York, had a conference with Admiral
Benham, who listened to their story, anu
promised that he would do everything in
his power to afford them the fullest pro-
lection.
He said, however, that before making
any display of force on the part of his
feet, or giving the captains the escort
which they requested, he thought 1t only
right 10 first notify the insurgent ad-
miral, Da CANA, Of the captains com
plants
Benham's Ire Aroused.
Accordingly Admiral Benham sent one
of his officers to the Aquidaban with or
ders to acquaint Admiral Da Cana with
the facts in the case and to ask him to
have an end put to the reckless cunning.
When the American officer had finished
making his statement Da Cana, with a
shrug of his shoulders, said in very
sharp tone: 1T In not my fault. The
American ship captains should know
enough to keep themselves and their
crews out of the range of our guns. l
shall not take any notice Of this matter"
This curt response 10 his message
aroused the ire of Admiral Benham, and
he determined to make such a showing
that IL would produce . lasting effect
upon the insurgents. He allowed Sunday
to pass quietly. Early Monday morning,
however, the greatest activity prevailed
on board the feet. Shortly after day
break the decks Of the flagship New York,
of the Newark, San Francisco, Detroit
and other United States war vessels here
were cleared for action and their anchors
were raised.
Admiral Benham then sent word to tn Q
captains of the Good News, Julia Robbins
and the Amy that as soon as they were
ready to proceed he would escort them to
the wharves. At this moment Captains
Kiehne of the Julia Robbins and Myrick
of the Good News weakened. They did
not care to embitter the insurgent ad-
miralty by putting themselves under the
escort of the United States naval fleet.
A Formidable Escort.
Captain Blackford of the Amy, how
ever, announced that he would accept the
protection which Admiral Benham had
offered him.
Accordingly the Amy took her position
In the ranks of the United States war
vessels, and the formidable procession
started on its way up Rio harbor
The Detroit took the leading part In the
procession. The fleet, as it approached
nearer to Rio, came quite close to the
shore, causing great excitement among
both the soldiers and civilians on land
and the sailors on board the various
vessels. The Amy proceeded on her way
20 the wharf and was safely moored there.
Not until her captain bad reported that
he was fully satisfied did his powerful
escort leave him.
Throughout the whole affair not single
shot was fired, but the scene was quite as
impressive as IL this had been done. After
passing along Rios water front the fleet
returned out into the bay and anchored in
nearly the same position as 1t had occu-
pied previous to the demonstration.
Had Good Eject.
The affair Is the sole absorbing topic OF
conversation afost and ashore tonight.
The policy Of non-interference so stead.
fastly pursued by Commander Picking
has been absolutely reversed by this action
OF Admiral Benham. Full protection will
Be given from this time on to all American
vessels, as Minister Thompson has all
along requested.
There can be no doubt as TO the good
that has been done the American shipping
IN Brazilian ports by the demonstration
In Rio yesterday. 10 has taught both sides
In the present struggle In Brazil, that how
ever indiscriminatsly they may lombard
each others property, the United States In.
tends resolutely 10 defend the rights Of
every vessel which sails beneath the pro
taction Of the stars and stripes.