Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-01-31
THREE CITIES FALL
Insurgents Meet With No
Resistance.
BENHAM CONGRAlU ULATtD.
Navy Department Hears OF the Doings
at Bio on he 29th.

RIO DE JASRIRo, Jan. sl.-Reports have
been receiy a here of government disas-
ter at Couritaba, Parananga and Anto-
nina. IL is stated that these places have
been captured by the insurgents and that
the government troops have fed absn-
doning their arms and munitions Of war.
The following statement is made by Ad-
miral Benham. commander OF the U nited
States feet In this harbor:
"The insurgent forces on Cobras island,
last Friday, fired upon q ship flying the
United States flag. l protested TO Ad-
mirsl Da CANA against this action and
his response was that he had warned the
commander of the ship when 10 was at
the bar at Rio Jsneiro as to the where
abouts OF the danger line. l ordered Ad-
miral Da Cana TO cease the firing.
Both the guns on the island OF Cobras
and the guns of the insurgent warship
Trajsno opened fire Saturday upon the
bark Agate, a vessel hailing from New
York. / warned Admiral Da Cana at once
that II the fire was repeated | would fire
back. / also warned him that If he touched
an American ship or American goods, I
would consider him pirate. / told him
that would protect American property
absolutely from the force of his guns, and
that should retaliate upon him for any
damage done, unless II was entirely APP
parent that the damage was due TO chance
shots"
Benham's Warning.
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 a blockade would not be per-
mitted SO far AZ Americans and American
vessels were concerned. To this COM
munication the insurgent admiral made
no answer.
The captains of three American vessels
intimated that they wanted 10 go 10 the
wharves, and the American admiral no
titled Admiral Da CANA that it was his
intention to convey them at sunrise on
Monday. Fearing trouble, Admiral Ben
ham ordered that the vessels in his 1eet
be cleared for action.
The three ships referred 10 were thu
Amy, the Good News and the Julia Rol-
lins. The captains Of two Of the ships
weakened and failed to come into the har-
Dor. The Amy was the only one that ven
tursd in, and she was escorted by the
United States cruiser Detroit.
Prepared to Fight.
As a prscaution against any possible ag-
gressive 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 Aquidsban
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 10 her wharf.
The insurgent protest consisted Of this:
As the Amy got abreast of the GUIANA
bara, a marine on the last named vessel
aimed musket at her and fired. Two
musket shots were fred at the Guiana ba "a
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.
Will Da CANA Surrenderf
At later hour Admiral Da Cana con-
ferred with his officers upon the advisa-
bility Of surrendering to the Detroit in
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, and 1t seems to be
only q matter OF time when he will have
to give up the struggle. The complica-
tions OF the insurgent situation are In
creased by the absence of Admiral De
all f.tl 90 ha lat al, ,tra
to arrive here to the assistance of the in
surgent fleet has given rise to the report
that he Is dead.
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
necessary.
Navy Department Hears About 1t.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8l.-Details from the
official advices Of the navy department
concerning the incidents on the goth at
Rio de Janeiro say that two ships were
conveyed 10 the wharves by the Detroit,
the insurgent warships following them.
When nearly at the wharf and while q
tug was taking cable ashore, the iusur-
gent warships opened nre, sending q vol
ley of musket shot under the bow of the
tug The Detroit answered with warn
ing shot and the insurgent ship then sent
shot over the Detroit. The Detroit in
reply sent a shell which reached a portion
OF the stern Of the insurgent ship, doing
little damage.
Then the insurgent commander fired In
warning broadside TO leeward In the op-
posits 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
(ths insurgents) would sink the American
ship.
The language which was used by the
American admiral In answer to this sig
nal was OF such a nature that the Incl
dent closed for that day, and the ships
were allowed to land.
The names Of the ships which were
landed are not given In the official dis
patch from Rio.
The question az TO what the United
States government would do with Admiral
Da Cana and his forces IL he has surren-
dered TO Admiral Benham Is exciting con-
siderable interest In official circles here.
IL IL supposed that II he surrendered, he
did 80 with some assurances or promises
from the American admiral Officials are
wondering what promises may have been
made and whether OF not Admiral Ben