The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-02-03
SHOT Az B Y REBELS
Brazilian insurgents at Rio Fire
on American Warships.
Uncle Aam's Marines Return the Fire
Statement of Admiral Renham-Co
manders OF Other Countries
Congratulate Him.
AN ACT OF WAR

AN ACT OF wAB
WAsHINGTON, Jan. 81. Alta late hour
Tuesday night the following details
from the official advices of the navy
department are learned concerning
the incidents on the Goth at Rio de ia
metro: ID
previous to the 10Th Admiral Benham had
communicated with Admiral ia CANA, warn
ing him against firing upon American ships
and refusing to accept the 1nsurgent COM
manders excuse that he had given warning
concerning where the danger line was The
commanders OF three American ships having
signifed their desire to go to the wharves on
the morning Of the 2ath, the American admiral
cent word that he would convoy them He
also sent word 10 Admiral da CANA to that
effect. Two ships we're conveyed to the wharves
by the Detroit, the insurRent warships follow
ing them
Firing Begins.
"When nearly at the wharf and while tug
was taking cable ashore the insurgent war
ships opened fire. sending volley OF mussxet
shot under the bow OF the tug The Detroit
insnrgent ship then sent shot over
the Detroit The Detroit In reply sent a
shell which reached portion of the stern
of the insurgent ship doing little damage.
The tnsurgent commander then fred in warn
ing broadstde to leeward in the opposite di.
reotion from which the Detroit lay. This was
answered by another shot from the Detroit
The insurgents signaled tina, unless the Detroit
ceased firing they (the insurgents) would sink
the American snip. The language which WAS
used by the American admiral ia answer to
this signal was OF such nature that tho Incl.
dent closed for that day and the ships were al
lowed to land
The AdmiraIs Statement.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 31.-The fol-
lowing statement has been made to the
Associated press correspondent by Adj
miral Benham, commander of the
United States feet in this harbor:
I! The insurgent forces on Cobras island last
Friday fred upon q ship flying the United
States flag. protested 10 Admiral Saldahna
da Cana against this action, and his response
was that he had warned the commander OF the
snip when 1t was at the bar at Rio Janeiro as to
the whereahou OF the danger line ordered
Admiral da Cana to ce%se the firing.
Both the guns On the island OF CobraS and
the guns OF the insurgent warship Traiano
opened fire Saturday upon the bark Agaye, .
vessel haiiing from New York. warned Ad-
misal da Cana at once that II the fire was re-
peated would fire back
, Would Consider Him Pirate.
II also warned him that it he touched an
American ship would consider MIN pirate.
/ told min. I would protect American property
from the IRE Ut his guns, and that should re-
tAlate upon aim for any damage done unless
it was entirely apparent that the damage WAS
due to chance shots.
Adlnira. Benham says that he motif
tied Admiral da taama unomcially that
firing by the insurgents upon the
wharves for the purpose merely OF ere.
ating terror and to prolonR blockade
leans and American vessels were con-
cerned. 10 this communication the in
surgenJ admiral made no answer.
Decks Cleared for Action.
| The captains OF the American vessels,
Admiral Benham continues, intimated
that they wanted to go TO the wharves
and the American admiral notified adj
,uiral da Cana that it was his in ten
ton to convoy them at sunrise on Mon
day. Fearing trouble Admiral Benham
ordered that the vessels OF his Feet 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 weakened aud 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.
MGsket Shots Exchanged.
No cannon were opended upon her
by Da Gama's vessels, and, as matter
of course, the American vessels did not
fire upon the insurgent ships. The
insurgent protest consisted of this:
As the Amy got abreast Of
the Guanabara marine on the
lastnamed vessel aimed musket
at her and fired. Two musket shots
were fred at the Guanabara and the
Trajano from the Arny'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.
Benham Congratulated.
The commanders of sixteen warships
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