The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-31

Explains the Cause Of the Rio
Affair.
Ship Flying the American Flag
Fired On
HE DID JUST RIGHT
Say Senators and People in
Washington.

ETo DE JANEIRo. Jan. s1--Ihe fol-
lowing statement has been made by
Admiral Benham, conmander of the
United States fleet in 5his har bors
1.-THE insurgent forces on Cobras Isi-
and last Friday fred Upon ship fly
ing the United States flag i pro-
tested to- Admiral @paldanha ola
CANA against this action, and his
response was that he had
warned the comma ncer of the ship
when it was at the bar at Rio de
Janeiro as to the whereabouts Of the
danger line. L ordered Admiral Ia
Gama to cease Che firing Both the
gums OH the island off Cobras and the
guns of the insurgent 7yarship Iralano
opened fire Saturday upon the bark
Agate. hailing from New York /
varnd Admiral Da CANA at once that
If the fire was repeated I would fire
back also warned hlm that "a lie
touched ain American ship on American
goods, 4 would consider him pirate
i told him I would protect Anne ican
property from the fire Of his guns,
and that should retallaf upon him
for any damage done. unless it was
entirely apparent chat the damage
was due to- chance shots.
Admiral Benham says be notified
IDA Cana uuohicialiy that firing by the
insurgents upon the yvharves for the
purpose merely of creating terror and
to prolong q blockade would not be
permitted SO far as Americans and
American vessels were concerned TO
this communication tile insurgent adj
miral made no answer.
.-The capita as Of three American
vessels Admiral Benham continues,
'intimated that they wanted to go to
the wharves. and the American adj
miral notified Admiral Da Cana it was
his intention To convey them at sum
rise Ola Monday. Fearing trouble Adj
4 Al -l--
of his fleet be cleared Tor action. The
three ships referred to were the Amy,
the Good News and the Julia Rollins.
The captains of two Of the ships
weakened and failed to come
into the harbor The AMY
in. and She was escorted 10y the United
States cruiser Detroit. AS a precau-
ton against any possible aggressive
action on the part of the insurgents.
the cruisers New Eork. Charleston and
Newark We're assigned to watch the
actions Of Ia Cana ship. Aquida ban.
while THE Detroit and sam Francisco
were signaled to take positions near
the Trajano and the Gaanabara
These precautions cfsrfainly proved
effective. and the insult ess1ts p faceos
the fOrmida BILE array Of American yes
sells. made bat the feeb4est attempt to
hinder the AmVs progress to the
wharf NO gums were opened up on
ner r7- ida f4srnafs veSSa1S an j.
matter of course. the American vessels
did not Ere on the insl1r-aant shins.
The insur0ert protest consisted IF
this. AS the AMY oot a breast Of the
Gunana bara a marine IN tba las+
named vessel aimed d rauslxet Al her
and fired IwC rnusheb shots III ere
fred s+ tha fs77rar- I,ara and 4f,a IT,
5ano from fbs sr,t-,s e.sesr4 tba NJ
froit. 10 rsfllrn. mis- vas all The A.
ino done durinv the Anlz--s frin. and Il
was enouUh Am onnositior ceased ~
once and the MISE ~ I,aesvf- rr7,re 49,
not considered necessalv ST anv time.
Tha reason the other tvvo shina
which had notified Admiral Benhan