The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-31
BENHAM'S STATEMENT.
How and Why the Admiral Protected
American Ships.

American Ships.
copyrighted, 1894, by the Associated Press)
RIO DE JANEIRO. Jan. 3o.-The follow
ing statement has been made to the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent by Admiral Ben
ham, commander of the United States fleet
in this harbor:
"The insurgent forces on Cobras island
last Friday fired on a ship flying the United
States flag I protested to Admiral Sal
danha Da Cana against this action and his
response was that ne had warned the COM
mander of the ship when 1t was at the bar
at Rio Janeiro as to the whereabouts of the
danger line I ordered Admiral Da Cana
to cease firing.
Both the guns on the island Of Cobras
and the guns of the insurgent war ship Ira
jano opened fire Saturday on the bark
Agate, a vessel hailing from New York. 1
warned Admiral Da Cana at once that If
the fire was repeated / would fire back. I
also warned him that if he touched an
American ship or American goods 1 would
consider him a pirate I told him that L
would protect American property absolutely
from the fire of his guns, and that should
retaliate on him for damage done unless it
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 on the wharves for the
purpose merely of creating terror and to
prolong a blockade would not be permitted
so far as Americans and American vessels
were concerned To this communication
the insurgent admiral made no answer. The
captains Of American vessels, Admiral Ben
ham continues, intimated that they wanted
to go to the wharves, and the American
admiral notified Admiral Da Cana that it
his intention to convoy them at sun
rise on Monday. Fearing trouble, Admiral
Benham ordered that the vessels of his fleet
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 weakened 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 a precaution 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 Canals ships, the Aquidaban
and Tamandare while the Detroit and the
San Francisco were signaled to take posi-
tions near the Trajano and the Guanabara.
These precautions certainly proved effective,
and the insurgents, in face of the formidable
array of American vessels made but theS
feeblest attempt to hinder the Amy's prog
ress to- her wharf No guns were opened on
her by Da Gamas vessels, and, a mat
ter 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,
a marine on the last-named vessel aimed
musket at her and fired. Two musket shots
were fired at the Guanabara and the Ira
return. This was all the firing done during
the Amy's trip, and it was enough. All op-
position 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 go to their wharves failed to do
50, is that their commanders were persuaded
from entering the harbor by man named
Rollins, who is believed to be the agent OF
an English firm which has been furnishing
the rebels with money.
At later hour Admiral Da CANA con-
ferred with his officers upon the advisability
Of surrendering to the Detroit In conse-
quence of the musket shots fired. He was
dissuaded from doing so, but II Is thought
possible that he may yet decide TO surren-
der to the American commander. There is
uO uOuDt lHdI <AuIllfdl Ia NIdfIla Is IN a bad
way a proposed compromise has been re-
fused by Peixotos government and IL
seems to be only a matt er of time when he
will have to give up the struggle. The
complications of the insurgent situation are
increased by the absence of Admiral De
Mello. The failure of the latter admiral to
come to the assistance of the insurgent
fleet has given rise to the report that he is
dead.
The commanders OF sixteen war ships
now here, including five American and four
English and French. have sent messages TO
Admiral Benham congratulating him on
his prompt action. The Austrian command
cleared ship and made ready to help the
American admiral, in case help was neces-
sary.
Alarming reports have been received here
Of government disasters at Curutiba. Pa
ranagua and Antonina- 1t is stated that
these places have been captured by the in
surgents and that the government troops
have fled, abandoning their arms and muni-
tionS of war;