Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-01-31

O"e ~ which Expressed the Disgust Of
the 1nsurg~Us Admiral aud the Others
the DETERMINATION oG Uncle sam-Ds
tsssa Discouraged 1t Having tn Fight
Dur Navy ~ Well - peixOso. Waists 70
psis Fighting.
RIO De JANEiEo. Jan. 3i.-The following
statement has been made to the Associated
Press correspondent by Admiral Benham,
commander Of the United States feet in
this harbor: The insurgent forces on
Cobras island last Friday fired upon ship
fying the United states flag. l protested
soAdmiral Salianha Da Cana against this
action. AMI his response Wa tina; he had
warned the commander OF the ship when
!, was at the bar at Rio .Janeiro a. TO the
whereabouts Of the danger line. ordered
Admiral ia Cana 10 Cease the firing. Both
the guns on the Island Of Cobr7ss and the
gus Of the insurgcpt warship Trajano
opened fire Saturday upoa the bark Agate.
vessel hailing from New York.
Ia CANA Pretty Wen Tied Up.
u warned Admiral Da Cana ut once that
IL the fire was repeated would fire back.
! also warI.ed linn tina; il he touched an
American chip / would consider him q
pirate. told him would proiec; Ameri-
can property from the fire % hi, gun, and
that I should retaliate upon him for any
damage done unless i; was entirely appa-
rent that the damage was due to chance
shots" Admiral Benham says that he mo-
titled Admiral Da Cana uno;'icially that
firing by the insurgents upon the wharyes
Tor the purpose merely of Creating terror
al y n
permitted 80 far az American, and Ameri.
can vessels were concerned. To this COM
nunicatioE the insursent admiral made no
answer.
Had the Rebel Admiral! Foul.
The captains OF three American vessels
Admiral Benbam continues, intimated
! flat they wanted to go To the wharves and
tie American admiral notified Admiral
Ia Cana that IL was his attention to con
voy them at sunris. on Monday. Fearing
trouble Admiral Bcnham ordered that
the vessels of his feet i,e 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
al! failed TO come into the harbor. The
Amy was the only one that veaturri in and
she wa. escorted by the United States
cruiser Detroit. ~ pr-caution against
any possible Aggressive action on ia. part
of the insurgents ia. craiser- New York.
Charleston. and Newark were assigned to
watch the actions Of Ia Gama's ship
Aquidahan. while the Detroit and san
Francisco we've siynale,l 20 take positions
hear the Tarjlno aud the Guanahlra.
Protested with q Mu.ket shot.
These precautions certainly proved eff
feciive. and the insurgents. in the face Of
the formidable array Of American vessels,
made but a feeble attempt TO hinder the
Amy. Progress TO her wharf. No guns
werr opened upon her by Da Gama'- ve--
| sel- and n matter of course the Amer
lean vessels did not fire upon the insur-
sent .hip-. The inSurgeft protest consist
sd o: thi-: ~ the Amy go; abreast Of the
Guarstars marine on the last named
vessel aimed mu-ker nj her aud fired.
TyeD mU-kct shots were fired at the Guiana.
f. lara AID the Trsjano from the imy's e.
. e1r;. the Detroit. in return. This was all
the firing done during the Amy's trip. and
IL Wa enough. All opposition ceased r.,
F, once. anu the u~e 81 heavy guys was not
considered Necessary at at any time.
Cant Fight the United states.
/ Tie commanders Of sixteen warships
herr. including live American and four
English aud French. have sent messages to
Admiral Benhan corgratuiating him upon
Lis prompt action. The Austrian comrnan
der cleared ship and made ready TO help
the American admiral. in case help was
Necessary. At later hour Admiral Da
Cana conferred with his officers upon the
sdvi-ability Of .urrendering TO the Detroi;
in consequence OF the musket shots fired.
lie was dissuaded from doing so. but il is
thought possible that he may yet decide TO
surrender to the American commander.
DSss 1>pok sscss M TIsas 'W1y. :
There j. no doubt that Admiral Da Cana
il in bad way. a proposed compromise
has been refused by Peixoto's government,
AID IL seems to b, only matter o! time
when he will have TO give up the struggle
The cofnpli ,ation- of the insuryent situa-
ton are increased by the absence of Adj
mirsl de Me!lo. The failure Of the latter
admiral to arrive here To the assistance Of
tho insurgeut fleet has given rise to the re.
Port that lac il dead.
Another %. and T.. Co. In Trouble.