The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-30
a - DEMoNsTRArIoN.
Admiral Benham HIarshals FHis vVarships
ana Makes 81 display.


Admiral Benham lIarshals His vVarshipe
ana 2Iales Display.
RIO DE j AcyEIRo, Jan Yesterday
was one Of the most exciting days Rio
] lie Janeiro has experienced since the
+ commencement Of hostiIities between
/ the insurgents and the Brazilian gov
eminent.
The United States naval feet
stationed id the harb0r furnished the
/ excitement.
Provoked beyond the endurance of
( patience by the continued carelessness
I OF the punners aboard the rebel war
\ ship Aquida ban. and tired by the in-
I difference shown on the part Of the
revolutionary admiral to all his pro-
I tests that American vessels entering
! and leaving the port we're not afforded
/ proper protection by the rebel feet.
Admiral Benham made a demOnstra-
tion Wi tn the American war vessels
under his command which has taught
"a much needed lesson to the bell
ligerents on both sides and viii un-
doubtedly have the effect hereafter Of
securing proper recognition of the
rights Of vessels under the American
flag
The cause of all the trouble wa
the treatment which three American
barks were subjected to on last Sat
urday by the indiscriminate fusilade
from the lnsurgent varships
While lying at anchor all three yes
Sc Is were endangered by the chance
shots fred by the insurgents. The
bull cts whistled through the rigging
and passed the men upon the decks
Many Of the crews Of the three yes
sells narrowly escaped being shot.
A ADMIRAL Benham sent one of his
officers to the Aquidabau with orders
To acQuaInt Admiral Da Cana with
the facts in the case and to ask him to
have am end put to the reckless gun
ming
When the American officer had hn-
ished making his statement, Da Cana.
with d shrug of his shoulders, said in
very sharp tone: SIT is not my fault
''Ihe American ship captains should
know enough to keep themselves and
their crews out of the range Of our
gums Z shall not take any notice Of
this matter"
This curt response to his message
aroused the ire of Admiral Benham,
and he determined to make a showing
that would produce a lasting effect
upon the insurgents. He allowed sun
day to pass quietly and without any
appearance that he intended to take
amy further notice Of the affair.
EARLY yesterday morning, however,
the greatest activity prevailed on
board the feet. Shortly after day
break the decks of the flagship New
York, Of the Newark, san Francisco
Detroit and other United States war
vessels here We're cleared for action
and their anchors were raised
Admiral Benham then sent word to
the captains of the barks that he was
prepared to keep his promise to them
and that soon as they were ready to
proceed he would escort them to the
wharves. AT this juncture they all
declined but the captain Of the bark
Amy
Accordingly the Amy took her po-
sitiOn 10 the ranks of the United
States war vessels and the formidable
procession started on its way up Rio
harbor. The news that some thing
important was taking place On board
the American warshlps spread rapid 81.
both ON shore and on board the ships
of an the foreign governments repre-
scented at the port
The Detroit took the leading part in
the procession The fleet as it app
preached nearer to Rio came quite
close to the shore. causing intense ex-
element among coth the soldiers and
civilians on land and the sailors on
board She various vessels.
The Amy proceeded on her way to
the wharf and was safely moored
there. Not until her captain reported
that he was fully satisfied did his
powerful escort leave him
Throughout the whole affair not a
single Shot was fired. but the scene
was quite as impressive as if this had
been done