The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-10-07

Z bureau of naval intelligence. en-
tied Notes on the Years Naval Pro-
gress.''
The work is always of value to stu
dents of naval development and this
year is of particular interest because of
the broad scope of its contents, and
especially in view of it's inclusion of
an article of the revolt in Brazil, con-
tr1buted by Lieutenant c. Rogers, who.
as an agent of the intelligence office,
was with the American fleet at Rio and
was an eyewitness of the operations in
that habor, ending in the final sur
render of the rebelIous Admiral da
Cana.
Sinking of the Aqufdaban.
Lieutenant Rogers describes in great
detail the various engagements between
the rebel fleet and the government
forts, and as he nears the end of the
struggle, he gives an account of the
sinking of the famous ironclad Aquida-
ban, the details of which has not been
made known in this country. 1t seems
that after Da Gama'S surrender at Rio,
the government sent a considerable
squadron in pursuit of the Aquidaban.
The vessel was discovered at anchor in
the northern entrance of Santa Cat
arina strait, about a. mile from Fort
Santagaus.
To divert attention from the real pur-
pose which was to attack the Aquida-
ban with torpedo boats, the Sampiao,
Silvado. Two and Alfonso, steamed along
the western shore until the Aquidaban
was discovered at anchor. This was on
the night of April 16 The sky was
overcast, a heavy rain was falling and
the commander Of the Sampiao reported
ct so dark that he was less than 200
yards from the Aquidaban when he
discovered her. The crew of the latter
was expecting a small steamer from
Destero that night and, mistaking the
Sampiao for her, did not fire at once.
Lifted Above the Water.
The Aquidaban was heading toward
the south. When first seen by the
Sampiao she bore ON the starboard
bow; the latter. therefore, turned to
starboard to launch the bow torpedo.
This. by some mistake of the officer in
charge of it, was fired before the vessel
was in position and without effect.
The Sampiao then backed, and turning
under the stern of the Aquidaban,
steamed slowly along the port side,
probably not more than twenty yards
from her. In this remarkable position,
however, IT was not until the Sampiao
was nearly past the battleship, that
the torpedo was fired. 1t struck with
terrific effect about twenty feet above
the stern of the Aouidaban, lifting her
considerably above the water. The
Sampiao then dashed ahead at full
speed. Before the first torpedo was
launched, the Aquidaban opened fire
on the Sampiao and her consorts from
the Nordenfeldts and two of the 5.7-inch
guns. The Sanpiao was struck So
times in the upper works and three in
the hull by the Nordenveldt one-inch
steel proJectfles. One of them pene-
trated the starboard bow near the
water line. Two Of them struck a.
Hotchliss rapid-f1ring three-pounder
one hitting the breech square and jam
ming the hreech blocks tightly.
While the other penetrated the wall
OF the gun directly near the cartridge
chamber, to the depth of an inch or
thiee-quarters of its thickness, but
without injury to the bore, so that it
could still be fired. Excepting a cadet,
VINO lost a finger, no one on board the
Samp1ao was hurt.
Her escape was due to the darkness of
the night, coupled with such proximity
to the battle ship that the latter's pro
1ectile went over. The Pedro Alfonso
Launched two OF her torpedoes. The
breaking of a pipe connected with the
air compressor prevented the firing Of
the bow tube, SO that both these tor
pedoes were launched from the after.
The Silvado was about to- fire a tor
pedo when her commander discovered
that the Sampiao was between his
boat and the battleship. As matter
OF technical interest, 1t is proper to re-
mark that the Edro Ivo left the
squadron WITH the f1otilla, but being
unable to maintain sufficient steam
pressure fell out of line and took re-
fuge under the guns of the Triad entes.
The Torpedo Fired.
The torpedo fired by the Sampiao
was of the Schwartz Kopf type, con-
flaming 125 pounds of gun cotton.
The attack on the Auuidaban was
not renewed until the next day when
it was discovered that she had been
abandoned by her crew who had
escaped to the mainland. The big
battleship drawing twenty feet was
fourd in twenty-four feet OF water
with the two forward compartments
full Of wafer and with a terrible hole
in her She was fioated and brought
TO Rio under her own steam
Lieutenant Rogers secured valuable
information in the war. He says that
the discipline of the rebels was good,
apparently, and their courage and
bravery admitted no questions. The
ships generally fought at long range,
the commanders seeming to be hus-
banding their resources from the out
set; with the exception of the
Auuida ban were undetermined and
seemed to be acting on a waiting policy,
expecting reinforcement from the
south.
Army Tugs and Launches.
The army tugs and launches did ser
vice. rrhey were very active and effec-
tive at night, transporting men and ma
te-ia!. and during the day did much
fighting. Armed with revolving cannon
anr rapid-f1ring guns, barricaded by
cotton bales or boiler iron, behind
which were armed crews, they were
ugly antagonists. Their work in Rio
harbor showed that under the practical
conditions of nearly any war, such port
resources could be well utilized as aux
fliaries in the defense Of harbor, river
or bay Smokeless powder was used
on board the Tamandadare only. Upon
the discharge Of one of her six-inch
guns, small, yellowish, red cloud of
smoke was seen for few moments,
which disappeared quickly, and at no
time did it interfere with her firing.
Great was the contrast when one of the
Aquidabans turret guns was fired; a
thick heavy cloud OF smoke that al /
most enveloped the ship was the inva |
riabie result, drifting slowly away UNI
less a strong breeze was blowing.
One important note by Lieutenant
gun Most of the battery fired almost
continuously at long ranges and with |
extreme elevation, and at the close of
the revolt, after six months use. did |
fair shooting
Value or Armored Ships.
In view Of the question which arises
since the Japanese cruisers defeated |
the Chinese battieships at Yalu as TO /