Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-29
BROWNSON'S SMILE.
A STORY CT THE COMMANDER THAT
SAilCRMEN LOVE TO TELL.
How the Detroit Broke Up What the In
surgent Admiral Called BLOCKADE"
An Incident That Pleases Men Who
Have Seen Smiling Men Fight.

|
1t was in January, 1894, that the
civil war in Brazil was coming to eli
max in the harbor at Rio. Admiral da
| Cana Of the insurgents was in the har-
Dor with several ships-of-war. The gov
eminent held the city, but while the in
surgent admiral held the water no ship
| ping could go up to the front as long as
| he said it couldn't, and be said no.
| Various governments were affected by
this embargo-"blockade" the admiral
called it. Great Britain was concerned
chiefly, but the United States was a
good second, with Germany and other
nations as well.
Europe looked to America to do some
thing in the matter and was naturally
difiident about interfering in family
| rows Gu this side Of the water. At last
Admiral Bonham was sent down, to take
charge Of the United States feet in Rio
harbor. The flagship was the San Fran
cisco, and on Sunday, Jan. 2S, Admiral
Benham called on his captains to come
aboard. Among them was Commander
| Br0wnsOn of the Detroit. 1t is said that
after the conference this commander
| came back to his ship smiling. However
that may be, he certainly smiled next
morning. Just after ) O'Clock that even
ing-it was calm as could he, almost
| tbs Yankee naval ships were seen TO be
IN hustle. The canvas awnings faded
away, and in the night certain sounds
were heard aboard them, at which vari-
Gus listeners put their hands cup shaped
| behind their ears to listen harder. On
the morning of the goth there was
change in the appearance Of the Yankee
fleet. It had taken off its coat, waist
| coat and shirt, so to speak, and was just
eying itself when t'Qy dawned to zee
| how good its training had been.
The insurgont ships Aquidaban and
Tamandare were up the bay above Vi
| ana island with their cables short,
ready to trip. The Trajano and GUIANA
| bara, as well as the feet of armed tugs,
were crowded with men from the gar
risons of Cobras and Villegaigon. The
Liberdade few the little blue ensign,
for Admiral de Cana was aboard her,
| lying with the Trajano and Guanabara
north Of Enchados island, few yards
| from the American bark Amy, one of
the boats kept out by the blockade. The
Parahyba was lying with its teeth, so
to speak, at the throat Of the Yankee
barkentine Good News.
Commander Brownson on tie Detroit
got his ship under way, having hoisted
| anchor at O'Clock, and headed toward
| the city between Enchados and Cobras
| islands. Her crew was at her guns,
and rs eager lot Of men as one could
see anywhere at that time. The anchor
| got fouled in the Detroit's hawse hole,
and that was ample excuse for proceed
ing slowly, which was convenient,
| whllo couple Of insurgent tugs made
a sputter at the northern littoral of the
city, as they had been doing long
time After couple Of men had been
| killed aboard the tugs they drew back,
and the Detroit, with everything clear,
| rounded Enchados island and came
| along starboard side to starboard of the
! Trajano. The men looked through their
sights and then up at Commander
Brownson on the bridge. The story Of
what they saw is q tradition in the
navy now and always will be so long as
| men like Brownson are in command.
| The commander was smiling.
y man on the Trajano raised a mus.
Eet and fred q bullet over the heads Of
sailors pulling away in boat with a
lire from the Amy to ship at anchor
that tho Amy might be warped to the
forbidden docks. Two heavy insurgent
tugs c2l2o around with their rams
pointed Gt tso sido CT the Detroit On
the San Francisco tho red flag Of battle
had been run up to the fore truck in
stops. A quartermaster stood with his
hand on the hGiyards eager 20 break ii
out, with his eyes fixed on the admiral,
who was looking at the Detroit for the
sign which would cause him to give the
quartermaster the order 30 ardently de-
sired.
When the insurgent shot was fired,
Commander Brownson turned to the
gunner at a one FOUNDER, and with
scarcely perceptible increase Of the
smile ordered the man to shoot into the
Traiano at the water line six feet abaft
the stern. The order was misunder-
stood, and the shot went across the in
surgents' bow. Thereupon Captain
Brownson hailed:
"TraJano, ahoy!" he shouted. IF
you fire again, l will return the fire,
and If you persist will sink you.
The Trajano's crews were excited. If
nervous finger had pulled a trigger,
the fight would have been on.
| But the shot cid not sound. The sail
ors ON the Amy's yawl waited to see
what they were to do next.
You so ahead" Commander Brown
son shouted, "and I'll protect you'll"
The sailors went.
| Aim at the Guanabarar' ordered
| Commander Brownson. And the greasy
black muzzles of the Detroit's broadside
and the two pivot guns swung around,
looking bigger and bigger every mo-
ment, till they stopped, leveled at the
cruiser. One particularly nervous gun
r-ew aboard the insurgent was oonspicu-
Gus. Commander Brownson waved his
band, with half smile, and this crew
fell back.
Then the Yankee ships led the way
| 10 the docks with other shins crovUdino