The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-24
ADMIRAL BENHAM'S CAREER.
HIS LITTLE TILT WITH BRAZILIAN
INSURGENTS IN 1894.

on the outbreak of the Present
War-HOw He stopped Interference
With American Commerce at Rio.
Saw FOrty-seven Years of Active
Service in the American Navy.
Was with the BIOckading Squad
ron During the Late War.
Rear Admiral A. e. X. Benham, re-
tired, now sitting with the prize commits
sioners' court here. has long and inter-
esting record in the naval service of the
United States extending over period of
forty-seven years up TO the time of his
retirement
Admiral Benham has seen some inter-
esting and trying times during his long
period of service. but he has record of
having met them with a promptness and
fortitude that now seems so characters
tic of American naval officers. He is not
much inclined, however to discuss the
events of his naval career.
''They are old STORIES" he said, when
asked about the matter yesterday, land
have been printed dozens of times. There
is nothing of interest that 1 could tell
now
Admiral Benham was in command of
South Atlantic squadron which went 10
Brazil in 1884, for the protection of
American commerce when inroads were
being made upon it by Admiral Da CANA,
the Brazilian insurgent leader who sought
to get control of the government through
it's navy of which he was in command.
1t was in the early part of 1894 that
Admiral Benham's squadron figured In
the situation. Da Gama's warships had
been firing upon American vessels in port
and seriously interfering with American
commerce, especially at Rio de Janelro
Admiral Benham had with him five of the
most powerful cruisers of the United
States navy. The San Francisco was ms
flagship, and the others were the cruisers
Newark, New York, Charleston and De-
troit.
After the insurgents had made them
selves offensive and had shown DISPOSE
ton to fire upon American commerce the
Detroit, ia command of Capt.. Brownson,
she being the lghtest draught vessel OF
the feet was sent into the harbor. Two
or three shots were flied az the fnsurSeht
cruiser which had ired on the American
vessels and she was told, by instructions
of Admiral Benham, that If she fired an
other shot she would be sunk.
That ended the matter, and the insur-
gents gave the American ships no more
trouble The remainder of the squadron
was lying in wait just outside the harbor
and would have made short work of the
insurgent vessels, if they had not listened
to reason.
At the outbreak of the present war there
were applications from many retired Of
fcers for leave to so into active service.
This, however, requires special action of
the Senate in case retired officer desires
to go again in command of vessel or
squadron though the President may as
Sign them to the charge of navy yards,
and other shore duty, without such action
Were you not DESTROYS of returning to
active service when the present war came
on?" Admiral Benham was asked,
Indeed 1 was lhe replied, land l made
application for permission to return to the
service. The Senate has 10 act on all such
applica lions, and there appears to have
been little room for retired officers"
Admiral Benham, though past the age
of retirement, is still strong and vigorous,
and would undoubtedly have enjoyed the
life at sea again with the present activity
that it affords.
Admiral Benham was born in New York
in 1892. He was appointed to the navy
from New York Nov, "a, 1877. He was
first attached to the sloop Plymouth of
the East India squadron, then to The brig
Dolphin, and again went with the Ply
NOUN
squadron on the steam frigate Saranac
in 1S51-52 and in 1858 was at the naval
academy. June 10, 1853, he was promoted
to passed nidshipman, and from 1853 to
1857 was with the sloop st. Marys of the
Pacific squadron.
He received his commission as lieuten-
ant Sept. 49, 1855, and from 1857 TO 1888, was
in the coast survey service In 1853 he
was with the steamer Westernport of the
Brazil squadron, and on the Paraguay ex-
petition. He returned to the home squad
ron in 1S60-61 being first with the Crusad-
or, and then with tho steamer BienVille of
the South Atlantic blockading squadron
He took part in the battle of Port Royal
in 1861 and in 1863 went to the steamship
Sacramento still with the blockading
squadron.
On July 16. 1862, he was given his com
mission as lieutenant commander, and
from 1863 to 1865 was in command of the
gunboat Penobscot OF the Gulf blockading
squadron. He was on temporary duty at
the New York navy yard in 1866 in COM
mand of the steamer Susquehanna on spe-
ciaI service in 1867, and on June 8, 1867,
was given hts commission as commander.
He was at the New York navy yard again
in 1850, lighthouse Inspector In 1901,
and in 1S71-72 was in command of the iron
clad Canonicus on the North Atlantic sta
ton. On the same station in 1S72-73 he
was IN command Of the ironclad Saugus.
From 1874 to 1878 he was lighthouse in
scector.
lie received his commission as a can
tain March II. 1875, and was in command
of the Richmond on the Asiatic station
from 1875 to 1881. From 1882 to 1884 he had
charge Of the navy yard at Portsmouth
N. H., and was again lighthouse inspector
from 1855 He was promoted to commo-
dore in October, 1885, and In 1888 was presi-
dent of the naval board at League Island.
He was commander of the Mare Island ma
Wy yard in 1890, and in February. 1890.
was commissioned a rear admiral
Admiral Benham saw about four years
of service as a rear admiral, the most in
teresting feature of which was the BRAZIL
ian affair. He was retired in 1894 He will
remain in Savannah for several days act
ing with the prize commissioners. and
will be here whenever there are any prize