The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-06-08
BRoWNsON'S SMILE.
A STORY or THE COMMANDER THAT
sAiuoRMsR LOVE TO TELL

A STORY or TsE COMMANDER THAT
sAiuoRMER LOVE TO TELL
How the Detroit Broke Up what the In
snreenr Admiral Called a -BIockade.'
An Incident That Pieases 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
ernment held the city, but while the in
surgent admiral held the water nc ship
ping could 90 up to the front as long as
be said il couldn't aud he 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
difident about interfering in family
rows ON this side Of the water. At last
Admiral Bonham was sent down to take
charge Of the United States feet in Rio
harbor. TIE flagship was the San Fran
cisco, and On Sunday, Jan. 2s, Admiral
Benham called on his captains to come
aboard. Among them was Commander
Brownson Of the Detroit. 1t is said that
after the conference this commander
came back to bis ship smiling. However
that may he, he certainly smiled next
morning. Just after O'Clock that even
ine-it was calm as could be. almost
the Yankee naval ships were seen TO be
in a hustle. The canvas awnings faded
away, and in the night certain sounds
were henrd aboard them, at which vari-
Gus listeners put their hands cup shaped
behind their ears to listen harder. On
the morning Of the 29th there was q
change in the appearance of the Yankee
feet. Il had taken of its coat, waist
coat and shirt. SO TO speak, and was inst
eying itself when day dawned to see
how good its training had been.
The insurgent 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 we'll as the feet Of armed tugs.
were crowded with men from the gar
risoDs Of Cobras and Villegaigon. The
Liberdade few the little blue ensign,
for Admiral de Cana was aboard her,
lying with the Trajano and Gnanabara
north Of Encbados island, few yards
from the American bark Amy, one Of
the boats kept ont 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 the 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 as eager a 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.
while couple Of insurgent tugs made
a sputter at the northern littoral of the
city, as they had been doing a long
time. After o 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 a tradition in the
navy now and always will be so long as
men like Brownson are in command.
The commander was smiling.
\ man on the Trajano raised a mus
ket and fired bullet over the heads of
sailors pulling away in boat with
line from the Amy TO a ship at anchor
that the Amy might be warped TO the
forbidden docks. Two heavy insurgent
tugs came around with their rams
pointed at the side of the Detroit On
the San Francisco the red flag of battle
had been run up to the fore truck in
stops. A quartermaster stood with his
hand on the halyards eager TO break it
out, with his eyes fixed ON the admiral,
who was looking at the Detroit for the
sign whic FTould cause him TO give the
auartermaster the order so ardently de-
sired.
When the insurgent shot was fired,
Commander Brownson turned TO the
gunner at a one FOUNDER, and with a
scarcely perceptible increase Of the
smile ordered the man to shoot into the
Trajano at the water line six feet abaft
the stern. The order was misunder-
stood, and the shot went across the in
surgsnts' bow. Therenpon Captain
BrownsOn hailed:
"Trajano, ahoy" he shonted. 'If
you fire again, will return the fire.
and if yen persist will sink you.'
The Trajano's crews were excited. II
a nervous FINGER had pulled a trigger,
the fight would have been on.
But the shot did not sound. The sail
ors on the Amy's yawl waited TO see
what they were to do next.
"You go ahead, +" Commander Brown
son shouted, land III protect you'll"
The sailols went
"Aim at the Guanabaral" ordered
Commander Brownson. And the greasy
black muzzles of the Detroit's broadside
ind the two pivot guns swung around.
looking bigger and bigger every mo-
ment. till they stopped, leveled at ths
cruiser. One particularly nervous gun
crew aboard the insurgent was conspicu-
gus. Commander Brownson waved his
hand, with a half smile, and this crew
fell back.
Then the Yankee ships led the way
TO the docks, with other ships crowding
in with them, and after awhile the re.
beliioG collapsed. But the sailors who
were ON the Detroit at that time have
told the story Of Commander Brown
SON 5 smile TO other sailors, and these
20 still others, till it has rippled to ey-
cry water where the starry flag flies,
and it is heard with marked interest by
men on the ships Of other nations-men
who have seen smiling men fight New
York sun,
Old Alb Drake.
Ola Al nraEa xras ono - 49, fGo5d