Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-30
'BROWNsON'S SMILE.
STORY OF The COMMANDER THAT
SAILORMEN LOVE TO TELL

Il An Incident That PIeases Men Who
Have Seen Smiling Men Fight.
8 1t was in January, 1894, that the
civil war in Brazil was coming TO a 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 he said no.
Various governments were affected by
this 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
diffident about interfering III family
rows on this side OF the water. At last
admiral Benham was sent down to take
charge of the United States fleet in Rio
harbOr. The flagship was the San Fran
cisco, and on Sunday, Jan. %, Admiral
lBenham 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 his ship smiling. However
that may be, he certainly smiled next
morning. Just after O'Clock that even
ing-it was calm. as could be, almost
the Yankee navaliships 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
% La
change in the appearance Of the Yankee
feet. 1t had taken off it's coat waist
coat and shirt. go to speak. and was just
eying itself VIXEN 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, DIS well as the fleet Of armed tugs,
were crowded with men from the gar
risOns of CObras and Villegaigou. The
Libcrdade few the little blue ensign,
for Admiral de CANA was aboard her,
lying with the Trajano and GuaDabara
north of Enchados island, a 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 tho throat of the Yankee
barkentino Good News.
Commander BrOwnson on eEe Detroit
got his ship under way, having hoisted
anchor at 6 o'clock, and headed toward
the city between Enchados and Cobras
islands. Her crew was at her guns,
and as eager O 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 littornl of the
city, as they had been doing a long
time. After a couple of men hRd been
killed aboard the tugs they drew back.
and the Detroit, with everything clear,
rounded Enchados island and came
along starbonrd 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 a
line from the Amy to ship ut 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 hnlyards eager TO break it
out, with his eyes fixed on the admiral, |
who was looking at the Detroit for the |
H. Il a =
quartermaster the order so ardently de- |
sired.
When the insurgent shot was fred, |
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 Mt 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, ahoyF' he shouted. "If |
you fire again, 1 will return the fire.
and il You 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 I'll protect your
The sailors went
Aim at the Guanabaral" ordered
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 STONED levcled at tlfe |
cruiser. One particularly nervous gun
crew aboard the insurgent was conspicu-
pus. 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