The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1898-04-22
BROWNSON'S SMILE.
A STORY OF THE COMMANDER THAT
SkILORMEN LOVE TO TELL.

surgent Admiral Called a 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 cli-
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 no ship
ping could go up 10 the front as long as
he said it couldn't, and he said no.
Various governments were affected by
this embargo-"b blockade" the admiral
called it. Great Britain was concerned
chiefly, but the United States was a
good second, with Germany and other
nations as we'll.
Europe looked to America to do some
thing in the matter and was naturally
diffident about interfering in family
rows on this side of the water. At last
Admiral Bcnham was sent down to take
charge Of the United States feet in Rio
harbor. The flagship was the San Fran
cisco. anG on Sunday, Jan. %, 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 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 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. 1t had taken off its coat, waist
coat and shirt, SO to speak, and was just
eying itself when day dawned to see
how good it's 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 GuaH
bara, as well as the fleet Of armed tugs
were crowded with men from the gar
risons of Cobras and Villegaigon. The
LiberdaGe few the little blue ensign,
for Admiral de CANA was aboard her,
lying with the Trajano and Guanabara
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, SC
to speak, at the throat of the Yankee
barkentine Good News.
Commander ErOwnsOn on the Detroit
got his ship under way, having hoisted
anchor at 6 o'clock, and headed toward
=he city between Enchados and CObras
islands. Her crew was at her guns,
and as 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,
while couple of insurgenG tugs made
a sputter at the northern littOral of the
city, as they had been doing long
time. After a 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 tradition in the
navy now and always will be so long as
men like Brownson are in command.
The commander was smiling.
a man on the TrajanO raised a mus
ket and fired a bullet over the heads OF
sailors pulling away in a boat with a
line from the Amy to 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 ii
out, with bis eyes fixed on the admiral,
who was looking at the Detroit for the
sign which would cause him to. give the
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 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, ahoyr" he shouted. "It
you fire again, 1 will return the fire,
and if YOU persist 1 will sink you"
The Trajano's crews were excited. II
a nervous finger had pulled q trigger.