The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-05-23
Rival Towns on the Amazon
Made Trouble for Com
mander Todd.
PILOTS WERE REFUsEr
Crew Compelled 10 Pilot ;he Whining
Ton Down the Amazon Amgr.
lean Consulate Stoned.

NEW YORK May q "A special 70 the
Herald from Washington rays: CONNER
clal jealguales between the cities on lhe
Amozgn river are responsible for the
Insults offered to the gunboat Whining
ton and the stoning Of the American
consulate at MaH0as b. . Brazilian MOB.
Reports received by the state and navy
depar mrnts present he facts, wnlcn
have been made the basis Of proper rep
fsscniailon 20 the Brazilian government
when Commander Todd announced a.
Para. before the ascent Of the Amazon,
his Intention 10 proceed 20 Manaos. there
seemed 10 be some objection 20 hh pur-
pose. bur he succeeded 10 obtaining
pilots VINO conducted his snip safely 20
Nana0s. Here Commander Todd paid
his usual calls upon the captain OF ihs
port. who was very cordial until he as.
cerialned that the Wilmington was un-
der orders 10 continue her cruiFe until
rhe reached lqultos. Peru. when his
manner changed.
The governor 0f the province In which
Manaos IL located declined 70 receive
Commander Todd. and obstacles were
put In the way Of obtaining pilots for
the navigation Of his ship for the re-
maindcr Of the cruise Commander rod
succeeded however IN getting a couple
of men from an Italian yesssl and win
them continued the cruise. Upon his re-
,ufa TO Manaos he round that the gov
crn r had revoked the licenses OF the
pilots and Otherwise punished them. and
on account OF the attitude Of the COVER
TOR he could not get pilots 10 ,ak~ the
ship down the Amazon. ana 4. was nee
cssary for him 20 rely upon MS SHIPS
force. which did the work In an en-
tireiy satisfactory manner
when the Wilmington proceeded to-
ward iquliOs n few people. including
representatives Of Mana5s newspapers.
surrounded the consulate and threw a
few stones at Il to show their disap-
proval OF the conduct OF the Whining
tons commander. Il appears from the
reports that the people Of Manaos. like
those Of Para, object 10 the explota-
lion ol towns above them. fearing such
action will lnure to the benefit OF their
rivals and lnJure their own trade. No
doubt Is felt IN official circles that the
Brazilian government will make most
prompt investigated Of the discour,esy
offered to the Wilmington and thai
speedy action will be taken. The author
tiles sincerely regret that the incident
should have arisen, because Of the un-
doubted friendship q the Brazilian gov
ernmeni for the unled States. and they
are satisfied tina, al proper amends Will
be made.
Under the instructions given by Sec
retary Long 10 Lieutenant Commander
W ". Kinbail. commanding the gun
boa, Vixen. now on her way 10 Blue
fields. Nicaragua. that officer will main
tain constant ,elegraphic communication
with the department. This order ls in
addition to that requiring him to pro-
tect American Interests along the Cen
trail American coast and It Is for the
purpose OF preventing any interruption
In the communication between the men
Of war ~ the United States cruising IN
Central American awters and the de-
partment. The gunboat Marietta ana
lauerly she cruiser Detriot, both ex-
perlenced considerable difficulty in for
warding messages to the department ana
receiving instructions. due. according to
the explanation OF the Nlcaraguan gov
crnment, 10 an interruption" In the
land lines, II Is not at all certain that
the cruiser Detroit will leave Central
American waters even upon the arrival
4 the Vixen. Her departure Is entirely
dependent upon the condition Of affairs
at Bluetields at the time the Vixen Is
spoken, and should the situation be
quiet the department may deem 1t ad-
visable to dispatch the two vessels 70
Honduras TO expedite the payment OF the
Indemnity for the murder OF an Ameri-
can named Frank Pears,