The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1906-01-27
WARS'H||IIP sunk As
RESULT Of PLOT.
DESTRUCTION OF BRAzulA1p
CRUISER SAID TO HAVE BEEN i
DUE TO CONSPIRACY.
EXPLOSION IN POWDER
MAGAZINE THE CAUSE

GNf eS9t0IN Nv Svv01N 4
MAGAZINE THE CAUSE
Revised Estimate Places Number Of
Dead at 212-Injured Number SO
and Rescued os-Four High Adj
mirals Among Victims.
Rio Janeiro, Jan. 24.-Developments
regarding the destruction of the ar.
mored cruiser Aquidaban, sunk as lne
at Port Jaca,epaqua, near here, point
to a plot possibly due to anarchists OF
to those who desire the restoration OF
the monarchy.
The cause Of the disaster Is now
definitely known to be due to an explo-
sion in the powder magazine Of the
vessel. The fatalities, however, were
slightly overestimated A revised esti.
mate puts the list of dead at 212, either
killed instantly or drowned. Thirty.
six were injured and 9S saved.
Every Officer Killed.
Practically every officer was either
killed Or injured. Among the dead are
the four highest officers in the Brazil.
ian navy. They are: Rear Admiral
Jose da Rocha. Rear Admiral Francisco
Calherros da Graca, Rear Admiral Joas
Candida Brazil, and Capt. Alves d
Larrigo.
That so many distinguished Brazil
ians were on board the Aquidaban 4
due to the fact that visit Of inspeo.
ton for the purpose Of selecting
site for new arsenal was being made
by the minister of marine and his staff.
No secret was made of the trip or u
the personnel OF the party. The min
lister of marine was on board the
cruiser Barroso, but lack of accommo-
dations forced others of the party 70
take up quarters on the Aquidaban.
Strong Feeling Against Government.
For months there has been strong
dissatisfaction with existing conditions.
in measure growing out of what Ia
considered vacillating policy pursued
by the government in Its relations with
outside countries. This is accumulated
by a strong loyalist sentiment that
pervades all classes, despite the fact
that the republic Is regarded as estab-
lished for all time.
Anarchists, driven from Europe and
the United States have for months
been gathering in this city, the gov.
eminent practically paying no atten,
ton to them.
1t Is to these two widely differing
classes that the disaster to the Aqui-
daban Is attributed. The cause was at
first ascribed to the explosion Of the
boilers. but 1t now seems established
from fragmentary stories told by sur
vivors that the sinking of the vessel
was due to the explosion of the powder
magazine. due to IN Internal machine.
No other theory could account for the
quick sinking of the Aquidaban, the
vessel going to the bottom within three
minutes.
The deadly machine Is believed C.
have been struggled aboard when II
was known beyond doubt that distin.
suished Brazilians would be on the
Aquidaban during the tour of inspec.
ton.
Victims Have Little Chance for Life.
The information in hand shows that
none Of the sailors or officers had
chance for life. The center of the Big
engine Of war was hurled outward and
upward. Men were thrown high into
the air, to fall stunned or mangled In.
to the sea. Spars fell among the men,
but most Of the latter were unable to
grasp at anything in an effort to keep
aflOat till assistance might arrive.
Others Of the sailors who occupied
portions of the vessel not rent asun-
der by the explosion jumped into the
ocean and sought to swim from thu
shattered hull far enough not to be
drawn down In the vortex produced By
its sinking. So rapidly did the vessel
sink, however, that few were able ia
make more than few strokes.
The Aquidaban was of 1850 tons
displacement and 6,20O-horse power.
She was built in England in 1885 at q
cost of $1.725,0OO. She had five torpedo
tubes
In the Brazilian revolution the Aqui-
dabar played a prominent part. She
was tcrpedoed and sunk by the Sam
paio and when lifted she was renamed
the Vinte Quarto de Mao. This name
however, was discarded later and the
vessel given her original name.
Bonaparte Extends Sympathy.
Washington, Jan. 24.-Immediately
Upon receipt Of official news Of the de-
struction Of the Brazilian battleship
Aquidaban, Secretary Bonaparte sent
the following cablegram to the Brazil
ian minister of marine: ION behalf Of
the American navy, permit me to ex-
tend to the Brazilian navy and all 9TH
ers concerned the deepest sympathy
for the loss of life they have sus-
tanned in the unfortunate destruction
Of battleship AQuidaban."
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