The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-08-17
04NP<GlzT 81 REDGIf1

distance beyond the island of the naval school
and near the railway machine shops. On Tue
way he explained that this building had Deeh
erected for my use and in it was to CONSTRUCT,
as rapidly as possible, large torpedo Wlth
which to destroy the Aquidaban.
The torpedo I built for this business was
the largest had ever made.
While Mello had seized all of the government
vessels in the harbor, there were few tugs
left, which to prevent his interference, were
flying the British flag, on the pretense that they
were owned by Englishmen was to be given
of these tugs, and my plan was 10 steal
around into Niehtheroy bay at night and anchor
close under the hill at the end OF the peninsula,
where would be hidden from the rebel feet.
In the morning / would load the torpedo and
wait the daily exchange Of cannon courtesles
between the Aquidaban and the fort. An off,
Ger at Santa Cruz was to signal me when Mello
!. left his anchorage and then, towing the sub
merged torpedo by wire rope too small to pc
detected would steam out across the course
OF the Aquidaban, which would pick up the
towing line on her bow, drag the torpedo along
side and be destroyed by the contact.
My tug, In charge Of French engineer
and four Brazftans, was sent down to me on
the afternoon Of September rs, and as soon
as It was dark with the torpedo covered with
canvas on deck and twelve 50pound boxes
OF dynamite in the pilot house, we steamed
around to Nictheroy bay. To have loaded
the torpedo before we started would have
been extremely dangerous for any accidental
/, pressure on one of its arms would have blown
all Of us to pieces. We anchored well out Of
sight Of the rebel fleet, and as soon as 1t was
daylight unscrewed the manhole of the torpe-
do, and proceeded to pack 1t full of dynamite.
was just putting in the last box Of the exp1o-
sive when there was shril whistle, and a
launch from the Sirius swung alongside. The
lieutenant In charge jumped aboard of and
came aft before could brush the dynamite
from my arms
who commands this craft!" he de
Il handed
II do replied
What are you doing with that flag up
there? pointing to the British ensign.
THAT flag was there when came aboard
and took command" I said, which was true.
Il am flying it for protection from a pirate
feet just as others are displaying 1t on Rio
bay and in the city. Your commanding Of
f1cer has sanctioned that custom by his
silence ! am an officer of the established
Brazilian government obeying the orders
Of my superiors in Brazilian waters, and I.
claim the right to take advantage of that
custom, If care to do so, Just as others have
done and are doing"
i think the other cases are different from
yours" replied the lieutenant. what is
that?' pointing to the dynamite.
Examine it for yourself"
'It looks like dynamite"
Probably"
well, sir am ordered by Captain Lang
to take you on board her majesjtys ship
Sirius
It was use to make a fight so ac-
companied him, with excessive and sarcastic
politeness He took all my crew with him.
leaving a grard on the tug. Captain Lang
was on deck waiting for me and was quite
agitated when was brought before him but
he was much more heated before we parted
company and 1t was warm day to begin
with.
Captain Boynton, what does this mean?"
he roared.
"What does what mean?" innocently an
swered
..Your lying over there In vessel loaded
with munitions Of war and flying the British
fag!"
1T means simply that am an officer in
the Brazilian army, on duty under the guns
of rebel feet and that I am flying the
British flag for whatever virtue it might have
In protecting me from that pirate, Admiral Mel
Id That flag has been used as a protection
nv MANY others and you have silently acoui
esced In such use OF it.
"But tell you that 1t is piracy to fly thu
British flag over the ship Of another nation
and carving munitions of war;
at might be just as we'll, Captain Lang
/. for yo, to remember that you are not nov
on the high seas. An act OF the British
parliament is Of no effect within anothe
country and If you will consult your char
Won will find that we are In the enclosed
waters Of Brazil. Under such conditions nj
mandate of yours which affects my right
can IL enforced unless you have the nerv
TO take the chances that go with your act
"ynn NAV soon find to the contrary" shout
ed tha captain, who was letting his tempe
sat ina nest of him. i have mind to sen
yo,, ia ADMIRAL Melo as prisoner! You kno,
What IL would do to you!
"rh f.aptain Lang," said jeeringly. "Yo
know van wouldn't do that!
, aAna nray why not, sir?"
aRacause you dare not do 1t, and that's why!
tol5 him. as pointed to the u. S. S. Charlie
TN witch. with her decks cleared for acton
was anchored only few hundred yards off I
mort - dare you to do it! defy you to do il
Sand NJ aboard the Aquidaban if You dare!"
was making strong bluh, and got ava
!, With : The outraged Britisher sHelled wit
80. :. 80 tnrned almost purple, but he did n,
ranlv 10 nv tannt. instead. he summoned Il