Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1912-08-01

mel Pimental, whom | knew well, asked me W
get in with him. he had orders for me from
Florano. lie drove along the shore OF tho bay
to new galvanized building at a point some
distance beyond the island of the naval school
and near the railway machine shops. On the
way he explained that this building had been
erected for my and In 1t was to construct.
rapidly possible. large torpedo with
which to destroy the Aquidaban.
The torpedo | built for this business was
the largest | had 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
one OF these tugs, and my plan was TO steal
around into Nichtheroy bay at night and anchor
close under the hill at the end of the peninsula,
where ] would be hidden from the rebel fleet.
In the morning | would load the torpedo and
wait the daily exchange Of cannon courteses
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 be
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 Brazllians, was sent down to me
the afternoon of September rs, and soon
as IT was dark, with the torpedo covered with
canvas deck and twelve 5O-pound boxes
OF dynamite In the pilot house. steamed
around to Nictheroy bay. To have loaded
the torpedo before started would have
been extremely dangerous for any accidental
pressure on one of it's arms would have blown
all OF us to pieces. We anchored well out OF
sight of the rebel feet, and 1t
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 explo-
sive when there was q shrill whistle and
launch from the Sirius swung alongside. The
lieutenant in charge jumped aboard of us and
from my arms
who commands this craft7" he de-
handed
Il do" | replied
What are you doing with that nag up
there?' pointing to the British ensign
That flag was there when | came aboard
and took command" | said. which was true.
Il am flying it for protection from pirate
feet just others are displaying II on Rio
bay and in the city Your commanding Of
icer has sanctioned that custom by his
silence, am officer OF the established
Brazilian government obeyng the orders
of my superiors In Brazilian waters and |
claim the right to take advantage of that
custom. If care to do so, just as others have
done and are doing"
Il think the other are different from
yours" replied the lieutenant. What IL
that?' pointing to the dynamite
Examine it for yourself
ut looks like dynamite"
probably
well sir. ordered by Captain Lang
to take you board her majesity's shin
Sirius"
1t was to make fight so 7 ac.
tod NTH
politeness. He took all my crew with him.
leaving a guard on the tug Captain Lang
deck waiting for mo and was quite
agtated 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?"
ne roared
what does what mean?" nnocently an.
swered.
Your lying over there In vessel loaded
with munitions of war and flying the British
hag."
cit means simply that am an officer in
the Brazilian army. duty under the guns
OF rebel fleet, and that l am flying thu
British flag for whatever virtue 1t might have
In protecting me from that pirate, Admiral Mel
To- That flag has been used as a protection
by many others and you have silently aequi.
esced in such use OF it
but tell you that 1t Is piracy to fy tina
British flag the ship OF another nation
and carrying munitions of war.
ut might be just as well. Captain Lang
for YOU to remember that you are not now
on the high seas. An act of tha British
parliament Is OF effect within another
country and II you viii consult your chart
YOU will ind that are In the enclosed
waters of Brazil Under such conditions no
mandate of yours which Affects my rights
can be enforced unless you have tho nerve
to take the chances that go With your act"
you may soon find TO the contrary" shout.
cd tho captain who was letting his temper
get the best of him. Il have n mind to send
YOU to Admiral Mello as a prisoner. You know
what he would do TO you,"
oh Captain Lang" said teerinxly. You
know you wouldn't do that"
And pray why not. sirr'
Because you dare not do II. and that's why,"
I told him. as pointed TO the L. : s Charles
ton which, with her decks cleared for action
was anchored only few hundred yards of 10
port, Il dare you TO dc IT. defy you TO do II,
send me aboard the Aaaldaean II you dare'~
twas MAKING strong bluff and I go' awav
With i. The outraged BFltssher swolled vita
anger and turned almost purple. but he dla not
renlx 10 ny taant Instead. be summoned The