Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-08-01

get in with him, as he had orders for me from
Floriano. He drove along the shore of the bay
to a new galvanized building at a point some
distance beyond the island of the naval schooi
and near the railway machine shops. On the
way he explained that this building had been
erected for my use and in it l was to construct,
as rapidly as possible, a large torpedo with
which to destroy the Aquidaban.
The torpedo l built for this business was
the largest l had ever made.
While Mello had seized all of the government
vessels in the harbor, there were a few tugs
left, which, to prevent his interference, were
flying the British flag, on the ~pretense that they
were owned by Englishmen. l 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 l would be hidden from the rebel fleet.
In the morning | would load the torpedo and
wait the daily exchange of cannon courtesies
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, l 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 a French engineer
Iou bEdhllldnSB was sent uOWn u m0 ou
the afternoon of September IS, and as soon
as it was dark, with the torpedo covered with
canvas on deck and twelve 5O-pound 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 feet, and as soon as 1t was
daylight / unscrewed the manhole of the torpe'
do, and proceeded to pack it full of dynamite.
was just putting in the last box of the explo-
sive when there was a shrill whistle, and a
launch from the Sirius swung alongside. The
lieutenant in charge jumped aboard Of us and
came aft before l could brush the dynamite
from my arms.
who commands this craft?" he de-
mBnded.
II do" l 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" | said, which was true.
81 am flying 1t for protection from q pirate
fleet, just as others are displaying it on Rio
bay and In the city. Your commanding Of
fcer has sanctioned that custom by his
silence. I am an officer of the established
Brazilian government obeying the orders
of my superiors in Brazilian waters, and l
claim the right to take advantage of that
custom, if / care to do so, just as others have
done and are doing"
81 think the other cases are different from
yours replied the lieutenant. what is
that?" pointing to the dynamite.
Examine it for yourself"
at looks like dynamite"
Probably"
tNoI1 sir I am ordorad hu jCcp4oin Tn-r
to take you on board her majesjty's ship
Sirius"
1t was no use to make a fight, SO I &C.
companied him, with excessive and sarcastic
politeness. He took all my crew with him,
leaving a guard on the tug. Captain Lang
was on deck waiting for me and was quite
agitated when l was brought before him, but
he was much more heated before we parted
company, and 1t was a warm day to begin
with.
Captain Boynton, what does this mean p
he reared.
What does what mean?" l innocently an
swered.
"Your lying over there In a vessel loaded
with munitions Of war and flying the British
fag!"
1T means simply that | am an officer II
the Brazilian army, on duty under the gun,
OF d T0DGl AOCL, ulO LudL L dill uylQR Llt
British flag for whatever virtue It might hay,
in protecting me from that pirate, Admiral Mel
10. That flag has been used as a protection
by many others and you have silently acouj
esced in such use Of 1t"
"But l tell you that it is piracy to fly tn
British flag over the ship Of another natiol
and carrying munitions Of war!'
.It might be Just as we'll, Captain Lana
for you to remember that you are not no,
on the high seas. An act of the BIRTHS
parliament is Of no effect within anothe
country, and If you will consult your char
YOU will And that we are in the enclose
waters Of Brazil. Under such conditions n
mandate Of yours which affects my right
can be enforced unless you have the nerv
to take the chances that go with your act.'
"You may soon find to the contrary shou
\ ed the captain, who was letting his tempe
get the best OF him. Il have a mind to sen
YOU to Admiral Mello as a prisoner! You knos
what he would do to you!"
"oh, Captain Lang!" l said jeeringly. "Yo
know you wouldn't do that"
"And pray why not. sirT'
because you dare not do 1t, and that's why
L told him, as / pointed to the u. s. 8. Charlie
ton which, with her decks cleared for actio
was anchored only a few hundred yards of
mort. II dare you to do 1t! I defy you to do l
Send me aboard the Aquidaban II you dare!"
was making a strong blum, and ! got W
With II. The outraged Britisher swelled vii
anger and turned almost purple, but he did n
reply to my taunt. Instead, he summoned Il