The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1912-08-02

t1oriano. he drove along the shore or the Day
to new galvanized building at 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 it l was to construct,
as rapidly as possible large torpedo with
which to destroy the Aqudaban.
The torpedo l built for this business was
the largest l had ever made
While Melo had seized all of the government
vessels I'm the harbor, there were few tugs
left, which, to prevent his interference, were
flying the British flag, the pretense that they
were owned by Englshmen. l was to be given
one of these tugs, and my plan to steal
around into Nichtheroy bay at night and anchor
close under the hill at the end of the PENN sula,
where | would be hidden from the rebel fleet.
In the morning l 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
LETT 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 a French engineer
ana TOUR Brazilians was sent down to me on
the afternoon Of September 25 and as soon
as 1t was dark, with the torpedo covered with
canvas on deck and twelve 50-pound boxes
or 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 we'll out of
slgnt or the rebel fleet, 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-
slve when there was a shril 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-
handed
Il do 1 replied
What you doing with that flag I'D
there?' pointing to the British ensign.
That flag was there when 1 came aboard
and took command l said, which was true.
II am flying 1t for protection from a pirate
fleet, just as others are displaying 1t on Rio
bay and In the city. Your commanding Of
fcer has sanctioned that custom by his
silence. l 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 doing
tnlnk the Otner cases are different from
yours" replied the lieutenant. What IS
that?" pointing to the dynamite.
Examine it for yourself"
ut looks like dynamite"
Probably
We'll. sir. | am ordered by Captain Lang
to take you on board her majesjty's shin
Sirius"
1t was no use to make fight SO I &C.
companied him, with excessive and sarcastic
y~0lff IJ4
leaving guard the tug CAPTAIN Lang
deck waiting for me and was ouite
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"
he roared.
What does what mean" 1 innocently an
swered
Your lying there In a vessel loaded
with munitions Of war and flying the British
flag"
1T means simply that l am an officer IN
the Brazilian army, duty under the guns
of a rebel fleet, and that | am fying tho
British flag for whatever virtue 1t might have
In protecting me from that pirate. Admiral Mel.
10. That flag has been used as a protection
by many others and you have silently acoui.
esced in such use OF it,
BuI Il tell you lHdl IL Is piracy to fy the
British flag over the ship of another nation
and carrying munitions of war;
1T might be just we'll, Captain Lang
for you TO remember that you are not now
on the high seas. An act of the British
parliament Is of effect within another
country and If you will consult your chart
you will find that we are in the enclosed
waters OF Brazil Under such conditions no
mandate OF yours which affects my rights
can be enforced unless you have the nerve
to take the chances that go with your act
You may soon find TO the contrary" shout
ed the captain who was letting his temper
get the best OF him. Il have a mind to send
you to Admiral Mello as prisoner. You know
what ne would do TO you!
"Oh, Captain Lang." said jeeringly You
know you wouldn't do that"
And pray why not, sir?'
Because you dare not do 1t. and that's why,"~
| told him. as pointed to the U. s. s. Charles
ton which, with her decks cleared for action.
was anchored only few hundred yards OF to
port. II dare you to do it! defy you to do It,
Send me aboard the Aquidaban II you dare,"
was making strong bluff and got away
with IT. The outraged Britisher sweled with
anger and turned almost purple. but he did not
reply to my taunt. Instead. he summoned the