The Elbert County tribune., 1912-08-02
|oFA MASTER AoveTuReR
~ CAPTAIN GGoRoe 3. BoYNroN
CO3NFICW 6r RIOGUk

distance beyond the island OF the naval school
and near the railway machine shops. On the
way he explained tina. this building had been
erected for my use and in It waste construct.
as rapidly as possible. a large torpedo with
which to destroy the Aquidaban.
The torpedo built for this business was
the largest had ever made
While Mello had seized all of the government
vessels In the harbor, there few tugs
lett. which, to prevent his interference, were
nying the British flag, on the pretense that they
were owned by Englshmen. was to be given
one OF these tugs, and my plan was to steal
around into Nichtheroy bay at night and anchor
close unoer the hill at the end of the peninsula,
where would be hidden from the rebel feet
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
ieit mis- anchorage and then. towing the sub
merged torpedo by wire rope too small to be
uetecteo, 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 Brazilians was sent down to me on
'ne afternoon of September 25 and as soon
as II was dark, with the torpedo covered with
canvas on deck and twelve 50-pound boxes
CT dynamite in the pilot house. we steamed
around TO Nictheroy bay. To have loaded
the torpedo before we started wouId have
oeen extremely dangerous for any accidental
pressure on one of its arms would have blown
All OF us to pieces. We anchored well out of
sient OF the rebel fleet, and as soon as 1t was
oayhgnt unscrewed the manhole of the torne-
40 and proceeded to pack 1t full of dynamite
was just putting in the last box of the explo-
siVe wnen there was shril whistle and a
iaunch from the Sirius swung alongside The
lieutenant In charge jumped aboard of us and
came art before / could brush the dynamite
from my arms
Who commands this craft7" he de-
manded.
Il do" replied
Wnat are you doing with that flag up
tnere! pointing to the British ensign
That flag was there when I came aboard
and TOOK command" 1 said, which was true
am nylng 1t FOR protection from a pirate
neeIN)ust as others are displaying 1t on Rio
pay and In the city. Your commanding of
silence. / am an officer of the estabIishad
brazilian government obeying the order,
OF my superiors in Brazilian waters and
claim the righ. to take advantage of that
custom, II care to do 30. Just as others have
done and doing" "e
81 think the other cases arc d,r.
yours. replied the lieutenant .Wbat -
that?' pointing to the dynamite
Examine It for yourself"
1T looks like dynamite"
Probably"
We'll. sir. am ordered by CAPTAIN r.na
to take you on board her maiesitv,. n.
Sirius" SUP
l. was use to make fight az
companied him, with excessive and sarca..s.
poiteness He took all my crew with b,rn
leaving a guard on the tug CantsIn Ia..
was on deck waiting for me and was ..',.s
agitated when was brought before hin, -
he was much more heated before wa na.ss
company. and 1t a warm day to 49,.
with. ~ oesin
Captain Boynton. what does tb,. r
he roared
What does what mean?" innocen,,,.
swered. al
Your lying over there in yesse,-,o.,.,
with munitions of war and flying the pr,.,eu
fag!" i'isn
'It means simply that am an omca- =
the Brazilian army. on duty under The ~
of a rebel feet. and that am 6vJro -.
British flag for whatever virtue It might b.
in protecting me from that pirate, Admiral Nj,
10. That flag has been used as a protao.ien
by many others and you have silently acaui.
esced in such use of It." aui
But tell you that 1t is piracy to av o..
British flag over the ship of another nat,aa
and Carrying munitions of warl''
"It might be just as well, Captain r.
Tor you to remember that you are not nov
on the high seas. An act of the Rritish
parliament is of effect within anoth
country, and II you will consult your ch.rt
you will find that we In the enclosed
waters of Brazil Under such conditions m
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. 81 have mind to send
you to Admiral Mello as prisoner, You know
what he would do to youi"
"Oh, Captain Langl" said 1eeringly. "You
know you wouldn't do thati"
"And pray why not. sir?"
because you dare not do 1t. and that's why,-
! told him. as pointed to the U. s. 8 Charles
ton which, with her decks cleared for action
was anchored only a few hundred yards on to
port II dare you to do it, defy you to do r.,
Send me aboard the Aquidaban II you daret"
/ was making a strong blum. and got awav
with It, The outraged Britisher swelled with
anger and turned almost purple. but he did nor
reply to my taunt Instead. he summoned the