Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1894 — FIHED ONTHE REBELS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FIHED ONTHE REBELS.

THE UNITED STATES ASSERTS ITSELF AT RIO. Cruiser Detroit Turns Her Cannon Loose and Brings the Insurgents to Their Knees—Admiral Beoham’s Course Approved—England May Follow Salt. Lesson In the Shot. Uncle Pam's guns have spoken in the bay of Rio Janeiro. By a timely shot fired on an insurgent teasel Rear Ad-

miral Benham, of the United States navy, brought Admiral da Gama and the Brazilian rebels to realize that they cannot with impunity fire on American merchant vessels. The insurgent leader came near resigning and seeking an asylum on board the American fleet, but the younger offi-

cers would not yield. The principle has been firmly established that American vessels £re not to be fired on. Admiral Benham, finding that Admiral da Gama persisted in reckless firing that endangered the safety of American merchant vessels, entered a protest. Da Gama paid no heed to this. Furthermore, he notified Admiral Benham that if the three American merchantmen, the Amy, Good News and Julia Rollins, went to the Sandre Piers, as they had proposed, ho would fire on them. Admiral Benham at once replied that the vessels would go to the piers if they wanted to and that he would send the Detroit to protect them. If the Detroit could not furnish sufficient protection every vessel of the American squadron would be employed in the work of protection, and Benham sought to warn the insurgent Admiral by clearing his decks for ac-

tion. Da Gama refused to take this hint. A musket was fired from the Guanabara, Da Gama's flagship, at the Good News. The Detroit at once fired a six-pound shot across the bows of the Guanabara, whereupon the latter vessel replied with what is supposed to have been a blank cartridge. The Detroit then turned one of her guns upon the Guanabara and sent a small shot into her stern p >st, and was on the point of delivering a broadside at the insurgent ship when the Guanabara signaled that she would stop firing. I)a Gama Would Surrender. In the meantime an American citizen, G, M. Rollins, who acted as the agent of Admiral da Gama in the arbitiation negotiations, bal visited all three of the American merchantmen and offered to have them towed at the expense of the insurgents if they would not go to the piers. This the captains of the merchantmen agreed to. This arrangement was report id to Admiral da Gama on board his flagship, the Liberdade. He then said: “It is too late. The glass is broken. I must yield to this foreign fleet of superior force. I will resign and give my sword to the American Admiral.” Later in the day Admiral da Gama called a council of hia officers, expecting that all of them would r seek an asylum on board the American fleet, but the younger officers would not yield. It was stated at the council that Admiral Benham had offered Admiral da Gama and his officers a ylum on board of the American war ships. The situation was extremely delicate when the Detroit was beside the Good their guns loaded and aimed on all the News. The Guanabara andTraJanohad American vessels, w’hile two heavy insurgent tugs were ready to ram the Detroit. The Guanabara and Trajano together have eight splendid rifles, but

when the Detroit fired a six-pound shell into the Guanabara and Captain Brownson gave warning that if a gun was fired, even by accident, he would sink them and advised that they take the men from the, guns, they weakened. Admiral Benham had the Newark ready to aid the Detroit, while the New York, Charleston and San Francisco were alert to receive the Aquidaban and Tamandare, which were under steam; ’ England Will Follow Example. It is thought England will’follow the example set by the United States. The London Standard says: “The blockade of Rio de Janeiro has been broken up so far as American trading vessels are concerned, and we do not suppose that the American example will be lost upon merchants and naval officers leprerenting other nations in the port. If the blockade is thus forcibly raised the insurgent hope of reducing President Peixofo to submission by starring out the capital is ended. This is the insurgents’ mainstay.

ADMIRAL BENH AM.

THE WARSHIP DETROIT.

THE GUANABARA.