Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1894 — THE BRAZILIAN WAR. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE BRAZILIAN WAR.

Conflicting Rumors From Rio de Janeiro* The United State* Involved—Admiral Henham 4 * Statement. Conflicting dispatches received from various sources at London and Washington, Tuesday, indicated that an encounter between Insurgent vessels and United States men-of-war had taken place in the harbor of Rio de Janeiro, Monday. At a late hour Tuesday night the following official details were made public by the navy department at Washington: Previous to the 29th Admiral Bonham had communicated with Admiral DaGama. warning him against firing upon American ships and refusing to a.l iw the insurgent commander’s excuse, that he gave warning concerning where the danger line was. The commanders of three American ships having signified their desire to go to the wharves on the morning of the 29th the American admiral sent word that he would convey them. He also sent word-4© Admiral De Gama to that effect Two ships were conveyed to the wharves by the Detroit, the insurgents’ warships following them. When nearly at the wharf the insurgent warship opened fire, sending a vollev of musket shot under the bow of the tug. The Detroit answered with a shot and the insurgent ship then sent a shot over the Detroit. The Detroit is reply sent a shell which reached a portijn of the stern of the insurgent ship, uoiug little damage. The insurgent commander then fired in warning a broadside to leeward in tho opposite direction from wh.ch the Detroit lay. This being answered uy another shot from the Detroit, the insurgents signaled that unless the Detroit ceased firing they (the insurgents) would sink the American ship. The language winch was used by the American admiral in answer to this signal was of such a nature that the incident closed for that day and the ships were allowed to land. ADMIRAL BENHAM’S STATEMENT, Admiral Benham made the following statement to the Associated Press correspondent at Rio de Janeiro on the 30th: The insurgent forces on Cobras island, last Friday, tired upon a ship Dying the United States flag. I protested to Admiral Saidauha da Gama against the action, and his response was that he had warned the commauder of the ship when it was at tne bar at Rio Janeiro as to the whereabouts of the danger line. I ordered Admiral da Gama to cease firing. Both fflffi giins on the Island of Cobras aud the guns of the insurgent warship Trajano opened fire, Saturday, upon the, bark Agate, a vessel hailing'from New York I warned Admiral da Gama abonie that if the tire was repeated I would fire back. I also warned him that if he to relied an American ship or American goods I would consider him a pirate. I told him that I'Would protect American property absolutely from the lire of his guns, and that 1 should retali-

hte upon him for damage done unless It was entirely apparent that the damage done was due to a chance shot. The captains of the American vessels, Admiral Benham continues, intimated that they wanted to go to the wharves, and the American Admiral notified Admiral da Gama that it was his intention to convoy them at sunrise on Monday. Fearing trouble, Admiral Benham ordered t lat the vessels of his fleet be cleared for action. The three ships referred to were tho Amy,- the Good News and the Julia Hollins. Tho captains of the two ships weakened and failed to come into the harbor. The Amy was the only one that yen - lured in and she was escorted by the United States cruiser Detroit. As a precaution against any possible aggressive action on the part of the insurgents, the cruisers New x'ork. Charleston and Newark were assigned to watch th : actions of l>a Gama’s ships Aquidaban and-Taman-ilare, while the Detroit and San Francisco were signaled to take position near the Trajano and the Guanabara. As tho Amy rot abreast of the Guanabara a marineon the last named vessel aimed a musket at her and fired. Two musket shots were nred at the Guanabara and Trajano from the Amy’s escort, the Detroit, in return. This was all the firing done during the Amy’s trip, and it was enough. All opposition ceased at once an i the use of heavy guns was not considered necessary it any ttmo. — Later reports received at Washington confirm the rumor that the encounter was more serious than indicated by Admiral Benham’s statement, and the report that the insurgent 4dmira! da Gama had surrendered to the United States forces is jiven credence.

ADMIRAL BENHAM.