Mr. Thompson to Mr. Gresham.
Rio de Janeiro, January 31, 1894. (Received January 31.)
Mr. Thompson telegraphs that he is informed by Admiral Benham, with whom he had an interview on this day, that a full report of his [Page 117] action was sent on the preceding morning to the Navy Department. After notifying the insurgents and the city that he intended to protect by force, if necessary, and to place all American vessels who might wish to go to the docks alongside the wharves, the war vessels of the United States got under way and cleared for action. The Detroit, which was stationed in the best position for the ends of protection, had orders to fire back if the merchant vessels were fired upon. A shot from one of the insurgents’ vessels was fired at, but missed, the boat of one of the American vessels that was making preparations for hauling in by means of a line running to the shore. The Detroit replied with a shot from a 6-pounder, which struck under the insurgent’s bows. The latter then fired one shot to leeward from her broadside battery and subsequently another over the merchant vessel. The Detroit answered with a musket shot, which struck the stern post of the insurgent vessel. The latter was hailed by the commander of the Detroit, as he passed by, who declared that he would return the fire and sink her, if necessary, in the event of her again firing. By this time one of the American vessels was moored near the dock in her new berth, and a tug came up offering to discharge without cost the cargoes of all the vessels. Notice was then given to the commander of the insurgent forces that the cargoes would be taken out of the vessels in the berths they then occupied, but that it was determined, as theretofore, that if American vessels wished to have berths in the docks they would be placed there and given full protection by the squadron of the United States. The Detroit was afterward withdrawn and the war vessels anchored. He states that the naval or military operations of either side were not in the least interfered with by Admiral Benham, who entertains no such intention. What he proposes to do is to fulfill his duty of protecting the citizens and trade of the United States, and of this the insurgents have been notified by him. Admiral Benham declares that if American vessels get in the line of fire during the actual course of legitimate hostilities they must take the consequences, but their freedom of movement must be respected. The insurgents are denied the right to search neutral vessels or to seize any part of their cargoes, even though such cargoes should comprise such articles as would, in the case of war between two independent governments, come within the class of merchandise defined as contraband of war. The insurgents, in their present status, would commit an act of piracy by forcibly seizing such merchandise.
He adds that, to the best of his information, all the foreign commanders agree with Admiral Benham, and that the effective action of last Monday has restored complete tranquillity, broken the attempted blockade of commerce and trade, and placed everything in even motion.