this pretty red-brick building, built on the edge of one of the
deep ravines that make S. Paulo so picturesque, it is difficult to
imagine. It must be almost a pleasure to be a guest at such a place
and be looked after by the pleasant, sympathetic English nurses. The
hospital is a cosmopolitan undertaking, built and supported chiefly by
English, American and German residents of S. Paulo and Santos under
the direction and management of Dr. Strain and a staff of competent
professional English nurses, who make life within its walls something
to be looked back to with a positive pleasure instead of horror. The
hospital, when completed, will consist of large wards for men, women
and children, private rooms for patients, bath rooms handsomely tiled
and fitted with the most approved sanitary appliances.
The new ward will be styled the “Victoria” Ward, and its cost be
entirely defrayed by the subscription raised on the occasion of the
Queen’s Jubilee.--_Brazilian Review._ 1898.
The hospital had its origin in the Presbyterian Mission of S. Paulo.
The first contribution to its funds was from an humble but devout
Chinese member of the church who, besides leaving in his will a small
sum of money for the founding of a Protestant hospital, bequeathed
to it a house and lot. Under the laws of the Empire the government
confiscated the house, but the money was held by the Mission and
finally turned over to the committee organized to build the hospital.
The hospital has enlarged its borders and widened its work to embrace
all who need its services, of whatever nation or creed.--_Brazilian
Bulletin._
BRAZILIAN NAVAL REVOLT ENDED BY UNITED STATES PROTECTION OF HER OWN
MERCHANT-SHIPS.
THAT FAMOUS SCENE AT RIO, WHEN THE DETROIT THREATENED TO SINK TWO OF
GAMA’s SHIPS.
Rio de Janeiro, Feb. 8, 1894.--The first gun fired with warlike intent
by an American war ship at another ship within thirty years was fired
from the Detroit early on the morning of January 29 at the insurgent
Brazilian ship Trajano in this harbor. A second shot was fired a few
minutes later at the Guanabara, another insurgent Brazilian lying not
far from the one first assaulted. Some of the facts of this incident
were told in _The Sun_ on the next day after they occurred, but the
whole story will be found of interest even at the date when this can
be published after transmission to New York by mail.
The trouble which made the firing necessary arose unexpectedly early in
the last week of January. For some time before that date Admiral Gama,
the insurgent leader, had been in communication with Admiral Benham
with a view of enlisting the services of the American Admiral as a
mediator in compromising the fight that had been wasting the substance
of the nation for more than four months. So far as any one could see,
Gama was sincere in saying that he desired peace and would make all
honorable concessions to obtain it. Peixoto’s Government was notified
of these negotiations, and in answer a promise to submit propositions
for peace was obtained. But before the Government had had sufficient
time for deliberation in the matter several Captains of American
merchant vessels made application to Admiral Benham for protection from
the fire of the insurgents while en route to the piers to discharge
cargoes. The insurgents had notified the merchantmen that if they
attempted to go to the piers to discharge cargo they would be fired
upon.
This matter was brought to the attention of Gama when, as a private
citizen, he called on Benham to talk over the propositions for
compromise. Gama explained his position at length. He did not wish, he
said, to prevent the American ships from discharging their cargoes;
he wanted only that they discharge into lighters while moored in
the bay in order that he might inspect their cargoes and search for
munitions of war destined for the Government. He added that this
right had been conceded to him by all the foreign naval commanders
theretofore--Captain Lang, the British senior officer, Captain Picking,
the American senior officer before Benham’s arrival, and others, had
united in prohibiting the landing of even a search-light intended for
Government use, and the machine had in consequence been sent around to
Santos and landed. Gama, in short, claimed the right to blockade the
port of Rio on the ground that he was the Brazilian master afloat--that
the Government could not function to any extent whatever on the waters
of the bay.
To this position Benham at once objected. He piled up all the laws
and decisions in Admiralty bearing on the subject, and proved that
an insurgent to whom belligerent rights had not been accorded could
not lawfully interfere with the movements of foreign ships within any
harbor. It was not intended that the American ships should cross any
line of fire, or serve as a bulwark for Government troops. It was
stated that they would assume the risk of damage from fire when at
the piers if Government troops took refuge behind them, and all risk
of damage from stray shot. The contention was for freedom of movement
and freedom from search at the hands of an unrecognized insurgent, no
matter what their cargoes.
To the plain statements of authorities, to the bearings of Admiralty
decisions, and to the friendly arguments of the American Admiral the
insurgent Admiral remained impervious. It therefore became necessary
for Admiral Benham to say plainly that the American merchant-ships
should go freely about the harbor as their Captains might wish them to
do, and that any interference with such movements would be resisted
with force. Because Benham was affable and courteous, as it now
appears, Gama did not believe force would be used, and so reiterated
the threat to fire on the first American ship that tried to go to the
piers.
It was on Sunday, Jan. 28, that the issue was joined verbally. Admiral
Benham acted decisively and at once. The Captains of the various
American naval ships in the harbor were called on board the flagship
“San Francisco” and were instructed immediately to prepare their ships
for action at daylight the next morning, that being the hour when the
American merchant-ships wanted to start for the piers.
At 5 o’clock that evening the work of stripping ship began on the white
squadron. The transformation thus wrought was remarkable. With their
awnings spread, their boats at the davits, and their bunting aloft,
they had seemed to tower out of the water, and the English officers had
jocosely remarked that more beautiful targets could scarcely be found.
And so they seemed as the sun went down. But with the break of day not
an awning or a stanchion or a boat davit was in sight to obstruct the
view or the sweep of the long black guns, and the wall-sided ships had
shrunk down into the semblance of tigers ready to spring.
Apparently the insurgents had anticipated and were ready to fight. The
white steam was hissing from the safety valve pipes on the “Aquidaban”
and the “Tamandare,” lying well up the bay above Vianna Island, and
the chains of their anchors had been hove short, ready for tripping on
an instant’s warning. The crews of the “Trajano,” the “Guanabara,” and
the fleet of armed tugs had been augmented by almost the entire force
garrisoning Cobras and Villegaignon. The “Liberdade,” with her little
blue ensign fluttering from the flag halliards on the main, showing
that Admiral Gama was on board, was also under steam and, with the
“Trajano” and the “Guanabara,” was lying just north of Enchados Island
and within pistol shot of the trim Yankee bark “Amy,” one of the number
that wished to go to the piers to discharge.
Away to the north of these lay the Yankee barkentine “Good News,” a
handsome craft, too, but not alone, for one of the swift Brazilian
coasters, the “Parahyba,” which Mello had seized and armed, was at
anchor not far away with steam up and crew at the guns; so, too, the
bark “Agate” was guarded by one of these armed steamers as she lay
at anchor in the merchant fleet. With the American fleet stripped
for battle, with the American merchant-ships under the guns of the
insurgent fleet, and with the crews of all on deck and ready for
action, the picture on the bay as daylight came was one to thrill every
spectator.
At 6 o’clock sharp the “Detroit,” with Capt. W. H. Brownson on the
bridge, got up her anchor and steamed slowly in toward the city,
heading through between Enchados and Cobras islands. As if this had
been a signal prearranged for the occasion, two of the insurgent tugs
left the vicinity of the “Liberdade,” Gama’s flagship, and started in
toward the north part of the city, where shipping piers are. They at
once opened fire on the soldiers stationed at intervals behind sand
bags on the bulkheads. It had been and still is the custom of these
tugs to so assault the north littoral of the city, but on that morning
they were making a live line of fire against the piers, which the
American ships had no right to cross.
Fortunately, as it appeared, the “Detroit” on getting her anchor to
the hawse pipe found it badly fouled, and here was an ample excuse for
proceeding slowly. She did so. She did not want to go with the Yankee
clippers to the piers at a time when the act would interfere with a
legitimate, if useless fight. For about half an hour the tugs swept up
and down the beach, pouring a hail of Nordenfeldt projectiles on the
piers, and then a bullet from a soldier’s rifle struck and killed the
nephew of Admiral Gama, a young officer on one of the tugs, and both
drew off though the fire was kept up until they were a mile away, among
the merchant-ships.
Then when the last shot had been fired and the smoke of the fight was
still hanging low over the smooth water of the bay, the “Detroit” came
slowly around Enchados Island and ranged up starboardside to starboard
and within sixty yards of the “Trajano” as she lay at anchor. Every
man was at his post on the Yankee cruiser, the gunners standing behind
their shotted guns, now glancing over the sights and then up toward the
bridge at Captain Brownson in anticipation of an order to fire. Without
a word or move on either ship the “Detroit” passed on, while the
sailors on the “Amy” started away in a yawl to carry a line to a ship
at anchor, that they might warp their ship on its way to the piers. As
these sailors pulled away a marine on the “Trajano” leveled his musket
and fired a shot over their heads. Then two of the heaviest insurgent
tugs began to get into position for ramming the white Yankee.
At that moment a tiny blood-red roll of bunting hung just beneath
the San Francisco’s truck--the signal for all the American fleet to
begin the battle--and a Yankee quartermaster with a strong hand held
the halliards, eager to fling the signal to the breeze. The moment the
shot was fired Captain Brownson turned to the gunner, who stood at a
six-pounder, and ordered him to fire into the “Trajano,” striking her
at the water line six feet abaft the stern. The gunner misunderstood
the order and fired across the “Trajano’s” bow. Thereat Captain
Brownson hailed the insurgent vessel.
““Trajano,” ahoy!” he shouted. “If you fire again I will return the
fire, and if you persist I will sink you.”
It was a critical moment. The accidental discharge of one of the
“Trajano’s” guns by the excited crews that stood behind them would have
left Captain Brownson no alternative. The “Trajano’s” guns were modern
rifles, and they were aimed at the Yankee. The shot would have gone
clean through the “Detroit,” and the “Detroit” would have replied with
a broadside at a range of but sixty yards; and then, with helm hard
aport, she would have run in between the “Trajano” and the “Guanabara,”
out of range of their guns and where she could have riddled their hulls
with her rapid-fire guns and swept their unprotected decks with the
wicked man-killers called the secondary battery.
Happily, as is known, the shot was not fired, although the insurgents
were still ugly. Instead a blank shot was fired to leeward as a
protest. To this no attention was paid.
Turning to the bark “Amy.” Captain Brownson saw that her sailors had
been intimidated somewhat by the shot fired over them.
“You go ahead,” he shouted to them, “and I’ll protect you.”
So the sailors rowed on with the warp line, while the “Detroit” steamed
slowly ahead until she began to lap the hull of the “Guanabara.” Here,
as on the “Trajano,” the crew stood ready at their guns--four six-inch
rifles.
“Aim at the “Guanabara,” ordered Captain Brownson, and at the word the
“Detroit’s” four broadside and two pivot rifles swung around from the
“Trajano” as though moved by one man and pointed their muzzles at the
old insurgent cruiser. Then turning to the insurgent crew, Captain
Brownson told them to be right careful what they did, for even an
accidental shot would be considered as intentional. He finished his
warning by waving his hand at a gun’s crew that showed exceptional
nervousness and told them they had better get away from the gun
entirely.
The crew of the “Guanabara” were Brazilians to a man, and they did
not understand English. But they were looking at short taw into the
muzzles of guns that were eloquent in appearance, if silent, and when
Brownson’s hand was waved they didn’t stop to argue or even shrug their
shoulders; they went away.
The “Detroit” steamed on until clear of the “Guanabara” and then turned
square across her stern and stopped. She now had the two insurgent
ships that threatened the “Amy” where she could rake them fore and aft
and sink them in five minutes. The “Liberdade” with three small rifles
was near by, and the tugs had their noses well pointed, but should the
insurgent Admiral still wish to fight, the “Detroit” would not need
any help. The other members of the white squadron could look after the
monitor “Aquidaban” and the armed merchant ships.
Although Admiral Gama did not want to fight, he was like a boy who
was sulky enough to need a whipping. Seeing the sailors of the “Amy”
carrying out the wharf line he ordered a blank shot from a cannon
fired at them from the “Guanabara.” As this was plainly only a matter
of form, Captain Brownson replied with a musket. A member of the crew
fired a bullet into the “Guanabara’s” stern.
Then a launch was lowered and a junior officer sent to Admiral Gama to
say that while there was no wish to take active steps, the American
merchant ships would be protected in going to the piers, that any shots
fired at them would be returned, and that if shooting were persisted
in the insurgent ships would be sunk. In reply Gama sent word that if
he was fired on by the American ship he would instantly surrender the
whole fleet to the American Admiral. On hearing this Captain Brownson
sent the cadet back to say that the “Guanabara” had been fired on and
hit. The haste with which the cadet was sent on this mission makes
the American colony here think that the Yankee naval sailors were to
a man willing to have Gama surrender, that they might get away from
the yellow fever port. But, as was cabled to _The Sun_, Gama did not
surrender. He would have been glad to do so, but his enthusiastic
youngsters and his British backers would not let him.
Of the British backers more will be told at another time, but there
was one man mentioned in the cable of whom something should be said
now. This is G. M. Rollins of New York. Rollins has been a mystery to
the English-speaking people of the port. He came here on the steamer
“Wordsworth” about December 1. He lived on the “Wordsworth” for a
time, and then moved to the “Vandyke,” a hulk owned by the Lamport &
Holt line, and used as a warehouse. Here he lived with “the manager
off shore” of the line. In some way he got acquainted with Gama and
the two became good friends. It was on this account that Gama opened
negotiations for a compromise with the Government through Admiral
Benham. When people learned this, there were many wild conjectures
about Rollins. These conjectures were the wilder because Rollins did
not choose to tell people why he came here, and, further, because he
said he was authorized by Mr. Taylor of the New York _Herald_ to send
letters to that paper, while the _Herald’s_ special representative
published a note in _O Paiz_ saying that Rollins was a fraud.
Rollins tried to get the American barks to remain out in the bay, and
promised them the free use of a tug and lighters if they would do so.
At first they agreed to this, but afterward went to the piers. Rollins
would have supplied Lamport & Holt lighters and tugs had they remained,
and it is guessed that Gama would have paid the bill through Rollins.
To fully understand the result of Admiral Benham’s action it should be
said that until the “Detroit” opened the way the port was practically
blockaded to all commerce save that of the regular liners. Ships had
been lying in port four months, waiting opportunity to discharge and
load. Gama had all of the tugs of the harbor, save two belonging to the
Lamport & Holt line, one to Wilson, Sons & Co., one under the German
flag, and one that was captured by the British naval fleet when Boyton
tried to blow up the “Aquidaban” with it. This last was used as a
British war-ship tender, but occasionally towed a merchant ship. The
line’s tugs were naturally to be had by other ships, but rarely and at
high prices. Lighters were equally scarce. Gama would not let the ships
go to the piers, and was in this supported by the foreign war ships so
long as Captain Lang of the British ship “Sirius” dominated the foreign
fleet.
The coming of Benham changed all this. The Yankee barks led the way to
the piers--led at the head of a great procession. The ships of other
nations locked yardarms and crushed fenders that they might get into
the line. Time has been when the American flag and the American naval
fleet have been jeered and scoffed at in foreign ports, and American
citizens insulted because they were Americans. I have seen that done
myself, but the next day after the “Detroit” ranged up along the
insurgent fleet to demonstrate that the American ships could not be
fired on with impunity, I saw the flag of Great Britain dragged in the
dirt of the Praça “Harmonia” and denounced as “the red rag of Brazilian
rebels.” I saw British ship captains look on, and I heard one say,
while others applauded:
“That’s right. By God, if you want protection after this you must apply
to the Yankees.”
JOHN R. SPEARS,
Special Correspondent of the _N. Y. Sun_.
The official report of the U. S. Navy Department states that the
cruiser “New York,” under command of Captain J. W. Phillip, cleared for
action to sustain the “Detroit” if necessary.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
IN BRAZIL AS A STATE CHURCH
AND AS RELATED TO PROTESTANTISM.
(From the _New York Tribune’s Special Correspondent_
at the establishment of the Republic in 1889.)
Rio, December 29. The church bells of Rio make a great clangor on
Sundays. If religion were a thing of sounding brass, this great city
would have cause to be known as one of the centers of Christianity.
There is a jangling chime in the Lapa dos Mercadores, and there are
bells great and small, harsh and shrill, resounding from hill to hill
and echoing back from the outermost mountains. The Church is the
oldest of Brazilian institutions. On the Castello there is a church,
once the cathedral, with a portion of its walls as old as 1567. The
cornerstone of the Capella Imperial, now the cathedral, was laid
as far back as 1761. The Candelaria, the largest and most costly
church in Rio, has been under construction since 1775. The crumbling
church of the Franciscan friars on San Antonio was begun in 1700, the
Gloria, overlooking the harbor, was built in 1714, and the Rosario
about the same time. Many of the monasteries and convents, which are
now practically abandoned under the operation of Imperial laws, date
back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The churches are
not only of great antiquity, but they have been built in the main by
lay brotherhoods employed in works of mercy. No other South American
city has so many hospitals and asylums in active operation. The
Misericordia alone cost $1,750,000 and accommodates 1,200 patients.
The lay confraternities have done and are still doing a magnificent
work of mercy in Rio, and are imparting to religion elements of
practical philanthropy which command respect and admiration. But old
and useful as the Church is, and loud as is the summons to the faithful
from belfry and tower this summer morning, religion seems to have
little vitality in the Brazilian capital. It has lost its hold upon
the intelligent and educated classes. An American who contrasts the
listless and perfunctory celebration of mass in the churches here
with the same religious service in New-York churches of that faith is
shocked and amazed. What is devotional there is the most mechanical
mummery here. The priests have the appearance of worldly men earning a
good living in religious trade. The very altar-boys, as I have watched
them here, seem to be cutting up pranks with unseemly levity in the
holy places.
A single Sunday in Rio will go far toward convincing any thoughtful
observer that one of the best things that could happen for the
Church in Brazil would be the same rough shaking-up which political
institutions are receiving. I write in no spirit of intolerance or
hostility to Roman Catholicism. It is the comparison which I have
made here and in other coast towns between the Church as it is found
in the United States and in Brazil that compels the conclusion that
the abrogation of the establishment as a State religion would be of
inestimable benefit to Christianity. If the country has required
thorough-going processes of revolution, so has the Church. The
separation of Church and State would tend powerfully to promote a
revival of religion. Roman Catholicism is purest, strongest and more
active as a religious force where it is separated from the State, and
where Protestantism is arrayed against it, as in the United States. It
is corrupt, weak and least useful where it is a State establishment, as
in Brazil, and where Protestantism does not come into serious rivalry
with it. The most sincere Catholic here would have reason for rejoicing
if the Provisional Government were to proclaim a separation of Church
and State. There would then be signs of resurrection among these gilded
tombs of religion.
What has impaired the influence of the Church in Brazil has been the
corrupt and scandalous life of many of the clergy. This is not a wanton
Protestant charge. It is the sorrowful admission of faithful Catholics
themselves. The evil has been one of long standing. When Dom Pedro
II. was in his infancy, Antonio Diogo Feijo was Regent of the Empire.
He proposed as a good Catholic a measure for sanctioning the marriage
of the clergy, and compelling the Papal authorities under menace of
disestablishment to allow its enforcement. When the measure failed,
he wrote a book entitled _Celibao Clerical_ or _Clerical Celibacy_ in
defense of his position, with many detailed statements of fact. The
book was burned by order of the ecclesiastical authorities, but a copy
of it was found in a village of San Paulo not long ago, and an edition
of 5,000 copies was immediately reprinted. The immorality which this
devout Catholic Regent denounced in his day still defiles the influence
of the Church in Brazil. Some of the most active politicians here are
known to be the sons of priests. Celibacy is too often only a cloak for
immorality here. Good Catholics frankly tell you that this is one of
the open scandals of their Church.
This is a time when there is real educational work to be done in
Brazil. A nation is to be trained for self-government and citizenship.
Old things have passed away. New social and political conditions are to
be created. The Church should have a great part in this work of making
a nation. It should be breaking the bonds of superstition, ignorance
and medievalism. It should be teaching men and women by the example
of its own clergy to lead pure and incorrupt lives. It should be
leavening the whole lump of Brazilian republicanism. If the Church were
disestablished and the clergy purified and reformed, it would be one
of the grandest and most useful results of the revolution. For, in the
long run, no nation in its political life and aspirations can get above
the level of the religion which it believes or affects to despise.