EXCITING EXPERIENCES AT RIO

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8350, 14 December 1893, Page 2

EXCITING EXPERIENCES AT RIO

The captain of the Samarcand, the vessel whioh called at the Danedin Heads the other day for orders, had some exciting experiences during his stay in the harbour o^ Rio. Little gunboats used to sometimes run^ out into the open, deliver shots at the forts, and then scud out of sight behind a neutral vessel. Oacasionally the fortres3 garrisons, getting riled, would fire a round or two of machine gun bullets after the waspish foe. During this sort of thing it was unsafe for the merchant seamen to emerge from cover. The Samarkand's boats were perforated with bullets3Q<l one vessel close to her had her bowsprit shot off. The master ventured to remonstrate with the Admiral, who merely shrugged hia shoulders, remarked that it was a time of revolution, and added, " We'll win by-and-bye, and pay everything." One day, while ashore, an officer from one of these vessels saw a muster of troops in the city under arms, wailing to maroh to battle. While standing in the street two of their officers had a quarrel, and one of them suddenly ran his sword through the other, killing him on the spot. After this the troops marched off, leaving the corpso on the road — a V * T^ example of the cheapness of human life when once the dogs of war are slipped. The officers of the Samarcand had to ask permitsion of the Admiral to leave the port, and an armed row-boat accompanied her to the offing.