SEVERE SALUTE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 96, 10 April 1876, Page 4

SEVERE SALUTE.

A short time ago, writes a correspondent in Brazil, a most ridioulous affair happened at Rio de Janeiro. An ice-ship from Boston entered the bay, commanded by a Captain Green in the South American trade. Fort Santa, Cruz, not recognising his bouse flag, hailed him and ordered him to " heave to." But the worthy skipper didn't speak Portugese, and the simple statement of the name of bis vessel, which he hurled at tbe fort, was not at all satisfactory; so a blank shot was fired as a mild suggestion to him to stop. But he called for his revolver, and, pointing it skyward, fired six successive shots. Then a solid shot from tbe fort skipped across his bow, and then another, better aimed, passed through his foresail. ' The fort and two shore batteries opened fire upon him, and several of his light spars were cut away. But he held on his course rejoicing, loading ahd firing his revolver. Finally he reaohed quarantine, and came to anchor just as his flying jibboom went by the board. He was then so near the other shipping tbat .1 IIM l-J»-»— —»—»»— W«»»0—^1

they dared fire on him no longer, and the police boat, the customhouse boat, and tbe health boat ail boarded him, together with tbe captain of the port, who, with more vigor than politeness, wanted to know. •'Why the deuce didn't you heave to ?" " Heave to 1" ejaculated the astonished skipper, "Was tbat wbat you wanted ? Good heaven, I thought you were salutin' the American flag I" *'Diable/" shouted the officers in chorus, and they set tbe case down as additional evidence of tbe lunacy which they regarded as a necessary ingredient in the American character.