Page:Letters from the Battle-fields of Paraguay (1870).djvu/160



130 MONTEVIDEANS :

gunpowder they made them miserable by concerts of tuturiitus, or cowborns pierced with blowholes at the sides. It will remind you of the Chinese, who frightened us by holding up and shaking their shields painted with tigers.

The arrest of the two employes caused some excitement at Washington; at Rio de Janeiro General Webb would have had an armed demonstration against everybody,, even against the Brazilians, if they had refused passage to the squadron, and he evidently did not believe that Imperial iron-clads could resist Republican wooden-walls. General M^Mahon, an officer who had distinguished himself in the Secession wars, was sent to Paraguay as new Minister, and Admiral Davis was directed to escort him with the squadron, and to demand the unconditional release of Messrs. Bliss and Masterman.

About the end of November, 1868, the squadron^ steamed up stream, leaving at Monte Video only the GuejTiere, flag- ship, that drew too much water. Happily things passed without trouble. The Brazilians and Allies, who had ques- tioned the AdmiraFs right to break the blockade, were startled at the aspect of the squadron, which practised as it advanced, and they knew that torpedos level differences. The Kansas grounded near Angostura and was got off, but not without delay and difficulty. It is fortunate that our home authorities did not send up what is called magnilo- quently the South-Eastern Coast of South America Squadron. Such things as Spider, Doterel, and Beacon are not a national


 * The squadron consisted of â€”

The U.S.S. Pawnee, Captain Urban, 900 tons, 11 guns. â€ž Quineberg, Captain Burritt, 750 tons, 7 guns. â€ž Kansas, Captain Wheeler, 600 tons, 5 guns. â€ž Wasp, Captain Kirkland, 550 tons, 3 guns.

The first mentioned was the most effective vessel j the Wasp acted flag- ship.