Brownson's Smile.

It was in January, 1894, that the civil war iu Brazil was coming to a climax in the barbor at Kio. Admiral da Gama of the insurgents was in the harbor with several ships-of-war. The govrument held the city, but while the inurgent admiral held the water no shipping could go up to the front as long as he said it couldn't, and he said no. Various governinents were affeoted by this embargo - "blockade" the admiral called it. Great Britain was concerned ohiefly, bnt the United States was a good second, with Germany and other nations as well. Europe looked to America to do sometbing in the matter and was naturally diffident about interfering in family rows on this side of the water. At last Admiral Benham was sent down to take charge of the United States fleet in Kio harbor. The flagship was the San Francisco, and on Snnday, Jan. 28, Admiral Beuham called on bis captains to come aboard. Among them was Commander Brownson of the Detroit. It is said that' after the conference this commander came back to his snip smiling. However that may be, he certainly smiled next morning. Just after öo'clockthat evening - it was calm as could be, almost - the Yankee naval ships were seen to be in a hnstle. The canvas awnings faded away, and in the night certain sounds were heard aboard them, at which various listeners put their hands cup shaped behind their ears to listen harder. On the morning of the 29th there was a change in the appearance of the Yankee fleet. It had taken off its coat, waistcoat and shirt, so to speak, and was just eying itself when day dawned to see how good its training had been. The insurgeut ships Aqnidaban and Tamandare were up the bay above Viana island with their cables short, ready to trip. The Trajano and Guanabara, as well as the fleet of armed tugs, were crowded with men from the garrisons of Cobras and Villegaigon. The Liberdade flew the little blue ensign, for Admiral de Gama was aboard her, lying with the Trajano and Guanabara north of Enchados island, a few yards from the American bark Amy, one of the boats kept out by the blockade. The Parahyba was lying with its teeth, so to speak, at the throat of the Yankee barkentine Good News. Commander Brownson on the Detroit got bis ship under way, baving hoisted anchor at 6 o'clock, and headed toward the city between Enohados and Cobras islands. Her crew was at her guns, and as eager a lot of men as one could see anywhere at that time. The anohor got fonled in the Detroit's hawse hole, and that was ampie excuse for proceeding slowly, which was convenient, wbile a couple of insurgent tugs made a sputter at the northern littoral of the city, as they had been doing a long ;ime. After a couple of men had been iilled aboard the tugs they drew back, and the Detroit, with everythiug clear, rounded Enchados island and came along starboard side to starboard of the Trajano. The men looked through their sights .and then up at Commander Brownson on the bridge. The story of what they saw is a tradition in the navy now and always will be so long as men like Brownson are in command. The commander was sruiling. A man on the Trajano raised a musket and fired a ballet over the heads of sailors pulling away in a boat with a line from the Amy to a ship at anchor that the Amy might be warped to the forbiddeu docks. Two heavy insurgent tugs came around with their rama pointed at the side of tbe Detroit. On the San Franoisco the red flag of battle had been run up to the fore truck in stops. A quartermaster stood with his hand on the halyards eager to break it out, 'with his eyes fixed on the admiral, who was looking at the Detroit for the sign which vould cause him to give the quartermaster the order so ardently desired. When the insurgent shot was fired, Commander Brownson turned to the gunner at a on pounder, and with a scarcely perceptible increase of the smile ordered the man to shoot into the Trajano at the water line six feet abaft the stern. The order was misunderstood, and the shot went across the insurgents' bow. Thereupon Captain Brownson hailed: "Trajano, ahoyt" he shouted. "If yon fire again, I will return the fire, and if you persist I will sink you. " The Trajano's crews were excited. If a nervous finger had pulled a trigger, the flght would have been on. But the shot did not sound. The sailors on the Amy's yawl waited to 6ee what they were to do next. "You go ahead, " Commander Brownson shonted, "and I'll protect yonl" The sailois went. "Aim at the Guanabaral" ordered Commander Brownson. And the greasy black muzzles of theDetroit's broadside and the two pivot gum swung around, looking bigger and bigger every moment, till they stopped, leveled at the cruiser. One particularly nervous guu crew aboard the insurgent was oonspicnous. Oommander Brownson waved his hand, with a half smile, and this crew feil back. Then the Yankee ships led the way to the docks, with other hipa crowding in with them, and after awhile the re bellion collapsed. But the sailors who were on tbe Detroit at that time have told the story of Commander Brown aon's smile to other sailors, and these to still otaars, tijl it has rippled to ev ery water wbeie the itarry flag flies and it is faenrd with marked interest by men on the ships of other nations - men