§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can give the House any further information regarding the death of British officers at Rio de Janeiro, and especially with regard to the following points: the cause of the explosion of the powder magazine; the reason for two lieutenants accompanying one boat's crew; whether the bodies of those killed have been recovered; and whether any explanation has been asked for from the Government of Marshal Peixoto?
* SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHIn addition to the telegrams which I communicated to the House on Tuesday last, the following telegraphic reply has been received at the Admiralty from the senior officer at Rio, dated 7th November:—
The cause of the explosion of the powder magazine is unknown. The powder-store is situated 150 yards from the beach where the party were obtaining sand. The magazine probably contained 100 tons of powder, and the flames from the powder-store set the shell-store, which is still nearer to the beach, on fire. The most damage to life was caused by the second explosion. No trace of Lieutenants Moubray and Tupper has been found, although portions of Boatswain Harris's body have been recovered.This is the whole of the official information which the Admiralty possess, but telegrams to the newspapers state that the magazine which exploded belonged to the insurgents, and was situated on the island of Governador. The Admiralty believe that there were three boats' crews, not one. The phrase is, "one boat from Sirius, Racer, and Beagle." This may account for the presence of two Lieutenants. Had any representation to the President been necessitated by the occurrence, the usual course in such cases would no doubt have been taken by Her Majesty's Minister. The senior naval officer, in his telegrams, has not suggested that any such action was called for.