evidence: On January 11, 1897, the cruiser Benjamin Constant left Rio de Janeiro for Trindade. After nine days on rough waters, its repeated attempts to reach the island's shore met with failure. On January 24, thirty-two men - including highly skilled swimmers - managed to reach land on a jangada (ocean raft) fixed by cable to the ship. They took with them signs to mark the territory as Brazilian: national flags and a wooden chest welded shut inside a lead one. Inside was a writ of possession, signed by the commodore and his officers, along with their business cards, newspapers from Rio, Brazilian coins, and a portrait of then President Prudente de Moraes. As the trunk was buried, the flag was raised and all cheered (Moreira de Azevedo, 1898, p.23-29).