The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-02-05
RIOS BLOODY STREETS.
An Account of the Slaughter at
the Artillery Barracks.
Nearly Two Hundred Soldiers
Shot or Executed.

Advices received from Brazil indicate that
affairs in the new Republic are not progress
ing as peaceably as has been supposed. Rio
Janeiro has been converted into q military
garrison, and the whole country seems to be
practically under martial law. The severe
methods of the President, General Fonseca,
and his Cabinet have apparently turned
many ardent supporters of the provisional
Government against it, and the ranks of the
Imperialists are largely augmented from tnls
cause.
The English steamer HALEY, which ar
rived at Brooklyn from Rio Janeiro,
brought full details regarding the revolt Of the
Second Artillery regiment, in which nearly
two hundred men were killed. Captain Moore,
of the steamer, did not go ashore during the
vessels stay in port, but Chief Officer J:
Rangdale spent several hours in the city and
learned all the details Of the trouble.
From what I understand" said he, the
trouble had been brewing for some time.
When the new Government took charge it
promised to raise the pay of the soldiers, but
this was put off until the regiments became
exasperated. Among the artillery officers
were q number Of sympathizers with Dom
Pedro who never lost an opportunity to
malign the new Government and incite the
privates to open rebellion. A number OF
small revolts resulted Even the news
papers, although printing glowing accounts
Of the enthusiastic reception OF the new nag
in the various provinces, had begun fault
finding with the Government.
This sort of thing continued until the
Second Artillery regiment, with whom
Dom Pedro had been very popular,
broke out in open revolt. At about
seven o'clock in the evening they hauled
down the Republican flag and hoisted
the Imperial standard, at the same time firing
artillery salutes. Hastily summoning bis
Cabinet Fonseca inquired the meaning Of
the cannonading and on being informed or
dered his officers to suppress 1t.
1.-TWO brigades Of infantry were ordered
out and the barracks in which the rebelhous
troops were lodged was surrounded on all
sides. The streets leading to the scene of the
trouble were blocked with soldiers. The
doors of the barracks had been barricaded,
but were smashed down by the Republican
soldiers, and several volleys were poured
into the ranks of the insurgents with terrible
results.
"The artillerymen made some show of
fighting, and ten of the Republican soldiers
were killed. It took nearly two hours to
subdue the revolt. When the fighting
stopped ia men and two officers were found
10 nave DeeQ klleu. AL VI ouo olhSCio eAtiA
ringleaders together with number Of citi'
zens who had Joined them, were arrested,
and the remainder of the regiment was put
under guard. Those arrested were tried by
court martial two days later, and fifty men
and seven officers were executed. There
were eight citizens who joined in the upris-
ing. They were placed on the German
steamer Lisbon and sent to Hamburg, with
instructions not to return. Since this took
place everything has been quiet, but think
more trouble will break out at the trst
chance the soldiers get. Everything is ruled
by the army, and the people are getting tired
of it."
Captain Moore stated that an ominous
quiet prevailed during the time he remained
in port He could see no change in the state
of business since the Provisional Government
was established except that there appeared
to be shortness of laborers. He could not
account for this. Little was said in the news
papers regarding the uprising. and it was
treated simply as a revolt by drunken
soldiers The papers continue to print de
!spatches from the colonies telling about the
Enthusiastic support" given to the ne"
Government, but nine-tenths of these de.
spatches are written by Republicans, and al
are sent over telegraph wires controlled BY
the Government.