The Portland daily press., 1891-11-21
PURSUED BY DEATH
Both Disease and Murder
Threaten Da FOnseca.
RumOrs Of Battle In These
Tidings from Brazil.
Has the Dictator Asked for
the Junta's Terms?

LONDON, November 20.-The cablegrams
this morning from:Brazll.b announced
that there has been sharp engagement off
Rio Grande, at the entrance Of the lake or
river leading up to Porto Allegro, the capi-
tai sof the new Republic Do Sui They
found that the insurgents had most clever
ly fortified the approaches to the bar near
Rio Grande, over which vessels drawing
only 13 feet can pass, and that heavy
bombardment was necessary to force that
passage. The two gunboats and the torpe-
do boat sent to reconnoiter the place ap-
pear, according to the cable message refer
red to, to have been hit several times. One
of the gunboats is reported as severely
damaged. The torpedo boat, which pushed
pluckily to the front, Is reported to have
been riddled by Gatling guns. From this
it is presumed that rapid fire gun was
brought to bear upon her and found the
bulls eye.
patch from its correspondent at Santiago
de Chilli. saying that Baron Lucerna, the
president VI Da F0nseca's council of min
listers, has telegraphed to the Junta In the
name OF Da Fonseca, begging for peace
and Offering to restore or establish any
form of local self government that the
people OF Rio Grande desire. The JuHta Is
also asked to state the causes of its griev-
ances and to name the conditions upon
which 1t will disband its forces. To this
appeal, according to the Times dispatch,
the Junta promptly replied that 1t would
only disarm its forces when Da Fonseca
las resigned the Presidency and the Dicta
torship, and when the Constitution Of the
United States of Brazil Is again respected
thrnuOhnnt tho InnOfh and hrQadth nf
Brazil. All differences OF opinion among
the members Of the Junta seem to have
been definitely settled by the withdrawal
OF the peace at any price" party from
their councils.
According to one cable message receive d
here Da Fonseca's overthrow seems to be
the main point which the Junta and its
supporters now have In view, and 1t is said
that they will be satisfied with nothing
less than his do wnfall and his punishment
for violating the constitution Of the United
States OF Brazil, and for assuming the pow
ers OF a Dictator. The Times dispatches
say that warlike preparations are contin-
province of Rio Grande, and that formid-
able army will soon be mustered under the
new flag Of the revolted province.
From another source comes cablegrac1,
saying simply, "F0nseca's warship failed
force passage Rio Grande." From this 1t
Is understood that the report as to the at
tack made by the Dictator's two gunboats
and torpedo boat, referred to above, is in
the main correct.
A dispatch received at $50 D. m. from
Brazil says that Marshal Da F0nseca Is se-
riously i'll. 1t added that his principal all
ment Is extreme nervous prostration.
The Exchange Telegraph Company's
dispatches declare that Fonseca's death is
probable at any moment. Though 1t Is
known that Fonsecs has been Ill this state
ment is not supposed to refer to death by
any natural causes. 1t isltaken to mean
that there IL extreme danger of his assas-
sination, or of sudden and powerful up
rising of the incensed opposition which
will overthrow the present regime and
make way with its head.