The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-01-21
PRISONERS REVOLT.
An Abortive Attempt to Restore
Da Ponseca.
LED By POLITICAL OFFENDERS

Two Hundred Prisoners Ovcrpowcr
the Guards. Capture Two Forts and
Demand the Restoration OF the De-
posed President--The.F Forts Recap
tured By Storm.
Rio JANETRo, Jan. 21.-This city has
just passed through an exciting attempt
at revolution. Two hundred prisoners,
confined in the fortress Of Santa Cruz,
at the mouth Of the harbor, broke out
in mutiny Tuesday night. A number
of them were persons arrested for mis-
conduct in connection with the recent
political disturbances, and these were
mostly partisans OF the deposed dicta-
tor, General Da Fonseca. Others were
ordinary offenders, including, however.
many bright and dangerous enemies of
society. The political prisoners appear
to have taken the initiative. They
formed conspiracy, and at an appointed
hour In the evening made dash on the
guards and soldiers stationed about the
prison. These were taken completely
by surprise.
The prisoners, then numbering about
two hundred, seized all the arms and
ammunition in the soldiers quarters,
which was sufficient in quantity to equip
them all for effective service. They fol-
lowed the leadership of one man, who
directed their operations. Before the
news of the rising had spread, the pris-
oners advanced rapidly upon the forts,
Pico and Lage, that guard the harbor.
The men garTisoning the forts were not
on the alert, as they did not imagine that
danger was possible, and the prisoners
quickly captured the two places, along
with all the provisions and munitions of
war.
To Restore Da Fonseca.
After establishing a vigilant guard
against an attack the prisoners met and
elected as leader the man who had been
foremost in the stroke for liberty. The
leader announced that their object was
the restoration Of General Da Fonseca to
power, and he made formal demand to
that effect upon the authorities. The
latter simply clapped his messenger in
jail, and proceeded to gather troops and
notify the navy for an attack on the
forts. The insurgents began an irregu-
lar cannonade with artillery in the forts,
hoping apparently to compel the author
tiles to come to terms. President Peix-
otto personally directed that the insur-
gents should be first summoned to sur
render, and the forts then carried by as
sault at any cost. The firing from the
forts inflicted little or no damage, owing
to the unskillfulness of the gunners.
The mutineers refusing to surrender,
preparations were made yesterday to
carry the forts by storm. The gunboats
began a heavy bombardment of Fort
Lage, and soon rendered the place I'M
tenantable. The mutineers in that fort
ress, seeing no escape and being unable
to stand the storm of shells from the
gunboats, threw down their arms.
Carried by Storm. I
Fort Pico was carried by storm, but
when the troops reached the walls of
the fortress they met with slight resist
'ance, the mutineers being panic stricken
When the troops entered the fort they
found the leader of the mutiny living
dead. He had taken his own life, be-
cause he feared the vengeance of the au-
thorities. The fortress prison Of Santa
Cruz where the mutiny began, was held
bya portion of the mutineers, who Welded
after half an hours bombardment.
During the time the forts were in
possession of the mutineers the latter
fired upon the British steamship Sorangi.
The prisoners were placed, after recap
ture. under a strong guard, aand the sur
viving ringleaders were loaded with
manacles. The sound of the firing
caused great CONSERVATION in Rio ia
metro
the government is trying to ascertain
whether the outbreak was entirely spon-
taneous, or rprompted by persons outside
the prison, who desired to effect revo-
luton.