Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-21
CoNVIGTS IN REVOLT.
They Break Out Of Jail, Capture Two
Forts at Rio Janeir0 and
DECLARE FOR FALLEN FONSECA.
Government Troops and the Navy Unite and
Retake the Posts.
THE REBELS BACK IN THEIR PRISON

Rio JANEIRo, Jan. 20.-After a season
of comparative tranquility this city has
again become violently disturbed, and the
citizens have been thrown into state of
excitement approaching the feeling which
prevailed here during the uprising which
resulted in the dethronement and banish-
ment of the late Dom Pedro, and the over
throw and subsequent retirement to private
life of the Dictator General da Fonseca
The trouble began yesterday evening
when 160 prisoners, confined for various
offenses in Fort Santa Cruz, ON the east side
of the entrance to the harbor of Rio Janeiro
and two miles south of the city, mutinied
and succeeded in overpowering and disarm-
ing the guards and soldiers stationed at the
place.
Emboldened by their success, the prison
ers resolved to extend their scope of opera
tions. Armed with weapons taken from
their former guards, they advanced upon
Forts Pico and Lsge, overcame the soldiers
on duty and took possession of the two forts
and all the munitions of war therein.
Rebels Declare for Dictator Fonseca.
The ex-prisoners, after perfecting all their
arrangements for guarding the forts against
the attacks which they knew the Govern
ment would surely make, boldly demanded
the restoration to power of the deposed
dictator, Fonseca
The Government officials, when they be-
came aware of the gravity of the situation,
hurried all their available forces to the
scene. The troops were so placed as to sur
round the forts held by the rebels on the
land side, while the Brazilian warships in
the vicinity were stationed so as to guard
the side of the forts which faced on the
harbor
The defiant rebels kept up desultory fire
while the Government forces were making
preparations for the attack. The insurgents
were evidently without discipline or organ
ization, and the shots from the forts were
ill-directed and did no harm to the troops.
Matters continued in this state until this
forenoon, when the arrangements for taking
the forts bY storm were perfected.
a sharp Fight and q Victory.
The order to advance on the rebels was at
length given, and the loops at cnce moved
on to the attack, while the guns of the war
vessels in the harbor began to thunder forth.
The efforts of the soldiers were directed
against Fort Pico. They made an assault
on the works, and after show of resistance
by the rebels the troops carried the fort,
and the Government was again placed in
possession.
In the meantime the gunboats were bonn
harding Fort Santa Cruz, and so effectively
that the rebels were soon forced to sur
render. The troops eventually obtained
possession of all the forts which had been
seized, and the prisoners after their brief
and intensely exciting period of freedom
were again placed in cells and strong
guard detailed to watch them to prevent a
repetition of the stirring scenes.
The Convict Leader Commits Suicide.
The leader Of the rebels, when he saw that
further resistance was useless, and know
ing the fats which would undoubtedly be-
fall him, resolved to take his own life, and
when the soldiers reached the place where
he had been fighting they found his dead
body lying on the ground.
The firing during the attack on the forts
was plainly heard throughout the city and
caused the greatest CONSERVATION. MANY
timid persons sought places of safety until
the fighting had ceased, and number of
and others closed their places
Of business and securely boIted and barred
their doors and windows.