The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-26
REASSURING NEWS FROM RIO.
Interesting Intelligence is Ex-
pected Within a Week.
American Commercial Interests Will
BE Given Protection Tho Govern.
ment, with Lines Drawing Cloeelv
Around the insurgents, Expects to
Crush Them soon-Seoretary Herbert
Declines to Make Public Captain
Piokering's Dispatch,


WASHINGTON, Dec. %. = Secretary
Herbert received dispatch last night
and another to day from Captain Picker.
ing, In command OF the United States
naval force at Rio. Mr.. Her bert decided
not to make the contents public, but he
said they contained nothing of i'm port
ance. Neither dispatch made mention
OF any triumph OF Admiral Mello or
anything that could be construed into q
confederation of the sensational reports
that the president had resigned and the
insurgents occupied Rio. Mr.. Herbert
said that he was satisfied that there was
no truth In these stories. No action has
been taken by the government with
reference to the request Of the America An
merchant ship captains, backed by the
United consul general at Bio, that
United States vessels in the harbor OF the
Brazilian capital be instructed to pro-
tect them from insurgents fire while
landing their cargoes. MIR. Herbert
said that American commercial inter.
ests in Rio would be given protection as
good as that accorded foreign merchants
| by the war vessels of their respective
countries
| Regarding the cruiser New York and
the likelihood that she would be sent
to augment the American feet at Rio,
the Secretary said the vessel was being
prepared for sea, but he did not care to
discuss tho matter at this time, "but
you will know all about it in q few
days" added the Secretary.
| 1t is understood that orders have been
sen: to the commandant Of the navy
yard at Mare Island, Call, directing
him to have the United States steamer
Mohican prepared for sea- Secretary
Herbert declined to verify this statement
| to-day, but said the vessel had not re-
ceived orders to proceed to any definite
place. He said, also, there was no
truth In the reports that the Mohican
would go to Honolulu, as the United
States interests on the Pacific are we'll
protected by number of vessels on
Central American and South American
coasts and in Hawaii.
1t is not unlikely that the Mohican
Will be sent to Samoa to join the Bit
ish and German ships in maintaining
tho protectorate.
The Situation in RE Encouraging.
In response to his inquiries upon the
subject, the Brazilian minister of foreign
affairs has cabled Minister Mendonca
the facts so far as they are known at
Rio, regarding the column OF insurpent rs
under General Saraiva which has been
variously reported as marching upon
sac Pauio and upon the capital CT
Santa Catherine, ana consisting Of from
| 5000 to 5000 men.
1.-The message I have received from
my government" said Mr.. Mendonca
last night, "is most satisfactory That
! elusive column under General Saraiva,
the minister of foreign affairs tells me,
| consists OF less than 1000 mon,
| all cavalry. They have got no
further north than Santa Ca.he-
rina, and have 80 far failed in their eff
| forts to effect junction with the forces
Of the Mello provisional government,
which is established on the island of
Santa Catherine. General Saraiva
made an attempt month or so ago to
reach the insurgents OF the island but
the government forces defeated him
and drove him back 10 Rio Grande do
Sui. He has now returned with u troop
of cavalry, but he has not penned In
the government forces as reported. Tho
| governor OF Santa Catherine has $500
| regular troops under his command, and
Saraiva is not likely 70 make any seri.
GUS impression against them.
'As TO the condition of things in
Rio" continued Mr.. Mendonca ''the
government has control of every island
in the bay except Villegaignon. Las
Cobras, and one other, which latter is
place OF suburban residence only.
and of no value or Importance what
ever in military sense 1t is true
that General Terres, of tho army, was
wounded by shot from ambush while
making a reconnaissance upon Cow.
enador Island. The next day, how
evor, with a sufficient force, tho island
was taken from the insurgents. The
government is drawing the lines
closer and closer about the in
surgents in the harbor, and OK
poets soon to crush them. This
would have been accomplished ere this
had it not been that the government 10
under promise not to injure foreign
merchantmen in the harbor by the fire
from it's guns. This, OF course, works
to the advantage Of the insurgents
THE only thing that may be said to
seriously concern the government now
is the Aquidaban, which Mello has sent
out to sea. But If those Yankee con
trivances which are on their way to
|