Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-11-21
MELLO IS WEAKENING.
Petxoto's Forces Hem His Ships
In the Bay.
THE REBEL FLEET SEEKS SHELTER.
Minister MendOnoA Hears Some Welcome
News From BraEIl-Ths Governments
Troops Pressing the Insurgents Very
CIoseIy-FirinE on Rio sIIeneed-I

News From braEu-Ihe Government
Troops Pressing the Insurgents Very
ciosely-FirinE on Rio sIIsneed-
New YORK, Nov. 2I.-Senhor Mendonca,
the Brazilian minister at Washington, who
Is stopping at the Hotel Brunswick, told
an intimate friend that he had received a
cable dispatch saying that the government
considered there had been an improvement
In its position. The reason for this belief
was the fact that the fire from the fort on
the island Of Nillegagnon, which IS in the
hands of the insurgents, had been weak
ening.
Villegagnon is in the harbor opposite
Rio and not far from shore. The fort COM
mands the entrance to the harbor and has
been one of Mello's strungholds. One-half
Of the fort is now in ruins, Minister Men
donca said.
The Notifications on the east sidenf the
island have been ruined by the fire from
the government forts Of Santa Cruz and
Samzoam. which are on two promontories
losing the harbor and which face Vile
.;anOn
Ii was learned also that Minister Men
a"i.rt said that for five days the insurgent
ADMIRAL Mello had been hiding with his
fleet behind the point Armucao. This point
il across the h8rbor from Rio and close to
the city of Nictheroy, which MellO has
been bOmbartling, since. by the decision of
the foreign powers. he was prevented from
bOmbarding Rio itself Mello is evidently
outstanding his resources and apparently
has no intention Of coming out from the
harbor.
a Decisive Advantage.
The minister said further that Mello's
big magazine, which WAS blown up recent
ly, was exploded by shots from govern
ment furtitioatiOns on the granite bluff on
the round prOmOntOry sheltering the city
of Nictheruy. Encouraged 10y their sue
cess in exploding the magazine and by
MellO's inaction, the government forces
have recently been moving their fortified
tons and gone down the bluff TO get in
closer range of Mello's fleet
Perhaps the most decisive advantage
gained against Mello. according to Minis
ter Mendonca's remarks to his friend, has
been the repulse OF Mello's forces in the
state of St Catharine
The state Of st. Catharine is on the coast
about half way between Rio and Rio
Grande do sui, the most southerly state of
Brazil. Lying off the mainland is the is
land of st. Catharine, which Mello seized
and where he established his provisional
government.
/ For some time his forces had been plan
ming to effect landing on the mainland
and gain a footing there. Last Thursday
they tried To carry out their plans, and
they made an attack ON a point on the
mainland. The government forces met
them, and after hard struggle repulse,i
( the insurgents and drove them of.
. These three distinct reverses, the minis
ter remarked argued an improvement in
the government position.
Minister Mendonca also expressed the
opinion that the attempt to restore the EN-
pire would be one Of the most powerful
causes in bringing about the crushing OF
the revolt He said it would arouse the
people of Brazil and would create power,
full outside sentiment against the cause Of
the insurgents.