The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-09-21
HAS SENT AN ULTIMATUM.
The Guns of the Fleet Will De-
stroy the City.
ALL THOSE GET AWAY WHO CAN.
There Is a Panic, and There Is a Be-
lief That the Authorities Have
Already Yielded.

LONDON, Sept. -Telegraphic commu-
njcation between England and Rio has
been restored. 1t is believed the rebels
have occupied Rio.
a banking house in this city. having ex-
tensive connections with Brazil received
cable from its agent at the Brazilian pi-
tai this morning, aud it is considered most
trustworthy Information as 10 the actual
state of affairs at Rio.
The agent saws Admiral de Mello, the
commander-in-chief of the rebel forces in
the Bay OF Rio Janiero, sent an officer and
a b0aTs crew ashore to-day bearing a
white flag. The officer was conducted to
the presence of the general in command of
the Government forces. when he presented
letter which contained the ultimatum of
the rebel admiral. 1t declared that unless
the city promptly surrendered uncondi-
ronally he would proceed to lombard Rio
In manner compared with which all
former efforts in that direction would
seem but child'S play. The admiral. it is
understood, gave the authorities but few
hours IN which to come to a decision. In
default Of this the bombardment would be
commenced Immediately.
There Is no doubling the fact that the
rebel admiral is in earnest. and that un-
less the city surTenders promptly it will be
bombarded by about thirty vessels Of all
descriptions, from the large war vessel
down to a tugbOat, upon which small guns
have been mounted.
Il is understood that the rebel admiral
will station the feet around Rio, and at a
given signal open fire from all quarters
with all the guns at his command, and the
wholesale destruction OF property and d
terrible loss of life are sure to follow.
Rio will have to depend upon the mill
taTy force in the city prouer to defend it
against the rebel attack; but all the efforts
OF the already demorallzed troops will be
Of little or no avail against the terrible
bQmbardment to which Rio will be sub
jected unless the city surrenderS. Pro-
visions are almost exhausted, and the
question of the ultimate surrender had
been discussed before the ultima tuIn Of the
TcDei adm raj was received. TIE opinion
is' freely expressed that the authorities, in
refusing TO surrender, will only cause
the destruction Of the city without in any
way assisting the cause Of President
PeixOtO.
The dispatch adds that Rio is In the ut
most CONSERVATION and dismay. The citi-
zens are fleeing to the country with such of
their belongings as they can carry, and
merchants are packing their goods in eel
lars preparatory to following them.
The consular representatives Of the
powers are using their utmost efforts to
dissuade the rebel commander from carry
ing out his threat, but so far without avail,
while heavy pressure is being brought to
bear on the local authorities to induce
70 fc sid foll
10 resist, the forts being unable to do any,
thing against the rebel gunboats, and the
land artillery being unable to reach them
from their shelter behind the islands in
the bay, from which they throw shells into
the city. 1t is recognized that to hold out
means simply the destruction of the city,
without any compensating advantage to
Peixoto.
Meantime, three rebel vessels have
reached Santos, and, after sharp fight,
succeeded in landing strong force of
marines, and, at the time the dispatch was
sent were endeavOrng to take the city by
assault. with the probabilities OF success.
The Government forces made desperate
resistance to the landing Of the rebels and
some sharp fighting has taken place. The
result of the engagement is not known, out
it is believed the rebels will eventually
succeed in capturing the place.
Viseount d'Arinos. the Brazilian Minis
ter, received telegrams last night which
made no mention of the success of the
rebels. and hence be is Of the opinion tn at
the Government officers at Rio have not
been interfered with. and that President
Pietoto has not left Rio de JaneIro. The
Minister does not believe the news in re-
gard to the ultimatum said to have been
delivered by Admiral de MelIo, and does
: not consider the situation alarming. He
admits, however. that OF late there has
been considerable feeling against the
President, it being alleged that he had vio-
lated the constitution.
The present agitation, according to the
Minister. is probably caused 10 view of the
fact that the Presidential election takes
: place in March
The Minister also received a telegram to-
day stating that the Bank If Brazil and
other banks at Rio were open for the
transacting Of business and that exchange
mad also been quoted to-day.