The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-15
THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITAL
Much Powder Burned by the Reb-
els, but No Great Damage.
One Woman Killed by a Bursting Shell
"A GunbOat Captured by the
Insurgent Fleet.

de JaueIro by the rebel fleet was received
at the State Department to-day In a dis
patch from United States Minister Thomp-
son at Rio dc Janeiro. The dispatch came
about noon. and. after the Secretary had 1t
translated and copies made. he gave il to
the press for publication. 1t read as fol-
lows:
"At IL this morning revolutionary forces
bonn bsrded the forts commanding the en-
trance or the harbor. and also The arsenal
on @ wharf III the center or the city. A few
shells were fired into the city. and -
woman was killed In her residence. Com
morclal kilograms have again been forbid
don. The cruiser Charleston has not yet ar
rived.'
The telegram was eagerly read by all who
knew of it's arrival in both the State and
Navy departments. and the belief was eX-
pressed that the engagement may be a
fierce one and q adetermined one. While the
Minister makes no men tiOn of 1t. it is pre-
sumed that the Brazilian government IS
taking active measures 10 Tepulse the in
surRents. The greatest source of anxiety
among the officials is that there is no ves-
sci of the United States IN the harbor at
RiO de JaneirO TO protect the lives and
property OF American citizens In the bonn
barded city. The last hopes of the Navy
Department that the cruiser Charleston
had stopped at Rio de Janeiro on her
way from Barbados to the Pacific, was
blasted to-day when O dispatch was re-
ceived from her commander reporting her
arrival at MOntevideO. Uruguay. Had
she stopped there the government would
have felt that the interests OF it's
citizens would be amply protected.
As 1t is. the vessel will coal at Mon te videO.
which W i'll take O day. She will then pro-
coed to Rio de Janeiro. and as the distance
is but j .030 miles. the vessel Will make 1t in
about three days and half sail. Henry
i. Picking is her captain, and he has no
doubt been acquainted with the gravity of
the situation by the Navy Department.. and
will maize all speed to reach his dostin alton.
The latest dispatches received at the
Navy Department from the Detroit was
that she had returned TO Hampton Roads.
to-day. after little rnn out to sea to ad-
just her COM passes ItissaId. however, that
she will finally sal late this evening or early
tc-niorrow morning for Rio dc Janelro> 1t
will take the cruiser from twenty to twen-
ty-tve days. according to weather. to reach
her destination.
Additional advices received from Rio de
Janeiro. this evening. point In q most posi-
tive manner to the overthrow of the pres
ent government. The disaftectlon 10 not
confined to the navy alone. but 10 spread
ing TO the army, where the opposition TO
the government is becoming most pro-
nounced. 1t ls said that the admiral of
the navy would never have dared 10 have
taken the bold step he has without assur-
ances of support from portion of the army
ct least. 1t is beieved that a dispatch
will be very soon received announcing the
success OF the insurgents. Senior Deme nom
co, the Brazilian minister, 10 not in Wash.
lDGton at present.
Itis rumored at London tonight that the
bombardment of Rio dc JanelrO was re-
sr;ned to-day by the rebel fleet No basis
for the rumor can be found. except notice
sent out by the cable officials In Rio de
Janeiro that they have been Obliged to
close their office on account of the firing.
Details of the Bombardment
BUENOs AYREs. Sept. H.-Dispatches
have been received here from Rio de JAM
GIRO which gives On idea of the lombard
ment which took place before Rio de JAM
eIro. 1t should be remembered, however,
that President Peixoto is in control of the
telegraph lines, and that all news leaking
out from tho disturbed capital of Brazil
as they reach here are about as follows:
The rebel ships Aquidaban, Republics and
TralenO yesterday made an attempt to land
soldiers ana marines at Gamboa, in the Bay
OF Rio, where the English seminary Is sit
uated. GambOs is u little more than n
mile from the loading grounds. where for
eign yessels take in their cargo. and 10 lust
across the bay from NictberOy. 1t is
Juht uOTtD OF MO u6 JaueiEo ana Is near
Saude. The insurgent ships are reported
TO have used only small rapid-firing guns
in firing upon Gambo8, and this fire is sup.
posed 10 have been intended more for the
purpose of covering the landing of the in
surgent forces than es regular lombard.
ment. The rebele. 1t is added. have taken
the officers OF the gun boat AlagoaZa
prisoners. and as this message was sent the
insurgents were firing shells In the dIrec-
tion of the arsenal with the expectation OF
blowing it mp. The guns on the AquIdaban
thundered forth as long range. for the
rebel ships were not foolish enongh to en-.
gage the forts. and The latter replied TO the
fire of the war vessels without apparent
damage.
AtnIght there was o period of calm. but
hostillties were expected Co be resumed
this morning. unless sone understanding
could be arrived at between the rebels aud
the government. There arc people who
believe that the rebel ships will be only too
glad TO put 10 sea and make for tho soutb,
but the contracted entrance to Rio bay.
with the Sugar Loaf fort on the left and
Fort Santa Cruz on the right. is danger
Gus place for them to attemp; TO pass. Tho
insurgents yesterday. II 10 trne. steamed
TO within range OF tho forts and fired
few shots In their direction,
at long range. but they did not attempt 10
engage the forts. In the real sense OF the
word. The sounds of the firing reached
Rio de Janeiro and caused alarm among
the inhabitants. The loss of lite. however,
WhS III so ldr as Known,
only one woman. residing near the arsenal,
was killed, and she mot her death through
q falling brick. Both sides seemed TO
know as little about the handling of mod
ern ships' artillery modern ships guns
know about them. At the rate things are
going; the war chips will soon have TO sur
render for the lack of ammunition and pro-
visions.
Fort Lage. known to history as the first
spot III the bay ever tTOGdel by civilized
man. was also treated 10 q few shells by the
rebels. Bnt Fort Santa Cruz. with it's
frOwning white walls overlooking the
channel strewn with submarine mines, was
the object of most of tie rebels' attention.
The Fort Villagnon did most of the reply
ing TO the bombardment and attempted
landing Mt Gamboa. but there Is no record
of the war ships having suffered any dam
ages from shot or shell. Indeed. it may be
SAID that beth psrties TO the dispu te are do
ing n lo. of talking. burning q lot
OF powder and Wasting some good
shells for little or effect. Rio
de Janeiro itself was not bombarded.
a few stray shells fell In the city. the re-
snlt of bad marksmanship. but no great
damage was done. The large proportion of
shclls iired by both sides seemed either to
.Ir.aI.