The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-24
A GEORGIAN IN BRAZIL.
Ensign r. s. Douglas Writes a Letter
From the Seat of War
From the sYlvania lGa.l Telephone.

From the Sylvania (Ga.) Telephone.
r. Spencer Douglas, grandson Of DR.
George b. Douglas, of Sylvania, is an en-
| sign on the United States man-of-wal
Newark, now stationed at the port of RiC
de Janeiro, in Brazil In recent letter
to one of his aunts here, which was dated
however, Nov. 12, he very graphically de
scribes the fighting that is going on dowr
| there between PeiXoto, who represents
the existing government, and MellO, the
rebel, who is trying to overthrow It
Coming from the very seat of war and not
passing under the censorship of the gov.
eminent, it makes interesting reading
He says:
"Mello has four large warships and a
very strong port near the city, while
Piexoto has the whole of the land sur.
rounding the bay, three strong forts-La
Cruz, Loze and Joano-at the entrance
several higher up, on both sides and
thousands of troops. Besides this he has
guns mounted on all the prominences
commanding any part of the bay, which
with the forts, are in constant action day
and night with the rebels. Mello has pos.
session of a tremendous island Gouverna-
dorm the bay, on which he has provis-
ions and supplies for a large army for
three years. This he protects by means
that he has appropriated and armed, and
twelve torpedo boats, which patrol the
bay day and night.
There is no time in the twenty-four
hours of the day that fighting cannot be
seen and heard from the ship; and quite
frequently the fight becomes general.
Only on such occasions now do we feel
enough interest to look on. 1t has long
since become a chestnut TO see men bang
ing away at each other.
About two weeks ago, during q general
action between the ships forts and land
forces, which lasted hot and heavy for
several hours, Mello succeeded in explOd-
ing shell in government powder maya
zine containing ninety-six barrels of pow
der and lots of shells, about one-half mile
from the ship. OF course the magazine
went up, as did also a company of govern
ment soldiers who were near by Had
not seen them at the moment of
the explosion, l should never have
known it, because the government exer-
cises such control over the papers that its
losses are suppressed TO keep up the pub
lie faith. J
Nearly everybody ashore sides with the
admiral, but are held under subsection by
the soldiers. About a week ago Peixoto
sent two volunteers over to Gouvernador's
Island and blew up one of MelIo's powder
UldRdLlutSs uEtb English naval OIIlCtES
and ten men went up in it, all that was
ever found of any of them being the left
arm of the first lieutenant of the Sirius -
OF course we buried that with military
honOrs, but we have not been able TO find
out why these men were so close to that
Brazilian magazine. 1t may cause some
trouble between England and Brazil if
not satisfactorily explained. The explo-
sion was so terrific that it broke many
inn in AVE- mi
caused panic the like Of which have
never before witnessed. happened to be
in the city at the time on one of the prin-
pal streets and at first / thought Mello
was Smelling it. IL sounded as if 10-inch
shell had exploded overhead. Stores
closed as If by a magic and horses wild
with fright rushed down the streets,
killing and iniuring many people.
Yesterday our senior officer Captain Of
Charleston, since dearold Admiral Staun-
ton was recalled by request of the Bra
lillian government for saluting Mello),
issued an order that none of the Ulcers
be allowed TO go ashore any more for the
present. This was in consequence of the
fact that many guns on one of the rebel
forts having been dismounted, Peixoto
brought heavy artillery on the sea wall in
the city Of Rio, the closest point TO the
fort, and opened fire. Mello, who had
been restrained by the foreign feet in the
harbor from firing on the city, now
opened fire, and for three days past he
has continued to shell the city with terri
BILE results. All business is shut up, no.
body is on the streets, and houses are
crumbling under the guns. / was over
there four hours yesterday afternoon and
saw four men killed while walking along
the streets.
"The foreign feet here, consisting Of %
foreign men-of-war, have organized
landing force of j 500 men To go ashore
and protect the consulates and foreigners
from mobs, should the city fall under
mob rule; and from present Indications.
we will soon be needed. l have command
of 80 rifemen and a gatling gun We
have been allowed up to the present only
from l to O'Clock in the afternoon, and
then in uniform, armed with sword and
revolver.
Yesterday one Of Mello's transports,
with about 1000 men, arrived from the
south, but as yet it has not dared TO come
past the forts A shell from LaCruz
sunk one Of Mello's torpedo boats yester-
day.
This sort of thing was very interest
ing and amusing at first, but by the aid Of
a fare Of salt horse and beans, I have been
reduced To becoming tired of it.n