The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-09
THE FIGHTING NEAR RIO.
MINISTER MENDONoA EXPLAINS TIE
LONDON 1IMESS DESPATCH

ne Also Critioises the News brought to This
city by Captains Of BrI ish steamships
The Explosion on the cruiser America.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 9-senhor Mendoncs. the
Brazilian Minister to the United States left
Washington this evening for New York. where
he will remain several days Before his de-
parture he gave to n reporter for the United
Press staten ent Of the condition Of affairs in
Brazil. In explanation. as he said. OF the Mon
tevideo despatch published in the London
Times and the story OF the Captain Of the Brit
ish steamer J. W. Taylor, which arrived yes
terday at New York from Rio. Mr.. Mendonca
said
Mount Armacao Is at the uprer end OF the
point OF land on which Nictheroy is situated.
and directly opposite the city OF Rio. On the
top OF this point. about GOO feet above the
level OF the sea is an old fertilization contain
ing several guns OF modern make. 1t has con-
tnuously been in possession OF the Govern
ment since the detection OF Admiral Mcllo on
Sent o. II has never been abandoned but has
frequently been assaulted by Mello's forces.
but always unsuccessfuly. Its possession en-
Ables the Government forces to keep Mello's
ships In the lee OF the islands In the
bay and greatly restricts their range OF move
ment Should Mello capture the fort 1t would
enable him to control the city OF Nctheroy
and libernte his wooden ships to much greater
freedom and activity. Hence the i'm portance
Of the place. / have been very proud OF the
militia Of my State. as shown BY their defence
OF Armacao. for all OF Mello's efforts have not
been ablo to dislodgo them. Mclo has no
land force except the handful down on Saint
Catharine's Island.
AS to the reported capture by Melo Of the
arsenal at NlctherVy which. according to the
veracious Captain OF the j. W. Taylor, the
Government has been keeping a secret for
several weeks. tho facts are these: The arse
nal was located about half a mile back OF tho
fort, on Mount Armacao. and was filled with
the largest store OF cartridges for rapid-nre
guns and other munitions Of war which the
Government possessed Mello. OF course. knew
this. and the first thing he did on Sept. u was
to carry of nearly a third Of the contents otthe
arsenal. At that time tho entire available force
In the defence OF Nictheroy numbered eight
men. and no interru ption OF Mellos movement
was possible. That was all no got however,
for, as stated, subsequent attempts to land
remaining stores were carried 10y students OF
the military school to Mucangue Island. and
there dsstrOyed on N1yi ~; This iHft has
rope, 40 that 1t Is ridiculous for the CAPTAIN OF
the Wilson to say that The government Is try;
the arsenal. and II he had 1t would benefit him
nothing. A., 49,.
British vessels bring from Brazil to New York
arc so tinged with prejudice as to he altogether
unrel liable, and they, are often apocryphal to
the last degree. The Captains probably are
acting. under orders in spreading these re-
ports. for the agents Of the, line in New York
refused to accept freight belonging to the Gov
eminent Of Brazil for shipment to Rio. They
report that the sympathy of the people Is with
Melo for the resSun they say that the ma
lority favor the restoration OF the monarchy.
Well. as m after 81 fact Melo does not intend TO
restore the monarchy he is working for Mel
10. so that II the public sympathi2e with him
on that score. their symputhics are badly mis-
placed. These ship Captains know nothing
trv. They don't get away from the wharves
during their stay. They learn nothing but
ship chambers politics. wish tho United
Press would make this plain. that the people
reliance is to be placed in these periodical
stories"
ticulars Of the explosion on the America en-
route from st. Thomas to Martinique. lie
said they had not been received at the LeEa-
tion. although they we're momentnriIy ex-
those already published, he said, was that
Capt. Cheeseman's lee had heen broken by tn"
force Of the eSposion; This would GO to
more general in its nature than some reports
Indicated: that 1t occurred among the ex-
plosivos aboard, and was not confined to par
ticular part Of the machinery.
The Minister was also asked whether he had
heard ANYTHING about reported collapse OF
the revolution.
influences at work shall cease. We may have
news Of a, collapse for a CHRISTMAS gift but l
hardly look for II then"
port that Brazil had secretly issued 10000
900 national bank notes. or contracted n loan
for that amount, Minister Mendoncn legged TO
was not authorized to talk, that he could
neither affirm nor deny It.