The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-20
BOMBARDING IN Rio.
Steady Fire Kept Up by the
Insurgents Many Innocent
Persons Killed.

Bp Gable: Copyright, 1898, Bl the United Press
Rio JANEIRo, Dec. Is, via Montevideo,
Dec.20 Intermittent firing between the
Government forts and the forts in possession
of the Insurgents is of daily occurrence.
The gunners on both sides are showing con
siderable improvement in their marksman-
ship, and much of the wild shooting that
marked the outbreak of hostilities has been
done away with. Fort Villa
gaignon, on the island of that name, which
lies between Fort Boa Viagero to the east
and the public garden on the west, and
which is in possession of the insurgents, has
been badly damaged by the fire directed upon
it. Fort Cobras which is ON Cobras Island, a
short distance from the docks and custom
house, has been slightly battered by the can
nonading of the government forces. The in
srTgents on Cobras Island keep up a fire.
quent musketry fire upon the streets in the
vicinity of the custom house and the boat
landing. This has had the effect of compel
ling suspension of business in that portion
OF the city, which, usually, is the busiest part
of Rio Janero.
INNOCENT PEOPLE KILLED.
Many innocent people passing along the
streets bordering on the shore and within
| range of the musketry fire have been either
killed or wounded every day. Since the
casualties have become SO frequent, none but
those who are compelled to visit that part of
the city go within range of the guns.
Business in other parts of the city is fair,
and the people frequent the streets nearly as
usual
GONE TO MEET THE NICTHEROY.
Admiral Mello, commander-in- of the
insurgent forces, in his flagship the Aquida-
haf ia1 hu %ha 100
has gone to sea in search of the dynamite
cruiser Nictheroy, and no doubt is enter
tanned here that he will, if possible,
give her battle before she can get into
the smooth water of the harbor, where her
dynamite gun could be used to greater
advantage than at sea. The Nictheroy is ex-
pected to arrive here in few days. The
government officials believe that She will
easily be able to keep out of the way of fire
from the long range guns of the insurgent
vessels.
A close study of the situation here leads to
the belief that the European officials sta
toned in Rio Janeiro are favoring the cause
of the insurgents. Their object, it is be-
lieved, is to aid, so far as they can, without
incurring diplomatic protest, in establishing
condition of things that will upset the
American reciprocity treaty with Brazil, and
cause the trade that under the treaty has
been thrown into the hands of American
merchants to revert to European houses.
MELLO A REPUBLICAN.
Admiral Mello, all statements to the con-
trary notwithstanding, is a republican, but
his second in command, Admiral da CANA,
is in favor of a restoration of the monarchy.
European shippers are very indignant be-
cause of the lack of protection afforded
them.
General Telles, in command of govern
ment force numbering three hundred men,
attacked the insurgents on the Ilha
do Governador, eight miles north of the
city, on December II, and put them to fight.
1t is rumored here that the govern
ment forces were only able to hold the island
for two days On the 18th, it is said, the in
surgents in boats swooped down on the
island in force and recaptured it. 1t is also
said that in this last engagement General
Telles was seriously wounded. Each side
lost many men killed OF wounded