Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-21
IN RIOS HARBOR.
Capt. Pfcking's Detailed Account OF
the Bomba rdment.

Secretary Herbert has received a letter
from Capt II. f. Picking, commanding the
L. S. S. Charleston at Rio de Janeiro, dated
October 20. He gives an account of the
happenings in the harbor from day TO day
follows:
October 14-At 3:l5 am. Fort St Cruz
commenced firing, which continued at in
etrvals until about am, when the Aoui-
daban and Trajano got under way and
went toward the forts and commenced FIR
ing. The Guanabara and Javary were also
towed into action. All the forts took part
i'm the bombardment. At early daylight one
Of the insurgent merchant steamers was
discovered lying near to Fort Lage. Her
being there seemed to be the cause of the
firing in the early morning. After the ac-
ton became general the steamer put TO
sea. Fire was opened from several points
in the village of Nitheroy about am, and
this drove away some OF the insurgent mer-
chant steamers at anchor of the town.
At about 1890 all firing ceased and the ves-
sells came to anchor. About Has am
small-arm firing commenced near the arse
nal at Nitheroy. 1t lasted only few mo-
ments and the insurgents attempting to
gain the arsenal were driven back.
October 15-About 4 80 am. quite a mus
kerry firing was heard in the city. Cause
unknown. Some men were landed at the
building on Rat Island. and one OF the in
surgent steamers remained near. apparent
ly protecting the men. while some articles
were carried away. This continued until
about 1890 am, when the vessels with
drew with their plunder.
Admiral Saldanha da Cana informed me
that the insurgents carried OF from Rat
Island some coal. a quantity OF revolvers
o,,a 4. 81 ~AAs
an electric search light was removed.
Another Bomba rdment.
October l6. Firing was commenced on
Nictheroy about am. by one OF the In
surgent steamers. Ii was returned from
several points in the village by small guns.
The firing ceased about / pm. The Javary
got under way from her anchorage or
Fort Nillegagnon and was towed to her
former anchorage of Nictheroy. The firing
was again commenced on Nictheroy after
the Javary had anchored, and il was con-
tinued at intervals during the day. At
about $50 Fort st. Cruz and st. Joao and
the batteries on the ridge TO the westward
commenced bombardment of Fort Willie
gagnon and the insurgent vessels returned
the fire. This bombardment ceased about
pm. The firing was very wild. 1 noticed
only one or two shots apparently strike
Fort Nillegagnon.
'Oct. IL. Very quiet until IL 80 p m. when
Fort St. Cruz commenced firing on Fort
Nillegagnon. st. JCao and the guns on the
ridge 10 the westward also fired and there
was brisk cannOnading for some time.
About 40 pm. some guns in the village OF
Nictheroy commenced on the insurgent ves-
sells anchored off that place. This was re-
turned by the vessels A merchant steamer
was compelled to leave her position In front
of the town. 1t appeared from the ship
that this engagement was TO prevent
party of men in one of the small steamers
of the rebels from landing. At $50 pm
Nillegagnon made vigorous assault on
st. Cruz, firing with great rapidity. The
forts returned the fire and the ridge bat
teries opened and the cannonading was
kept up for some time"
Fired On n Search Light.
On October ls Capt. Picking went TO .
conference Of the ministers and command
ing officers on board the Arethuse The
object of the meeting was to discuss uhs
matter of the firing Of one or more shots
by Fort Nillegagnon on a search light
mounted on one OF the hills OF the city.
1t appears that on the evening OF the 17th
when the forts were firing the search light
threw its light on Fort Nillegagnon. thus
making her a more distinct target for
the government batteries and interfering
with the proper sighting of the guns IN
Eillegagnon. The fort fired on the light,
and some of the missiles went into the
city. 1t was decided that in this case he
search light was an engine of war and
that IL would be proper for the ministers
to call the attention of the government
to this pretext for firing on the city by the
insurgents. Capt Picking was Informed
by Admiral DE Cana that a clockwork tor
pedo was placed i'm an old boat and taken
alongside the steamer Marie. which is used
by the insurgents for a provision boa;.
The parties having charge Of the torpedo
becoming frightened made the matter
known to those on board the Marie. and
the torpedo was secured before the time
expired. The torpedo contained some Tf-
teen pounds of dynamite.