The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-10-04
CANNON 'BOONED Al Rio.
THREE REBEL SHIPS BLAZE
AWAY AT THE FORTS.

Big Guns Answer From the Forts,
but Little Damage is Done-Shots
Fired Into the City-ConsternatfoE.
in Brazil - American Interests
Unprotected.
Admiral Mello, commanding the rebel Bra
lillian fleet, carried out his threat to bonn
bard the forts guarding the bay OF Rio de
Janeiro The rebel war ships, including the
cruisers Aquidaban, Republica, and Trajano,
took up positions before the forts shortly be-
fore 0 o'clock a. M, and little after that
hour the signal to fire was set and was
promptly obeyed. :,
The first gun was fred from the flagship
OF toe fleet, and its detonation had scarcely
died away before the shot was answered
from the tort at which it was directed. The
firing then became general and the noise OF
the bombardment was deafentng.
From all the advises at hand. however, t
appears that little damage was done either TO
the forts or to the warshlps. Inc iour
twenty-ton breech-loading guns ofthe Aquid-
aban did not appear to be we'll handled, and
MANY OF their balls went wide oftheir marks:
Equally poor craftsmanship was displayed
by the gunners In the forts.
Considerable excitement prevailed In the
civ during the continuance OF the actual
hostilitles At about p. M, or afer the
bombardment had lasted six hours, the sig-
nal "Cease firing" was displayed on the
flagship and the rebel fleet withdrew. y,
There we're a few casualties among the
Government troops. TIE loss TO the reoels
or the damage TO the ships Is unknown.
Aside from the bombardment, the situation
at Rio de Janeiro remains unchanged.
IF was rumored that the bombardment OF
Rio de Janeiro was resumed next dag by the
rebel fleet.
The insur,ent squadron is also reported to
hayo bombarded an arsenal town near Rlo
de Janero. The insurgents captured the
Government gunboat Alagoas, which lay IN
the harbor anG surrendered wltnout nrln8
shot. The forts at the entrance to the har-
bor fired on the insurgent fleet, but without
success.
The insurgents directed their fire upon the
arsenals and forts. The Government IRON
clad Bahia, which started for the Paraguay
River to oppose any revolt in Matto CROSSE,
has been ordered to return to tho defence OF
Rio de Janeiro.
Secretary Gresham received the following
cable from Minister Thompson at Rio: "At IL
revolutionary forces bombarded forts COM
mandine entrance to harbor also arsenal on
wharf centre Of city. A few shells were fired
into the city, and q woman was killed In her
residence, Commercial kilograms have
again been forbidden. The Charleston hos
not yet arrived.
The Navy Department was informed OF the
departure Of the Detroit from Hampton
Roads for Brazil. An effort was made bY
telegraph 10 stop the vessel, that some addi-
tional instructions might be sent her COM
mander, but :he cruiser had gone before tne
despatch reached Fort Monroe. The in
strnctions will be sent by cablet to Barbados,
where the Detroit will touch for coal in
about five days.
The telegraph Office at Rio has been aban-
doned on account Of the bombardment. Tele-
Grams sent via Lisbon have passed uninter-
rupted, but the Galveston and other lines
have experienced much trouble in getting
telegraphic matter through.