The morning call., 1893-12-08
struck. When 1 boarded the Aquida ban /
was received by Meilo with the utmost

courtesy.
II want to repeat" he said, "that it
never was my intention to restore the
monarchy. The majority of Brazilians
are opposed to it. My sole object is to rid
Brazil Of the military despotism which
now threatens to prevail. Florino Peixoto
is OF stubborn nature. greedy for power
and money, cruel and revengeful. During
the early days of the revolution had hoped
to receive aid from persons on shore. They
deceived me. however, lured by the pay
ment of immense sums from Peixoto My
aspirations are for the liberty of all the
people and not for personal gain. These
sentiments actuate all Of my adherents.
Saldanha de Cana lis on my side, and /
hope within the coming week to receive
valuable aid from General Gumersindo
Saraiva, who is now coming from Santa
Catalina toward Parana. he is valuable
ally.
II want to deny emphatically that the
Javary was sunk by shots from the forts.
The sinking was due to her springing a
leak. caused by concussion resulting from
the continuous firing of her heavy guns.
Her gunners were unable to use the hy-
draulic loading gear, which had been dis
abled, and they were obliged to load by
hand. l think the powder charges used
two days before the sinking were too
heavy. The Javary had been leaking for
the last two weeks and the pumps were
constantly in use. The ship was old and
was not well taken care Of, as no repairs
had been made on her.
ut was cowardly on the part Of the
shore troops to fire on my boats when they
were engaged in rescuing men from the
Javary. 1t was barbarous. l have the
Aquidaban, the Republca. the Jupiter, the
EsperanZa and other armed steamers which
are well filed with guns. We have abund-
ant charges aboard them to last several
months, while there is no lack OF fresh
food received daily. My hope at present
is that the conflict will be ended in ten
days In some decisive way. Perhaps,
in case Of certain contingencies arising, l
shall take the Aquidaban, which is able to
steam IL knots an hour, 10 Tamadore, and
seven other steamers. and endeavor TO
force the passage of the bar"
This ended the interview, and with Ad-
miral Mello's permission l inspected the
Aquidaban. The only damage the flagship
has thus far sustained has been to her
cabin woodwork, which was smashed by
shells from HOtchkiss guns. While / was
on board the Aquidaban she fred four
shots from her heavy guns. The ship
acted spendidly. While il is natural, un-
der the circumstances. that the ship would
hardly be in shipshape, her officers and
crew appear to be undaunted. The utmost
discipline prevails among her men. They
handled the guns with alacrity.
Just before l left the ship Admiral
MellO said: II feel that my comrades on
the foreign naval ships sympathize with
me. The action of the foreign Govern
ments in permitting Peixoto to buy ships
is perfectly legitimate. but with the AQui-
daban and the Republica do not fear to
fight with the ships which he has bought
in the United States
When 1 was leaving the ships the guns
from the forts Of Sac Joao Grogoatia fred
shell and shot at the Aouidaban, and some
of them fell within twenty metres Of the
Aquidaban. The Isla Colras, previously
held by Saldanha da Cana, Is now occu-
pied by Mello. This gives him a com.
mandiDg position. BoyDton, who tried to
blow up the Aquidaban. Is now in custo
of Ensign Carter and en- route to New
York on board the Sirius.
The situation in Rio is unchanged. Tho
only new point, in my opinion, is that in
case Mello makes landing several regi
ments OF the National Guard will un.
doubtedly 60 over to him. The papers
here simply record daily the number of
shots exchanged by the Government forts
with VillegagnOn and the ships.