The herald., 1893-12-23
The RumOred Overthrow of
President PeixOtO.
Admiral De MellO Said to Have
Taken the Capital.
TIE Sensational Report Lacks Off
cial Confirmation.
A Heavy Battle in One of the Southern
Provinces-The Insurgent Forces
VictOrfous-The Rebels Lose
One OF Their Ships.

BY the Associated Press.
PERNAMBUCo, Dec. 22.-Startling ru-
mors have reached here from various
sources which lend an air of credibility
to them. to the effect that the insurgent
feet at Rio de Janeiro, after two days
desultory fighting, made q determined
attack in forcs and captured the city.
1t is added that President Peixoto re-
signed in favor of Admiral de Mello
and that Peixoto is prisoner.
Though this is general rumor,
it is right to add that the people
of Pernambuco do not credit it. Your
correspondent was unable to obtain a
reply to messages sent south, and mes
sages from the Associated Press CORES
pondent at Rio are apparently inter
cepted, lending color to the belief that
something extraordinary has happened.
A battle between rebels and gov
ernment forces is reported to have
been fought yesterday in the interior.
Fifty government troops are said to have
been killed.
RUMoRs NOT CONFIRMED.
WASHINGTON, Dec. .22.-The govern
ment has received no advices indicating
the capture of Rio de Janeiro, though
it has been believed that Pres.
ident Peixoto lie losing ground and
liable to serious reverses at any
time. The officers are inclined to think
if decisive results had been reached
Captain Picking would have been heard
from. At the Brazilian legation the re-
port is doubted, but the ordinary daily
message was not received, and apparent
ly something has occurred to delay it.
NO WORD RECEIVED.
Neither in official nor diplomatic cir
cles has any word been received which
confirms the rumors that Rio has fallen
and Peixoto has resigned and is q pris-
oner. The belief among officials and
are premature to say the least.
/ No such. information has been received
from Captain Picking in command of
the United States forces in Brazil, and
this is considered as showing that the
Pernambuco rumors are not true. The
department officials do not believe they
would be kept in ignorance of such i'm
portant events az the overthrow of the
government and the capture of the pres
ident.
At the Brazilian legation no cables
have been received since the departure
of Mendonca for New York last Wednes-
day.
QUITE IMPROBABLE.
DIR. Zeballos. the Argentine minister,
says Buenos Ayres is the New York of
South America, and would undoubtedly
know of such important results as
rumored in Brazil. He has received no
advices and doubts the report. He
says Mello and CANA have no force
strong enough to capture Rio, where
Peixoto has 5000 soldiers to repel the
invasion. The report is probably based
on the fact that the rebels have taken
some outpost or part of the city.
NOT BELIEVED IN LONDON.
LONDON, Dec. 22.-The reports that
Rio de Janeiro surrendered to the in
surgents is not credited here. Inquiry
at the Office OF the Eastern Telegraph
company elicits the information that
cable traffic with Rio is proceeding as
usual. Nothing has transpired to indi-
cete that any important change in the
situation has occurred.
surgent forces reached the city sfter the
close OF business hours. The Brazilian
minister said the last cable message
received from Rio was December Goth,
when the minister of marine said all
was quiet.
MENDoNCA UNINFoRMED.
New YoRK, Dec. 22.-Minister Mem
donca said today: II received cable
grams from Rio this morning, but have
no advices to confirm the report of
Mello's triumph"
Mendonca's secretary stated that the
minister did not believe the report.
REBEL VICTORY.
The Herald's Montevideo special,
dated December %, says News is re.
ceived of fight which began Wednes-
day between government troops and
insurQent forces from Santa Catharina.
General Garaiva's men had joined with
those under Salgado, making total
of 5000. The fighting place was in
Itaiahy, the insurgent divisions being
led by Generals Pinheiro, Michado,
Luna and Martins. According to the
latest reports the rebels lost 400 men,
but had the government troops 30 badly
penned in that thelr surrender seemed
unavoidable.
REBELs WELL ARMED.
The rebels are we'll armed. having
lately received 1000 rifles and guns
brought from Rio on board the Aquida-
ban, The Republica lie taking on coal
and ia almost ready to eail. It is ru-
mored she is coming to Montevideo to
fight Peixoto's squadron gathering here,
and one of Mello's steamers, the Meteoro,
ia reported ashore at Barra, Itapaby.
While she was accommodating at the
harbor entrance she ran aground, and
the government artillery there, consist
ing Of 40 guns, opened fire upon her
and kept up cannonade till all Of the
crew were killed.
SEVERE ENGAGEMENT.
BUENos AYREs, Dec. pa severe en-
gagement between Brazilian insurgents