The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-12-13

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-Commodore
Stanton called at the department during
the day and made his way TO the bureau
Of navigation. Altogether he spent sew
eral hours at the department today.
Secretary Herbert has requested that his
report be made in writing. The secre-
tary said today that he had no intention
Of keeping the proceedings or the con-
clusion in the Stanton matter secret,
but that he was not prepared at this
time to make statement on the sub
ject. The report to be made will not
change the understanding of the facts
materially on which was based the re-
call of the commodore. 1t has been sur
missed that he would be kept on shore
or waiting orders indefinitely as a re-
suit Of the report without any further
formal action being taken in the matter.
but Secretary Herbert's statement seems
TO indicate an intention TO formulate the
result more explicitly than this.
Commodore Stanton consented tonight
to talk concerning the scenes surround
ing and stirring incidents Of the harbor
Of Rio JaneirO. He made no mention or
the incident which caused his recall.
But with this single reservation the COM
modore talked entertainingly concerning
the Brazilian troubles, describing the
harbor and position Of the fleets, the
destruction wrought on shore and the
personal appearance and characteristics
Of the insurgent leader. Admiral Mello.
The scene of all this cannonading is
most picturesque and beautiful spot"
said the commodore. The harbor Of Rio
is surrounded by green hills and a num-
Der Of sharply defined mountains which
have never been subject to glacial action
and are therefore rugged and with acute
peaks. The harbor is small, circular, but
grows narrow as you approach the city,
where the stream is about mile and a
half wide. As we entered the haTbOr
from the Atlantic the Sugar loaf mount
ain, LOO feet high, was on our left and
farther on rose a peak Of 2,2O0 feet and
another of $500 feet. The first indica-
tons Of hostilities one observes is TT.
Santa Cruz on the right and Ft Joas
on the left They are of white masonry,
built very strong and heavy, and the
surf from the ocean dashes against the
abrupt walls which run down to the wa
ter's edge. Both Of these forts are loyal
to the government. Passing between
them you find a small fort called Fl.
Lage, well built and mounted, but not
comparing with the large fOrtiicatiOns.
FIT. Lage Is also loyal to the government.
Still farther on is Fl. Villege ignan, on
an island, which is in the control of the
insurgents. It's a powerful fertilization
and is so far inside the harbOr as to
place the insurgents dangerously near
the city Of Rio and the town Of Nicthe-
roy across the stream. There is no reg
ularity in the firing Of the various forts.
They start up ftfully and continue for
half an hour, but then die down. Usu-
ally about o'clock in the afternoon
the cannOnading is the heaviest.
THE fleets Of the various nations are
scattered considerably, although the 10
cal harbor master still endeavors to
grant anchorage with some reference to
the relations between the various YES
sells. There are no great battleshipS in
the harbOr nor any vessels of the dimen-
siOns seen at the naval review in New
York harbOr. The English have three
ships, with the Sirius, a protected cruiser
much like the Charleston, as the ship Of
the senior officer. One Of the British
ships, the Beagle, seems to keep away
from the others and is evidently thrown
forward for purpose of close observation
of the two cOntending forces. The
French ship is the Aretheuse, which was
AZ q
Germans have two good cruisers, the
Italians have three and another was ar
irving with the Italian admiral on board
as I departed.
1.-THE Portuguese have one ship. The
United States had two fine ships while
I was there and their appearance in
comparison with the fleet of other ma
tons was enough to satisfy the most ar
dent patriot"
Commodore Stanton was asked to de-
scribe the personal appearance Of Pres
ident Peixoto and Admiral A1ello.
Il did not meet PeixOto personally
said he, "but 1 heard much of him and
saw many Of his pictures. In reality
he Is vice-president of Brazil, as it is
said that he prefers to hold the vice
presidency and thus avoid the consttu-
tional disqualification of presidential
second terms. AS Vice-president he is
again eligible as president, although as
a matter of fact he rules in every sense
of the word. He is a man Of firmness
and great force Of character.
Admiral Mello is a man Of medium
build with swarthy complexion, small
mustache and clean-shaven face. He
speaks English freely, although one can
detect the foreign accent He is quiet
in his manner, but gives evidence Of
travel and culture. The government
forces concede that MellO is a brave Off
GER When I saw him he was not in
full uniform of the Brazilian navy, al
though he holds to the regular uniform
and flag. He wore what is known as a
service uniform, consisting of a small
cap instead of a chapeau and a, frock
coat with shoulder bars instead of
epaulettes. He was not accompanied by
any extended suite. A lieutenant was
with him, acting as aide
ON BOARD THE NICTHEROY.