The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-03-05

Copyrighted, 1891, bym Asioci1'od Pren.l
Rio De JAXEIRo, Feb. &c, VIA MONTE
yIDEo, March 4.-Tho reports OF tho loss
Of the rebel transport Venus have been
confirmed, but the details OF the loss OF
tho vessel arc as yet meaGre.
On Friday morning the armed robol
transports Jupiter, Marte and Venus,
which were lying of Porto MOdama,
took UP positions oil Porto Madama and
opened bombardmcnt against tho gov
ernment batteries. The guns in the
batteries responded quickly and quito u
lively fro was exchanged. Suddenly
thoro was q terrific roar heard among
tho booming Of the guns and it was at
once conjecturcd that IN explosion had
occurred. At first it was thought that
disaster had bciallen the transport
Marie.
Immediately the sound OF the explo-
sion was heard tho men in the batter.
les, and elsewhere along tho shore saw q
huge cloud column of reddish brown
smoke ascending, and spreading out TO
wide Dimensions as it arose.
1t was seen as the smoke cleared away
little that the explosion had occurred
on the Venus. Tho vessel had been
torn in half and almost Immediately
afterwards the stern half OF tho wreck
went to the bottom. The bow half was
on fire, and in few minutes the flames
were raging furiously. This portion OF
the Venus floatcd for half hour and
:hon went down.
Tho Venus was commanded by Cap
tain Nascoucclos. lie, with three
officers and twenty men, made up the
complement OF tho vessel. Every soul
on board OF her was lost.
Many theories are current as to the
cause OF the disaster. Tho most prob.
able OF these is that n shot from the
shore batteries struck the Venus amid
ships and plowed its way through the
hull and boilers. 1t is pretty certain
that the magazine did not explode, for
the smoke, rs stated above, was OF
reddish brown color. whereas the smoke
OF powder ia groy. At any rate, what
ever the cause oil tho explosion, its force
must have beon terrific, US the vessel
was blown into halves as though made
OF cardboard.
1t has been reported that tho insur.
gents on tho islands OF Wanna. Engenho
and Pontal had ruvoltcd against their
leaders and declared in favor OF the
government. The representative OF the
Associated Press is in position to
statc that there ia no basis oil truth in
these reports. The insurgents on tho
islands in question arc enthusiastic IN
support OF their leaders.
No importance is attached to the cap
turo OF Bage by the government forces.
Tho place is Of little. il any, strategic
value.
1t Is generally believed that the in
surrection hero and in the south is vir-
tually over. Tho rebels arc losing ut all
points, and to all impartial observer the
long drawn out struggle is in sight.
By far tho most bloody battle that
has been fought during tho revolt took
place early in the morning OF February
0, at ArmacHo mountain, when tho in-
surgcnts lost go mcu. As tho entire
rebel iorce here numbers less than 500
mon, their loss on this occasion was
very serious blow to them. The rebels
at frat rcpulsed the government troops,
but tho discovery OF largo supply OF
whisky proved fatal to the attacking
force.
Tho rebels devoted themselves to
drinking tho whisky, with the result
that in very short timc many OF them
wore placed hOrS dc combat. It was
while the greater number OF the rebels
were In helplessly intoxicated condi-
ton that tho severe loss was inflicted
upon them by the government troops.
Those who wore uninjurcd and had
sense enough to flee took to their boats
and soon placed themselves outside Of
the range Of fire.
Fresh guns have now been mounted
upon the batteries, which arc now doing
MS much damage to the rebcl ileet US
was done before the attack was made.
Tho rebels arc very seriously crippled
owingto their lack OF men. In addition
to this every one OF their ships here
with the exception OF the Aquidaban
has been shot full OF nolus by tho gov
crnmcnt forces. Their facilities for rc.
pairing the damage done their ships
ara vnrv rnnarrp and Conapnuantlv ,hnir