The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-15
THE RAVAGES Of FEVER
Said to Be Thinning Ranks
of Brazilian Insurgents.
GOVERNMENT IS GAINING GROUND.
Artillery Duels Between Opposing
Forces Occur Daily--MelIo Seriously
Ill on Board Ship and His Illness Is
Very Disastrous TO His Cause.

Rio DE JANEIRo, Jan. 15.-News was
received in this city yesterday from the
south of n character most encouraging to
the Brazilian government and dishearten-
ing to the insurgent admiral II is to the
effect that the long expected and much
relied upon m-enforcements from Santa
Catharina are unlikely to give anything
like prompt assistance to their fellow in
surgents now in Rio harbor. In fact, it
looks as il the revolutionary leaders at
Santa Catharina would be unable to lend
any aid to Admiral da CANA.
The serious illness of Admiral de Mello
on board the Republica has had an APP
parently disastrous effect upon the in
surgent forces in the southern part of the
republic.
In Rio Grande do Sui the insurgents
have raised the siege of Bage and have
left that city in triumphant possession of
the government garrison. In "A number
of other engagements in the south the
revolutionists have suffered defeat and
many of Mello's men have been wounded
or killed.
Insurgents Are Disconnected.
Unless Mello rapidly RECEIVERS from his
illness and is able by his presence TO re-
animate his men the outlook for the in
surgents is very dark indeed. Discontent
prevails to large extent in their ranks,
and desertions are numerous. Fever Is
also thinning the insurgent army. Unless
something be quickly done Mello will lose
fully one-half of his entire force In the
south.
This news will likely lead 10 greater ac-
tivity than ever on the part of Peixoto,
and battle between his troops and the
insurgent squadron and forts of decisive
character will probably be fought within
very short time. The inhabitants of
Rio are heartily tired of the war, and the
epidemics now raging make the desire
for restoration of peace the stronger.
Fortifying Rio.
The government is using every effort to
make the insurgents position in Rio har-
Dor untenable. Every point AROUND the
bay is being made use of for military pur-
poses. Guns are now mounted on all the
commanding positions in and about the
city and on the shore front between Rio
and Fort Sac Jose, and from Santa Cruz
to Nictheroy. Other guns have been
recently mounted on Armacao point and
Mucangue island.
There Is total of some 400 pieces of
artillery in position. Many Of them are
old-fashioned and of little use. Some
Whiteworths, few Armstrong; and a
number of Krupps make quite respect
able showing.
Daily there is an artillery duel between
the forts, and the amount Of ammunition
used so far has been enormous. Still the
firing continues just as though the sup
ply was inexhaustible. The soldiers lin
ing the shore front keep up heavy rife
fire upon Fort Villegaignon, the latter re-
plying with It's machine guns. All the
buildings on the island of Villegaignon
are in ruins. The mortality among the
garrison at Fort Villegaignon has been
very heavy, the average being 10 killed
and wounded weekly since the garrison
joined in the fight.
The government Is gradually closing
In upon the insurgents In Rio harbor, and
the position of Admiral da Cana Is be-
coming more and more difficult every
day. Unless the promised REINFORCE
ments arrive very soon from the south
Admiral da CANA cannot hold his posi-
tion in front of this city much longer.
The hot spell and dry weatl O. have set
In, and they are said TO be the sure pre-
cursors !of an outbreak of the dreaded
vomito factor that possibly may play an
important part in terminating the civil
war SO far as this city is concerned.