The Forrest City times., 1894-02-02
FROM RIO DE JANeIRo.

Anront to the American Admiral Ben
 ham. Who Is Attempting. Unofficislly,
 the Role of Peacemaker.
 Rio DE JANEIRo. VIA MoNTEvIDEo. Jan. 30.-Early on the morning of the e4th inst, a strong force of insurgents landed on Bom Jeus island. under cover of fire from their launches, and captured the breastworks held by the government troops. One field gun and quantity of ammunition also fell iuto their hands. Enough provisions to load one of the launches were taken by the insurgents. It is reported that twenty-five were killed and seventy wounded. Two merchant launches were carried off. and it is stated along the shore that they were destroyed.
 The government forces are engaged in mounting heavy cannon on the cof fee docks IL is highly probable that this action may provoke the insurgents to again bonn bard the city.
 There is no basis whatever for the reports that Rear Admiral Benham. commanding the American squadron here. is acting in an official capacity in the attempt to bring about settle ment of the troubles by arbitration That he is seeking to bring the troubles to an end is true, but he is simply act ing as private citizen in the negotia- tions
 Admiral Saldanha da Cana, the com mander of the insurgent fleet before the city. made long visits to the San Francisco, Admiral Benham's flagship on Monday and Tuesday, and yesterday Gen. Jose Carvalho. an intimate friend of President Peixoto. called upon Ad- miral Benham. The situation was fully discussed Admiral Benham's opinion is that Admiral da Gama asks too much. and that Peixoto will con- cede too little. It was considered probable that Admiral Benham would see Peixoto yesterday.
 There are renewals of the reports that the insurgents have made further gains in the state of Parana.
 It is said that there is no excitement in the state of Sac Paulo. The best informed sympathizers with the insur- gents say that endorsements for those fighting the government here will not come overland from Parana, as to do so they would have to cross high mountains and wilderness.
 The insurgents have not landed at Nictheory since they failed to hold their position there.
 It is said among the insurgent sym pathizers that the failure of the gov ernment naval fleet to arrive here is due to the fact that the officers of the vessels have been bribed to delay their arrival as long as possible.
 Mir. Thompson. the American minis ter. hopes to make his first call on President Peixoto to-day. Hitherto he has been. snubbed daily, and has found 1t useless to attempt to meet Peixoto.
 The bombardment of Forts Ville- gaignon and Cobras draws few specta- tors, the novelty of the firing having worn off. The frequent musketry fir ing around the customhouse excites comment only when some poor fellow is killed.
 The insurgents say that the govern ment victory at Bage, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, where the insur- gents were forcedsto retreat after be- sieging the city for long time, cost so9 lives among the loyal forces.
 There Is an average of seventeen eases of yellow fever daily in Rio Janeiro 4 fair amount of business is being doIe. The rate ot exchange is the lowest ever known.
 The minister of justice, representing Peixoto. engaged to meet Admiral Ben ham officially at noon Sunday at the American consulate. The edmi-al, at tired in full uniform. was at the con- sulate at the appointed time, but the minister of justice did not appear. Admiral Benham waited for an hour, and, as the minister had not then ap- peared, he left.
 An hour later an orderly from the ministry went to the consulate and said that the minister of justice was engaged elsewhere that day. but did not tender an apology for his absence. All the officers and men of the Ameri- can fleet are fairly wild over the dis courteous treatment accorded Admiral Benham by the minister.