Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-02-21
A THOUSAND KILLED
a Battle at NICtherOy Re-
suited in BIOOdShed.
BOTH SIDES MIL Fight iNG.
Needless Slaughter Which Givs But
Little Sati faction 70 Ei her Side.

Rio DE JANRIRo. Feb. 2l.-The recent
fghting at Nictheroy is reported to have
been more serious than was AT Grst
supposed. Before the insurg, nts were
driven off they succeeded In burning the
government arsenal and ia capturing Il
guns. 1t il declared that the govern
ment's loss in men amounted 10 72s, while
the insurgents loss was 272.
naval engagement between the In.
suraent fleet and the new governl n ent
squadron Is expected Ia the early part OF
March.
An attempt has been made by secret
partissns OF Admiral de Mello To blow
up the Offices of the government Journal,
Tempo, In this city, with dynamite. The
attempt was not successful.
Now ON Routine Duty
The arrival Of the Aquidahan caused
only temporary change in the situation
here. After the echoes Of the cannonade
which greeted her entrance had died
away and after the Gusnabara and the
Cobras island batteries had bonn bsrded
the lower ports and the lower parts Of the
city with small arms and rapid fire guus
and had killed some 40 Peixoto soldiers,
routine duty was once more resumed
The rebels have a regular program laid
ont for the day. IL is subject 10 sligh
alterations. but 10 in the main adhered
TO. The hot hours, from 10 TO 5, are de-
voted to sleep and quiet. Regularly at 5
O'Clock, some two hours before sunset,
the rebels have target practice with their
heavy guns. The Aquidaban and Taman-
adare fire at the Armacao forts and at
the Bar forts. Cobras island also opens
on the forts In a casual sort Of way.
Fort Villegaignon, half OF which IL only
heap Of ruins. bangs away from the
trenches which have replaced her walls.
The government forts at the entrance Of
the harbor at Armacao and at Governors
island reply. For three hours heavy shot
may be heard every five minutes. Then
IL IN too dark 20 see well, and the shoot
ing-it cannot be called nghting-cssses.
Nobody has been killed. At the most Q
few stones are knocked out OF place.
Forts Battered.
Villegaignon and Fort Bsge are the
only ones that show any signs Of war.
Each has battered down the nearest side
OF the other.
Later the rebels begin their arrange
ments for the morning hght, which
usually begins on the Nictheroy side. Tit
heavy ships and guns take little part In
this The smaller vessels rush along,
using their rapid fire guns furiously and
seeking for a chance to land and storm
the government batteries This seldom
comes, but the fighting Is heavy, and
although the range il considera BILE, there
are usually some 10 soldiers and probsbly
a greater number Of rebels killed. This
is at about daylight.
After sunrise the same vessels come
over to the Rio side OF the bay and fire
at the soldiers garrisoning the breast
works at the custom house and along the
nearby streets. This fighting seems
utterly wanton. 1t only results In the
killing of few poor devils of soldiers and
a few more rebels.
No advantage Is gained, or can be
gained, by either side. At about or 10
o'clock the big guns begin roaring again
and exchange harmless shots The heavy
guns are never fired against the city OF
Rio.
Altogether, IL seems as II this sort OF
fighting might go on for years without
definite result to either side.