Huntsville gazette., 1894-02-03

Insurgents-The Latter May Again
Bombard the City-An objectionable
Afront to the American Admiral Ben
ham. Who is Attempting, Unofficialiy,
the Role of Peacemaker.
Rio DE JANEIRo, VIA MoNTEvIDEo,
Jan. 30.-Early on the morning of the
oath inst, a strong force of insurgents
landed on Bonn Jeus island, under
cover of fire from their launches, and
captured the breastworks held by the
government troops. One field gun and
q quantity of ammunition also fell iuto
their hands Enough provisions to
load one of the launches were taken
by the insurgents. 1t 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. II is highly probable that
this action may provoke the insurgents
to again BON bard the city
There is no basis whatever for the
reports that Rear Admiral Benham IN,
commanding the American squadron
here, is acting in an official capacity
in the attempt to bring about a settle
ment of the troubles by arbitration.
That he is seeking to bring the troub bles
to an end is true, but he is simply act
ing as a 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
miral Benham The situation was
fully discussed. Admiral Benham's
opinion is that Admiral da CANA asks
too much, and that Peixoto will con-
cede too little. 1t WAS considered
proba BILE that Admiral Benham would
| see PeiXoto yesterday
There are renewals of the reports
that the insurgents have made further
gains in the state of Paraua.
il is said that there is no excitement
IN the state of Sac Pauio The best
informed sympathizers with the insur-
gents say that reinforcements for
those fighting the government here
| will not come overland from Parana,
rs 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.
1t is said among the insurgent SYM
pathizers that the failure of the gov
ernment naval feet 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.
Mr.. 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
| it useless to attempt to meet PeiXoto.
| The bonn bardment of Forts Vile
| 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 SUI, where the insur-
gents were forced TO retreat after De-
sieging the city for a long time, cost
300 lives among the loyal forces
There is an average of seventeen
ca ses of yellow fever daily in Rio
| Janeiro. A fair amount of business is
| beirg done. The rate of 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 admiral, 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 tire 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 ard men of the Ameri-
| can fleet are fairly wild over the dis
| courteous treatment accorded Admiral
Ranhan bv the minister