St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-08
FURIOUS FIRING AT RIO.
ENCOUNTER BETWEEN WARSHiP AQUl-
DaBAN AND THE FORTS.
ONLY FOUR MEN WE'RE KILLED.

Heavy Projectiles Sent Against
the Rebel Ship. but She Es-
capped Uninjured-Three Hun
dred Shots Were Fired at
Range Of From Six Hundred
Yards to Two Miles.
| Copyright 1894, by the Associated Press. I
Rio DE JANEIRo, Feb. THE COM
rarative quiet which has prevailed here
for ten days or more was rudely dis
turbed yesterday by furious encounter
between the Aquidaban and the forts,
followed by an attack by the rebel fleet
and the batteries in their position upon
the shore detenses of the city.
Later in the day fight took place at
Santa Anna and Ponta da Arera. All
the fighting, however, only resulted in
the killing of four men and the mortally
wounding of fifth. These were all
citizens of Rio. What loss, if any, the
rebels sustained is not known. 1t had
been rumored for two days that the
Aquidaban had returned from the
north and that after trip to DeSterre
she was waiting outside the bay for a
good chance to run in.
Consequently, the forces of the gov
ernment and the rebels were on the qui
yive, ready to help or retard, as oppCr-
tunity offered. In spite of this, the ar
rival of the Aquidaban was something
of surprise to all. The night of Jan.
II was unusually cold, sudden squall
laShing the waters of the bay and coast
into white caps, and leaving behind a
heavy low-lying fog. Under cover of
this the AQuldaban approached almost
under the shadow of Fort Santa Cruz.
and moment later Fort St.John joined
in the fight. Little Fort Lago, further
inside the bay. also sent her quota to
increase the hail of missiles which rat
tied around the dark Aquidaban. at
that range, however, not a shot reached
its mark. and without deigning reply
the big black ship passed silently on
into the narrow channel between the
fortresses.
Further on, not 300 yards away, the
AQuidaban worked her guns furiously,
sending plunging fire down upon the
docks of the warship st. John, a mile
away.
Further on, Fort Santa Cruz, not 800
yards away from the Aquidaban, worked
her guns furiously. sending plunging
fire down upon the decks of the war
ship, Fort st. John, mile away. sent
her heaviest projectiles against the rebel
ships broadside, while Fort Lage swept
her decks with a raking fire. A ship
could hardly be subjected TO more Sc
we're test. and yet the Aquidaban passed
rapidly Oh. apparently uninjured. Such
shots as struc k her glanced from her
turrets or rebOunded, like peas, from
her armor. When just opposite Fort
Santa Cruz, In the narIoweSt and most
dangerous place, she seemed to awake.
From her huge guns fire spurted dam
gerously and their heavy projecties
rushed forth against her enemies. Fort
VillegaignOn, far up the harbor, now
came into action and by her rapid fire
attempted to draw off attention from the
| AQuidaban. For half an hour the fight
| continued, until at last the Auuidaban
dropped anchor alongs the Taman-
dare, out Of range of all hostile bat
| ueries. Then iE was time to count re-
suits. Perhaps 300 shots had been
| fred at ranges of from 900 yards to two
| miles, with guns of from 9-calibre down
to six-pounders. Yet, so far as can be
| learned. absolutely
NO DAMAGE WAS DONE.
The Aquidaban. though struck heav-
| lily several times, was practically un-
hurt, while not single shot, either
from her batteries or from Fort Vile
| gaignon, struck any one Of the govern
ment forts.
| Later the Guanabara, one of the rebel
torpedo cruisers, opened fire (at 5:35 a.
m.) on the shore batteries erected to
protect the custom house. There was
another from the shore. but neither side
seemed to do much damage A little
later Cobras island and the cruiser Ira
| jano joined the Guanabara, and still
later the Libertade, with Admiral da
! Gama's flag flying, also came into &C
tion. The latter, however, contented
| herself with firing three heavy pro-
| jectiles, which passed over the shore
defenses and buried themselves in the
heart of the city.
The only fatalities reported were
caused by the explosion in the city of a
heavy shell, fired by the Guanabara,
which killed four men. namely:
Pedre Mainetti, policeman.
Manuel de Jesus Gadarela, a shoe.
maker.
America Duarte. an apothecary.
Mannel Gonzales de Silva, medical
student.
The fire ceased after a while, only to
be renewed at p. In. against Santa
Anna and Ponta da Arera, where it was
replied to by the batteries there mount
ed, and those at Madama and Do Velho.
The action was desultory. little damage
being done. This was a good days
fighting for Rio de Janeiro. Later in
the evening few small shots were fired
into the city, and an unknown man was
badly injured.
Contre Admiral Julio de Novouha has
assumed command of the governments
naval forces here and else where.