Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-02-08
Furious Encounter Between the Rebel
Fleet and the Forts,
IN WHICH FOUR MEN ARE KILLED.
The Most Disastrous Battle of the
Rebellion-Hot Shot Poured In
to the Opposing Forces From
Sea and Shore-Engagements
Continued at Intervals All Day.
Three Hundred Shots Fired, but
Absolutely No Damage Done.

Copyrighted, 1897, 6y the ASsostGted Pressl
Rio DE JANEIRo, February THE
comparative quiet which has prevailed
here for ten days or more was rudely
interrupted yesterday by furious en-
counter between the Aquidaban and the
forts. followed by an attack by the
rebel fleet and the batteries in their
possession upon the shore defenses OF
the city.
Later in the day another fight took
place at Santa Anna and Ponta da
Areia. 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 Aqudaban had returned
from the North and that after trip TO
DeSterre, she was waiting outside the
bay for good chance to run in.
Consequently, the forces Of the Gov
ernment and the rebels were on the Qui
UiUe, ready to help or retard, as oppor-
tunity offered. In spite OF this the ar
rival of the Aquidsban was something
of surprise TO all. The night of JAN
uary IL was unusually cold,
A SUDDEN sQUALL
lashlng the waters of the bay and coast
into white caps and leaving behind a
heavy, Iow-lYing fog. Under cover OF
this the hQuidaban approached, and was
almost under the shadow Of Fort Santa
Cruz before she was SEEN, This was at
4:20 a. M, about an hour before sunrise.
Instantly the firing began from Fort
Santa Cruz, and moment later Fort St.
John Joined in the Sight. Little Fort
Lage, further inside the bay, also sent
her Quota TO increase the hail of missiles
which ratified around the daring Aquid-
aban. At that range, however, not a
shot reached its mark and the ship
pressed silently on into the narrow
channel between the fortresses. When
just opposite Fort Santa Cruz, in the
narrowest and most dangerous place,
she seemed to awake. From her huge
guns
FIRE sPURTED DANGEROUSLY,
and their heavy projectiles rushed forth
against her enemies.
Fort Villegaignon, far up the harbor,
now came into action, and by her rapid
fire attempted to draw of attention
from the Aquidaban. For half an hour
the fight continued, until at last the
Aquidaban dropped anchor alongside
the Tamandare, out OF range of all hos
tile batteries.
Then it was time to count results
Perhaps 300 shots had been fired. at
ranges of from 600 yards to two miles,
with guns OF from nine-inch 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 a 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.
NJ. on the shore batteries erected to
protect the customs house.
THE ONLY FATALITIES
reported were caused by the explosion
in the city of a heavy shell fred by the
Guanabara, which killed four men
named, Pedro Mainetti, policeman;
Manuel de Jesus Gadara, a shoemaker;
America Duarte, an apothecary; Manuel
Gonzalves Silva, medical student.
Late in the evening few more small
shots were fired into the city and an
unknown man was badly injured.