The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-18
PIEXOTO'S WAR FLEET
Why the Plans Mapped at New
York Were Not Carried Out.
The Scheme TO Shoot Dynamite at the
Rebel Forts and Ships Thwarted-
Mosquito Territory Towns Seized.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 17.-There were
forty-five deaths here. yesterday, from yell
low fever, and fifteen deaths from other
fevers- The United States cruiser New
York has gone to sea suddenly. 1t is sus-
pected that she is tainted with fever. The
United States cruiser Detroit left here a
week ago In order TO look into the state Of
affairs at Santos, Paranagua and Desterro.
She had no fever on board when she left
this port There are only seven foreign
war ships here at present, and there is lit
tie doing.
There is absolutely no truth in the SEN
sational report csculated to the effect that
one of the rebel ships recently fired on the
steam launch belonging to the United States
cruiser Newark.
The Santuit, the steamship commanded
by Captain Sturges, which arrived at Per-
nambuco on Jan. 20, towing the Brazilian
torpedo boat Pirating, ormerly the De
stroyer, arrived here during the past night
with go passengers on board. Considerable
curiosity as we'll as establishment has been
expressed at the fact that the much-talked-
of cruisers Nictheroy and America, fitted
out in New York, have been so inactive.
People expected the Nictheroy, especially,
to do something startling with her dynam-
tie gun, and when she did nothing but
cruise outside Of Pernambuco and recently
made for Bahia the report was circulated
that there were discussions among the
crew and that the dynamite gun was use
less.
The Associated Press correspondent has
investigated the inaction of the Peixoto
fleet, with the result that he has obtained
the following statement from a person who
should undoubtedly be able to tell the true
story of the affair. In the first place,
the Nictheroy never intended TO engage the
Aquidaban, and when it was reported that
the Republic and Aquidaban had started
in search of the Nictheroy the latter vessel
was ready TO do some good steaming in
some direction which would separate her
from the insurgent ships as much as pos
sible. Following is the plan of operations
which was mapped out for the Nictheroy
in New York between the dynamite gun
company's people and the representatives
of the Brazilian government: A perfect
map or chart of the harbor of Rio de
Janeiro was carefully measured and di-
guns projectiles. The Nictheroy was
to go TO the entrance of the
from behind those entrances, protected
from attack by the guns of the forts at
the entrance, was to have hurled her huge
dynamite shells into Fort ~Villegaignon, sit
uated on the island, which has proved of
such great assistance TO the insurgents.
After Fort Villegaignon had been silenced,
was to nave entered the bay and to have
taken up a position behind Fort Villegaig-
of the rebel ships, she was TO have sent
her dynamite missiles into the .enemy's
feet. But the facility with which the
Aquidaban and the Republica left the har-
hnr nf pin do 1nnpfrn thnG demons CT 20 ting
the very weak nature of the fire which the
entrance forts could direct upon a man
Nictheroy was to have sailed for Desterro,
the southern stronghold of the insurgents,
with the intention of d~ynamiting that
This last plan might nave been carried
out before this had ii not been for the fact
that the Peixoto fleet has been lying. at
Pernambuco and more recently at Bahai,
anxiously waiting for d supply OF ammuni-
ton for its powder guns. The vessels were
fitted so hastily in New York and there was
so much anxiety TO get them south that
only a small s~upplysof ammunition
for the powder guns was taken on board, it
being understood that the remainder was
to follow promptly, but il seems the com
pany which was to furnish the ammunition
did not keep up TO its contract and the
Nictheroy, America anu other vessels of
the PeiXoto fleet have been far from ready
to engage the enemy, a fact which might
have been valuable TO the insurgents had ii
leaked out before this.
IN order 10 conceal the true state of af-
fairs reports were spread that the new
cruisers were awaiting the arrival of the
German torpedo boats, etc; that there were
discussions among the crews, and that the
dynamite gun was out of order and prac-
tically useless, owing to the fact that the
BraZilianS were unable TO work il. The As
ISOLATED Press correspondent, however, is
assured that the dynamite gun is in perfect
working condition at present, and that both
the Nicthercy and America have crews sIf-
ficent TO fight the two vessels. There was
some leakage TO some or the supply pipes
of ths dynamite gun when 1t was tried after
leaving New York, but these defects, due to
fitted out, have been remedied and the
Dynamite Gun Company has on board the
NiCtherOy at present an expert handler of
dynamite guns who pronoUnceS his weapon
to be in the most perfect condition. Final
~, by this time, the Nictheroy and Amer
lea have received their supplies of ammuni-
ton for the powder guns, and both are in
good fighting trim.