The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-21
MERE NANT0N SHOOTING.
Rival Forces Are Still Bang
ing Away in Brazil.
NEITHER SIDE SHOWS ANY GAIN.
Nictheroy Fight More Serious Than
First Reportcd-An Attempt Made
TO Blow Up the Government News
paper Organ.
By The ~ociatcd Press.

Rio DE JANEIgo. Feb. 2i.-The arrivai
of the Aquidaban caused only n temper
airy change in the situation here. After
the echoes of the cannonade which
greeted her entrance had died away and
after the Guanabars and the Cobras
island batteries had bombarded the lower
ports and the lower parts Of the city with
small arms and rapid fire guns and had
killed some 40 of Peixoto's soldiers, routine
duty was once more resumed.
The rebels have a regular program laid
out for the day. 1t Is subject to slight
alterations. but is in the main adhered
to. The hot hours, from 10 TO 8, are de
voted to sleep and quiet. Regularly at
O'Clock, some two hours before sunset
the rebels have target practice with their
heavy guns. The Aqutdaban and + aman
adare fire at the Armacao forts and at
the Bar forts Cobras island also opens
on the forts In casual sort of way.
Desuitory skirmishing.l
Fort villegaignon, half of which is 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
ID Is too dark To see WELL and the shoot
ing-it cannot be called flghting--ceases.
Nobody has been killed. At the most q
few stones are knocked out of place.
Villegaignon and Fort 'Bage 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 fight, which
usually begins on the Nictheroy side. The
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 Is considera bic, there
are usually some 40 soldiers and probably
a greater number of rebels killed. This
Is at about daylight.
After sunrise tho same vessels come
over TO the Rio side Of the bay and fire
at the soldiers garrisouing the breast
works at the custom house and along the
nearby streets. This fighting seems
utterly wanton. IL only results in the
killing of few poor devils Of soldiers and
few more rebels.
No advantage 10 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 AZ II this sort of
fighting might 10 on for years without
definite result TO either side.
Great Fight st Nictheroy.
The recent fighting at Nictheroy Is re-
ported TO have been more serious in itsire-
suits than was at first supposed. Before
the insurgents were driven off they sue
ceeded in burning the government arsenal
and in capturing Is guns. IL is declared
that the governments loss in men
amounted to 12s, while the insurgents
loss was 212.
A naval engagement between the in
surgent feet and the new government
squadron is expected in the early part OF
March.
An attempt has been made by secret
partisans of Admiral de Mello 10 blow
mp the Offices of the government journal,
Tempo, in this city, with dynamite. The
attempt was not successful