The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-14
PEIXOTO OPENS A HOT FIRE
The Rebels Fail to Reply and the War
at an End.


ships-The Insurgent Fleet and Forts
in Possession of the Government.
Great Rejoicing in the City.
Washington, March 49, - Secretary
Gresham received a long cipher dispatch
from Minister Thompson this afternoon,
of which the following translation was
made public: "The forts loyal to the
government commenced firing on the in
surgents today at noon. The insurgents
have not returned the firing. The govern
ment has refused the terms of capitula-
tion offered by Da Cana, and announces
that they will commence firing from the
city batteries at 3 o'clock this afternoon,
The city is practically deserted"
Secretary Gresham and his advisers
were literally astounded by the informa-
tion. Although the dispatches received
last night from Minister Thompson suf-
fered considerable in transmission, or
else in putting them into the cipher at
Rio, enough was learned from those parts
which were decipherable to Justify the
Interpretation placed on them that Ad-
miral da CANA had consented to become
an exile and deliver up his vessels on the
sole condition that the lives of his follow
ers would be spared 1t was not for an
instant doubted that these terms would
prove acceptable to President Piexoto,
and that he would promptly grant the
partial amnesty, which was considered so
reasonable.
PLEASED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
officials here to-day were congratulat-
ing each other that the trouble along the
Brazilian coast was surely settled, and
that commerce would no longer be ham
pered. At the cabinet meeting this
morning every member present expressed
satisfaction that the end had been
reached An hour later Il messenger
from the state department hurried over
to the white house with the latest news,
which upset all previous calculations.
The navy department which had been an
noyed with the failure of Admiral Benham
To confirm the pleasing news of the day
before, had suggested the explanation
that he was probably too far down the
bay to learn what information was ac-
| cessible to Minister Thompson in the
| city, but confidence was expressed that
the necessity for maintaining the United
States fleet in its present proportions was
on the eve of disappearing, and the next
dispatch from the admiral would in all
likelihood announce the cessation of
hostilities, and he would proceed
down the coast to watch Admiral Mello.
DISPATCH FROM BENHAM.
Officials were surprised late in the
afternoon to receive the following dis
patch from Admiral Benham, dated
March 13: "Notice has been given by
the government that the bombarding of
the insurgent ships and forts will com
mence at high noon, March 49, 1t is re
ported that the insurgent admiral has
taken refuge on board the Portuguese man
of-war. On inquiry find he is not on
board yet"
DA GAMA's SURRENDER.
Lisbon, March 13.-Oficial dispatches
from Rio de Janeiro confirms the reports
that the insurgent Admiral da CANA has
left his flagship and taken refuge on
board the Portuguese Corvette Mindello
The commander of the Portuguese war
ship has cabled to Senior de Brissas
Dos Neves F'erriera, minister of marine
and the colonies, asking for instructions
in regard to restoring the vessels com
prising the insurgent squadron, under
command of Admiral da Cana, to the
Brazilian government to whom they
presumably belong.
PEIXoTO's FLEET IN THE HARBoR.
Copyright, 1894, by the United Press.)
Rio Janeiro, March 13-The govern
ment forces began active operations
against the insurgents at noon, the forty
eight hours notice given by President
PeiXoto having expired. The hilltop
batteries opened fire at 3 p. m. No reply
was made by the insurgents. The gov
ernment vessels entered the harbor
at O'Clock, but did not fire. They found
forts Villegaignon and Cobras abandoned
by the insurgents. The feet was greeted
with cheers from thousands of people on
the hill tops and with salutes from all the
government forts. The insurgents ships
meanwhile hid themselves among the
merchant vessels lying in the bay. Ad-
miral de Cana is reported to have fed
aboard French war ship.
OPENING OF THE BoMBARDMENT.
(Copyrighted, 1894. by the Associated Press1
Rio Janeiro, March 13.-To-day at II
o'clock precisely, the Bar fortresses
opened fire upon Fort Villagaignon.
In short time, the government forces
at Fort Armacao and Fort Grangota
joined in the bombardment. The fire
was not returned by the insurgents. The
boufbardment was continued until 3
o'clock when it ceased. Castillo,
San Binete Saude, Curvello and
all the city batteries then opened fuli-
Gus fire upon Fort Villagaignon and the
insurgeut warship Tamandara. The fire
was also directed upon the insurgents
works at Cobras Island and at other
places. The forces at Enchadas low
cred the hospital flag and hoisted
the insurgent ensign. The garrison
at Governors Island also took part in the
attack on Fort Villagaignon, which was
badly hammered by the government
guns. The works on Cobras Island took
fire, but the flames were soon extin-
guished. The firing of the batteries
lasted for an hour No great damage was
done. The insurgents did not fire a shot,
outstanding their ammunition.
ARRIVAL OF TIE GOVERNMENT FLEET.
At o'clock the government feet ap-
peared off the harbor, the torpedo boat
Aurora leading. The other vessels in the
feet were the Nictheroy, America. Itaipu,
Bahia, Tiradentes and Parnahyba, and
two steamers and five torpedo boats.
Immediately upon the appearance of
the squadron the rebels hauled down
the white ensign from one of the
the ships, which was lying near Enchan-
das, and hoisted signal which was
answered from the shore. A launch CON
tanning an officer then went from one in
surgent ship to another, and each vessel
lowered the white flag. Two tor
pedo boats from the government
fleet outside then entered the
the bay. One of them went to Fort
fa et, Fo1I