The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-06
BLOODSHED AND RIOT N BRAZIL
ATTEMPT MADE ON LIFE OF
PRESIDENT MoRAES.
Those Shielding Him Mortally
Wounded-outcome of War on
Fanatics-Great Excitement.

New York Nov. 6.-The Herald's cor
respondent in Rio Janeiro teIegraphs
that an attempt has been made to as
sassinate the president of Brazil, Dr.
Prudente Jose de Moraes. The presi-
dents brother, an army officer. was
probably mortally wounded, while
shielding the chief executive.
General MachadO Betancourt, minis
ter of war, who was of the presidents
party, was shot and killed.
Rio Janeiro is now under martial law,
every soldier having been ordered to
arms as it is feared that another reVo-
luton is at hand. The attempt to kill
the president and the killing of his
minister of war, it is believed, is the
work of monarchical sympathizers.
Another theory is that they were the
results of the intense feeling aroused
by the proposed arbitration treaty with
France.
Wild excitement prevails in the city.
Startling rumorS are heard on all sides
The belief is general in certain classes
that the followers of Antonio Conselhiro
the leader of the fanatical movement,
who was recently killed in Canudos,
have invaded Rio to strike their first
blow for revenge. 1t was the day set
apart by President MOraes and his
cabinet to do honor to Rear-AdmiraI
BarbOsa, one of the conquerOrs of Con-
selhiro's friends in Canudos Admiral
Barbosa was one Of the chiefs of the
Brazilian troops, who for several weeks
have hacked and shot down thousands
of the followers of the fierce COnsel-
hiro who had gathered the forces in
Canudos. 1t was believed then that
the crushing defeat of the fanatics
there and the death of COnselhiro had
put an end to BraziPs monarchicaI enc
mics.
thousands of persons gathered to
see President Moraes and his cabinet
extend publicly the thanks of the re-
public TO Rear-Adniral BarbOsa and
his members of congress and persons
high in naval, military and ecclesiacti-
cal circles were present, as were also
the diplomatic representatives of sew
eral foreign countries.
Inc victorious troops were passing in
review before President Moraes when
a soldier dashed out of the naval
arsenal toward the presidents party,
drawing a dagger as he went. Fearing
his intention and unable to stop the
soldier, Colonel Mormes. brother of the
president, stepped between the execu-
tive and his assailant and tried to ward
off the dagger thrust. In this he was
successful but the colonel received the
dagger in his own body. the soldier
striking several times before he was
seized by those in the rear, began adj
vancing. The troops were thrown into
line in front of the presidents party
and tried to force the crowd back.
While President MOraes and MEM
bers of his cabinet were bending over
the body of Colonel Mornes a shot was
heard, and General Betaneourt, the
minister of war. staggered and fell be-
side the body Of Colonel Mormes, with
a bullet in his head
This added to the excitement Of the
crowd, which was by this time wildly
surging to and fro, the troops using
their bayonets to keep it back, and
those behind pressing blindly forward.
Finally fearing another attempt to kill
the president and members of his cab
met, more troops were called and a.
strong guard was formed around the
official party Then Colonel Mormes
and General Betancourt wer lifted and
borne to the palace. Colonel MOrmes
was seriously. probably mcrtally
wounded.
General Betancourt died in few
minutes after he was taken INTO the
palace. In the meantime. fearing an
attack on the palace, Colonel Mormes
orc red that the crowd be finally dis
persed. This the troops finally sue
ceeded in doing, though a Terious con-
flict at one time seemed likely, owing
to an attempt to lynch the presidents
assailant.
The news Of the affair spread with
remarkable rapidity, and within ten
minutes the city was in a fever of eX-
element Rumors of revolution were
rife on all sides, and there seemed good
reason to fear an uprising In order
to avoid a possibility of this orders were
issued from the palace calling all troops
in the city to arms. and declaring the
city under martial law
The soldier who tried TO kill Presi-
dent Moraes is under arrest. He be-
longs to the Tenth battalion. He has
refused to give any reason for his at
tempt. The person who shot Betan-
court is unknown. No one knows
whence came the fatal bullet.
The citizens generally attribute the
deeds to revenge on the part OF Con-
selhiro's followers.
Some well informed men have
brought up the theory that the attempt
on the presidents life grew out of the
proposed arbitration treaty with
France on the Amapa question. This
treaty the president vigorously upheld,
despite tremendous opposition in con-
gress and among the people.
G. D. MeihIejohn, assistant secretary
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