The Red Cloud chief., 1897-11-12
BOLD ASSASSINS
PRESIDENT MORAE'S MAR
ROW ESCAPE.
Brother OF Brazii's chief Magistrate
Receives . soldiers Thrust In the Head
The War Misister shot Dead-Decd
Committe ed In Public

RIO JANEfRo, Nov. a.-Thousands OF
people gathered yesterday afternoon
about the marine arsenal to witness
the extension Of public thanks to Rear
Admiral Barboza and the troops who
had returned by steamer from Canu.
dos, where they had unnihilated the
~Conselheiro fanatics. Many members
Of Con. rcss and persons high In mill
tary, naval and ecclesiastical circles
were present aud before them all
stood President Pondcte Jos Moraes,
with his brother. Colonel Moraes, by
his side aud u brilliant gathering
about hi'l. The people were cheering
aud all was rs bright as IL could be.
Then suddenly just as the victorious
troops were passing In review before
President Moracs u soldier dashed
presidents party, drawing a dagger as
he went =
Unable 10 stop the ~solIier. Colonel
Moracs. brother OF the president.
stepped between the chief executive
and his assailant and tried to ward of
the dagger thrust. In this he was
successful, but he received the dagger
In his own body, and the soldier m
frenzy struck several times before he
was seized BY Others around the pres
i5ens.
There were shouts Of excitement
from tho crowd, and those in front.
forced on by those in the rear, began
advancing. The troops were thrown
into q line in front Of the presidents
pasty and tried to force the crowd
back.
While President Moraes aud mem
hers Of his cabinet were bending over
the body Of Colonel Moracs a shot was
heard and General B%ethencourt, the
minister Of war, staggered and fell
beside the body OF Colonel Moracs
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 b%ayonets to keep it back, and
those behind pressing blindly forward.
Finally. fearing another attempt to
kill the president and members of his
cab" ct, more troops were called and a
stroi z guard thrown around the Off
cia! uarty. Then Colonel Moraes and
Gene al B~cthencourt were lifted and
borne 70 tho palace. Colonel Moraes
was seriously, probably mortally,
wounded. General Bethencourt died
few minutes after he was taken into
the palace.
In the meantime. fearing q possible
attack On the palace, President Mo-
raes ordered that the crowd DO dis
persed. This the troops finally sue.
seeded In doing, though a serious con.
Dict ut n time seemed likely, ewing
70 al attempt to lynch the presidents
asssilant.
The news Of the affair spread with
remarkable rapidity, and within ten
minutes the city was in a fever Of TX
cite men 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
aud declaring the city under martial
law.
The attempt TO kill the president
and the killing of the minister OF war,
1t Is believed by many, were prompted
by monarchial sym~pathizers. Another
theory is that they were the results of
the intense feeling aroused by the
proposed arbitration treaty with
France. Still another theory Is that
the followers of Antonio Conselheiro,
the leader Of the fanatical movement.
who was recently killed in Canudos,
have entered Rio Janeiro to strike
their first blow for revenge.
The soldier who tried to kill Pres
ident Moraees 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 General
Bethencourt is unknown and no q
knows whence came the fatal bullet.
CHINESE iNSIn