The herald., 1897-11-06
THE LIFE
OF MORAES
Attempted by a Brazilian
Assassin
THE ASSAILAMT Is DiSARMED
THE PRESIDENTS NEPHEW rs
WOUNDED
THE ASSAILANT IS DlSARMED
The Minister of War Interferes and
Receives a Stab Which Proves
Fatal
.ssociated Press Special Wire.

LONDON, Nov. "a dispatch 10 the
Times from Rio de Janeiro says: At
o'clock this afternoon CFriday) soldier
of the Tenth battalion, which constitutes
part of the local garrison, attempted to
shoot President Moraes with a pistol.
The president was just landing at the
marine arsenal after visiting the steam
er on which General Barbosa, minister
of marine, had returned from Bahia.
The bystanders frustrated the at
tempt, but Colonel Moraes, the presi-
dents nephew, was lightly wounded in
disarming the soldier.
General Marcado Bettincourt, minis
ter of war, then interfered and was him
self stabbed. The wound was so serious
that he died soon afterward.
The attack has caused the greatest
agitation throughout the city.
WILD RUMORS
NEW YORK, Nov. 5.-The Herald's
correspondent in Rio Janeiro telegraphs
that an attempt has been made to assas-
sinate the president of Brazil, Sr. Mo-
raes. The presidents brother, an army
officer, was probably mortally wounded
while shielding the chief executive. Cen
eral Machado Betancourt, minister 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, and it is believed that another
revolution is at hand The attempt to
kill the president and the killing Of the
minister of war, it is believed, is the work
n Another
theory is that they were the results of
the intense feeling aroused by the pro-
posed 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 C0nselheiro, the
leader of the fanatical movement, who
was recently killed in Canudos, have in
vaded 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 Admiral Barbosa, one of
the conquerors of Conselheiro's forces
in Canudos. Admiral Barbosa was one
of the chiefs of the Brazilian troops who
several weeks ago hacked and shot down
thousands Of the followers of the fierce
Conselheiro, who had gathered his forces
in Canudos. 1t was believed that the
crushing defeat to the fanatics there and
the death of Conselheiro had put an end
to Brazil's monarchical enemies.
Thousands of persons gathered to see
President Moraes and his cabinet extend
publicly the thanks of the republic to
Rear Admiral Barbosa and his troops,
just returning on the steamer from Can
udos. Many members Of congress and
persons high in naval military and ec-
clesiastical circles were present, as were
also the diplomatic representatives of
several foreign countries.
The 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 inten-
tion and unable to stop the soldier, Col
onel Moraes, brother of the president,
stepped between the executive and his
assailant and tried to ward off the dag
ger thrust. In this he was successful, but
the colonel received the dagger in his
body, the soldier in frenzy striking sew
eral times before he was seized by those
in the rear, began advancing. The
troops were thrown into line in front
of the presidents party and tried to
force the crowd back.
While President Moraes and men,
bers of his cabinet were bending over
the body of Colonel Moraes, a shot was
heard, and General Betancourt. the min
lster of war, staggered and fell beside
the body Of Colonel Moraes, with bull
let in his head. This added to the ex-
of the crowd, which was by
this time wildly surging to and fro.
The soldiers fixed bayonets to keep back
the crowd, but those behind pressed
blindly formard, and finally, fearing an
other attempt to kill the president and
the members of his cabinet, more troops
were called. and strong guard was
formed around the official party. Then
Colonel Moraes and General Betancourt
we're lifted and borne to the palace.
Colonel Moraes is probably mortally
General Betancourt died a few minutes
after he was taken into the palace.
In the meantime, fearing an attack
on the palace, Colonel Moraes ordered
that the crowd be dispersed. This the
4 serious conflict at one time seemed
likely, OWlIS u tuc dIISIupt 10 lyuCu
The presidents assailant.
The news Of the affair spread with re-
markable rapidity, and Within ten min
ltes the city was in a fever Of excite
ment. Rumors of revolution were rife
On all sides, and there seemed good rea-
son 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 Moraes
Is under arrest. He belongs to the Tenth
battalion! He has refused to give any
reason for his attempt. The person who
shot Betancourt is unknown. No one
knows whence came the fatal bullet.
The citizens generally attribute the
leeds to revenge on the part Of Consel-
nero's followers.
Z Some well-informed men have brought