Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-07-14
EVOLUTION ~ BRAZIL.
SERIOUS POSITION.
STARTLING ESCAPADE OF A BRIT.
ISL SHIP
Rio de .Janeiro Ser,t {

Rio de Janero, Sept g.
A situation of exceptional gravity has
evidently arisen on the islan nd of Ferna ndo
do Noronha, whence, it is said ex-Pre.i-
dent de sylvia recently attempted TO es-
cape. A battleship and two cruisers have
been dispatched thithcr under forced
draft No public kilograms have been re-
celved from the island during the past
week. and the authorities absolutely re.
fuse any information MS TO earlier events
though the local press hints at some OK
traordinary developments not unconnected
| with the appearance of The island OF a
British steamship known as the Andro,n.
eda.
Later.-De sylvia landed last night a,
the small port Of Maceio, in the province
Of Alagoas. a hundred miles south Of
Pernambuco. 1t is currently reported that
Fernando Noronha was captured by a
gang of British frcetooters. DC sylvia s
return is unquestonable. Today he ia
sued a proclamation. and his partisane
have seized some portion Of the railway.
Excitement here is a fever heat.
Verify glared at the journalist. lie
laughed almost Historically.
The Andromeda." he Easped. "Wot
rot! Wot silly rot"
The shipOwner grasped another print,
ed slip. This time he was able to read
more lucidly:
Pernambuco, Sent 4
Public interest In the abortive attempt
to reinstate Dom Corria de sylvia as
president was waning rapidly when It was
famed into fresh activity by news tina,
reached this port today. 1T appears that
on the Slst ut. a daring effort was made
TO free De sylvia, who with certain other
ministers expelled by the successful rev
olut.on of two years ago Is a prisoner
on the island Of Fernando do Noronha
Lloyds agent on that island reports that
the British steamer A1dromeda owned
by David Verify & Co. of Liverpool put
into South bay on the southeast side Of
Fernando do Noronha. early on tho morn
ing of Aug. 81. and 1t is alleged that her
mission was TO take De sylvia and his
companions on board. The garrison fore
warned by the central government and al
ready on tho qui vive owing to the d!sap-
pearance OF their imporlan. prisoners
from their usual quarters opened fire on
the Andromeda as soon as she revealed
her purpose by lowering boat.
The steamer. being unarmeI made no
attempt to defend herself ard was speed
lily disabled. She sank within five min
utes off the Grand-perc rock with all on
board With reckless bravado her com
r:ander ran up the vessels code signals
and house flag while she Was actually go
beyond shadow of doubt, A note of
pGthos is added to the tragedy by the
undoubted presence of a lady on board
probably Dc Sylva's daughter. though II
was believed hero that the eX-presid.nt s
family wero in Pcr's kilograms from
| the island are strictly censored and the
foregoing statement ia unofficial. but your
correspondent does not question its gen
cral accuracy. Indeed. he has reason TO
credit a widespread rumor that the island
! is st.ll In a very disturbed condition. No
| one knows definitely whether or not De
Sylvia has been recapturcd. 1t is quite
| certain that re has not landed in Brazil
| but the reticeuco OF tho authorities MS 10
| tho state of affairs on Fernando Noronha
leads to the assumption that he and a
few stanch adhercNts are Gtili In hiding
! IN one Of the many natural Businesses
with which the island abourds.
Tho British community on tho Nttoral
is deeply stirred BY the drastic treatment
received BY tho Andromcda 1t II pointed
out that another ship. the Andres v Mela
| believed to have been chartered by this
| Insurgents. Is under arrest at Bahia and
| tho similarity between the two names Is
regarded as singular, to say tho least
/ We're It not that Lloyd's agent whose
verncity cannot DC questioned has stated
explicitly that the Andromcda put into
Eouth bay. point significantly far re-
moved from tie regular track OF trading
vessels, 1t might be urged that a terrible
mistake had been made. In any event,
! the whole matter must be strictly In
CURED into. and one of his majesty's ships
stationed In the south Atlantic should
visit the island at the earliest date posi-
BILE. Delayed in transmission.
Something buzzed inside Verity's
head and stilled all sense Of actually
lie 2azed at the reporter unblinkingly
as though thought itself refused to act
us that the LOTT" he inquired me-
chanically,
NEARLY all, at present. Here, how,
ever, is short telegram from Paris
which Is Of minor interest"
And Verify read again:
Paris. Sept. G.
| Tho members Of Dom Corria dc sylvia
family. seen early this morning At The
Hotel Continental, deny that any lady
connected with the cause OF Brazilian
freedom took part In the attempted rescue
Of the ex-president. They are much an,
nsved by the uniounded report and hold
strongly to the opinion that the revolu,
ton would now have been o fat accompl