The Lamar register., 1891-05-16
a LITTLE WAR CLOUD.
The Rebel chilian Vessel Etasa oefies
the United States.

The Chilian insurgept vessel. t''ata'
arrived in San Diego Bay, Caliiornia,
several days sse; aud IL was soon learned
that the Robert and Mihr,s. aa American
boat, was about to supply the ktasa Nihn
n consignment OF war material AS ihls
was Contrary TO international law ihe
authorities tried Is capture the kooere
and Minnie, but she crossed snte A1eAieAh
waters where she could not be touts='s'
and waited for better chance The
cs1leisls at Washington ordered the nitea
States marshal 20 place a deputy on ooaru
the Etata until it eodld be decided Wnas
should be done with her GU tho oFenihg
of the 7th the captain Of the Etata tod tle
deputy marshal that he was prisoser,
and steamed out of the harhor Tue
deputy ID his report OF The affair, said
s.The captain then caited two Of the
Gillian crew, who stood guard hS The
door, each armed. He then told me noI 70
be alarmed, but that il I went out o. the
cabin during his absence be would not oe
responsible for what would happen, teil-
ing me that il attempted to give sign
or jump overheard lie would not be re
sponsibIe for the result About this time
noticed them lifting out OF a bold ionr
steel cannon, which they placed in position
on the upper deck. after which they were
loaded in my presence
@Returuinga few minutes later, the
captain said Il have spoken to tne pilot
and instead Of putting you OF At Poini
Loniax in one OF Cur boats, we Will get a
BOAT from a pilot at the last poiat' Ha
then led me out Of the cabiu, followed By
his companions, each taking his revolver
Around on the deck were 10 Chilians, al
armed TO the teeth, each having repeat
ing rifle, and most Of them dressed il
uniform. The captain gave sieEiy laugh
and said we have changed iatO = mas
of-war.' "
The deputy was sent baeS % land ia =
small boat.
1t is thought that the EtHta will iET to
meet the Robert aud Aiiun!e s0HsewEere
else - obtain her munitions.
The escape OF the Eiata raises irportaa,
questions OF international law. The Ala
ha,na claims, which cost the British gey-
ernment se1o0o,oe0, arose ia a similar
tnanGsr through the equipneat cf a C5u-
federate vessel in an English port aud tha
supplying OF men, guns and araEsniiion
70 her by BEiush vessels. As the Etatai
has beea seized by the United States at
san Diego she was technically United
States property until discharged aad Is
therefore liable 70 recapture on the tisa
seas by United STATES man -of-wa-. or il
confscation If she ovee eaters United
States port
So lar as is known there IS no charge 81
piracy against eitaer tic E;ata or tie
Robert and Minnie. Taey arc charged
with violation OF the neutrality laws
which forbid the fi,tins cut u the Jnited
States OF vessels making war upon .
country with whom tie United States Is
at peace. Incidentally the legal dotermi
nation Of the case ia charge iaTolyes tl.s
question as TO whether the Gillian insur-
gents are TO De recognised by tie govern
nnent Of tho United States ~ they lAys
been hy Grear BEitaIal as belaEereats,
and 20 the settlement of this qaestIoa the
state department officials are already ap-
plying themselves.
Probably the new crsisur Cnarlsstoa IS
the only naval vessel i. those waters tAa'
would be able 10 c5pe with She audac.oui
and well armed Et.lL Bu: the Charles
ten is IA san Francisco. \ day would ,,
required to coal her, snd Ihen sue woalt
start from = point several hundred nlie'
north OF the place that the Eta;a left, 81
that practically the Chili4a vessel has a.
least three days starr OF her paesusr.
Tie navy department officials viii no
say whether or not the Charleston IS 10 gS
IN chase, bat advices from san E'r4ncisc,
state that tie Charleston viii give eeas,
at once.
The San Francisco Chronicle states tha
Il has information TIA. gives ground iol
the statement that the steamer seen hoy
eEsng around the entrance 10 san Diego Il
the armed transport Imperisle, now u
possession OF Balmaceda's party. Sh,
left Valparaiso 10 intercept TIE Elata OF
her return voyage to iquique. The In
periaie is u vessel Of :, 800 tors, aud is SAID
10 De capable OF sJean!ng sixteen miles
per hour.
Ssnor Casenoes, former Gillian consu
said yesterday: at will be founa tnai
British msaey is the ulainstay OF u,
insurgents against our government n,
British want TO obtain control OF Ii,
nitrate deposits, and President Balfnaced.
wishes them to be worked for tie benea
OF tie Cnilian government