St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-11
HEARD AT WASHINGTON.
Officials Reticent in Regard to the
Affair.

WASHINGTON, May 16.-While there
| are no new developments regarding the
reported issuance of orders to the
Charleston and the men of war compos-
ing the South Pacific squadron to go
after and seize the insurgent vessel
Itata, which is now supposed to be on
her way to Chilli with arms taken from
the schooner Robert and Minnie, it is
believed that orders have been sent to
Admiral McCann, commanding the ships
of the South Pacific station to CAP
ture the Itata by force if neces-
sary, and take her to the first
American port. The greatest air
of secrecy surrounds the affair, and to-
| night it is utterly impossible to learn
that any orders Of any nature regarding
the Itata'S action have been issued by
the navy department or would be is
sued. Secretary Tracy left the city
yesterday on the Dispatch, in company
with Commodore Folger, to inspect the
new naval proving ground on the POto-
mac, and has not yet returned. At his
house it was said he had probably con-
tinued his trip to Fort Monroe or gone
down the Chesapeake to stay over Sun
day. He sent word that he would not
return until noon tomorrow. COmmo-
dOre Ramsey, the chief of the bureau
of navigation, and who issues all
orders directing the movements of
ships of the navy, was seen tonight,
but declined TO say anything on the
subject. There is the strongest reasons
for believing that the orders were is
sued yesterday before Secretary Tracy
left the department, and that the
Charleston is now on her way south
after the Itata. Commodore Ramsey
cold m Uh thaf hn raaaiUad
cial dispatch this morning from San
Francisco saying that the Charleston
had gone to sea to test ner guns, but
had not yet returned, as has previously
been stated. Orders were issued some
days ago by the navy department for
the Charleston TO go to sea for
the purpose of giving her eight
nch rifles trial in firing
while tue ship executed certain maneu-
vers, but whether the orders were fur
Their supplemented by sealed orders or
not cannot be learned.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Solely
has been absent from the department
since Thursday. and when seen tonight
he also declined to say anything that
would throw any light whatever On the
subject. Mr.. Solely said he was not
fully informed as to what had trans
PRED. He also declined to affirm or
deny that any orders had been issued by
the department in consequence of the
sudden departure of the 1tata. Naval
officers who are conyersant with
the coast of Lower California
say it is likely that the
schooner Robert and Minnie may have
deposited the rifles intended for the
Chilians on some one or the small out
lying islands near the coast, and the
ltata procured them there. instead of
taking the chances of being sighted at
sea. The Itata is an iron screw pro-
peller. and was built i'll England in
1874. She has compound engines OF
antiquated make, and is not capable
probably of Steaming more than nine
or ten knots an hour. She was for
merry owned and operated by the
and how she came into the hands
of the insurgents is not known here,
unless she was seized by them at
the beginning of the inSurrection.
The United States vessels in CHILEAN
waters ale the Baltimore and the flag
ship Pensacola. with Rear Admiral Nc
Cam in command. The San Francisco,
when last heard from, had left Peru,
and will likely join the Baltimore and
Pensacola early this week. With the
Charleston the admiral would have un-
der his command the three finest ships
of the new navy, besides the Pensacola,
which is in the wooden class in the
service. With these four vessels it is
not anticipated by naval officers that
much opposition would be met with
should the United States see fit to cap