The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1891-05-15
CHASING THE GILLIAN.
The Gunboat Charleston Sent In Pur:
suit of the Etata.

| ne 6unDoat CharleSton sent IN Fur
suit Of the Etata.
Tho fact Is no longer concealed even
In official naval circles that tho swift
cruiser Charleston Is now of In hot chase
after tho Gillian transport Etata, which
loft San Diego last Wednesday whilo
under arrest and carrying of the United
States deputy marshal. The Etata, after
leaving San Diego, took on board u con-
signmcnt of rifles and ammunition, which
had been shipped from San Francisco on
the schooner Robert and Minnie. Tho
transfer Of the latter's cargo Is believed
to have occurred of the San Clemcnte
Island, northwest Of San Diego harbor.
and 1t is believed the Etata steamed south
Friday night or Saturday morning.
The Gillian cruiser Esmeralda Ii be-
lieved to BIO lying OF Capo San Lucas,
which Is tee southormost point OF tho land
In Lower California, awaiting supplies
carried by the Etata. The sea run to that
point is about 100 miles. The Etata is
heavily loaded, and, although reputed us d
fast craft, II is estimated that she can not
exceed six or eight knots, and tho Charles
ton, which left San Pedro this morning, 1t
Is thought certain can ovcrtake her or
reach San Lucas in advance OF the trans
port II not found there the Charleston
will proceed directly to Acapulco, which
will be the first point at which any fur
ther intelligence can DO received. Even
though the cruiser Esmeralda IL met as
convoy OF the Etn,a IL Is understood the
orders et the Charleston are explicit on
tho point OF capture, and II tho Etata is
sighted 1t Is believed certain nov that
there will be u capture or fight, or both.
The fnct that n CHILEAN cruiser accom-
panied the Etata northward was asccr-
tanned through desertcrs from the Etata
who escaped from that steamer soma days
ago. Ii was first doubted that one Of the
most powerful warships would go so far
from the Gillian coast ut this iuncture,
but it is row definitely known that the
Esmcrulda is now at Acapulco on the
Mexican coast. which fact the navy de-
partment Mt Washington was probably
fully advised of when orders were issued
to the Charleston. The effort TO keep the
destination of the Charleston secret was
natural, as representatives OF the Chilian
insurgents would be prompt to advise the
Esmeralda OF the intention of the American
government to seize the Etata and it is
now deemed probable that the Esmeralda
will cruise northward In the hope OF meet
ing the Etata before the Charleston can
arrive TO protect the cargo and crew from
seizure II possible,
Apart from other considerations, II IL
now known that on board the Etata was
the commander Of the Esmoralda and
large portion OF her crew and presumably
Of the Esmoralda's second battery.
There is therefore a strong incentive on
the part of Gillian officers to meet the
Etata and prevent her being conveyed
back TO American waters. The fact that
there appears to be very strong likelihood
OF a meeting Of the two evenly matched
warships under conditions that will re-
quire management to prevent fight, is
thoroughly recognized by naval officers on
this coast
The orders to Captain Remey II the
Charleston are binding in the matter Of
the rccauture OF the Etata, II sighted, uiid
on part of the Esmeralda, it is believed
she viii fight If she can reach the scene in
time.
The Charleston and Esmeralda arc sim.
liar ships as to general plans ana possess
nearly the same armament. The Charles
ton is tie swif,er ship and, while never in
action, has splendid crew and fighting
commander