Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-12
Dsserrers From the Etata.

| SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, May 1.-THE fact
| that the Gillian cruiser accompanied the
| Etata north was hlSt ascertained through
! deserters from the Etata, who escaped
| from that steamer some days ago. 1t was
| at first doubted that one Of the most pow
! erfW of Gillian warships should go SO far
| from the Gillian coast at this iuHcture but il
| Is now definitely known that the Esmeralda IS
| now al Cupulco on the Mexican coast, which
| fact the navy department az Washington
was fully advised Of when orders We're is
sued 10 the Charleston. The effort 10 keep
| the destination Of the Charleston q secret
| therefore was natural, as representatives
| Of Gillian insurgents would be prompt
| 10 advise the Esmeralda of the
| intention OF the American government
10 SieZe the E.tata, and it is now deemed
probable that the Esmeralda will cruise
| uorthward in the hope OF meeting the Etata
before the Charleston can arrive TO protect
the cargo and crew from seizure If possible
Apart from other considerations it is now
known that on board the Etata was the
commander of the Esmeralda and q large
portion OF her crew, and presumably por-
ton Of the Esmeralds'S secondary battle
armament. There is therefore strong in
centive on the part Of the Gillian warship
to meet the Etata and prevent her being
conveyed back
TO AMERICAN WATERS.
The fact that there appears no very
strong likelihood of the meeting of the two
evenly matched war ships under conditions
that will require fine management TO pre-
vent fight is thoroughly recognized by
naval men on this coast.
The orders Of Capt Remy Of the Charles
ton are well authenticated to be binding in
the matter of the recapture OF the Etata, if
sighted, and on the part of the Esmeralda,
it is believed, as fully that she will fight if
she can reach the scene in time.
Tho t'bSrleSrou and E'S1uara1ia ara
ships as to the general plan, and possess
nearly the same armament. The Esmeralda.
however, has two pivot guns of teR-inch
caliber, with weight of twenty-five tons
each, while the Charleston has two eight
inch rifles, fore and aft, weighing twelve
and half tons.
This is regarded By some critics as out
matching the Charleston in case of a fight,
but apart from these guns the ornaments
OF the two ships are practically the same
The Charleston is the swiftest ship, and
while never in action, has splendid crew
and fighting commander.
The Charleston left San Pedro shortly
after O'Clock this morning,,and was sighted
two miles out of Point Iona, having made
Il ninety-mile run il six hours, or at a if
teen knot gait.
There were additional orders awaiting
her at San Diego, but she kept on her south
ward course without stopping. There are
10 tsAeSTdpI SLdLlOlS SOuln OF Eli
senada, Just south OF the boundary line in
Lower California, so that save such meager
information as may be brought north by
one OF the Panama or coast steamers,
nothing further is likely to be heard from
her or the Etata until the Charleston re-
turns or IS heard from at some of the Mex
lean ports, which cannot occur before
Thursday or Friday next.
Interviews here with lawyers as TO the
legal status in case the Charleston should
overtake or sink the Etata are TO the effect
that while the Etata flies the Italian flag,
according TO all the advices received, she IS
not responsible Of any constituted au-
thority.
Balmaeeda is still at the head of the
Gillian government, and he alone is recog-
nized by foreign governments. The Etata
was o government vessel. but she
was seized by the insurgents, and
is being used against the
recognized government. and that therefore
the insurgents have no standing under the
present legal status CT the case. In event
that Esmeralda interferes TO prevent the
capture of the Etsts, she can also only be
considered in the same category as the
E.tata.