Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-05-13

y
the MarshaI-With Grew at Quarters
and Gums Ready for Action the Ensur
gent Vessel Defes Federal Interior
ence-Eforts to Capture the Robert
ana Minnie.
SAN DIEGO, Cal, May About $50
last evening the Gillian steamer Etata,
which bad been seized by the United
States authorities, lifted her anchors
and quietly steamed down the bay and
out into the ocean, carrying with her
Deputy United States Marshal Spencer,
who as far as known is still on board.
Pilot Dill was sandwiched between two
armed Chilians, while four cannon
guarded each bow and stern. The crew
was at quarters, and at least eighty Chill
ians were drawn up in line on the
decks, showing that while the vessel
was in port she was plenti1ully supplied
with men, arms and ammunition.
While here she displayed on y one
small cannon and crew OF about sixty
men. When the vessel left the harbor
she turned north and steamed toward
San Clemente.
The departure of the Etata was not I'M
expected, though it was not supposed
she would leave as soon as soon as she
did. It was rumored late IN the alter
noon that she was preparing to leave
the harbor, and the absence Of any Of
her crew from the streets added weight
to the story. At o'clock the Captains
gig. which had been lying at the foot of
IL Street, pulled off for the vessel with
six men aboard, and as soon as the boat
was hoisted to the deck the Etata
weighed her anchor and steamed down
the stream. Marshal Gard WAS not
aware that the captain had any inten-
ton Of dsregardiug his authority, for he
left for Point Iona in the launch Tia
Juana just one hour ahead Of the big
steamer, and had passed the point and
proceeded some distance out to sea be-
fore he could have been aware that the
Etata was following him.
Marshal Cards errand on his second
trip out of the harbOr was to take the
schooner Robert and Minnie anywhere
she might be found in the open seas,
outside of Mexican jurisdiction, as q
piratical craft. The Marshal's launch
left the wharf at 4 O'clock. Besides
Mai. Gard there were aboard a. G.
Spaulding, of San Francisco; A. M.
Conoughy, Capt Crawford and four
soldiers from the barracks, armed with
lilies and ammunition belts, who had
been detailed to go on the expedi
ton at the request of Marshal Gard.
1t is known that the Marshal
received instructions from Washington
that he had authority to take the Rob-
ert and Minnie on the high seas under
neutrality and piracy laws, but whom
these orders were issued by could not
be ascertaired. Marshal Gard was very
retlcent when questioned on this point,
simply saying he meant business and be
intended to bring the schooner back if
he came up to her.
At 4 o'clock Wednesday morning
Marshal Gard and party LETT for Corona
do Islands where the Robert and Minnie
was last seen on Tuesday Just out
sail appeared which the tug made for.
AS soon as her master saw the Tia
Juana, he put about and ran south in
order, it is supposed, 10 get into Mexi-
can waters before he was overhauled.
The meeting place Of this schooner and
the international line, about fifteen
miles southwest of Point Iona.
The tug passed to windward of the
Robert and Minnie and those aboard
had a good chance to observe
her closely. On her stern were the
words Robert and Minnie, San Fran
CISCO" The schooner was sailing under
fore and mainsail with no lib or topsails,
and was 50 heavily laden that she made
but slow progress. There were but four
of her crew visible, and these watched
the movements of the tug anXiously
from their position on the poop. The
schooner being IN Mexican waters,
Marshal Gard returned to port to tele-
graph for Instructions.
There has at no time been any real
doubt in the minds of those best in
formed that the ammunition which the
Robert AMI Minnie carried was intend
ed for the Chilian transport and that it
would be transferred to the hold of the
Etata for the use of the insurgents as
soon as the big steamer obtained what
supplies she needed in port. 1t is
definitely known that communications
have passed between Capt. Ferrall Of
the schooner and Capt. Mauzeum, of
the Etata, both while the Robert
and Minnie was at Catalina and
since her arrival off this harbor. The
Chilians laid their plans we'll and they
were carried out to the letter regardless
of the inference of the United States
authorities.
Just after midnight this morning
Marshal Gard and party returned from
outside and reported that the Robert
and Minnie had completely dis
appeared.
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 1.-THE Treas
ury Department officials are being kept
fully informed Of the movements of the
Gillian vessel Etata, which escaped
from the port Of San Diego, Cal, yester-
day, after being seized by the marshal
and of the fruitless chase for the schoon-
er Robert and Minnie. They refuse, how
ever, to make public any of the dis
patches that have been received from the
collector or that have been sent him.
was anything to-day about the matter,
intimated that it was out Of the jurisdic-
ton of his office, and was now with the
Encouragement. The attorney-gener-
al also declined to say anything upon
the subject for publication