Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-14
ARMED PRIVATEER.
Such Seems to Have Been the Char.
acter of the Gillian Steam
ship Stalia.
Story of Deputy Marshal Spaulding,
Who Was Held Prisoner by
the Insurgents.
Probabilities of a Pursuit by Swift
United States War
Vessels.

Vessels.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. May Sit is
stated that the United States steamer
Charleston will sail for San Diego to-
day in pursuit of the Chiiian ship Itata.
Secretary Tracy telegraphed special
orders yesterday and the Charleton left
Mare island and anchored off San Fran
cisco. Instead of taking her usual an
chorage, she went behind Goat islam!
out Of sight. Her ostensible purpose
try her guns. Officers and men were
ordered to be on board at o'clock this
morning.
SAN DIEGO. CAL, May S.-The deputy
Uuited States marshal who was placed
IN charge of the seized Chilian warship,
Hata, and which set sail and carried
him off, put him ashore about eight
miles outside Of the harbor.
He arrived in the city this morning,
however, the CHILEAN captain having
put him ashore at Ballast Point, eight
miles from town, and he made his way
in as best he could. His statement
makes rather sensational reading.
From the circumstances surrounding
the case, it is evident that the ltata is
nothing mole nor less than a privateer
in the service OF the CHILEAN rebels
The Marshal was a Prisoner.
Deputy Marshal Spauldlng's story of
the escape is as follows: ''After being
left on loard in charge of the steamer
/ made hurried inspection Of the ship
and found nothing 10 be suspicious of.
She continued TO receive coal until
IL 80 a. m. at which time | retired. 7
did not sleep much during the night on
account OF several OF the crew whom |
saw looking through the window Of
my stateroom which made ME feel
nervous During Wednesday nothing
unusual occurred until 900 p. m. when
the boat containing First Mate Nelson,
the surgeon, with his medicine chest,
and two passengers came to US. AS
soon as the passengers came on board
ore of them had short conversation
with the captain. ] was at that time
in the dining-room. Five minutes
later l found to my surprise that the
steamer was under full head Of steam
and making for the ocean. The captain
c1ine in a minute later and invited NE
to his cabin and, Offering me Il chair,
a second later he was Joined by three
passengers.
3 Matter of Life and Death.
They exhibited revolvers and asked
me if | was armed. The captain, act
ing as spokesman, said: i have con-
trband goods on board and this is life
or death with me- Then pointing his
finger TO his throat he said; See, this
is w at it means [ was SO dumb
founded that could no, answer. He
then called two Of the Chilian crew
and they stood guard near the door,
each armed with IL revolver and rifle.
He then told me not to he alarmed, but
tina il went out OF the cab.G during
his a bronco he would not be responsible
for what would happen, telling me al
SO that if | attempted to give a sign or
Jump overheard he would not be re-
sponsible for the result.
About this time [ noticed them
lifting out of the hold four steel can
non, which they Immediately placed in
position on the upper deck, after
which they were loaded in my
presence. Returning a few min
utes later the captain sad
81 have spoken TO the pilot and
instead Of putting You off at Point
Lama in one Of our own boats we Will
meet a boat from the pilot boat lying
at Ballast Point
"He then led me out Of the cabin,
followed by his companions, each
taking his revolver. On reaching the
bridge l found on the deck below 100
Chi!lans all armed to the teeth, each
having repeating rifle and most of
them being dressed in uniform, consist
ing of red caps and Jackets.
Would Navigate with Revolver.
1.-The captain gave a saucy laugh and
said: 4 see we have changed into
man-of-war.' [ looked at the ship and
said. are you going to guide the ship
out?'
"The captain spoke up and said:
NO: exhibiting a revolver, this is 60
ing to guide it, The pilot turned pale
and said. Il guess am in for it,.
SPY this time we were nearing the
entrance to the harbor and the captain
gave orders to the crew to put over a
ladder, also to TIE pilot to slow down.
Escorting me to the ladder, he said,
you must excuse me for putting you
to this annoyance
Put the Deputy Ashore.
"After | was lowered over the side
the Itata then passed out OF the bay,
heading north. Making inquiries from
the boatman [ found that [ was indeed
eight miles from San Diego, protested
very vigorously at being made
prisoner during the passage Of the YES
sci out OF the harbor and also to Ieav-
ing the ship while in possession of the
government, but they paid no attention
to any protest and kept me a prisoner
until they arrived at a point where
they intended TO put off. They were
very careful to say nothing in my hear
ing that would reveal any future
actions, except the captain gave me
his name and address.
The Captain Was Courteous.
"'I will go directly to Valparaiso
he said. and would like to have you
write me here if you feel disposed"
Two deserters from the ltata were
seen this morning and said that being
tired Of staying aboard they got away,
intending to try their luck on the
North American continent. They say,
positively, that the big war ship
Esmerelda accom- panied the Itata as
far north as Cape st. Lucas and is
awaiting the return of the latter
vessel between here and that point IN
order to get provisions and coal.
Saw Another Chilean Vessel.
It was learned further that Capt.
Mauzeum is only employed to navigate
the ship and that the real commander
is a native Chilean and it is he who
gives al the orders. The crew are
we'll paid and we'll treated in order to
keep them in good humor with the