The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-12-25
Special to the RrcoRn-ux1or.

Case They Are Needed.
| Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
| NEW York. Dec 24.-The Teleoyo31
prints long sensational story on the
probability of war with Chile, based on
the present extraordinary activity at the
Brooklyn Navy Yard. Commandant
ltrgen Of the yard received a big bundle
OF orders from Washington this morning.
He locked himself up in his Office and
gave orders that no one should be admit
ted until he had digested and answered
his mail. An orderly refused to take in q
card. us Secretary Tracy inside?'' was
asked. NO." said he: 1.-The Secretary
has not been here"
| Secrecy is the rule everywhere in Off
cial quarters, but actions speak louder
than words, and the visible evidence at
the navy yard tells It's own story Just as
well rs the lips OF the ComlnandaDt could
| do If unsealed. mo one can tell whether
| this means war or not" said a naval Of
! ficer this morning, but of one thing YOU
may be certain, the Navy Department
has been active and WIDE awake for
months
CHICAGO, Dec. GA Washington spe-
clal says: There are some facts that point
already to the probability of war The
/ War department is forwarding recruits
IN squads, forty or fifty, as rapidly rs pos
Slble to fill the complement of regiments
IN the far West aud on the Pacigc Coast.
! General Schotield says 10000 men are
available to send out Of the country. but
| no more could be spared from theregular
army.
Gun carriages are being shipped to San
| Francisco in sections, aud guns will fol-
| low at az early date.
| General SchoGeld has been twice sum-
moned before the Cabinet, and gives it as
his opinion that if 10000 men were sen-
| out OF the country it will be quite post
| slble 10 fill their places in the regular
army at honre by temporary enIistments
from the militia. A certain quota of reg
uiars equipped for actual service at the
army posts are to be called for from each
State. In case the 10000 men to be trans
ported to Chile should not be enough, it
! is reported the President may call for 20
| coo volunteers for the war.
SINEWS or WAR
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-Representatiye
| Holman, Chairman of the House Appro-
| priation Committee, was handed a note
| marked personal and confidential yes
! terday. 1t was from Secretary Blaine,
and soon afterward the Watchdog of
the Treasury was closeted with the Secre-
tary, who informed him that his presence
| in Washington would be desired early in
| the year,aS the President would then want
| to consult with him about some extra
| ordinary appropriations that might be
| wanted at once. 1t is said that Mr.. HoI-
mans presence i'll Washington before
| Congress reconveneS is required so that
he may be able to earthly prepare any
appropriation bills made necessary by
the lather squally outlook.
AFTER THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS.
PANAMA, Dec. N.-The Star and Herald
says: The United States Government is
said to be endeavoring to secure a coaling
station in the Galapagos Islands, Ecua-
DOR to whom these islands belong, prac-
tically abandoned them, and is stated
to be now willing to sell, and is actually
in negotiation with the State Department
at Washington looking to an early trans
fer of her rights to the Americans at Il
handsome figure. The American navy
has long needed such station some
| where Oft the Central or South American
Coasts, and if Ecuador really wishes to
| sell, now is the opportunity to acquire.
TRANSPORT VESSELS IN PLENTY
! SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 24.-Regarding
| the Chilean situation, Captain Minor
| Goodall, of the Pacific Coast Steamship
| Company, when asked what number of
vessels could be secured as transports in
| case of need, said ths there was any
number of them. "Some of the steamers
Of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company
could be secured. and there are also two
or three that could be obtained from the
Oceanic Steamship Company. At pres
ent three OF our vessels, the Umatilla,
Santa Rosa and Pueblo, are lying idle,
and there would be no difficulty in Sc
curing one or all of them if the Govern
ment is desirous of having them. Beside
the steamers belonging to the different
companies there are many sailing vessels
| that could be used as transports. There
| is no scarcity of vessels, of that you can
rest assured, and III my opinion all that
the Navy Department will have to Go is
TO state that they are in need of them and
they will be placed at the disposal of the
authorities
1t is now known beyond doubt that
negotiations have been pending between
the officials 1t Washington and j. d.
Spreckels q Bro. of this city for the pur-
chase of the new tug Fearless belonging
to them. The new vessel is nearly CONT
pleted, and in less than two weeks will
be ready for service. It is also said that
the offer made by the Government for the
purchase Of the tug is q very favorable
one, and the owners are disposed to sell
her should she be wanted AS near as
can be learned the object of the Govern
ment would be 10 use the Fearless for n
torpedo boat, ana she could be readily
made TO perform the required service
without much delay. When spoken 10
this afternoon about the matter J. d.
Spreckels said that he had had no further
advices from the Navy Department. re-
garding the purchase of the Fearless.
''She is almost completed said he, land
there will be no difficulty about disposing
OF the boat III the Government wants her."
THE. ASSAULT on SHIELDS.
SAN Francisco, Dec. 24.-The Examiner
will state that Geographic Instructions
were received to-day from Attorney
General Miller directing United States
District Attorney Garter to take the testi-
Inony of Patrick Shields and others on
the steamer Keweenaw, which arrived
here to-day, in regard to the outrages
perpetrated ON Americans by Chileans
Shields claims TO have been brutally mall
treated by the police, and bears ugly scars
TO prove the truth of his statements The
instructions were to make the examina-
ton as full as possible, and have affida-
Wits made of all of it.
Attorney Garter and Court Reporter
Bennett went aboard the Keweenaw
the moment she docked and examined
Shields and Andrew Alckinstry, who
was with the former when he was ar
rested. Shields repeated on oath the
story sent out by the Associated Press
on Wednesday last. He is still weak
and i'll from the beatings ne received from
the Valparaiso police. Both Shields and
McKinstry swear positively that thew
were not drunk. Their testimony, with
that of the Captain and officers of the
KpwepQaw. will he sent To WashinUtoI,