St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-05
Insurgents Surrender the
Much Wanted Craft and
Her Cargo.
Secret Overtures From the
Insurgents Made Public
at Last.
The Chilian Sea Rover Will
Be Returned to San Diego
for Trial.
Account Of a Destructive
Naval Battle in Valpa-
raiso Harbor.

partment received official information
tonight of the peaceful surrender of
the Chllian insurgent steamer ltata at
Iquique to-day. This information was
contained in a dispatch from Acting
Rear Admiral McCann received by Sec
retary Tracy several hours after the
regular time of closing of the depart
ment. The dispatch came in cipher,
and it took about three hours to trans
late it, and even then there were several
instances in which its contents had not
been fully interpreted. In effect the
dispatch stated that the Itata had ar
rived at Iquique from Tocopilla
last night and was placed
at the disposition of Admiral
McCann this morning. She had on
board, the dispatch says, 5000 rifles, and
also ammunition taken from the
schooner Robert and Minnie off the
port of San Diego, Cal, She had no
other munitions of war than those be-
longing to the ship, and had transferred
nothing to the Esmeralda, with whom
she communicated off Acapulco, Mex.
After communicating with this insur-
gent cruiser she went to Tocopilla. Ad-
miral McCann says that the Charleston
arrived to-day and that the Pensacola
was expected before tomorrow. The
1tata will be delivered to the United
States court at San Diego and the
proceedings against her for viola
tion of the laws will be re-
sumed at the point where they were
interrupted by the unlawful departure
of the steamer, and the responsible par
ties will. if they appear, also be called
upon to answer the additional charge of
nnnfQmnf of rIlpnInU
while under injunction. Secretary
Tracy gave to an Associated Press re-
porter to night the chain of clrcum-
stances that has led up to the surrender
to the United States Of the ltata to-day.
The secretary said that the desire for
surrender came from the leaders Of the
insurgent party at Iquique. Shortly
after the vessel had finally escaped
from the custody of the marshal at San
Diego. the government was Informed by
these leaders that they disapproved the
action of the officers of the
vessel, and offered through Admiral Nc
Cam to peacefully surrender her as
soon as she arrived in Chllian waters.
These offers were then communicated
to the department at Washington, and
in due time were accepted by this gov
ernment without, however, implying
any recognition on the part of the
United States of the insurgents as
beligerents. The proposition for a
peaceful surrender was pending at the
time the Charleston. which was in pur-
suit of the Itata, was at Acapulco re-
pleniShing her diminished coal supply.
AS soon as the office was accosted,
telegram authorizing him to cease
the chase was sent to Capt. Remy,
Of the Charleston, but he had
already sailed when the telegram
reached Acapulco. The fact OF the ac-
ceptance of the offers to surrender the
Itata Oh her araival in Cbilian waters
was therefore communicated to Admiral
McCann, who was therefore prepared to
receive the Itata on her arrival. Secre-
tary Tracy said that the Itata would be
sent up the coast to San Diego to an
SWer the charges against her in court.
Resume of the Affair
This ends a remarkable naval chase.
The judicial proceedings will be watched
with interest, and, as Important queS-
tions of international law may be
brought forward if the owners of
the Itata insist on a full legal
de termination of all matters they may
fairly bring up, it is likely that the case
will be celebrated one, and a prece-
looked up hereafter should cases
settled in this case will be applicable.
1t is five weeks since the Itata gave the
court officers the slip at San Diego, and
without waiting the usual formalities,
cleared out of the port. Saturday the
second OF May the treasury department
in answer to an inquiry, telegraphed
the collector of customs at Wilmington,
Cal, that the department saw no
reason to prevent the transfer of
arms from the Robert and Minnie
to transport for shipment to South
America. That transport was the
now well-known Itata. The following
day the Chilian minister at Washington
made representations to Secretary Fos-
ter and Attorney General Miller
that the ltata was about to violate our
netralIty laws. At the minister's sug-
gestion the detention of the vessel
was ordered and proceedings were insti-
tuted in court to libel her. A
deputy marshal was put aboard the
1tata to prevent her departure. Wednes-
nay, May 6, the Itata's commander
with the deputy marshal aboard the
local pilot, it is asserted, being
compelled to steer the vessel
out of the harbor with pistol pointed
at his head. The deputy marshal was
put ashore in safety few miles
away from San Diego. When these
facts became known they created
great deal of excitement, and
the officers of the government
deliberated on the course to pursue. 1t
was manifest that the United States
could not permit the Itata to disobey a
federal court in this summary fash
ion and measures were taken to
recapture her and compel an an
swer to the proceedings in court.
The Charleston was at Mare island
and was ordered to prepare for cruise
after the fleeing insurgent craft. Sat
urday, May 9, the Charleston was in
readiness and put out to sea on its stern
chase. The Itata by this time had a
good lead, and in few days it became
evident that nothing remained but to
settle down and await events.
IQUIQUE, June 4 (vla Galveston).-
The Itata arrived here this morning
with 5000 rifles aboard. She was i'm
mediately surrendered to the American
admlral5, McCann and Brown. The
commander of the Itata states that the
arms were not embarked at San Diego,
bnt at point many miles at sea. The
Iquique government claims that this
circumstance modifies the situation con
Siderably and will probably result in a
speedy solution of the difficulties be-
tween the admirals and the Junta.
The authorities at the same time de-
clare that the cargo of the Itata is of
little Importance, taking into consldera-