Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-13
IN HOT PURSUIT.
United States War Vessels After
the Itata.
A Great Naval Fight Among the
Probabilities
AS the Powerful Esmeraida is
Cruising Around,
AND MAY TAKE A HAND IN THE
TAPEATENED ENHOIINTER
AND MAY TAKE A HAND IN THE
THREATENED ENCOUNTER.
WHY THE CHARLESTON's DESTINA-
TION WAS KEPT A SECRET.

The Esmeralda and Charleston Yer.
Ter Armament of the Former Being on
set by the Superior Speed of the Latter
One or Two other American Men-Of-Wa
Believed to BE ON the Lookout for tin
Fugitive Which Has Been Ordered Cap
tured wherever Found.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 13.-It is NJ
longer concealed, even in official circles
that the cruiser Charleston is now il
pursuit of the Itata.
A Chilian Cruiser.
The fact that Chilian cruiser accom-
| panied the ltata north was positively
ascertained through the deserters from
the Itata 1t was at first doubted thai
one of the most powerful Of Chilian wal
ships would go 50 far from the Chiliar
coast at this juncture, but it is now
definitely known that the Esmeralda il
now at Acapulco, on the Mexican coast
which fact the navy department at
Washington was probably fully advised
Of when orders were issued to the
Charleston. The effort to keep the desti-
nation of the Charleston secret. there.
fore was natural, as representatives OF
the Chilian insurgents would be prompt
to advise the Esmeralda of the intention
of the American government to seize the
Itata, and it is now deemed probable
that the Esmeralda will cruise north
ward in the hope of meeting the Itata
before the Charleston can arrive, and to
protect the cargo and crew from seizure
if possible.
Apart from other considerations. it is
now known that on board the Itata was
the commander of the Esmeralda and Il
large portion of her crew, and presum-
ably portion of the Esmeralda's sec
ondary battery. There is, therefore, q
strong incentive ON the part of the Chilli
an warship to meet the Itata and pre-
vent her being conveyed back to Ameri.
can waters
The orders to Capt, Remy, of the
Charleston. are well authenticated to be
binding in the matter Of the recapture Of
the Itata 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.
Evenly Matched.
The Charleston and Esmeralda are
ships of the general plan, and possess
nearly the same measurement. The Els
meralda, however, has two pivot guns of
ten-inch calibre, with weight of twenty
five tons each, while the Charleston has
two eight-inch rifles, fore and aft, weigh
ing twelve and one-half tons. Apart
from these guns the aimaments of the
two ships are practically the same.
The Charleston is the swiftest ship, and
while never in action has splendid
crew and a fighting commander
The Charleston left San Pedro shortly
after 5 o'clock Monday morning, and
was sighted ten miles out off Point LO-
ma, having made a ninety-mile run iii
six hours. or a fifteen-knot gait There
were additional orders awaiting her at
San Diego, but she kept ON her south
ward course without stopping. There
are no telegraph stations south of Ensen-
ada. Just south Of the boundry line, i'll
Lower California, so that save such
mCager information as may be brought
nOfID DN one Ol lut L IdIdiud bI COdSI
steamers nothing further is likely to be
heard from her or the Itata until the
Charleston returns or is heard from at
some of the Mexican ports, which can
not occur before Thursday or Friday
next.
Interviews here with lawyers as to the
legal status in case the Charleston
should oyertake OF sink the Itata are to
the effect that. while the Itata flies the
Chilian flag, according to all advices re-
ceived she is not the representative of
any constituted authority. Balmaceda
is still the head Of the Chilian govern
ment, and he alone is recognized by for
eign governments. The Itata was a
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 presentlegal status
of the case. In the event that the Es-
meralda interferes to prevent the cap
turc of the ltata, she can also only be
considered in the same category as the
ltatn