The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-17
CRUISERS AT ACAPULCO.
THE ESMERALDA AND CHARLHS-
TON NEAR TOGETHER.


The Itsta's Arrival There Not An
nounced Yst-Doubt Whether the
Chilean Insurgent Will BE Allowed
to Take Coal-The Baltimore and San
francisco Both at Iquique.
WASHINGTON. May 16.-After a weeks
waiting, some tangible news was to-day re-
ceived at the navy department from the
Charleston. First came a dispatch from
Acapulco. stating that the Chilean insur-
gent cruiser Esmeralda had put out of Aca-
pulco harbor yesterday aud had returned to
port to-day. Later on, through the state
department, a dispatch came saying that the
Charleston had arrived at Acapulco and
that the Esmeralda was still in port, but
giving no news of the Itats. What the
next step is to be 10 one at the department.
knows or feels willing TO tell. The Charles.
ton is take on coal. as her supply has prob
ably nearly run out during the weeks
chase.
THE EsMERALDA's PRIVILEGES.
Whether the Esmsralda is 10
have the privilege Of taking
coal aboard cannot be learned,
here, as it is matter entirely within the
control Of the Mexican government, but the
presumption at the department is against it,
as the neutrality laws would be strained by
the Mexican government il it allowed any,
thing beyond water and food supplies to be
furnished belligerent. The theory at the
navy department is that the Charleston,
whose commander, Capt. Remy, has orders
admitting large discretionary movements,
will now lie at or near Acapulco for a time,
trusting that the 1tata, which is a slow
seven knot ship, has not yet passed down
the coast, and will try to coal in that neigh
borhood.
WILL TRY TO SEIZE HER.
II she is sighted the Charleston will
doubtless try to seize her. She cannot do
this in Mexican waters, 80 that it would be
necessary to head her off outside the three.
mile line; or, If unsuccessful in that, to fol-
low her to sea when she goes out What
the Esmeralda will do meantime is prob
lematic. The general impression is that
the officers of the vessel will rely more upon
strategy than force to obtain the supplies
carried by the Itata, and,some officers be-
lieve that she is trying to lure the Charles
ton away from the ltata's real course.
READY FOR A FIGHT.
A recourse to force to prevent the
Charleston from capturing the Itata, how
ever, it is said, will be the deathblow of the
insurgent cause in Chile as the entire naval
force Of the United States in the Pacific
would, il neces ary. be called into play to
destroy the insurgent navy. A cablegram
received at the department from Admiral
McCann this afternoon announced thah.the
Baltimore and San Francisco were Both
at lquique, Chile, to-day. SO il appears
that the Baltimore has come north and the
San Francisco has been stayed in her SOUTH
ern course just at the point where the Chi
lean insurgent navy is now nearly altogether
assembled. This point is almost in the ex.
treme north of Chile, and it is where the
Itata would naturally find her destination
If she eluded the Charleston.
NOT ALLOWED TO COAL.
CITY OF MEXICO. May 16.-The govern
ment denies the truth of the published
rumors that the Chilean steamer Esmeralda
succeeded in buying even limited amount
of coal at Acapulco, but saws on the con-
trary that she was ordered out OF the port,
and is now lying off the coast
in neutral waters. waiting, it is
thought, for the steamer Itata. The
steamer Esmeralda's steam launch was
patrolling all last night. The general
opinion at Acapulco is that the Itata has
passed that place and gone south, and that
the Esmeralda was waiting for the United
States steamer Charleston. The officers of
the Esmeralda used the telegraph wires at
Acapulco freely.
Neither the war department nor foreign
affairs department has received news OF the
arrival of the United States warship
Charleston at Acapulco at the hour Of the
closing of the federal telegraph, the only
line thence.