St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-12
MAY BE A WAR CHASE
The Charleston Is Believed to
Be in Hot Pursuit OF
the Itata.
Sailing Orders in Cipher Send
the War Cruiser Out
to Sea.
Officials at Washington Main
tain Great Secrecy in the
Matter.
Consul Corte Has Been Re-
called to Rome to Explain
His Actions.

WASHINGTON, May 1l.-1he air OF
secrecy that surrounds the ltata case is
just as pronounced as ever at the navy
department to-day. and it is evident
that the officials have no desire to take
the public into their confidence. The
conviction, however, is general that the
United States steamer Charleston has
been sent out from San Francisco. with
secret orders to Overtake and capture
the Chilian steamer. Just how far these
orders extend, or how much authority
they vest in Capt. Remey is still un-
known, and none of the officials here
will venture to give any information on
the subject. Indeed, the fact of the Or
ders having been sent is not acknowl-
edged officially, but it is confirmed by
various stray bits of knowledge that
have come forth from various
sources. The order, it is said, was
long one, and was wired
West in the cipher of the bureau of
navigation. 1t took two officers four or
five hours to translate the order into the
cipher. 1t is said that there is informa-
ton in the hands of the government to
warrant the belief that the Itata will be
next heard of as touching at Mexican
port, and it is probable that the Charles
ton will make her first stop about mid
way down the coast of Mexico, not in
the hope of finding her quarry there,
but of
Picking Up Hints
as to her whereabouts. Neither Secre-
tary Tracey nor Assistant Secretary
SOley were at the department to-day.
SlRrpt9rU so
word from his office that he had nothing
to say about the Chilian vessel Itata or
the Charleston, and Commodore Ram
Sey, the chief of the navigation bureau.
said that lie was not at liberty to say
anything whatever on the subject. The
ofilclal mind of the department is ev-
IDENTIFY in dread that possible unguard
ed admission to a reporter might re-
suit in the disclosure of the plan
of campaign in which the entire naval
force in the Pacific is arrayed against
one steamer whose warlike character
has not yet been demonstrated. Ger
tainly the government appears to be
making extraordinary efforts to recap
ture the ltata, for, in addition to cab
ling AdmiralS Brown and McCann to
head off the runaway before she reaches
Chillan waters, it is understood that in
States consular officers at all points be-
tween California and Chill where the
ltata could touch to promptly advise
the naval officers of her movements if
she is sighted.
SAN FRANCISCO. May 1.-THE fact
no longer is concealed, even in official
naval circles, that the swift cruiser
Charleston is now off on hot chase after
the Chilian transport Itata, which left
San Diego last Wednesday while under
arrest. and carrying off the deputy
United States marshal. The Itata,
after leaving San Diego, took on board
a consignment of rifles and ammuni-
ton, which had been shipped from San
Francisco on the schooner Robert
and Minnie. The transfer of
the latter's cago is believed to have oc-
Cured off the San Clemente islands,
northwest of San Diego harbor. but 1T is
believed the Itata steamed south Friday
night or Saturday morning. The Chlllan
cruiser ESmeralda is believed to be iy-
ING off Cane San Lucas, which is south
ernmOst point of the land in Lower Cal
ifornia, awaiting supplies carried by the
Itata. The sea run to that point is
about 700 miles. The Itata beng heav
lily loaded, and although reputed as Il
fast craft, it is estimated that she can
not exceed six to eight knots, and the
Charleston, which left San Pedro this
morning, it is thought certain
Can Overtake Her
or reach San Lucas in advance of the
transport. If not found there, the
Charleston viii proceed direct to Aca-
pulco, which will be the first point at
which any intelligence can be received.
Even though the cruiser Esmeralda is
met as convoy Of the Itata, it is under
stood that the orders to the Charleston
are explicit on the point of capture, and
if the Itata is sighted. it is believed GER
tain now that there will be a capture, or
fight.or both.
New YORK. May 11.-Those who
know the swift little Itata. whose career
is thought to be threatened by the
action of certain United States cruisers,
are of the opinion that the vessel is
quite as safe now as she was in the har-
Dor at Valparaiso. "The Swiftest cruiser
in the United States navy" SAID a gen
tleman yesterday who has made several
passages on the fugitive steamer, could
not catch the Itata, now that she has so
long lead. She has a remarkable
speed. and can steam fifteen knots day
in and day out. Seventeen knots is by
no means too much for her She
is a comparatively new, British built
boat, with very fine lines and improved
compound engines. She is 300 feet
long and her tonnage is something near
1000. In view of the fact that she was
built to compete with the Pacific Steam
Navigation company, she is of necessity
A First-CIass Vessel
in every respect To send the Omaha
in chase of such craft WOdld be like
sending tortoise after reindeer. If
the Itata is caught, it will be by the San
Francisco or Pensacola heading her off,
but even IN that event. she could run
into one of the numerous ports
along the coast and take advantage
of the neutral water to protect herself.
The officers of the Itata are English
men, and they know every anchorage
along that coast as we'll as you know
the numbers on Broadway. Naturally,
they will hug the shore to prevent being
caught very far outside neutral water'
The fact that Chilian cruiser accom-
panied the Itata north was first ascer-
tanned through deserters from the Itata,
who escaped from that steamer at San
Diego. 1t was at first doubted that one
of the most powerful of Gillian war
ships should 90 so far from the Chilian
coast at this juncture, but it is pow def
nitely known that the Esmeralda Is now
in port at Acapulco, on the Mexican
coast. which fact the navy department
at Washington was probably fully adj
Yised of when orders we're issued to the
Charleston. The effort to keep the des-
tinatiOn Of the Charleston secret. there