The Dickinson press., 1891-05-16
"A Il DIV l1I l. L "A a.
The United States Cruiser Charleston
Said to be in Pursuit of
the 1tata.
The Washington Officials Refuse to
Say Anything Regarding
the Affair.
But the Charleston Has Started SOnth
and Has Passed San
Diego.
1t is Now Conceded that u Chilian
Warship Accompanied
the 1tata.

oaN RaNClSCo. May l4.-lQe IacC
that Chilian cruiser accompanied the
Itata north was first ascertained through
deserters from the Itata who escaped from
that steamer at San Diego. 1t was at
first doubted that one of the most power
full of the Chilian war ships should go so
far from the Chilian coast at this juno
ture, bnt it is now definitely known that
the Esmeralda is in port at Acapulco on
the Mexico coast, which fact tn. navy
department at Washington was probably
fully advised of when orders were is
sued to the Charleston. All effort to
keep the destination of the Charleston
secret, therefore, Wis natural, as the rep.
resentatives of the Cnilian insurgents
would be prompt to advice the Esmer-
aida of the intention of the American gov
eminent to seize the ltata, and ii is now
deemed probable that the Esmeralaa will
cruise toward San Lucas ir hope of
meeting the Itata before the Charleston
can arrive, aud protect the cargo and
the crew from seizure If possible. Apart
from other considerations it is now
known that on board OF the Itata was
the commander of the Esmeraia and a
large portion of her crew, and presum-
ably, a portion of the Emeral,,a's s second
ary battery, there is. therefore, strong
incentive on the part of the Chilan war
ship to meet the Itata and prevent her
being conveyed back to American waters.
The fact that there appears now Il very
strong likelihood of the meeting of the
two evenly matched war ships under
conditions that will require fine manage
ment to prevent a fight Is thoroughly
recognized by the naval men ON the
coast, The orders to Captain Remy of
the Charleston are we'll 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 ms
fully that she will fight if she can reach
the scene i'll time. The Charleston and
t1smerelda are similar ships as to gener-
al plan and possess nearly the same arm
ament. The Esmeralda, however, has
two pivot guns of ten.inch calibre, with
a weight OF twenty tons each. while the
Charleston has two eight-inch rifles, fore
and aft, weighing twelve and one. half
tons. This is regarded by some critics
as olltmhtching the Charleston in case of
tight, but apart from these guns the
armament OF the two ships are practical
ly the same. The Charleston is the
swlftest ship. and, while never in action.
she he's splen''i7 crew and fighting
CO ,.:Mt:i''i' t. i,.e Lharlceton reached
san Pe,llo shortly s!lter 5 o'clock this
norsinS ana was s.sl4t' d ten miles out
oil polht 1otna, having made the ninety
nI.e run ia six hours. or at fifteen, knot
gait. There we've additional orders await
ing her at San Diego, but she kept on
her souihwa,d course without stopp1ng.
There are 10 telegraph stations south of
Ensehada, Just south of the boundary
line in Lower California, SO that
save such meagre information
as may be brought north by one of the
coast steamers, nothing further is likely
to be heard from her or the ltata until
the Charleston returns or is heard from
at snme of the Nj .icun ports. which can
not occur before Thursday or Friday.
A correspondent {. writing from Santiago,
Chill, under date of April %, says: The
Balmaceda government seems to have
abandoned all hope of retaking the Para
phaca district, and now confines itself to
defense of the territory remaining. There
are about 10000 troops under General
Valasques and the presidential party, but
as these volunteers have been taken by
force from their homes they seek every
opportunity to shirk. Since several hun
dred embarked on man of-war a short
distance from Valez and later on, Just
back of the hills of Valparaiso, at Lagu-
ma, the other troops deserted in the same
manner. 1t is not known yet where the
next landing of the opposition forces will
take place, but many report that It will
be in close proximity OF Valparaiso. The
political prisons are full Of prisoners and
each day the number increases. There
are nearly 10000 soldiers in and around
Valparaiso and as many more about San
tiago. 1t Is doubtful if they will fight in
the entire bodies. AS is we'll known,
there is dissatisfaction among them. Be-
sides this it is estimated that two-thirds
OF the population of the country are op.
posed to the present governing powers u
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS SILENT.