The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-08
A CAPTIVE MARSHAL.
The Ohilian Steamer Seized at San Diego
Carries Off United States Marshal.

SAN DIEGO. Cal, Nav About $50
o'clock last evening the Gillian steamer
Etata left her anchorage and quietly
steamed down the bay and out to sea-
! Marshal Spencer, who, so far as is known,
| is still on board. A deputy marshal, who
had been placed In a small boat at the
entrance to the harbor to watch for de-
velopments, reported that when the Etata
started out Pilot Hill was sandwiched be-
| tween two armed Chilians. while four
cannon guarded both bow and stern. He
reported that at least eighty Chilians were
drawn up in line on the decks, showing
that while the vessel was in port she was
plentifully supplied with men, arms and
ammunition. While here she displayed
only one small cannon and crew of about
sixty men. The deputy reports that when
the Etata left the harbor she turned north
and steamed toward Clemente.
WASHINGTON, May THE treasury de-
partment officials are being kept fully in
former of the movements of the Chilian
vessel Etata, which escaped from the port
of San Diego, Cal, yesteaday, after being
seized by the marshal and of the fruitless
chase for the schooner Robert and Minnie.
They refuse, however, to make public any
Information
SAN Francisco. May THE Chronicle
states that it has information that gives
ground for the statement that the steamer
lowering around the entrance of San Diego
is the armed transport Imperial, now in
possession Of Balmaceda's party She left
Valparaiso to intercept the Etata on her
return voyage to Iquique.
Senor Casanova, former Chilian consul.
said yesterday: at will be found that
British money is the main stay of the in
surgents against our government. The
British want to obtain control of the
nitrate deposits independent of Chill.
Balmaceda wishes them to be worked for
the benefit of the Chilian government"
WASHINGTON, May 7.-Attorney General
Miller this afternoon made public the sub
stance of the correspondence that has
passed between the officials here and the
authorities at Wilmington and San Diego,
Cal, relating to the insurCent vessel
Etata and the schooners Robert and
Minnie. He refused to give out for
publication the full text of the correspond
ence. The information given by the attor-
ney general agrees substantially with that
received in the press dispatches from those
two points. The attorney general had
several conferences on the subject with the
secretary of the navy during the day, and
this gave color to the story that efforts
were to be made TO recapture the Etata
Can YOU take the vessel on the high
seas without violation of law" reporter
asked Secretary Tracy.
Yes SIR" replied the secretary en-
phatically.
will you do it?" asked the reporter.
81 have no answer to make 10 that
question" replied the secretary; you
cannot skin a hare before you catch him
This seems to summarize the present
situation. The Etata will be captured, If
possible. but she has a large start of any
purSuer. Probably the new cruiser
Charleston Is the only naval vessel in
those waters that would be able to cope
with the audacious and well-armed Etata
The navy department will not say whether
or not the Charleston is 10 so in chase /
but Ii Is known they have been canvaSSing
the possibilities Of the case.
The escape of the Etata raises important
questions of international law The Ala
bama claims. which cost the British gov
ernment S2n. coo 600 arose in a similar man
ner. through the equipment of a confed- !
crate vessel in au EngiSn port and the sup
piNlug OF men, guns and ammunition to her /
10y British vessels, As the Etata has been /
seized by the United States at San Diego I
she waS technically United States property I
until discharged, and Is therefore liable TO /
recarture on the high Seas by United \
States man-ot-war or 70 coutiscation if she /
ever euter United States port
SAN DISCO. Cal Nav 7.-Marshal |
Spencer, " to Was carried off by the Etata. 1
arrived here this morning. His statement /
OF the escape OF the Ftata makes seusa- /
tional reading aud from all the circum- 1
stances surrounding the case the Etxta i !
more or less than privatee- in I
the service Of the Chilian rebels Nothing
unusual occurred until Wednesday. when
to his surprise. he discovered the steamer
was under a fun head of steam and max 7
ing for the ocean.
The captain came in a minute later ba
SAYS" aud invited me TO his bin. Offering
nae p chair. anu second later he was iojued /
Hy me Of the passengers They exhib-
iteo revolver and asked me il was
armed The captain, acting as spokes-
man, said: Well. ve'contraband goods
on board. and this is life or death with
me- Then, pointing his finger 20 his
hroat. he said: See, this Is what II
means.
i was so Gumfornded that Icould not
answer he then called two OF the Chill