St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-14

WASHINGTON, May 13.-When the
doors of the navy department were
closed this afternoon, Acting Secretary
Ramsay was no wiser than he was yes
terday respecting the whereabouts OF
the Charleston and the Itata. In the
absence Of facts, the departmental Of
fcers were discussing the legal aspects
of the case presented by the flight of
the 1tata. 1t does not any longer ap-
pear that there is tenable claim that
the ltata may be seized as pirate. 1t
is recognized that she is to be captured
for violation of the customs laws, dis
regard OF the court and perhaps
for kidnapping, but any assumption
that she is pirate is completely
negatiVed by the doctrine laid down by
the late Francis Wharton, formerly
solicitor Of the department of state, and
an eminent authority OH international
law. This doctrine was accepted by
Secretary Bayard, and laid down at the
time of the Colombian rebellion and
the Panama trouble. The Colombian
government had declared the insurgent
vessels to be pirates as the Chilian gov
ernment has done, but the secretary
held: The government of the United
States cannot regard as piratlcal vessels
manned by parties in arms against the
government of Colombia, whether such
vessels are passing to and from ports
held by such insurgents, or even
When Attacking Ports
in the possession of the national govern
ment. In the late civil war the United
States at an early period Of the strug-
gles surrendered the position that those
manning the Confederate cruisers were
pirates under international law. The
United States of Colombia cannot,
sooner or later, do otherwise than ac-
cept the same view. But, however, no
neutral power can acqulesce in the po-
sltlon now taken by the Colombian gov
ernment." Another fact which may be
of interest in view of the expected ar
rival of the ltata at a Mexican port
probably Acapulco-is that she cannot
stay there. Under the practice of inter-
national law the Mexican government
could not refuse to pI otect her, but she
could not remain in port more than
twenty-four hours, as to do so would
subject her to the charge of using
the port as a base of oper-
ations against friendly government.
So that, if the vessel reaches Acapulco
before the Charleston, the latter vessel
would have simply to wait outside the
port for twenty-fOur hours to get an
opportunity to retake the Itata and her
stores, providing that these have not
meanwhile been transferred to the
ESmeralda.
Mexico yigilant.
CITY OF MEXICO, via Galveston, Nav
13.-The government has given strict
orders to the port. authorities on the
Pacltic coast to report the appearance
of any ChiliaD or other war ships. 1t
Will be difficult to get news. as the gov
ernment wires have to be relied on alto
gether. The general opinion here is
that the Itata and her convoys
will double up on the Charleston.
The government has ordered the
guDboat Democratic to keep a
sharp lookout for the vessels. 1t is ru-
mored here that private telegram has
been received announcing that fishing
schooner yesterday saw two vessals out
at sea, of the coast. at full speed. One
OF the vessels was sighted at 10 a. m.
and the other at 2 p. M, but they were
so distant that the fishermen were NOT
able to distinguish them. This report.
however, cannot be traced to reliable
source.
WASHINGTON, May 13.-No news had
peen received at the navy department
up to late hour this afternoon about
either the Charleston or the Itata.
SAN DIEGO. Cal. May l3.-Passen-
gers on the steamer Crescent Citv. which
arrived from Cedros island last night.
report that when about ten miles below
Ensenada, Monday night, the cruiser
Charleston Was Sighted.
far out to sea. AS soon as the officers
on the war ship caught sight of the
Crescent City they changed their course
and made directly for her. AS soon as
the cruiser approached the captain of
the Crescent City raised the American
flag and saluted. The Charleston i'm
mediately turned at right angles and
steamed away to the southwest, and
soon disappeared beyond the horizon.
The Crescent City officers report seeing
nothing of tie Itata.
SAN FRANCISCO. May 13.-In an In
terview with a. K. Coney, Mexican con-
sui general at this port, in regard to the
probable action of the Mexican govern
ment, if the Itata enters the port of
Acapulco, he he says Acapulco is neu-
tral port, and he was confident that the
Charleston would not be permitted to
seize the Itata there. But if the Itata
enters there with contraband goods on
board, it is probable that the Mexican
officers will train the guns of the fort
on her and seize her themselves. The
fort is not very powerful one, but is
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