The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-13
ACAPULCO.
The Port Into Which the Itata Is Being
Chased.


The Port Into Which the Itata Is Being
Chased.
The statement that the Itata is steaming
into Acapulco chased" by man-of- war sup
posed to be the Charleston is, it's said, quite
incompatible even with the CharleSton's
record for quick steamng, but is perfectly
compatible with the supposition that the
Itata. conveyed by the Esmeralda, is seek
ing in hot haste the great cOaling port Of the
Pacific On the Mexican coast The run to
Acapulco from San Francisco by the Pacific
Mail steamers usually occupies nine days,
including stoppages at Mazatlan, San Bias
and Manzanillo But these steamers make
an average run of $50 miles day between
San Francisco and MaZatIan with no stop,
and accomplish this pOrti on of the trip in
about i've days. Assuming that the Charles
ton was as far south as San Diego at last
accounts, the run past Cape st. Lucas ana
the ports named down TO the sixteenth par
allel of north latitude, on which Acapulco
is located, could hardly have been accom-
plished by the fastest flyer Of the Etruria or
City of Paris type; certainly not by war
vessel reported at San Diego scarcely two
DAYS ago.
Acapulco is the likeliest spot for a s0u-
tiOn of the ltata problem fnr several rea-
sons. AS before stated it is a coal port
he lidld ana TIE LStD6Tdjud 60 uiU get no
lntlmatlOn of the action OF the United
States and Mexico because internal cOmmu-
nicatiOn on the Mexican and Central Amer
lean coast is rare and difficult, and the land
ingS at most places are rendered precari0uS
by the heavy surf. Acapulco IS a land
locked harb0r. and, next TO Panama, the
best on this coast between San Fran cisco
and the Equator. If it is the purpose of the
Mexican Government to ala the United
States authorities and the regular Govern
ment of Chile the force at Acapulco is un-
dOubtedly strong enough to detaln the Itata,
but the ESmeralda might put different
cOmpleXlOniOn the matter. 1he oil For
Marques which guards the principal en-
trance is provided with guns of the antique
type only, and Is gdrrlSoned by Mexican
troops in charge of the prisoners there. The
Boca Chico, or little entrance TO Acapulco
Bay, winds round Point Grif0, and is prac-
tlcally unfOTtIhed, so that II tie vessels
prove TO be the Esmerada and Itata design
ing TO coal and get out by force majeure the
choice OF exits would be open 10 them. If
the reports of the CharleStOn's movements
up to the time Of passing San Diego be true
the cruiser could scarcely arrive In signt Of
Acapulco ligh. aud the Island OF R0QuetJa,
which guards the entrance to the bay, be-
fore Thursday at the earliest, and II the
Itata and ESineraida are detained by diDl0-
matte preteXts or active Intervention till
then interesting news may befaoked fer.
Acapulco haS not nau s. SuFflng an event
IN its history since its bombardment by the
French fleet during the attempt to establish
the FTancO-Austrian prOtectOTate OF Max
imlian, early in the sixties. On this uc-
casiOn great damage was done to the French
ships by battery stationed on the heights
above the town. The guns still remain
there and could be used with effect against
an unarmored vessel.
In the sixteenth century Acapulco was
the principal Sc t Of the Spanish American
trade with the Philippine Islands, and the
old fort, familiar to every traveller to San
Francisco by way OF tile Pacific Mail steam
ers. was specially constructed to keep off the
lay in wait for the rich silver-laden galleons
saling for Manila in February For the
rest, Acapulco is now hot unhealthy. mis-
erabIe little town Of about 1900 inhabitants,
chiefly inhabited by GringOes and supported
almost entirely by the coal and coast trade.