The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-12-12
THREATENED WAR WITH CHILL
Congress May Receive II Later Message on
the Dispute.

on the 10th ofoctober an event occurred in
Valparaiso 80 serious and tragic in lis circum-
stances and results rs 10 very justly excite the
indignation of our people and to call for promp.
and decided action on the part OF this govern
meHt. considerable number OF the sailors of
the United states steamship Baltimore, then in
the harbOr OF Valparaiso being upon shore
leave and unarmed, were assault
ed by AIMED men nearly simultaneous ly
III different localities in the city.
one petty officer killed outright and seven
or eight scamen seriously wounded, one of
whom has since died. 20 savage and brutal
was the assault that several OF our sailors re
Ceiyed more than two. md one many as
eighteen stab wounds. An investigation of t he
affair was promptly male by board of officers
OF the baltimore, and their report shows that
these assaults were unproyoked: that our men
were conducting themselves in n peaceuble and
orderly manner, and that some of the police OF
the city took part in the assault and used their
weapons with fatal effect. while few Others, with
some well-disposed citizens, endeayored to pro-
tect our men. 1hirty six of our sailors wer,
arrested, and some OF them. while being taken
to prison, were cruelty beaten and maltrea ted.
The fact that they were all discharged, no
criminal charge being lodged against any one
OF them. shows very clearly that they were in.
noCent of any breach of the peace.
:" lar a | have vet been able to learn no other
explanation of this bloody work has been sug-
rested Than that il had its origin in hostility 10
these men sailors of the United States, wear
ing the uniform OF their government, and not in
any individual act or personal animoSty. The
called to this affair. and statement of the facts
obtained by the investigation we had conducted
WAS submitted, accompanied by request to be
advised OF any other or qualifying facts in the
possession of the Chilian government that mig hi
tend TO relieve this affair of the appearance OF
an insult 10 this government. The Chiliun gov
ernment WAS also advised that If such qualify
ing facts did not exist this government would
confidently expect full and prompt repa ration
1t is 10 be regretted that the reply OF the sec
retary for foreign affairs of the provisional gov
ernment was couChed in an offensive tone. To
thIs no response has been made. This govern
ment is now awaiting the result of an lnvestiga-
ton which has been conducted by the criminal
r0urtUt Valparaiso. Ii is reported unofcially
that the investigation is about completed, and
IL is expected that the result Will soon be com
municated to this government, together with
some adequate and satisfactory response 10 the
note BY which the attention of Chilli was called
To this incident. II these just expectations
should be disappointed or further needless de-
lay intervene viii. by n special message. bring
this matter again to the attention OF Congress
for such action as may be necessary. The en-
tire correspondence with the government of
Chilli will at an early day be submitted to Con-
greSS
| renew the recommendation of my special
message, dated January Ii. 1890 tor the adop-
tlon of the necessary legislation to enable this
government to apply In the case of sweden and
Norway the same rule in respect to the levying
of tonnage dues was claimed and secured to
tho shipping OF the United States IN 1928. under
article of the treaty of 1872.
The adjournment of the Senate without
action on the pending acts for the sup
preston of the slave traffic in Africa and
independent state of the Congo left this
government unable 10 exchange these acts
on the date fixed, July ,, 1891. modus vivendi
has been concluded by which the power of the
Congo State tn levy duties on imports Is lett un.
impaired. and. by agreement OF all the sigma
tories 10 the general slave trade act, the timt
Tor the exchange OF Fhtintstloils on 'ile PaE1 Vi
the United states has been extended 10 February
=, 1892