The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-22
ESCAPE OF TaE ITATA.
A Rumor That She is to be Surrendered
TO the United states.

A Rumor That She is to be Surrendered
TO the United States
PARIS, May 21.-The Chilean agents in
this city who represent the congressional or
insurgent party declare to-day that an
arrangement has been made between the
congressional party and the United States
authorities by which the insurgent steamer
ltata, which Is now being chased down the
west coast OF America by the United States
warship Charleston, will not be seized by
force by the Charleston or by any other
vessel OF the American navy. BY the terms
OF this arrangement, the agents here state,
the fugitive craft will be handed over
by the Chilean insurgents to
the United States authorities pending
a settlement of the question In dispute as 20
whether or not the Itata has violated the
neutrality laws. This action, it Is added,
will be taken without prejudice to the con-
gressional party in so much as the Itata has
enough start OF the Charleston to enable
her TO reach port in possession OF the con-
gressional party and to unload there before
she is surrendered TO the United States.
ALL RETICENT AT WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, May 81. The Paris dis
patch stating that the Itata is TO be peacea-
bly, surrendered to che United States by the
insurgents upon her arrival In Chile was
shown to officials of the navy and state de-
partments to-day, but one and all declined
to discuss the matter publicly. Neverthe-
less It can be stated positively that
tnere have been no negotiations
as reported between the insurgent
agents In France or elsewhere
and this government respecting the Itata.
There IL reason TO believe that this govern
ment expects that the Itata will peaceably
be surrendered TO the United States by the
insurgents when she reaches Chile. but that
when she is so surrendered the vessel will
be found to have discharged her arms and
munitions of war. 1t is surmised that II
aboard the Esmeralda tho latter
probably arranged rendezvous for her and
one OF the insurgent ships now at Iquique,
30 as 20 admit Of q transfer at some speci-
fed point at sea. Besides arms the Itata
had aboard large quantity OF -four, which
Is very valuable now in Chile, but as this il
not contraband Of war. there would proba-
bly, be little difficulty in securing its deliv'
cry to the insurgents.
A GOOD STROKE OF POLICY.
The surrender of the Itata might prove
to be a good stroke of policy on the part OF
the insurgents, especially after having SO.
cured her cargo. The object Of libeling the
ship in California was to determine whether
she had violated the neutrality laws. II
she stands trial on that charge the status OF
the insurgents must be judicially determined
az preliminary. II It is held that they
are "belligerents" according to the precise
definition OF the international law, the in-
surgent will have realized a substantial
advantage, and all that they risk is the loss
by the forfeiture of an empty vessel Moth
ing has been heard at the department yet
Of the Charleston. She is due at Panama
to-day, but ii may be that she has pro-
ceeded straight on TO Payta, Peru.
THE PENSACOLA AT IQuIQUR.
IQuIQUE, May 2L.-The United States
warship Pensacola arrived here yesterday