The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-05-18
.INACAPULCO HARBOR
The Charleston and Esmeralda
Both Lie There.
ITATA's WHEREABOUTS unknown.

A Belief That the Charleston Still
Between Ships Would XIII the In.
surgents'Cause-Th Baltimore and
San Francisco at Iquique.
WASHINGTON, May 1S. - After
weeks waiting, some tangible news was
received at the navy department from
the Charleston. First came a dispatch
from Acapulco stating that the Chilean
insurgent cruiser Esmeralda had put
out Of Acapulco harbor and later had re-
turned to the port. Later, through the
state department, dispatch came say.
ing that the Charleston had arrived al
Acapulco and that the Esmeralda was
still in port, but giving no news Of the
Itata
What the next step is to be no one al
the department knows or feels free tc
tell. The Charleston is to take on coal
MS her supply has probably nearly run
out during the weeks chase. Whether
the Esmernlda is to have the privilege
of taking coal aboard cannot be learned
here, as it is q matter entirely within
the control Of the Mexican government,
but the presumption at the department
is against it, as the neutrality law,
would he strained by the Mexican gov
ernment il 1t allowed anything beyond
water and food supplies to be furnished
to belligerent.
VIII Probably Lie in Wait.
The theory at the navy department is
that the Charleston, whose commander.
Capt. Remey, has orders admitting larg,
diaprati ia, ny ,a,,ta xxys1I II.
at or near Acapulco for a time, trusting
that the ltata, which is slow seven
knot ship, has not yet passed down the
coast, and will try TO coal in that neigh.
borhood. If she is sighted the Charles.
ton will doubtless try to seize her. She
cannot do this in Mexican waters, sc
that it would be necessary to head hei
Off outside the three mile line, or, if nm
successful in that, to follow her to sea
when she goes out
What the Esmeralda will do mean.
time is problematical. The general i'm.
preston is that the officers of that yes.
sci will rely more upon strategy than
force to obtain the supplies carried by
the Itata, and some officers believe thai
she is trying to lure the Charleston from
the ltata's real course. Recourse tc
force to prevent the Charleston from
capturing the ltata, however, would, il
is said, be the death blow of tho insur.
gent cause in Chile, as the entire naval
force of the United States in the Pacific
would, if necessary, be promptly called
into play to destroy the insurgent
navy.
The Baltimore and San Francisco
A cablegram received at the depart
ment from Admiral McCann announced
that the Baltimore and San Francisco
are both at Iqique, Chile. So it appears
that the Baltimore has come north and
the San Francisco has been STAYED in her
southern course just at the point where
the Chilean insurgent navy is now nearly
altogether assembled. This point is al.
most in the extreme north of Chile, and
is where the Itata would naturally find
her destination if she eluded the Charles
ton.
No News for a Day or Two.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., May 16.-Secre.
tary Tracy said last night he had re.
ceived no new advices from the Pacific
squadron concerning the Itata, and that
he hardly expected to hear anything
startling from that quarter for a day OF
two. Admiral McCann, who has just
arrived at Iquique, has been placed in
command of the Pacific squadron and
will direct the movements Of the