Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-20
THU ESNERALDA
Still at Acapulco and With
Empty Coal Bunkers,
And Unable to Secure a Supply at
Any Price,
Her Enemy, the Charleston,
Many Miles Away,
AND IN HOT PURSUIT OF THE FUGl-
TIVE ITATA.

Extreme Measures Taken by the Mexican
Government to Prevent the Selling OF
the Much-Desired Coal to the Insurgent
Vessel-A British Admiral Causes the
Insurgents to Apologize for Forcibly
Taking Coal from British and German
Merchantmen at Iquique-How Trains
We're Used in Fighting.
ACAPULCO, May 20.-The Charleston
has left the harbor and gone south in
pursuit Of the Itata. The Esmeralda re-
mains here and large quantity of pro-
visions have been furnished her, but in
spite of the reported demands of her
commander, the Mexican authorities
prevent the selling of any coal to her,
and in consequence she is not able to fol-
low the Charleston. 1t becomes more
evident every moment that the Itata
transferred last Friday night to the
Esmeralda all or part of the arms and
ammunition bought by the Itata at San
Diego.
If the Esmeralda, in spite of the large
sums of money offered, cannot get coal
there will probably be coal shipped here
Immediately from another point, since
the officers viii not use violence to get
coal here The captain of the Esmeralda
has not been seen for several days, and
some say he is confined by sickness to
his cabin. Others say that on Friday
night he went on board the Itata to
command that vessel in case she is at
tackled by any American man-of-war.
1t is impossible to ascertain the truth
of these reports, for no one is allowed to
board the Esmeralda and none of her
crew are allowed to land.
The Esmeralda has deposited in San
Francisco $17 900 with the Pacific Mail
Steamship company to get coal at Aca-
pulco, where the company has a regular
coaling station. The Mexican authori-
ties have taken extreme measures to pre-
vent the selling of coal to the Esmer
aida. The latter is in very difficult
situation, because she is expected to look
after the Charleston and also assist the
ltata in case she is attacked.
Only Guess Work.
The presumption that the Charlestons
commander was satisfied that the Itata
had passed Acapulco and has resumed
the chase 1t has been estimated that
the Itata has been steaming along at
about seven knots, and, as she was ten
days out last Friday night she should at
that time have been just off Acapulco, If
that be true, she had two full days start
of the Charleston when the latter start
ed again in pursuit last night. This is
about the same lead that she had when
she started from San Diego, so that it
does not appear that the chase is any
nearer conclusion.
But if the two vessels now follow the
same course, the Charleston. steaming
at fourteen knots, should soon come up
with the Itata. This event, of course, is
based upon the assumption, which is not
founded upon strong probability, that
the two vessels are steering exactly the
same course. If the Charleston passes
the Itata theahext port where they are
likely to be heard from is Panama, about
200 miles from Acapulco or Payta,
Peru, still further down the coast. AS
it is, the vessels have probably covered
less than half the distance to Iquique,
the nearest Chilian port.