Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-10
THE SAUCY ITATA.
10 SHE TO BE BROUGHT TO TAw BY
UNCLE SAINT
No Effort Apparent to This End-Legal
Status OF tho Escaped Chilean
Her Whereabouts.
Ipy telegraph % the plspatch.l

WAsBworos. May Cit wos not appa-
rent this morning that the Navy Depart
ment was exercising itself greatly to recap
ture the Chilean steamer Itata. Secretary
Tracy left tho city early in the morning in
company with Commodore Folger to in
spect officially the new ordnance proving
ground at Indian Head, about forty miles
down the Potomac, without leaving any
trace of an order relating to the matter.
SO, If there was any serious disposition on
the part Of the Navy Department to send
the Charleston in chase of the ltata, IL
would appear to have been abandoned.
POSSIBLY TIE cHnEASIs STILL NEAR SAINT DIEGO.
But there is reason to believe that there
is some hope entertained by Government
officials that the Iteta did not start at full
speed for Chile. In the first place it does
not appear that she has received the arms
carried by the Robert and Minnie. and IN
the second place the dispatches stated that
she started northward. which is certainly
not the route from California to Chile.
There is strong suspicion that she Is Turk
ing somewherein the neighborhood of San
Diego awaiting an opportunity to get the
arms from the schooner.
GAN sRE BE TAKEN ON THE HIGH SEAS?
The varying opinions in official minds
here as TO the legal status Of the escaped
Chilean vessel Itata are gradually merging
into the belief that the vessel can legally
be recaptured on the high seas. by any OF
our naval vessels. The precedents which
are coming to light seem to establish this
right. One of the most recent cases oc-
CURED during the last war between Mica
ragua and Guatemala. The steamer Mexico
was supplied with arms and men In an
American port and sailed for Guatemala.
She was pursued by n United States YES
sci, captured in Gustemalan waters.
brought to New Orlerns, and accused OF
violation of the neutrality laws. Judge
Brown, in q long opinion, fully sustained
the right Of seizure under such circum-
stances and went even beyond the conten-
ton of the State Department.
ANOTHER CASE.
Again, during the rebellion at Colon q
United States vessel sighted a rebel vessel
supposed to have aboard the insurgent
leader who had ordered the burning OF
Colon. She was many miles out in the
high seas, but the naval vessel captured
her and brought her into United States
port. The vessel was subsequently re-
leased on the ground that she was re-
cognized belligerent, but the court again
sustained the right of seizure under the
| circumstances. During the last Haytlen
rebellion Minister Preston was successful
in causing the detention OF four vessels
fitted out for hostile operations.
AMPLE PRECEDENT FOR SEIZURE.
So, it is said, there is amply precedent
for selzing the Itata on the high seas, for,
aside from the question as to whether or
not she has violated the neutrality laws. it
is clear that che has violated several other
United States laws. She sailed without
clearance, she kidnapped the United States
marshal, and she has no national standing
Moreover, the Government of Chile, the
only government known to our Govern
ment, has requested her seizure, so that,
waving all questions of international law,
there is no notion to make formal COM
plant if the vessel is taken.
MOVEMENTS OF THE CHARLESTON.
Whether there is to be any effort made
to recapture her is not officially stated. A
| dispatch received at the Navy Department
to-day said that the Charleston had gone
out to sea to try her great guns and would
return this afternoon. If she is to chase
the Itata this does not seem to be an OPP
perfume time to try her great guns, but
Commodore Ramsey, who is Acting Secre-
tary of the Navy, refused to say what else
the Charleston was TO do or whether she
was under any special order.