The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-05-22
THAT SAUCY ITATA
The Charleston Is Yet a Long
Way Astern.
ESCAPE MIGHT BE VERY COSTLY.


Principles Involved the Same as Those
Which Governed the Geneva Tribunal
The Charleston Leaves Acapulco
Facts About Her Chase-What Gillian
Deserters Say-A Forcible Levy on
Coal Which Resulted In a Prompt
Apology-The EsmeraIda.
WASHINGTON CITY, May ia dis
patch was received at the navy depart.
ment yesterday announcing the depar-
ture Of the cruiser Charleston from AGA
pulco on Sunday night. The dispatch
also stated that the insurgent vessel Es-
meralda was still there. No information
can be obtained as to where the Charles.
ton will go next, but it is thought that
she will go down the coast of Chilli A
telegram from the City of Mexico says
that nothing has been seen of the Itata,
and that she is probably now off the coast
of Central America, having been supplied
with fuel by the Esmeralda.
Not Afraid OF Fight.
In an interview at Acapulco Sunday an
officer OF the Esmeralda said: 1--WE will
try to get coal here, but IL this is impossi-
hours sail. We are not afraid of con-
fiict with the Charleston, but our orders
are to be prudent and not provoke a con-
fiict." He did not know whether the
Esmeralda would now go to Chilli, but
said the captain had received a long
cipher on Saturday which probably
directed her future movements.
The Importance Of the Capture.
no 70
reader, but the fact is that the capture of
the Itata is matter of great Importance
to Uncle Sam. If she lands her mum.
tions of war safely the CHILEAN authorities
will have good claim for large damages
against the United States; for the princi-
pie is the same as that upon which the
Alabama case was decided, when England
had to pay a"pretty penny" for letting the
Confederate privateer get away.
The Itata not SO Slow.
A telegram from San Francisco says:
peruvian Consul Holloway in talking of
the probable escape of the Itata says:
Many singular misstatements have been
made in regard to the Chilian steamer. In
the first place the Itata is twelve-knot
vessel, and she should reach Iquique, a
run of less than 5000 miles, inside Of
eighteen days. When she ,left San Diego,
about May 6, she had 800 tons of coal
aboard, and she does not burn over fifteen
tons daily. Such being the case, she has
enough fuel to last her about ffty-four
days
Testimony of Deserters.
"Three deserters from the Itata have
given their evidence to this effect. She
had on board ninety sailors and sixty
marines when she was in port at San
Diego, all instructed to secrecy. She
carried four sixty-pound guns hidden
under canvas with her small arms in the
forward hold. The soldiers were slowed
away there also, their food being sent to
them from the deck. Every appearance
of the vessel being prepared for war was
removed two days before she steamed
into San Diego, when she looked like
first-class merchantmen.
The Programme Laid Out.
"The programme was for the IUata to
get arms from the Robert and Minnie
aud when in the tropics to transfer them
to the Esmeralda, which would escort
her to Iquique. If the trip was made
without interference, so much the better,
but if not tie Esmeralda proposed to do
battle. The Esmeralda and Itata were
commanded from Iquique to st. Lucas oy
each others masters, who exchanged to
their rightful commands at the latter
point. Some information has been OBJ
tanned which leads to the belief that on
May IL a transfer of arms and munitions
of war was made from the ltata TO the
Esmeralda at Pichilinque, on the cast of
southern California"
The British Lion Growls.
"a copy of the CHILEAN Times has
reached here by the steamer San Bias. 1t
says the British forced an apology from
the insurgent man.of-war Blauco Enca-
lado just before the latter was sunk by
the torpedo boats. The Blanco was en-
gagged in blockading Iquique when she,
with other vessels of the blockading feet,
ran out of coal. Two English and Ger
man merchantmen were lying side by
side, both coal laden. The rebel fleet took
hold Of them, on the pretense that they
were in range in the event of firing, and
towed them out to sea, despite the pro.
tests OF the captains
Had to Apologize or Fight.
"Out of range of the forts guns, the
insurgents ilade forced purchase of
such coal as they needed. They volun-
tarily paid nu extravagant price for it,
but nevertheless the captains of the yes
sells reported the matter to the British
Admiral Hotham, who gave the Blanco
the option of apologizing or fighting
within twenty -four hours. 1t was then
11:30 a. m. Precisely at noon the Blanco
ran up the British and German flags
above the rebel standard and fired royal
salute"