The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-09
is she A PIRATE?
A Nice Question of International
Law Involved
IN THE CASE OF THE ETATA
The State Department Disagrees With Score
tary Tracy as to the Right Of Cap
ture on the High Sea.

WASHINGTON, May S.-The policy of the
government with respect to the escape of
the Gillian vessel Etata is still an official
secret Secretary Tracy and other officials
this morning refused to discuss the matter.
Ihere can be no doubt of the fact that the
government is extremely anxious to ex-
hlblt all possible zeal in an effort to re-
capture the vessel in order to avoid any un-
pleasant consequences that might arise
through the presentation of a claim for
damage in behalf of the Chilian govern
ment, but naval officers are very sceptical
OF the ability of our ships to recapture the
Etata under the circumstances attending
her flight. 1t is not possible to get definite
authoritative answer to the question
Wnetner the Charleston will be sent after
the Etata. All information vouchsafed is
lnat the Charleston was ordered two weeks
ago to coal up and get ready for sea at the
earnest moment. The formalities at the
END OF the Presidents reception at San
FRANCISCO necessarily delayed these pre-
paratlons, but it is understood they are
now actively under way Single handed
even the Charleston would have great
dlfhculuy in catching the Etata. The
latter vessel may be 500 miles ahead of the
chase and the variation of point or two of
the compass in steering the course would
soon separate the two vessels by MANY
leagues. So the Charleston might pass the
Etata without knowing it. On this account
IL is probable, If the navy department is
really satisfied of its right to seize the
Chlllan vessel on the high seas and is de-
termlned to do so, it must rely largely on
United States vessels in the south. So far
M ho,
direction, but the department may at any
moment cable Admiral Mccain, who is
on the CHILEAN coast with the
the Pensacola and Baltimore and to Brown,
who is on the San Francisco somewhere off
Peru, to endeavor to head off the run
away.
The San Francisco story that the Balma-
ceda armed transport Imperiale is lowering
on the coast OF California to capture the
Etata, is SAID at the navy department to be
without foundation, for admiral McCann's
last report showed that month ago the
lmperlale was shut up in Valparaiso har
Dor by the lnsurgent fleet and it would be
manlfestly impossible for her to have
reached California in a month
The question of the right of the United
States to take the Etata on the high seas is
not altogether settled the state depart
ment people are inclined to doubt the
-.SA0' AAO WhOIO quGSblOu arises from the
dispute as to her character Were she g
pirate or vessel of American register, en-
gagged in acts of violation of treaty stipula-
tons, the case would be simple one, but
she is merely Gillian vessel engaged in
the transportation of a suspected cargo.
and there is grave risk involved.
Dispatches from Chill to-day throw a.
peculiar side light on the war, being to the
effect that President Balmaceda has di-
rected that payments of revenue and other
dues to the government must be made in
silver. A naval officer to-day pointed out
the fact that this means good deal and
might indicate certain amount of shrewd
precaution on the part of Balmaceda. who
is, as likely as not, preparing for adbica-
ton. Such action of course would end the
war in favor of the insurgents.
In the matter OF international law in
volyed, 1t would seem as though the state
department is not in accord with the rest
OF the administration for both ATTORNEY
General Miller and Secretary Tracy lean
to the idea the Etata is legal prey.
A report has come from San Francisco
tnat Richard Trumbull, a member of the
CHILEAN congress- has been arrested there
No knowledge of such act has reached the
department Of justice. It is stated it would
be an easy matter for anyone to cause the
arrest OF Irumbul on the charge of vio-
latlng the neutrality laws. The marshal is
bound to recognize an order to this effect
contained IN an information or complaint
sworn to oy any ciCizen. In case there is a
mistake and false arrest, there is no redress
only In the form of a suit at law against
the informant. The marshal is not respon-
sible.