The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-08
FOOLED BY THE ITATA.
THE SEIZED STEAMER SLIPS OUT
OF TIE HARBOR.


SAN DIEGO, CAL, May About $50
o'clock yesterday afternoon the Chilean
steamer Itatn lifted her anchors and quietly
steamed down the bay and out into the
ocean, carrying with her Deputy United
States Marshal Spencer, who, as far as
known, is still on board The departure of
the Itata was not unexpected, though it was
not supposed she would leave as soon as she
did. 1t was rumored late in the afternoon
that she was preparing to leave the harbor,
and the absence of any Of her crew
from the streets added weight to the story.
After 2 O'Clock the captains gig, which had
been lying at the foot Of H street, pulled off
for the vessel with six men on board, and
as soon as the boat was hoisted to the deck
the Itata weighed her anchor and steamed
down the stream. Marshal Gard was not
aware that the captain had any intention Of
disregarding his authority, for he left for
Point Iona in the launch Ola Juano just
one hour ahead of the big steamer and mad
passed the point and proceeded some dis
tance out to sea before he could have been
aware that the Itata was following him.
OBJECT OF HIS TRIP.
Marshal Cards! errand on his second trip
out of the harbor was to take the schooner
Robert and Minnie anywhere she might
be found in the open seas outside of Mexi$
can jurisdiction as a pratical craft The
marshaPs launch left the wharf at o'clock.
Besides Marshal Gard there were on board
A. C. C.SpauldinR of San Francisco, A NJ Con-
oughy, Capt. Crawford, and four soldiers
from the barracks armed with rifles and
ammunition belts, who had been detailed to
go on the expedition at the request of mar
shal Gard. 1t is known that the marshal
received ms ructions from w ashington that
he had authority to take the Robert and
Minnie on the high seas under the neutrality
aud piracy laws, but who these orders were
issued by could not be ascertained. Mar
shal Gard was very reticent W len ques-
toned on this point, simply saying that he
meant business and he intended to bring
the schooner back If he came 10 TO her. At
o'clock Wednesday morning marshal
Gard and his party left for Coronado
Island, where the Robert and Minnie was
last seen on Tuesday.
SIGHTED JUST OUTSIDE.
Just outside a sail appeared, which the
tug made for. AS soon as her master saw
the Qui Jauno he put about and ran south
in order, it was supposed, to get into Mexi-
can waters before he was overhauled. The
meeting place of the schooner and the tug
was p miles south of the international
line, about fifteen miles southwest Of Point
Iona. The tug passed to the windward of
the Robert and Minnie, and those aboard
had almost room enough to go aboard. On
her stern were the words Robert and
Minnie, San Francisco" The schooner
was sailing under her fore and mainsail
with no jib or topsails, and was
so heavily laden that she made
but slow progress. There were but
four of her crew visible, and these watched
the movements of the tug anxiously through
q glass from their position on the poop. The
schooner being in Mexican waters, Marshal
Gard returned to port to telegraph for in-
structions.
KNEW WHAT THEY WERE UP TO.
There has sat no time been any real doubt in
the minds Of those best informed that the
ammunition which the Robert and Minnie
carried was intended for a Chilean trans
port, ana that it would be transferred TO the
hold of the Itata Tor use by the insurgents
as soon as the big steamer obtained what
supplies she needed 10 port. 1t is definitely
known that communications have passed
between Capt. Terrall of the schooner
and Capt. Mauzum of the Itata,
both VIII lie the Robert and Minnie vas at
Catilna and since her arrival fl this har-
Dor. The Chileans laid their p ans well,
and they were carried out to the letter, re-
gardless of the interference OF the United
States authorities. Just after midnight
this morning Marshal Gard and party re-
turned from the outside aud reported that
the Robert and Minnie had completely dlsap-
peared.
SWARMGNG WITH ARMED MEN
The deputy marshal, who had been
placed in small boat at the entrance of
the hacbor to watch developments, re-
ported Una6 when the lCata started out
Pilot Dill was saadwlched between two
armed Chileans, while four cannons
guarded both the bow and the stern. He
also reported that at least eighty Chileans
were drawn up in line on her decks,
showing chat while the vessel was in port
she was plentifully supplied with men,
arms and ammunition. While here she
displayed only one small cannon and crew
OF about sixty men. The deputy reports
that when the vessel left the harbor she
turned north and steamed toward San
Clemente.
THE GOVERNMENT CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, May 7.--Attorney General
Miller this afternoon made public the sub
stance of the correspondence that has
passed between the officials here and the
authorities at Wilmington and at San
Dlego, CAL, relating to the insurgent YES ;e
1tata and the schooner Robert and Minnie
He refused to give out for publication
the fuI text of the correspondence. The
Information given by the Attorney
General agrees substantially with thai
received in the press dispatches from those
TWO points. The representations upor
which the orders were originally given K
the collector OF customs at Wilmington anC
subsequently, to the United States marsha
at San Diego to detain the Robert and Min
ME were made to Secret tary Foster and At
torney General by the Chilean minister and
we're to the effect that no had information
tnat the neutrality laws were being violated
THE DEPUTY LANDED.
kilograms received by the Attorney Gen
eraI indicate that the steamer Itata, after
escaping from San Diego with deputy
marshal aboard has sent him ashore at {
point on the coast about eight miles below
toe city. The Itata is sChllean insurgent
vessel, Of iron build. She carries four can
mons and about 100 men. The telegram
mention the probability that tht
robert and Minnie would 20 to San Gle
mente Island and there transfer her arm
and ammunition to the Itata. The Attor-
hey General refused TO indicate wha
Iurtner steps he had taken in the mattel
hnce the escape Of the two vessels, or q
discuss the probability Of any internationa
complications arising in connection VIII
The matter
MAY BE PURSUED.
The Attorney General. ss:.had several con-
leFences on the subject with the Secretary