St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-15
RUMORS, BUT RUMORS
The Chase OF the Chilian II
Becoming Somewhat
Tiresome.
NO Certainty That the Charles
ton Has Even Sighted
the Itata.
PURSUED and Pursuer Are Out
OF Sight and Reach Up
to Date.
naval CiPPlnC uau0 NoxI-s
Naval Circles Have Nothing
But Figures on Speed and
Distance.

CITY OF MEXICo, May l4.-The An.
gio-Amerlean prints special from San
blaS, on tile Pacific coast, stating that a
coastWlse schooner, which arrived here
yesterday, reports having sighted two
unknown vessels about , o'clock Tnes-
day afternoon, and another about dark.
some distance. off that port. both
gong south and steaming fast. The
captain of the schooner was unable to
make out the names at that distance .
ihere Is general belief in San Bias
that the vessels sighted were the Itata
nrst and the Charleston second. chasing
ner. Ii this is the case, the
charleston is between four and
nye hours behind. There were
persistent rumOrS in circulation in this
city to-day that the United States cruiser
CharleSton had overtaken the Gillian
vessel ltata on the high seas and a naval
engagement had been fought, in which
DioWn out of the water. Whether
she exploded her magazines or
was sunk by the orniser
Charleston is not Stated. The r. rumors TrS9s
1all to state where the engagement was
1ought. Inquiries at the war depart.
ment tailed TO bear out the street re-
ports, though some maintain that thew
i!aNo liiSiue information to that effect.
a special at p. III. to the AnglO-Amer-
can from Acapulco states that neither
the ltata or the Charleston had been
sighted, though there is
A ViGilant Watch
maintained at the signal station fo,
them. deal of excitement prevails i'm
commercial circles in San Bias. the
merchants believing that naval battle
VIII be fought off that port. Rumors
continue to be circulated that the Itata
mas mas been sunk by the Charleston. The
1tata Is said to have returned the
Chareston's fire, and to have been
blown to pieces by the cruisers guns.
Inc affalr is represented as occurring
outside the three-mile limit, but the re-
porIS cannot be traced 10 an authentic
source. The government denies that
any Chilian ship touched at a MEXICAN
port up to late hour last nigGIt. or than
any conflict took place near San Bias.
asfumored and published by the Anglo
American. e'0
WASHINGTON. May 14.-There was
no news OF the Itata or the Charleston
at the navy department this morning
no credence is given to the report that
the Charleston has sunk the Itata. In
the hrst place, it is said, that news
or such an event could onlv
be received through the arrival
or the Charleston at some mort
connected with the telegraph lines,
which has not so far occurred. In the
second place, nobody supposes that the
ltata would resist the Charleston, for
she Is totally unprepared to do so, and
even II she attempted it the Charles
ton could readily subdue her
force without resorting to the ex-
treme measure of ''blowing her
out of the water" as it is rumored she
has done. 1t is apparent that the navy
department officials are somewhat pu21
Zled to account for the lack Of news
from the vessels, and are obliged to
content themselves with the the
ory that the Charleston is not
pursuing a straight course, but is
steaming easily 10 and fro over
hauling and examining merchant steam
ers, and looking around the islands off
the upper Mexican coast.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 14.-Rumors
coming from the City of Mexico are to
the effect that tine cruiser Charleston
had
OVertaken tIie Etata,
and has fired upon that vessel. are re-
garded here as having no foundation.
The Charleston passed San Diego at
noon Monday. The run to Acapulco.
the nearest telegraphic point below the
Gulf of California, is 1900 miles. The
Charleston was steaming at the rate Of
abut fifteen knots, and was seen to
be moving out of her course to
inspect passing vessels and, even though
pushed TO the highest point of speed,
could not reach Acapulco before to-
morrow, and any news therefore of her
operations could not be received
through Mexican sources before her
arrival there tomorrow. 1t Is re-
ported this morning that orders
have been received at Mare Isl
and to have the modern steam
cruiser Mohickon ready for sea as fast
as possible. Her officers make no secret
of the fact that she is under orders to
proceed to southern waters as fast as
steam and sail can carry her. The Mo-
hIckon is said 70 be going to Central
America to relieve the Ranger. 1t will
take the Mohickon at least fifty days to
reach Calloa.
CITY OF MEXICO, via Galveston, Nav
IA delayed telegram from Acapulco
states that the Esmeralda had left that
port after having sought several faVors
which were refused. The Esmeralda is
we'll armed and equipped. She received
telegrams from the United States and
then went to meet the Itata. A HAMA
Milo telegram says that the captain Of
fishing boat there claims that his yes
sci was nearly run down before day.
light by large steamer without lights,
bound north.