The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-09-29
Official Conference Held About
Chilean Affairs.
HOSTILE TOWARD THE U. S. SHIP.
No American Vessels Available in
Case of Serious Trouble.
secretary Tracy Does Not Regard the
situation as Threatening-A Sample
of Balmaceda's CrueIty-Monte Re-
ports That Peace is Undisturbed.

WASHINGTON CITY, Sept. 2S.-For two
hours this morning the president was in
consultation with representatives of the
state and navy departments. While no
officlal information upon the subject can
be obtained. there is reason to believe that
the administration is confronted with a
serious aspect of affairs in Chile. Since
last Friday cablegrams in cipher have
been passing between Washington City and
Valparaiso, but the officials refuse to make
their contents public 1t is conjectured
here that the matters under consid-
Grafton at the conference were state
ments from Minister Egan and Cap
tain Schley of recent occurrences
in Chile. which are also conjectured to
accord with special dispatches from VAL
paraiso printed in the New York Herald
this morning. Just what Captain Schley
had to communicate to the navy depart
ment cannot be learned, but it is believed
1t related to the treatment of refugees, and
that the bitter anti-Amerlcan sentiment
In Chile resulting from the seizure of the
ltata has revealed itself in hostile, I'M
friendly demonstrations toward the officers
and men of the Baltimore. However this
may be, 1t is certain the officials of the
state and navy departments are not at all
ence was called to devise means of meet
ing any emergency, it is apparent that the
persons who participated are satisfied this
has been accomplished.
AT present the United States naval force
in Chile consists of one vessel, the Balt-
more. The San Francisco touched at Cal
lao, Peru, last week on her way north
ward. An effort was made by the navy
Il l.
she sailed for Acapulco, Mexico, on Fri
day, before cablegram reached her.
There are no modern vessels on the Pa
cific side that could be dispatched to
Chile. 1t is assumed that Commodore
Ramsey, chief of the navigation bureau,
was called into consultation with the cab
met off cials.
Secretary Tracy, while declining to make
any statement relative to the conference
at the White House this morning, said he
did not intend to send any more ships to
Chile, and that he did not regard the situ-
alton there as threatening.
Senor Montt Chilean congressional en-
voy, has. received dispatch from Senior
Malta, minister of foreign affairs, stating
that peace has not been disturbed by the
revolt of the military.
prints story to show that both Grace 81
Co. and Charles Flint & Co. played both
warning parties during the Chilean revo-
luton to secure orders for arms and am
munition. Its most interesting feature is
the statement that it was Balmaceda's
intention to take the Itata from San Diego
and profit by the congressionalists' loss.
Charles r. Flint was Balmaceda's repre-
sentative here, and the dictator demanded
of the South American Steamship Com
pany that a power of attorney be made
out in the company's name, authorizing
Charles Il. Flint to represent it and 10 take
possession of the steamer. The agent de-
clined, but the next day Balmaceda sent
for the agent and repeated his demand,
coupled with a threat that if the
agent did not agree he would be
taken out at daybreak and shot.
The agent told him to shoot ahead and re-
tired. A few hours later Balmaceda sent
for the agent again. If he did not get
what he wanted he would not only have
the agent shot, but Carlos Lyon, the presi-
dent of the company. would be shot, too.
Senior Lyon is an old man and very re-
spectacle. To save his life the steamship
people yielded. They made out the re-
quired power of attorney in Flint's
name. Balmaceda sent it TO Min
lister Lazcano in Washington City,
whence il came into the hands of Flint
The United States would have had no
more right 10 detain a load of arms going
to a regularly established government
than it would have TO detain a load of
potatoes. The arms, purchased with the
money OF the insurgents, would, there
fore. pass over to Balmaceda without a
blow. The fall of Balmaceda, however
put an end to this plan as we'll as to the
war.
Los ANGELES, Cal, Sept. 2S.-The taking
of the deposition of the officers of the
Itata was resumed today before Com
missioner Owen. Captains Manzen and
Tejada were examined, and gave testi-
mony corroboratiye of that already given.
The marshal's costs for the detention of
the vessel at San Diego were paid today
by ;. VI. White. and ii is understood that
the bonds. in the sum of 100000, will be
fled tomorrow.