Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-05-15
Secretary Tracy Says the Charles
ton Has Positive Orders to
Capture the Itata
Wherever She May b. Found Upon
the High Sea Outside OF Any
Foreign Port.
The Two Vessels Must Soon Reach
Some Mexican Port to
Coal Up.
Itata Speculation.

WASHINGTON, May l2.-Up to the
close of business hours no news was re-
ceived at the navy department of the
Charleston and so far as the officials
there know the Itata is still at liberty.
Commodore Ramsay acting secretary, this
afternoon said he did not know where the
Charleston was and that the only news
the department. had received to-day was
the arrival of the cruiser San Francisco
at Iquique, in northern Chill. AS this
vessel is to figure in the chase in case the
ltata escapes the Charleston, her
movements are of some Importance. AS
the days of the chase run along, new
factor appears which will doubtless re-
suit speedily in betraying the movements
of pursuer and pursued. The Itata
started from San Diego last Wednesday
evening-six days ago-and if pushed to
her highest speed, must be nearly out of
coal, so that she must soon put into port
somewhere to replenish her bunkers.
The Charleston, like most swift cruisers,
was obliged to sacrifice some coal-carry-
ing capacity for the sake of boiler and
engine room and, gun-carrying capacity.
With full bunkers she can carry 800 tons,
but, If she has been driven at full speed.
she must have burned IT'S tons every %
hours, which would give full steam
power for but four and one half days.
She has now been out three and one half
days, and, although it is known that she
lay at anchor at least one night, her coal
supply is probably running SO low it
would be hazardous for her-a vessel
without sail power-to continue much
longer at sea. So some news of one or
both of the vessels may be expected very
soon when they put into port for coal.
This will probably be Mexican port
and Immediately may be expected to
arise an important question for deterlni-
nation of the Mexican government, and
that is the status of the Itata. Some
comment was caused among the state
department. people by telegraphed state
ment that the Chilian insurgent cruiser
Esmeralda is now at Acapulco. The
fact that her presence in port is toler-
ated is regarded here by some officers as
quaisi-recognition by the Mexican gov
ernment of insurgents as belligerants. If
this recognition should take a formal
shape it might have important results
for Insurgents, for, under the neutrality
laws, their vessels would find an asylum
in the Mexico ports and might take sup
plies, although not permitted to take
aboard munitions of war or make any
Mexican port the base of operations
against Chill. This doctrine was thor
oughly defined in the Alabama case and it
is said in addition to the precedent set by
Great Britain in, recognizing insurgents
as belligerents, the Mexican government
has not the kindest feelings toward the
present Balmaceda administration in
Chill.
THE CHARLESTON GAINING.
CRY OF MEXICO, May 12.-The Chi
lian steamer Itata is sailing under diff
Guilty and the United States war ship is
gaining on her. It is expected the two
vessels will reach Acapulco thin few
hours of each other.
OTHER CoNTRABAND CARRIERS.
SAN Francisco, May 12.-It is now
stated that the schooner "Robert and
Minnie" is not the only vessel chartered
to convey arms and ammunition to the
Chilian insurgents, but that other vessels
chartered are now unwilling to ship ccn-
traband goods or have put into Oakland
creek on the other side of San francisco
bay until, it is demonstrated whether
such cargoes can safely be taken out
The United States district attorney has
definitely ascertained the roads over
which large quantity of the guns and
ammunition which formed the cargo Of
the "Robert and Minnie" came into the
state aud it is said the federal authori-
ties will endeavor to compel the railway
officials to disclose the quantity deliv-
cred and those now known to be on the
road. It is further stated that a few
days before the cartridges were bought
in the east, the Chilian agent called at
the office of the local agent of the o. p.
Cartridge company, and made inquiries
as to the latter's ability to procure three
million cartridges Of 43 calibre inside of
three weeks. The district attorney has
had 9 consultation with the Chilian con-