The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-05-17
ANCHORED
SIDE BY SIDE.
The Charleston and ESm0Talda
Are at Acapulco.
No Trace Of the Itata DlSCOYeTed-Belief
That She Has Eluded Her PuFSuer
and Gone South.
Special 10 The MORNING CALI.

WASHINGTON, May 16.-After DAYS Of
waiting. some tangible news was to-day re-
ceived at the Navy Department from the
Charleston. First came a dispatch from
Acapulco, stating that the Chilean insur-
gent cruiser Esmeralda put out Of Acapulco
harbor yesterday and had returned to port
to-day. Later on through the State Depart
ment adispatch came saying that the Charles
ton had arrived at Acapulco and that the
EsmeraIda was still In port, but giving no
news Of the Itata. What the next step is to
be no one at the departmentkn knows or feels
free TO tell.
The Charleston Is to take on coal, as her
supply has probably nearly run out during
the weeks chase Whether the Esmeralda
is to have the privilege of taking coal aboard
cannot be learned here, as it is a matter en-
tirely within the control of the Mexican
Government but the presumption at the
department is against It, as the neutrality
laws would be strained by the Mexican Gov
eminent if itallOwed anything beyond water
and food supplies 10 be furnished bellig-
eTent
WHAT MAY BE DONE
The theory at the Navy Department is
that the Charleston, whose commander,
Captain Remey, has orders admitting large
discretionary movements, will now lie at or
near Acapulco for a time, trusting that the
Itatt which is a slow, 7-knot ship has not
yet passed down the coast and viii try to
coal 10 that ueighborhood. II she is sighted
the Charleston will DOUBTLESS try to seize
her She cannot do this in Mexican waters,
/ 80
outside the thTee-mile line or, if Unsuccess
full in that to follow her to sea when she
goes out
What the EsmeraIda win do meantime is
problemat,cal. The general impression is
that tie officers Of that vessel will rely
more upon strategy than force to obtain the
supplies carried by the Itata, and some Of
the officers believe that she is trying to lure
the Charleston away from the Itata's real
course.
WOULD BE 4 DEATH-BLOw
Recourse to force to prevent the Charles
ton from capturing the Itata, however,
would, it is said, be the death-bIOw Of the
insuTgent cause in Chile. as the entire naval
force Of the United States in the Pacific
Would, if necessary, be promptly called into
play to destroy the insurgent navy.
So Ii appears the Baltimore has come
north, and the San Francisco has been
stayed in her southern course just at the
point almost where the entire Chilean insur-
gent navy is now. This point is almost at
tie extreme north of Chile, and is where the
Jtata would naturally find her destination
II she eluded the Charleston.
Another dispatch states that the Charles
ton followed the Esmeraids into port, and
that both cruisers are now lying within 500
yards If each others guns. At the Navy
Department there is no fear of hOstilitjes
unless the 1tata appears. If, then, the
Charleston should attempt to put prize
crew on tie Itata, as she will prnbably do,
objection 20 such act by the Esmeralda
would probably lead to trouble.
NOT ALLOWED TO COAL
CITY OF MEXICO, May 16.-The Govern
ment denies the truth Of the published
TumOTs that the EsmeTalda had succeeded
In buying even limited amount of coal a
Acapulco. but saws that on the contrary she
was ordered out If port and is now lying off
the coast IN neutral waters. The general
opinion at Acapulco is that the Itata has
passed that place and gone south, and tie
fsmeTalda has been waiting for the United
States steamer Charleston.
At o'clock this afternoon an unusual
cOmmOtiOn was Cbseryed on the Esmeralda,
but thorough search Of the water failed to
show any gn Of an approaching vessel.
wAR-SHIPs AT IQUIQUE.
IQUIQUE, May 16.-The United States war
'
here this morning. The Baltimore and San
Francisco viii remain on this coast under
command Of Admiral Brown. Admiral
hcCaun viii be transferred to the Pensa-
cola, which is expected here in a lew days,
and VIII then leave for the Atlantic.
THE NEwBERN OvERHAULED.
SAN DIEGO, May 16.-Purser Walter of
the Pacific Coast steamship Newbern,
when interviewed to-day, said that the
Chilean nan-Of-War Esmeralda was short of
coal when The NewOern passed her on the
1st Inst. off Cape San Lucas. The officers
OF the Esmeralda visited the Newbern at
San Jose del Ca6O The next day and said
their destination was some port in the
United States where they could get coal.
They also inquired as to the quantity Of
coal the New bern was carrying and seemed
disappointed when Informed that the
steamer had only small quantity.
Walton says lie has no doubt that 1t was
the purpose Of the EsmeTalda TO hold the
NewbeTn up at sea and take her fuel from
her; but she gave up the idea when she
found that the amount carried by the pas
senger steamer was so small. The puTser
eOrroboTated Captain Won Helms story
about seeing another waT-Ship much larger
than he EsmeTalda on the night Of the 1st.
lie thinks This, also. must have been an in
suTgent ship. for the officers Of the Esmer-
aida knew Of her whereabouts, and did not
appear TO lie alarmed, as would have been
the case II the ship had been Balmaceda's
HI pclld4rs j nc UulCGlS OI TIE JSLlcEdlQa
refused to tell the name Of the other ship
when questioned.
SUCO IS ALIVE.
PARIS, May 16-A delegate of the Chilean
Congress party. in an interview, denies the
New York telegram stating that Barras
Suc0 was drowned by the sinking Of the
BlaHCo Encalada, and thatshis signature is
illegally employed. The British Consul at
Iquiqur, he said, has cabed that Suco is
alive. The delegate declared that Balma-
Cfda's adhertnt5 have given contracts to
the Armstrong; to provide big guns for the
cruiser President Pinto, but the Congress
party had demanded that the British Gov
eminent should not allow the guns to be de-
liyered. If this demand is disreglTded the
Congress party intends, when the struggle
is ended, TO present claim similar TO that
in the case Of the Alabama. Similar claims
will also be made upon France If she allows
the cruisers to depart
Not Sighted by the San Bias.