St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-19
ON WITH The PURSUIT
The Charleston Sails With
Full Bunkers and Secret
Orders.
The Irata Has Two Days Start
OF the Cruiser Of Uncle
Sam.
Iquique May Now Become the
Scene Of the Chilian's
Capture.
Deserters Furnish Informa-
tion to the Grand Jury at
Los Angeles.

WASHINGTON, May 1S.-Just before
O'Clock this afternoon the navy depart
ment received confirmation of the presi-
dents dispatch to the effect that the
Charleston sailed southwark from Aca-
puico last evening, leaving the Esmer-
aida in port. There was no word of the
1tata. The presumption is that the
CharleStOn's commander was satisfied
that the Itata had passed Acapulco
either before his arrival there or while
he lay in port, and that he has resumed
the long chase. 1t is estimated that the
ltata has bekn stealing along at about
seven knots, and as she was ten days
out last Friday night, she should at that
time have been just at Acapulco, where
it is reported from that place that she
met the Esmeralda. AS she is much
smaller vessel than the Esmeralda,
and burns much less coal,
it is regarded as within the
probabilities that the latter vessel might
have supplied her with this necessary
article, which would account for the
strait the war ship is now in respecting
a further supply of coal. If it be true
SLo1 GliC 1Jdid was Oll Acapulco
night she had two full days. start of the
Charleston when the latter started again
In pursuit last night. This is about the
same lead that she had when she started
from San francisco, so that it does ap-
pear that the case is not any nearer
conclusion. But if the two vessels now
follow abe same course, the Charleston,
Steamlng at fourteen knots, should come
up with the ltata by to morrow night.
This event, of course, is based upon the
assumption, which is not founded upon
strong probability, that the two yes
sells are steering exactly the same
ltata, the next port at which they are
likely to be heard from is Panama,
about 1,200 miles from Acapulco, or
Payta. Peru, still farther down the
coast. AS it is the vessels have proba-
bly, covered less than half the distance
to Iquique, the nearest Chilian port.
AS Seen at Acapulco.
), NEW YORK, May 1s.-A dispatch from
Acapulco, dated May H., says: To-
night, with a sufficient coal supply for
ten days at high speed, the Charleston
will leave this harbor to continue her
chase of the Itata. No one but Capt.
Remey knows what course the Charles
ton will steer after she gets outside.
The Esmeralda still lies near the harbor
entrance, but has not yet coaled ship.
Her captain is apparently as ignorant of
the 1tata's whereabouts as we are
There can be no doubt that the Esmer-
aida is kept informed by telegraph Of
what is going on in the United States.
One of her officers is often seen at tie
cable office receiving or sending mes
sageS. 1t is rumOred, even, that money
will be transmitted to the Esmeralda
by cable transfer to enable her to get
coal here. AT present she could be of
little service to the Itata, even if the
latter arrived off the port, for both ships
must be nearly cleaned out of coal. The
Esmeralda's officers and crew talk very
freely about the Itata, but evidently
they do so in the hope that they will
thereby deceive Capt. Remey, of the
Charleston. One of their stories is that
they have already met the Itata and
taken her stores and arms from her.
laden vessel at sea, and is now pushing
on southwark with full bunkers. These
Fairy Tales
overlook the impossibility of tranship
ping heavy cargo of coal or of arms in
the open sea. Such an operation, even
with every preparation made and mod
ern appliance supplied, would require a
week of smooth sea, and it would be
difficult and dangerous job then. What
the Charleston now intends doing will
depend upon Capt. Remey's orders. 1t
is not improbable that ne will continue
straight on for Chilli, stopping for coal
at Panama, in order to join the other
ships of our navy at Iuuique.
As the Itata must turn up there
eventually, perhaps that will be the
sureSt way to catch her. After sailing
tonight the Charleston may not be
heard from again for several days, or
she may next be reported bringing the
ltata into this port to get coal before
taking her north. The hint was acci-
dentally dropped by high naval Off.
cial Friday that our efforts to capture
the Itata have embittered the insur-
gents against US. and that American
interests at 1quique, the insurgents
headquarters, are consequently in dan.
ger. This accounts for the hasty mobil-
iZatiOn of an American fleet in that
harbor.
A prominent bureau chief of the navy
department. said tonight that he be-
lieved that the commander of the
Charleston would not hesitate to take
the insurgent vessel 1tata, even though
he should have to lay hands on her in
Chilian waters. The law of ma
tions would prevent him from TAX
Ing her in neutral port.
Should the Charleston's commander
catch up with the runaway vessel within
the marine league off Chill, this officer
said he thought the Charleston's COM
mander would seize the 1tata and let the
courts decide the question as to his
right to do so. Commodore Ramsey SAID
tonight that he lad no later news from
the Charleston than that she had left
Acapulco as before stated, and Secretary
Tracy was not at home up to IL O'Clock.
SAN FRANCISCO, May.1S.-It is stated
that the grand jury which has been in
session at Los Angeles Investigating the
facts in relation to the cargo carried bv
the Chilian ship Itata, now being sought
by the United States cruiser Charleston
and other war ships, obtained testimony
Of two deSerters from the Itata. These
men, it is stated. testified that when the
Itata started north she had on board
60 new rifles and 200 old ones. When
the Esmeralda and the Itata met off
Cape San Lucas the former had $50 men
all told. the Itata had 80 sailors and
sixty soldiers, the latter being in citi-
Zens' clothes. They were Instructed
that if they diyulged the secret of the
vessels mission
The Death Penalty
would follow. The 1tata carried four
sixty-pound guns that were hidden un-
der the canvas with her small arms in
the forward hold. The soldiers were
slowed away there also, their food be-
ing sent them from on deck. Every ap-
pearance of the vessel being prepared