The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-05-15
STILL UNCQNFIRMED,
But Mexico Tells Two Tales oi
the Itata's Destruction.
HER CARGO EXPLODED BY A SHELL.

. -------
The Reports, However, Are Not Be-
iicved in the Navy Departments at
Washington. and San Francisco
Explains Why It Cannot Be-To
Prosecute tho Schooner's Crew.
Cry OF MExIco, May 15.-The city
is full Of rumors Of an encounter be-
tween the United States cruiser Char
lesion and the Chilean insurgent vessel
Itata, in which the latter was destroyed.
AL efforts to verify these rumors or to
run them down have failed. The first
story that got abroad merely announced
the sinking Of the Itata, but now various
details Of the alleged battle are added.
One account has 1t that the Charleston
fired on the Itata because the latter re-
fused to heave to when ordered, and the
Chilean responded from the small guns
mounted on her decks.
Exploded the Itata's Cargo.
Only few shots had been fired when
@ shell from one of the Charleston's 8
inch guns burst in the Itata's hold and
exploded the cargo of powder stored
there, blowing the ship into fragments,
Another story says the Itata, on being
overhauled by the Charleston, used
every effort to escape and only fired on
the cruiser from her stern guns. A
running fight was kept up for several
miles and number of shot had struck
the fleeing vessel and sunk her. Nothing
is said about her crew by those who re-
tail this account, and 1t is presumed that
they were rescued.
All the port authorities on the west
coast of Mexico have been ordered TO re-
port Immediately any news of the Itata
or Charleston, but notwithstanding tho
rumors and the plain inference that they
come from some of these points and over
the government wires, the authorities
here deny that they have any informa-
ton.
Not Believed in Washington.
WASHINGTON, May t5.-There was no
news Of the Itata or the Charleston at
the navy department No credence is
given to the report that the Charleston
has sunk the Itata In the first place it
is said that news Of such an event could
only be received through the arrival of
the Charleston at some port connected
with the telegraph lines, which has not
SO far occurred. In the second place
nobody supposes that the Itata would
resist the Charleston, and even If she
did the Charleston could readily subdue
her without resorting to the extreme
measure of "blowing her out of the
water" as it is rumored she has done.
San Francisco Discredits 1t, Too.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 15.-The rumors
|emanating from the city of Mexico that
the cruiser Charleston had overtaken
and sunk the Itata are regarded
here as without foundation. On Monday
the Charleston passed San Diego at
noon. The run to the nearest telegraph
point is Acapulco, 1900 miles distant.
The Charleston was steaming at the
rate of fifteen knots, and was seen to be
moving out Of her course to inspect
passing vessels, and even though pushed
to the highest speed could not reach
Acapulco before this afternoon. Before
her arrival there no news of the Charles
toms operations could be received
through Mexican sources.
To Prosecute The Schooner's Crew.
WASHINGTON, May 15.-Attorney Con
eral Miller has appointed Henry Gage,
OF California, special assistant United
States attorney for the Southern district
of California, to assist in the prosecu-
tion of owners, officers and crew of the
schooner Robert and Minnie, charged
with violation of the neutrality laws.