The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-05-16
rs CAUSE FOR A WAR.
THE GILLIAN STEAMER ITATA
AN ARMED PRIvATEER.
Her Crew Armed 10 the Teetis---
Thrilling Experience or
United states Officer.

A San Francisco special says: 1t is
| stated that the United States steamer
| Charleston will sail for San Diego in
pursuit of the Gillian ship ltata. Secre-
| tary Tracy telegraphed special orders
Mare island and anchored of San Fran
| cisco. Instead of taking her usual an
chorage, she went behind Goat islanl
out OF sight. Her ostensible purpose
in coming down was TO go outside and
| try her guns. Officers aud men were
ordered TO be on board at 8 o'clock this
| morning.
| SAN DIEGO. CAL, May q-The deputy
| United States marshal w no was placed
IN charge OF the seized Chilian warship,
ltata. aud which set sail and carried
him OIL, put him ashore about eight
miles outside OF the harbor.
He arrived in the city this morning,
however, the CHILEAN captain having
| put him ashore ut Ballast Point, eight
| miles from town, and he made his way
in ~ best he could. His statement
makes rather sensational reading.
| From the circumstances surrounding
the case, it is evident that the Itata is
nothing more nor less than u privateer
in the service OF the Gillian rebels.
The Marshal Was "a Prisoner.
Deputy Marshal Spauldlng's story Of
the escape is as follows: after being
left on board in charge OF the steamer
/ made Il hurried inspection OF the ship
and found nothing 10 be suspicious OF.
She continued 10 receive coal until
II 80 n. M. at which time l retired. l
did not sleep much during the night\on
account OF several OF the crew whom
saw looking through the window OF
rtn al. Al. 81. 10 e,
nervous. During Wednesday nothing
unusual occy rred until 5:55 p. m. when
the boat containing First Mate Nelson,
the surgeon, with his medicine chest,
and two passengers came to us. AS
soon as the passengers came on board
one OF them had n short CONVERSE ton
with the captain. / was Mt that time
i'm the dining-room. Five minutes
later found to my surprise that the
steamer was under a full head Of steam
and making for the ocean. The captain
came in n minute later and invited HE
10 his cabin and, offering me n chair,
n SECOND later lie was joined by three
passengers
A Matter OF Life and Death.
.'They exhibited revolvers and asked
me il was armed. The captain, act
ing as spokesman, said: Il have con-
triband goods on board and this is life
or death with me- Then pointing his
finger 10 his throat he said: See, this
is what it means / was so dumb
founded that could not answer. He
then called two OF the CHILEAN crew
and they stood guard near the door,
each armed with IL revolver and rifle.
He then told me not TO he alarmed, but
thai IL went out OF the cabin during
hic n Sap ha lI he.p acnnnsilIa
for what would happen, telling me al
so that il attempted to give sign or
| jump overheard lie would not be re-
sponsIbe for the result.
About this time / noticed them
| lifting out OF the hold four steel can
non, which they Immediately placed in
| position on the upper deck, after
which thew were loaded in MY
presence Returning few nm
utes later the captain said
"'I have spoken TO the pilot and
instead Of putting you oil at Point
Lama in one Of our own boats we viii
meet boat from the pilot boat lying
at Ballast Point
"He then led me out of the cabin.
followed by his companions, each
taking his revolver. On reaching the
bridge l found on the deck below 100
Chilians all armed to the teeth, each
having a repeating rifle and most of
them being dressed in uniform, consist
ing OF red caps and jackets.
would Navigate with Revolver.
"The captain gave q saucy laugh and
said: Il see we have changed into q
man-of-war.' / looked at the ship and
said. are you going to guide the ship
out?
''The captain spoke up and said:
NO; exhibiting revolver, this is go
ing to guide it, The pilot turned pale
and said, Il guess am in for it,
"By this time we were nearing the
entrance TO the harbor and the captain
gave orders to the crew to put over n
ladder. also TO the pilot to slow down.
Escorting ne to the ladder, he said,
you must excuse me for putting you
10 this annoyance
Put the Deputy Ashore.
'After was lowered over the side
the Itata then pissed out OF the bay,
heading north Making inquiries from |
the boatnian found that / was indeed |
eight miles from San Diego, protested |
very vigorously ut being made a |
prisoner during the passage OF the ves-
rel out OF the harbor and also 10 leav-
ing the ship willie in possession OF the
government. but they paid no attention
10 any protest and kept me prisoner
until they arrived at Point where
they intended 10 put or. Tney were
very careful TO say nothing 10 my hear
ing that would reveal any future
pctioDs. except the captain gave me
his ma me and address