Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-11
THE ITATA'S PILOT.
He Knew Twenty-four Hours Ahead
That She Would Sail.


That She Would Sail.
Captain A. f. Dill, the pilot arrested
at San Pedro on Saturday by Deputy
United States Marshal Tarble for assist
ing the Itata out OF port while under de-
tention, was brought to this city at 80
yesterday afternoon by Marshal Gard.
He will 60 before the United States COM
missioners today, and will probably be
released on giving bonds.
He was seen at the Hollenbeck hotel
last evening, and questioned by a HER
AID reporter concerning his experiences
while on board the Itata and his treat
ment at the hands of the Chileans.
II was told," said the captain, "be-
fore leaving the port, that necessary pa
pers had been made out, and that all
forms had been complied with.
1.-The ships captain or navigator,
Captain Peter Mausezu, came on shore
the evening before the vessel sailed and
told me that all had been arranged, and
that he wanted me to pilot the ship
across the bar the next morning. /
went on board and slept that night, but
as the captain was not quite ready to
sail, in the morning | went ashore
again for few hours. suppose it was
past the middle of the afternoon before
we finally weighed anchor, and when /
went up on the bridge to take charge of
the ships sailing l found surprise
awaiting me. Six semi-uniformed ma
rines stood there armed with carbines,
and | was told that the vessel must get
out to sea, and that must take her out.
Under the circumstances had no hesl-
fancy about obeying the orders given
me. l have been sailor all my hfe,
and licensed pilot at San
Diego for six years, and think
/ know my business. Of course
/ could have run the ship aground, but
| did not care to be filled with bullets,
and by that time l fully realized the
desperation OF the men who were deal
ing with me.
and at safe distance from land, the
armed guard was taken off the bridge,
and the captain ordered me to head the
ship for San Clemente island, for said
he, it is of the utmost importance-ou
lives depend upon our reaching the
island and the schooner, without delay
He also let me know that he was acting
under orders; that the real commander
of the Itata was Chilean comman-
dante, one De Silva Pama, whom now
suppose to be an officer of the Chilean
warship Esmeralda, now stationed off
the coast of Lower California.
81 was treated quite courteously dur
ing the trip by the officers of the vessel,
and after we sighted the Robert and
Minnie, and the transfer of arms had
been made, | was given my choice
between being set ashore at San Pedro
or going south with the Itata. In the
latter case was offered the commando
a vessel as soon as we arrived in Chile.
II had no reason for desiring to
change my location, so chose the for
mer alternative, came to San Pedro on
the schooner, and consider myself we'll
out of serious and most unpleasant
situation.
eyes, was paid for my work-the
regular pilot fee only, which is always
paid before weighing anchor. In this
case the fees sboth coming and going at
the port amounted to over 5000, which
had to be divided among four of us,
who assisted at various times.
''As to the guns on board, / only saw
the four ten-pounders noticed by
Deputy Marshal Spaulding and reported
by him after his landing at Ballast
point. L was told, however, by one of
the officers that there were six forty
Founders in the hold and two gatling
guns. The officers also stated that they
had thirty eight prisoners of war con-
fined below decks, who were taken be-
fore leaving Chile.
"There were probably not quite $50
men on board, though / saw fully
hundred at one time armed with rifles,
mustered on the middle deck.
II did not count them because / had
enough to attend to the ships sailing
and to look out for nay own affairs. 1t
would not take, though, in my opinion,
more than seventy men to navigate the
vessel, SO that there was nearly double
the requisite number on board.
"Yes, admit that ior awhile l was
considerably exercised over the matter
of my own safety and was mighty glad
to get off as well as did in the end.
/ expect. to have no difficulty in raising
whatever bonds may be required of me
tomorrow. In fact, friends of mine at
San Pedro raised $780, 900 for me last
evening, but there was no one there
authorized to accept it, so | had to come
to Los Angeles..s
"Whose business was it to have found
those cannon and rifles for the marines
on board the ship while in harbor at
San Diego, do you ask? Why, no one
had anything to do with it except the
regular custom house officer. do not
wish to say anything against Collector
Berry.
Eyes, it is customary for the customs
officer to search any suspicious vessel
from stem to stern, even if her papers
are all right. Mr.. Berry may have had
reasons, but one thing is sure, if he had
searched the hold OF that ship, he
would have found those four cannon and
/ don't know how many more contra
band articles of war not noted in the
ships bill of lading. 1t is altogether