The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-19
OFF AFTER THE ITATA.
THE CH s RbEsrON SAILS SOUTH
From ACAPULCO.

The Esmerslda Left in Port-.A Proba.
bility That the Itata Has Two DAYS
start of the cruiser-A Chance That
She MAY be Overtakeu Tonight.
Mexico's Attitude.
WASHINGTON, May 1S.-Just before 4
o'clock this afternoon the navy department
received confirmation Of the press dispatch
to the effect that the Charleston sailed
southwark from Acapulco last evening.
leaving the Esmeralda in port. There was
no word of the ItAta. The presumption is
that the Charleston's commander was salts
fed that the Itata had passed Acapulco
either before he arrived there or while he
lay in port, and that he has resumed his
long chase. 1t is estimated that
the Itata has been steaming
along at about seven knots,
and as she was ten days out last Friday
night, she should at that time have been
lust of Acapulco, where it is reported from
that place that she met the Esmeralda. As
she is a much smaller vessel than the
Esmeralda and burns very much less coal,
il 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 warship is now in
respecting further supply of coal.
TWO DAYS START.
If it be true that the Itata was of Aca>
pulco Friday night, she had two full avs
start OF the Charleston when the latter
started again in pursuit last night. This IL
about the same lead that she had when she
started from San Diego. Thus it does not
appear that the chase is any nearer con-
clusion, but if the two vessels now follow
the same course the Charleston, steamlng at
fourteen knots, should come up with the
ltata by tomorrow night. This event, of
course, is based upon the assumption, which
is not founded upon a strong probability,
that the two vessels are steering exactly the
same coarse. If the Charleston passes the
Itata the next port where they are likely to
be heard from Is Panama, about l, 200 miles
from Acapulco, or Payto Peru, still further
down the coast. As it is the vessels have
probably covered less than half the dis
tance to Iquique, the nearest Chilean port.
ENGLAND ExAcTs AN APOLOGY.
SAN Francisco, CAL, May 19-A copy
of the Chilean Times, which reached here
by the steamer San Bias, announces that
by special agreement with Germany, Great
Britain is taking German interests In Chile
under protection until the arrival Of three
German warships, which are en- route. The
Times says the Warsprite forced an apology
ouG of the insurgent man-of-war Blanco
the torpedo boats. The Blanco was en-
gagged in blockading Iquique. when she,
with other vessels of the blockading fleet,
ran out OF coal. An English and German
merchantmen were lying side by side, both
coal laden. The rebel feet took hold of
them on pretense that they were in range
IN the event Of firing and towed them out
to sea. despite the protests Of the captains.
FORCED PURCHASE OF COAL.
Out of range Of the fort guns the insur-
gents made forced purchase Of such coal
as they needed. They voluntarily paid an
extravagant price for it, but nevertheless
matter to the British admiral, Hotham,
who gave the Blanco the option of apollo
glzlng or fighting, inside of twenty
four hours. 1t was then 11:30 a. m,
Precisely at noon the Blanco ran up the
british and German flags above the rebel
standard and fired the royal salute. The
coal would have been replaced and the ships
towed back to their former anchorage but
ior the fact that most of the coal had been
burned and that the two merchant ships
had no further business at Iquique.
AeEAvAL FIGHT IMPROBABLE.
CITY OF MEXICO, May 1S-The war de.
partment, having asked for news in regard
TO Chilean insurgent vessels from Acapulco,
has been informed that there is no proba-
blity Of fight between the United States
steamer Charleston and the Chilean steamer
Lsmeralda. There is no sign Of the Itata,
and it is thought that if she has
not fallen in with an American war
ship she is undoubtedly off the coast of
central America by this time, having been
furnished with fuel by the Esmeralda
zen. Pedro Hinajesa, secretary of war, de-
ciares TO the Associated Press correspond
ent that Mexico only insists that her neu~
Tality be respected, and will not interfere in
the matter.
CAN'T SECURE COAL.
zen. Hinsjosa says his orders Eare not to
sell coal to the insurgent vessels or to allow
Them ito load arms in Mexican territory.
one Of the officers Of the Esmeralda, in an
interview at Acapulco yesterday, said: 1--WE
Will Try to get coal here, but If this is i'm.
possible we are sure Of getting it within a
lew hours sail. We are not afraid OF a
conflict with the Charleston, but
our orders are to be prudent and not pro-
voke conflict" Asked if the Esmeralda
was en- route to Chile, the officer said he did
ti noe Know. He informed the correspondent
snat the captain of the Esmeralda had re-
'ei'eo long cipher dispatch Saturday.
BATTLE ON THE SEA.
LIMA, May 18-An engag ement took
@ p@lace az Flsagua Sunday between the insur-
sells neet and the government torpedo