The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-13
is THIS ONLY A bluff
To Fight Not to Fight; that Is the 0ues-
ton.

ton.
SAN FRANcIsco, May 1.-THE fact no
| longer is concealed even in official naval
circles that the swift cruiser Charles
ton is now OF in hot chase after the
Chilian transport Itata, which left San
Diego last Wednesday while under ar
rest and carrying OF the deputy U. S.
marshal. After leaving San Dieago she
took on board a consignment of rifles and
ammunition which had been shipped
from San Francisco on the schooner Rob
ert and Minnie. The transfer of the lat
ters cargo is believed to have occurred off
the San Clement island northwest of San
Diego harbor. and it is believed the Itata
steamed south Friday night or Saturday
morning. The Chilian cruiser Esmeralda
is believed to be lying of Cape San Lucas,
which is the southmOst po int of the land
in Lower California, awaiting supplies
carried by the Itata. The sea run to that
point is about 700 miles. The Itata being
heavily loaded, and although reputed as
fast craft, it is estimated she can't exceed
six or eight knots, and the Charleston,
which left San Pedro this morning, it is
thought certain, can overtake her or reach
San Lucas in advance of the transport.
If not found there the Charleston will
proceed direct to Acapulco, which will be
the first point at which any further intelli-
gence can be received. Even though the
cruiser Esmeralda is met as convoy of the
Itata, it is understood that the orders to
the Charleston are explicit on the point of
capture, and If the Itata is sighted it is
believed certain now that there will be
capture or fight or both.
The fact that Chilian cruiser accom-
panied the Itata north was first ascer-
tanned through deserters from the Itata,
who escaped from that steamer some days
ago. 1t was first doubted that one of the
most powerful of Chilian war ships should
90 go far from the Chilian coast at this
juncture, but it is now definitely known
that the Esmeralda is now ut Acapulco on
the Mexican coast, of which fact the-navy
department at Washington was probably
fully advised when orders were issued
to the Charleston. The effort to keep the
destination of the Charleston secret, there
lore, was natural, as representatives OF the
Chihan insurgents would be prompt to adj
wise the Esmeralda of the intention of the
American government to sieze the Itata,
and it is now deemed probable that the
Esmeralda will cruise nOrthward in the
hope OF meeting the Itata before the
| Charleston can arrive to protect the cargo
and crew from seizure if possible.
Apart from other considerations it is
now known that on board the ltata was
| the commander of the Esmeralda and
.arge portion of her crew and presumably
a portion OF the Esmeraldas secondary
| battery. There is, therefore, a strong in
centive on the part OF the Gillian war
| ship to meet the Itata and prevent her
being conveyed back to American waters
The fact that there appears no very
strong likelihood OF meeting of the two
evenly matched war ships under con-
| ditions that will require fine management
to prevent fight is thoroughly recognized
| by naval men on this coast. The orders
to Cap. Remy OF the Charleston are well
authenticated to be binding in the mat
ter of the capture OF the Itata if sighted,
and on the part of the Esmerada it is
believed as fully that she will fight if she
! can reach the scene in time. The Charles
ton and Esmeralda are ships as to general
| plan and possess nearly the same arma-
ment. The Esmeralda, however, has two
| pivot guns OF ten inch caliber, with
weight of twenty-five tons each, while the
| Charleston has two eight inch rifles fore
and ait weighing twelve and half tons.
| This is regarded by some critics as out
matching the Charleston in case of a fight,
but apart from these guns the armaments
OF the two ships are practically the same.
The Charleston is the swiftest ship, and,
while never in action, has a splendid crew
and fighting commander.
The Charleston left San Pedro shortly
after o'clock this morning and was
sighted ten miles out off Point Lomo, hav-
ing made ninety mile run in six hours,
or at a fifteen knot gait. There were
additional orders awaiting her at San
| Diego, but she kept on her southwark
course without stopping.
There are no telegraph stations south of
Ensenada, Just south of the boundary line
in Lower California, so that save such
meager information as may be brought
north by one of the Panama or coast
steamers, nothing more is likely to be
heard from her or the Itata until the
Charleston returns or is heard from at
some OF the Mexican ports, which cannot
occur before Thursday or Friday next.
Interviews here with lawyers as to the
legal status, IN case the Charleston should
overtake or sink the Itata, are to the effect
that, while the. Itata flies the Chilian flag,
according TO all advices received she is not
the representative of any constituted
authority. Balmaceda is still the head of
the Chilian government. and he one is
recognized by foreign governments. The
Itata was government vessel, but she
was seized by the insurgents and is being
used against the recognized government.
and that therefore the insurgents have no
standing under the present legal status of
the case. In the event that the Esmeralda
interferes to prevent the capture of the
Itata, she can only be considered in the
same category as the Itata.
A Russian Revenge.
ST. PETERSBURG, May 1.-THE Noroe,
Vremyd, commenting on the Rothschilds'