The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-09
FLIGHT OF THE ITATA.
The CHANCE OF R5CAPTURING
HER NOT BRIGHT.

She Has at Least 500 Miles Start of
the Charleston - Interception by
Ships on the South American Sta
ton the Most Promising Chance of
the Government.
SAN FRANCISCO, May S.-The Alta Cali
JOrnid has positive information that the
United States steamer Charleston will sail
for San Diego to-day in persuit of the Chill
can ship Itata- Secretary Tracy teIe-
graphed special orders Yesterday, and the
Charleston at once left Mare Island and an
chored off San Francisco. Instead of TAX
ing her usual anchorage she went behind
Goat Island out of sight. Her ostensible
purpose in coming down is TO go outside
and try her guns. The officers and men
were ordered to be on board at o'clock this
morning
THE GOVERNMENTS POLICY A SECRET.
WASHINGTON, May 8.-The policy Of the
government with respect to the escaped
Chilean vessel Itata is still an official secret.
Secretary Tracy tais morning refused to
discuss the matter at all. The officers whose
business is to transmit orders TO the naval
vessels are almost as uncommuuicative.
There can be no doubt of the fact that the
government 10 extremely anxious to
exhibit all possible zeal in its efforts to re-
capture the vessel in order to evade any
unpleasant consequences that might arise
through the presentation of claims for dam
ages in behalf Of the Chilean government.
But naval officers are very sceptical OF the
ability of our ships to recapture the Itata
under the circumstances attending her
flight
THE CHARLESToN'S PREPARATIONS.
1t is not possible to get definite authen-
tic answer to the question; "Wil the
Charleston be sent after the ltataP All OF
the information vouchsafed is that the
Charleston, two weeks ago, was ordered to
coal and get ready for sea at the earliest
moment. The formalities attending
the Presidents reception at San Francisco
necessarily delayed these preparations, but
it is understood that they are now actively
under way. Single handed, even the feet
Charleston would have great difficulty in
catching the Itata. The latter vessel
may be 500 miles ahead of the
Charleston when the latter starts on the
chase, and the variation of point or two
Of the compass in the steering of the course
would soon separate the two vessels by
many leagues, 50 that the Charleston might
pass the Itata without knowing it.
THE BEST CHANCE.
On this account it is probable that if the
navy department is really satisfied of its
right to seize the Chilean vessel on the high
seas, and is determined to do sos IL must
rely largely on United States vessels in the
south. So far, il is said that no move has
been made in that direction, buG the de-
partment may at any moment cable to Ad-
mral McCanu, who is on the Chilean coast
with the Pensacola and the Baltimore, and
to Admiral Brown, who is on
the San Francisco somewhere off
Peru, to endeavor to head off the runaway
The San Francisco story printed this morn
ing to the effect that a Balmaceda armed
transport, the Imperiale, is lowering off the
coast or California to capture Ehe Itata, is
said at the navy department to be without
foundation, for Admiral McCann's last re-
port showed that month ago the Imperiale
was shut up in Valparaiso harbor by the
insurgent fleet, and it would be mauifesLly
impossible for her to have reached Cali
fornia in a month.
TWO DEsERTERs INTERVIEWED.
SAN DIEGO, CAL, May San Asso-
ciated Press reporter has interviewed two
deserters from the Chilean ship Itata.
They say the Chilean ironclad Esneralda
accompanied the Itata from Chile to
Cape San Lucas, and was to await
there the return of the transport.
A portion Of the crew of the Esmeralda
were hidden in the hold of the Itata, and
these deserters belonged to detachment Of
marines from the Esmeralda. After a wee
in the hold Of the Itata they concluded that
life ashore would be preferable to their
cramped quarters. They slipped overheard
and swan ashore. The captain of the Es-
merald4 was in command of the ltata