Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-05-15
The Washington Officials Refuse N
Say Anything Regarding
the Affair.
But the Charleston Has Started South
and Has Passed San
Diego.
1t is Now Conceded that u Gillian
Warship Accompanied
the ltata.

that a CHILEAN cruiser accompanied the
ltata north was first ascertained through
deserters from the Itata who escaped from
that steamer at San Diego. 1t was at
first doubted that of the most power
full of the CHILEAN war ships should go so
far from the Gillian coast at this juno
ture, but it is o definitely known that
the Esmeralda is in port at Acapulco on
the Mexico coast, which fact the navy
department at Washington was probably
fully advised of when orders we're is
sued to the Charleston. An effort to
keep the destination of the Charleston
secret, therefore, was natural, as the rep
resentatives of the Chilian insurgents
would be prompt to advise the Esmer-
aida of the intention of the American gov
ernment to seize the ltata, and it is O
deemed probable that the Esmeralda will
cruise toward San Lucas in hope of
meeting the Itata before the Charleston
can arrive, and protect the cargo and
the crew from seizure if possible. Apart
from other considerations it is now
known that on board of the Itata was
the commander of the Esmeralda and a
large portion of her crew, and presum-
ably, a portion of the Emeralda's second
airy battery, there is, therefore, a strong
incentive on the part of the Chilian war
ship to meet the Itata and prevent her
being conveyed back to American waters
The fact that there appears now a very
strong likelihood of the meeting of the
two evenly matched war ships under
conditions that will require fine manage
ment to prevent a fight is thoroughly
recognized by the naval men on the
coast. The orders to Captain Remy of
the Charleston are we'll authenticated
to be binding in the matter of
the recapture of the Itata if
sighted and on the part of the
Esmeralda it is believed as
fully that she will fight if she can reach
the scene in time. The Charleston and
Esmerelda are similar ships as to gener-
al plan and possess nearly the same arm
ament. The Esmeralda, however, has
two pivot guns of ten-inch calibre, with
a weight of twenty tons each, while the
Charleston has two eight-inch rifles, fore
and aft, weighing twelve and one-half
tons. This is regarded by some critics
as outmatching the Charleston in case of
a fight, but apart from these guns the
armament of the two ships are practical
ly the same. The Charleston is the
swiftest ship, and, while never in action,
she has a splendid crew and fighting
commander. The Charleeton reached
San Pedro shortly after S O'Clock this
morning and was sighted ten miles out
off point Iona, having made the ninety
mile run in six hours, or at a ifteen-knot
gait. There were additional orders await
ing 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 meagre information
as may be brought north by n of the
coast steamers, nothing further 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 can
not occur before Thursday or Friday.
A correspondent writing from Santiago,
Chill, under date of April I'd, says: 1.-The
Balmaceda government seems to have
abandoned all hope of retaking the Para
phaca district, and now confines itself to
defense of the territory remaining. There
are about 10000 troops under General
Valasques and the presidential party, but
as these volunteers have been taken by
force from their homes they seek every
opportunity to shirk. Since several hun
dred embarked on a man-of-war a short
distance from Valez, and later on, Just
back OF the hills of Valparaiso, at Lagu-
ma, the other troops deserted in the same
manner. 1t is not known yet where the
next landing of the opposition forces will
take place, but many report that it will
be in close proximity OF Valparaiso. The
political prisons are full of prisoners and
each day the number increases. There
are nearly 10000 soldiers in and around
Valparaiso and as many more about San
tlago. 1t IS doubtful if they will fight in
the entire bodies. As is we'll known,
there is dissatisfaction among them. Be-
sides this it is estimated that two-thirds
OF the population of the country are op-
posed to the present governing powers"
WASHINGTON OFFICIALS SILENT.
WASHINGTON, May 12.-Secretary
Tracy this afternoon sent out word from
: his Office that he hadnothing to say about
the Chilian vessel Itata or the Charles
ton, and Commodore Ramsey, chief of
the navigatian bureau, said he was not at
liberty to say anything whatever on the
subject. The official mind Of the depart
ment is evidently in dread that a possible
%unguarded admission to a reporter might
result in the disclosure of a plan of cam
paign in which the entire, available naval
force in the Pacific is arrayedA against one
steamer whose warlike character has not
yet been demonstrated. ca einly the
government appears to be making extra
ordinary efforts to recapture the Itata,
for in addition to calling Admirals Brown
and MCCAIN, to head off the runaway
before she reaches Chilian waters, it is
understood that instructions had been
] sent to the United States consular Off