Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-13
TA-TA TO THE ITATA.
THAT IN EFFECT SEEMS TO BE THE
FEELING AT WASHINGTON.
Nobody Disturbed About the Flight OF
the Chiiean-what viii Mexico
Do with the Runaway?
[By telegraph o tho pIspatch.l


wAsHrSoros, May $50 far as surface
indications reveal the real state OF affairs the
Navy Department appears to beless ag'tated
than any other department over the escape
of the Chilean steamer Itata. Secretary
Tracy left Washington last night for hing
hampton, n. Y, to look after some private
business. notwithstanding Solely stayed
at home to-day and Commodore Ramsey
was left as the representative Of the secre-
tary of the Navy. The Commodore was as
uncommunicatiye as usual. anu stateu
briefly that he had nothing to say about
the Itats or the Charleston, and that the
Itata had not been reeaptured so lar as ne
knew.
THE ITATA NOT YET CAUGHT.
Tn 10 the close of business hours no
news had been received at the Navy De-
nartment of the movements of the Charles
ton. and. SO far as the officials there knew,
the Itata is still at Liberty. Commodore
Ramsey, the acting secretary, this after
noon said that he did not know where the
Charleston was, and that the only news inc
department had received to-day was the
arrival of the cruiser San Francisco at
Iquique, in Northern Chile. As this vessei
is TO figure in the chase in case the ltata
escapes the Charleston her movements are
of some importance.
BOTH VESSELS REQUIRE COAL.
As the days of the chase run along q
new factor appears which will doubtless
result speedily in betraying the move
ments Of the pursuer and the pursued.
The Itata sailed from San Diego last
Wednesday evening-six days ago. III
pushed to her highest speed she must be
nearly out OF coal, 50 that she must soon
put into port somewhere to replenlsh her
bunkers. The Charleston, like most swift
cruisers, was obliged to sacrifice some
coal-carrying capacity for the sake OF
boiler and engine-rooms and gun-carry-
ing capacity. With full bunkers she
can carry 500 tons, but if she had been
driven at full speed she must have burned
175 tons every twenty-four hours, which
would give her full steam power for but
four and half days. She has now been
out three days and half, and although II
is known that she lay at anchor at least
one night, her coal supply Is probably run
ming so low that 1t would be hazardous tor
her "a vessel without sail power( TO con-
tinue much longer at sea. SO that some
news from one or both of the vessels may
be expected very soon.
WHAT WILL MEXICO DO?
II they put into port for coal this will
probably be a Mexican port, and immedl-
ately there may be expected to arise an I'M
portant question for the determination OF
the Mexican Government, and that IS the
status of the Itata. Some comment was
caused among State-Departmen people by
the telegraphed statement that the Chilean
insurgent cruiser Esmeralda is now at
Acapulco. The fact that her presence in
port is tolerated is regarded here by some
officers as quasi recognition by the Next
can Government of the insurgents as belli-
gerents. If this recognition should take
formal shape it might have important re-
suits for the insurgents, for under the
neutrality laws their vessels would find an
asylum in Mexican ports and might take
supplies, although not permitted to take
aboard munitions OF war or make any
Mexican port base of operations against
Chile. This doctrine was Thoroughly de-
fined in the Alabama case, and it is said
that in addition 10 the precedent set by
Great Britain in recognizing the insur.
gents as belligerants, the Mexican Govern
ment has not the kindliest feelings to-
wards the present Balmaceda adminlstra-
ton in Chile.
A STERN CHAsE-A LONG CHASE.
A prominent officer was asked to-day
how long it would take 10 recapture the
Itata. He replied that he could only an
swer by recalling the Alabama case. where
| the vessel of that name continued for two
years to commit the most audacious raid;
upon American commerce while pursued
by ct least twenty naval vessels.
THE CHARLESTON GAINING.
Cry or MEXICO ria GALVESTON. May 10
| The Chilean steamer Itata is sailing under
difficulty and the United States war-shiT
is gaining on her. II is expected that the
two vessels will reach Acapulco within {
few hours of each other.