New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-19
THE ITATA WELL COALED.
SHE HAD 500 TONS ON BOARD WHEN SHE
LEFT SAN DIEGO.
THE PERUVIAN CONSUL At SAN FRANCISCO
SAYS SHE IS A TwELvE-KNor VESSEL
AND HAS ENOUGH FUEL FOR OVER
FIFTY DAYS-TEsTIMoNY OF
TILE, DESERTERS.
THE DESERTERS.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNE.1

San Francisco May 18.-Tbe Peruvian Consul
here Mr.. Holloway, to-day, in talking of the
probable escape of the Itata said: MANY sngu-
lar misstatements have been made in regard to
this Chilian steamer. One of the reports says
the Itata is fve-knot vessel: another that she
has probably coaled at sea, and still another that
coaling at interchanging cargoes would be
impossible In the first place the ltata is
twelve-knot vessel, and she should reach lquique,
run of less than 5000 miles, inside of eighteen
days. When she left San Diego about May 6
she had 500 tons of coal aboard and she does not
burn over fifteen tons daily Such being the case,
she has enough fuel to last her about
6fty-four days. Thus the Itata would not
need TO coal at sea. But if it became necessary
for vessel to do that the matter would be quite
feasible, as everybody knows who has been in
the waters of the tropics. For days the ocean
lies smooth as mirror. What is there to prevent
two steamers from heaving to few hundred yards
apart and transferring anything they want from
one TO another in small boats? If the arms sup
posed to have been taken from the Robert and
Minnie by the Itata not found on
her it is probable that they were
transferred in the manner described to
the Esmcralda. But there is no use conjuring up
schemes of how the Itata could or could not get
coal at sea- because she has got all she needs. The
remainder of the Itatas cargo consisted of 500
tons of -four"
Los Angeles, Cal, May 1S (SpecaD.-Sworn
testimony of three deserters from the ltata has
been taken by the Grand Jury. The dlsIolnted
testimony of two as translated. is as follows:
When the Itata started north, prior to her
putting into San Diego, she had aboard some
sixty new rifles and 200 old ones. She flew
the Chilian flag and pennant. When the Es-
meralda and the Itata met at Cape San Lucas the
former had $50 men, all told, and sixteen cannon
of different calibre. The Itata had ninety sailors
and sixty soldiers, the latter being in civilians
clothes. They were all instructed that if they
divulged the secret of the vessels mission the
death penalty would follow. The Itata carried
four 6O-pound guns hidden under canvas with
her small arms in the forward hold. The soldiers
were slowed away there aso their food being
sent TO them from the deck. Every appearance
Of the vessel being prepared for war was removed
two days before she steamed into San Diego,
when she looked like frst-class merchantman.
1t was understood by everybody aboard that
the Itata was the lookout for a schooner with
rifles and other munitions Of war. When the
Esmeralda started from the South she had only
800 tons of coal, and the Itata had 1900. The
programme was for the Itata to get the arms from
tropics to transfer them 70 the Esmeralda, which
would escort her then southwark TO Iquique. If
the trip was made without interference, so much
the better; but if not the Esmeralda proposed to
do battle The Esmeralda and the Itata were
commanded from Iquique to San Lucas by each
others masters who exchanged to their rightful
commands at the latter point
The above wound up the testimony OF the
sailors. and constitutes the most minute and cor
rect details of all that took place between the
two vessels, as far could be asccrtaincd by the
United States Grand Jury. Some information
was obtained which leads to tine belief that on
MAY 12 a transfer of arms and munitions of war
was made from the Itata TO the Esmcralda at
Pichilnque, on the east coast of Southern Call
fornia 1t is a United States coaing station, but
in its neighborhoOd are coveS in which such a
transfer could be made in good shape.
SolicitOr-General Taft, under Attorney-General
Miller who is IN Los Angeles at present conduct;
ing the investigation in behalf of the United
States Government. has issued subpOenas Tor
Superntendents Jaynes and Storrs. of the Western
Union and Postal Telegraph Companies, respect
ively These subpoenas call for the men men.
toned TO produce all kilograms that have passed
over their wires in the past month. relating to
Chlian affairs and between every person sus-
pected of being connected with them. These
subpoenas will be served tomorrow.