St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-17
The Charleston Reaches Aca-
pulcO, and Reports to
Washington.
The Esmeralda, the Chilian
Cruiser. Is Also at Hand,
But No Itata.
An Attempt to Capture the
Latter May Result in a
Sea Fight.
The Next Move in the Matter
Will Be Decided by
Events.

w ASHINGION, MAY lO.-AILtE
weeks waiting, some tangible news was
to-day received at the navy department
from the Charleston. First came dis
patch from Acapulco, stating that the
Gillian insurgent cruiser Esmeralda
had put out OF Acapulco harbor yester-
day and had returned to the port to-day.
Later on, through the state department,
dispatch came saying that the
Charleston had arrived at Aca-
pulco; that the Esmeralda was
still in port, but giving no news of the
1tata. What the next step is to be no
one of the department knows or feels
free to tell. The Charleston is to take
on coal, as her supply has probably
nearly run oul during the weeks chase.
Whether the Esmeralda is to have the
privilege of taking coal aboard cannot
be learned mere, as it is a matter en-
tirely within the control of the MeXi-
can government; but the presumption
at the department is against it, as the
neutrality laws would be strained by
the Mexican government if it allowed
anything beyond water and food sup
plies to be furnished a belligerent. The
theory at the navy department is that
the Charleston, whose commander, Capt.
Remey, has orders admitting large dis
cretiOnary movements, will now lie at
or near Acapulco for time, trusting
that the Itata, which is a slow seven
knot ship, has not yet passed down the
coast, and will try to coal in that neigh
borhOod. If she is sighted the Charles
ton will doubtless
Try to Seize Her.
She cannot do this in Mexican waters.
so that it would be necessary to head
her off outside the three-mile line, or if
unsuccessful in that, to follow her to
sea when she goes out. What the
Esmerada will do, meantime, is pro-
blematical, The general impression is
that the officers of that vessele will
rely more upon strategy than force
to obtain the supplies carried by
the Itata, and some officers believe
that she is trying to lure the
Charleston away from the Itata's real
course. Recourse to force to prevent
the Charleston from capturing the Itata.
however, would, it is said, be the death
blow of the lnSurgent cause in Chill, as
the entire naval force of the United
States in the Pacific would, if neces-
sary, be promptly called into play to
destroy the Insurgent navy. Some
say that the Esmeralda is in
no condition to fight and will not
attempt. 1t is claimed by others,
however, that it is a case of life and
death with the Esmeralda, and that she
will surely fight in case the Charleston
tries to capture the Itata. Further de-
velopments in the case are daily looked
forward to by state and naval officials.
A cablegram received at the depart
ment from Admiral McCann this alter
noon, announced that the Baltimore and
San Francisco were both at Iquiuue,
Chilli, to-day. So it appears that the
Baltimore has come north and the
San Francisco has been stayed in her
southern course, just at the point whe
the Gillian inSurgent navy is now
nearly all together assembled. This
point IS almost in the extreme north of
Chill, and is where the Itata would
naturally find her destination, if she
eluded the Charleston.
An Outside View.
SAN DIEGO, Cal, May 16.-The cap
tain of the steamer Newburne, which
arrived at this port at midnight last
night, stated as his opinion that the Es-
meralda and the Itata put into Magda-
lena bay, where the cargo could have
been transferred without any trouble
and the Charleston might have passed
by while this transfer was being made.
CITY OF MEXICO, via Galveston.
the truth of the published rumors that
the Chilian steamer Esmeralda sue
-ceeded in buying even limited amount
of coal at Acapulco, bun says that on the
contrary she was ordered out of the port
and is now lying off the coast in neutral
waters, waiting, it is thought, for
the steamer Itata. The Esmer-
alda's steam launch was patrol
ling all last night. The general
opinion at Acapulco is that the Itata
has passed that place and gone south
and that the Esmeralda is watching the
United States steamer Charleston. The
officers of the Esmeralda have been
using the telegraph wires at Acapulco
freely. At o'clock this afternoon an
unusual cOmmOtiOn was observed on the
ESmeralda by persons who were watch
ing the inSurgent vessel through glasses
at Acapulco, but thorough search of
the water failed to show any sign of an
approaching vessel.
IQUIQUE. Chill. via Galveston, May
16.-The United States war ship Balti-
more, from Valparaiso, arrived here
this morning. The Baltimore and the
San Francisco will remain on this coast
under command of Admiral MeCann.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 16.-A telegram
from an officer on the Charleston at
Acapulco says that the Itata had not
been seen or heard from at a. m.
When the Charleston entered the
harbor she went to quarters and loaded
her battery for an emergency. The
Esmeralda speaks all vessels she meets.
Soon after the Charleston anchored the
EsmeraIda steamed into port, and Capt.
Ramey had an interview with her COM
mander. The latter said frankly that
the Charleston would never take
the Itata until the Esmeralda was sunk.
Ramey replied that his orders were
to take the Itata, and it would make
no difference whether the Esmeralda
was in Acapulco or not. The Charles
ton is ready for action, as every one ex-
poets fight if the Itata appears. 1t is
rumored that the Esmeralda had COM
munication at sea yesterday with the
Itata, and that the latter steamed south
after receiving provisions from the Es-
meralda.