Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-15
WHERE Is THE ITATA
Persistent RumOrs That She
Has Been Sunk.
The Story Considered Highly
Improbable.
No Definite News Yet Heard About
the Vessels.
The Esmeralda Reported to Have Sailed
North from Acapulco - Chilean
Cables Doctored.
Associated Press Dispatches.

associated Press dispatches.
ST.. LOUIS May IA special dispatch
from the City of Mexico says persistent
rumors were in circulation there today
that the United States cruiser Charles
ton overlook the Chilean vessel Itata on
the high seas, and that naval engage
ment was fought, in which the latter
was worsted and blown out of the water.
THE RUMoR REPEATED.
Cry OF MEXICO, May 14.-The Anglo
American prints a special from San
Bias, repeating the rumor about the
sinking of the Itata. Whether she ex-l
ploded her magazine, or was sunk by the
Charleston, is not stated. A special from
Acapulco states that neither the Itata
nor the Charleston have been sighted.
Great excitement prevails in San Bias.
The government denies that any Chill
can ship had touched at Mexican port
up to a late hour tonight, or that any
conflict took place at San Bias. as re-
ported
The government has given strict or
ders that the port authorities of the
Pacific coast report the appearance of
Chilean or other war ships. The gun.
boat Democratic at Acapulco has been
ordered to look ont for boats.
A private telegram has been received
announcing that fishing vessel yester-
day saw two vessels at sea, off the coast,
going at full speed. They were about
four hours apart, but they were 80 dis
tant that the fishermen were not able to
distinguish them.
THE REPORT IS ABSURD.
SAN Francisco, May 14.-The rumors
coming from the City of Mexico to the
effect that the cruiser Charleston had
overtaken the steamer Itata and had
fred upon that vessel, are regarded here
as having no foundation. The Charles
ton passed San Diego at noon, Monday.
The run to Acapulco, the nearest tele-
graph point below the gulf OF California,
is 1900 miles. The Charleston was
steamihg at the rate sof about fifteen
knots. and was seen to have been naov-l
ing out her course to inspect passing
vessels, and even though pushed to. her
highest point of speed, could not reach
Acapulco before tomorrow, and any news
VI ucT OpcTdblOIl6 COulu uOJ U0 IcCclNcO
through Mexican sources before her ar
rival there tomorrow.
NO NEWS RECEIVED AT WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, May N.--There was no
news of the Itata or Charleston at the
navy department, this morning. No
credence is given to the report that the
Charleston had sunk the Itata. In the
first place, it is said the news of such
an event could only be received through
the arrival of the Charleston at some
port connected with telegraph lines,
which has not so far occurred. In the
second place nobody supposes that the
Itata would resist the Charleston, for
she isstotally unprepared to do SO, and
even if she attempted it, the Charleston
could readily subdue her force without
resorting to the extreme measure of
blowing her out OF the water, as it is re-
ported she has done.
THE EsMERALDA's MOVEMENTS.
A delayed telegram from Acapulco
states that the Esmeralda left that port
after having sought several favors,
which were refused. She received a
telegram from the United States, and
then went to meet the Itata.
A Manzanilla telegram says the cap
tain OF fishing boat there claims that
his vessel was nearly run down before
daylight by large steamer, without
lights, bound north.