The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-13
SIEZED A MAN-OF-WAR.
The Etata Taken in CHARGE
at San Diego.
One of the Chilian Insurq-
ent Fleet.
She Would Have Taken q
Cargo OF Arms.
Fruitless Effort Made to Sieze
Another Vessel.
Mr.. Blaine Orders the Law of Neutral
ity TO he Enforced.


Marshal Gard seized the Chilian steamer
EtaIa, now receiving supplies in the har-
Dor, and placed Capt. Mausum under ar
rest. Telegrams have been passing be-
tween this city and the department at
Washington which brought about the
above results. Tugboats have left to seize
the two vessels seen outside, one OF which
is supposed to be the schooner Robert
and Minnie and another ship belonging
to the insurgents. which have been hover
ing around the entrance to the harbor to
receive the supplies taken on board the
Etata
The ship was first sighted about noon
yesterday passing north. Ten hours
later she repassed the harbor going
south laying TO just north of Cronoado
islands. Customs Officer Berry sent a
party out to investigate. who reported see
ing large vessel under steam which they
could not approach nearer than two miles
on account OF her steaming away from
them. Orders were received from Secre-
tary Blaine to seize both vessels if found
within the three-mile limit, and Marshal
Gard and Collector Berry went out last
night in different tugs for that purpose
AT midnight last night the Etata received
forty head OF cattle, twenty-head of
meat from the ferrvboat. The YES
sci had received beside her
stores 500 tons of coal. As soon as all the
provisions and fuel were on board she ex-
pected to leave the harbor and cruise be-
tween here and Catalina to meet the
schooner Robert and Minnie, from which
she was to take tue Remington rifles and
ammunition. She was TO sail last even
ing.
Early this morning the vessel Robert
and Minnie was sighted lying off San
Diego harbor in Mexican waters. The
seizIng party who went out last night re-
turned without making an attempt to
seize and are now awaiting orders from
the encouragement at Washington. The
Etata still lies in midstream ready for
sailing. The supposed Chlian warship
seen yesterday now turns out to be the
Panama steamer New York. which for
some cause steamed up to the entrance of
this harbOr
SAN DIEGO, Cal, May About 5 80
last evening the Chilian steamer Itata
lifted her anchors and quietly steamed
down the bay and out into the ocean,
carrying with her Deputy U. ). Marshal
Spencer, who. as far as known, is still on
board. The departure of the Itata was
not expected, though it was not supposed
she would leave as soon as she did. 1t
was rumored late in the afternoon that
she was preparing to leave the harbor and
the absence of any of her crew from the
streets added weight to the story. At )
o'clock the captains gig, which had been
lying at the foot of HIST, pulled off for
the vessel with six men aboard, and as
soon as the boat was hoisted TO the deck
the ItaM weighed her anchor and steamed
down the stream.
Marshal Gard was not aware that the
captain had any intention OF disregarding
his authority for he left for Point Iona in
the launch Tia Juana Just one hour ahead
OF the big steamer and had passed
the point and proceeded some dis
tance out to sea before he could have been
aware that the Itata was following him.
Marshal Cards errand on his second trip
out OF the harbor was to take the schooner
Robert and Minnie anywhere she might
be found in the open seas outside of Mex
lean jurisdiction as a piratical craft The
marshaps launch lett the wharf at 4
o'clock
Besides Mai. Gard there were aboard
A. {. Spaulding of San Francisco. A. NJ.
Conoughy, Capt. Crawford and four
soldiers from the barracks armed with
rifles and ammunition belts who had
been detailed to 90 on the expedition at
the request OF Marshal Gard.
1t is known that the marshal received
instructions from Washington tha, he had
authority to take the Robert and Minnie
on the high seas under neutrality and
piracy laws. but who those orders were is-
sued by could not be ascertained. Mar
shat Gard was very reticent when ques-
toned on this point, simply saying he
meant business and he intended TO bring
the schooner back If he came up to her
At o'clock Wednesday morning Mar
shall Gard and party left for Coronado
Islands, where the Robert and Minnie was
last seen on Tuesday.
Just outside sail appeared which gthe
tug made for. AS soon as her master saw
the Tia Juana he put about and ran south
IN order, II was supposed to get into Mexi-
can waters before Inc was oyerhauled.
The meeting place OF the schooner and
tug was two and half miles south Of the
international line about fifteen miles
southwest of Point Iona. The tug
passed 70 windward of the Robert
and Minnie, and those aboard had
a good chance to observe her closely. On
her stern were the words: Robert and
Minnie, San Francisco" The schooner
was sailing under fore and main sail with
no iib or top sails and was so heavily
laden that she made but slow progress
There were but four of her crew visible
and these watched the movements of the
tug anxiously through glass from their
position on the poop. The schooner being
in Mexican waters Marshal Gard returned
TO port 10 telegraph for instructions.
There has at no time been any real
doubt in the minds of those best informed
that the ammunition which the Robert
and Minnie carried was intended for the
Chilian transport and that it would be
transferred to the hold of the Itata for
use oy the insurgents as soon as the big
steamer obtained what supplies she
needed in port. It is definitely known
that communications have passed between
Capt Ferrall of the schooner and Capt.
Mauzeum of the Itata both while the
Robert and Minnie was at Catalina and
since her arrival off this harbor.
The Chilians laid their plans well and