The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-07-10
THE WAR VESSELS.
THE CHARLESTON AND ITATA
ARRIVE IN PORT.
Details of the Capture and Talk With the
Officers. Hundreds Of People Visit
Them.

SAN DIEGO, CAL, July S.-7'hc Gillian
transport Itata and the United States
cruiser Charleston arrived in port at 9:3o
yesterday morning direct from lqusque.
The Itata entered the harbor and anchored
in the channel, while the Charleston re-
NAMED ou;;ide at the head. The ltata
was ut once boarded by revenue officers.
At / O'Clock the Itata reached the iden-
teal point from which she elopcd so sem
sationally some weeks ago with the
United States marshal on board. The
wharyos were soon crowded with people,
all anxious to get look at the vessel, and
was dotted in every direction with sailing
crafts of ali descriptions. AS soon as
possible, officer Churchill, in charge of
the vessel, came ashore and tclcgraphed
his report to the department at Wash
ington.
The Itata came in flying the Gillian flag
covered with bunting in honor of the day,
and CARRYING as officers and crew the same
men who manned her when she left sud
denly, with the exception Of Silva Palma,
commander of the Esmeralda, and two or
three of his officers, who assisted the
Itata to get out OIL her last visit. There
is no prize crew, the Charleston having
simply put officers on board and conveyed
her up, leaving navigation to the original
crew under the military commander,
Teiede and Capt. Mauzcam. The ltata's
machinery, which was said to have been
purposely damaged by Insurgents, is de-
cared to have worked admirably until the
last two or three days of the journey,
were Immediately made 10
turn the vessel over to proper United
States authorities. The Charleston, it is
understood, will remain outside until
Monday to engage in target practice and
then will come into the harbOr. While
living at her anchorage, about mile west
of Corondale, the Charleston was visited
by hundreds of people in steam tugs and
sailing vessels and train loads OF people
have come in from Los Angles, Sander
nardinc and intermediate points to see the
vessel.
DETAILS OF THE CAPTURE.
The officers and several passengers in
the CHILEAN steamer Itata, which arrived
here from Iquique in charge of the cruiser
Charleston yesterday, rccite some inter-
estins incidents connected with the arrival
of the Itata at Inquique some weeks ago
and her subsequent departure for this port
in convoy OF the Charleston. They say
that when the Itata steamed into the har-
Dor at Iquique her officers did not know
the vessel had already been delivered to
the United States and that formal demand
had been made on the insurgents for the
surrender of the vessel. They stated that
this was accompanied by the following
message from the American flag ship:
of YOU refuse and do not give her up
peacefully, will seize every one OF your
ships and blockade every port on your
coast" The reply of the insurgents was
simply an order for Captain Mauzcn TO
deliver the Itata, her cargo and effects
into the hands of the United States au-
thorties. The captain of the Baltimore
went aboard the Itata and presented the
order to Capt. Mauzen with the word ::
ain the name of the United States | con-
fscate this ship and her cargo"
"Thats all right; that's all right, ere
piled Capt. Mauzen, am German sub
iect, you can do nothing with me, take the
ship"
The commander Of the Esmeralda who
had remained on board the ltata when
the two vessels parted company off Acu-
pulco, could not be found. He had &C
complishcd his mission and had quietly
dropped over the side of the vessel. he
in company with several brother officers,
was soon on shore and safe from further
pursuit.
On taking possession of the vessel, the
United States officials and representatives
from the Chilians went on board and took
stock of the cargo. Preparations were at
once made to return and Lieutenant-Com-
mander TODD and Ensign Churchill, from
the Charleston, took charge Of the Itata.
The latter's engines were found in bad
condition, owing to the terrible strain put
on them, and Engineer Hollis, of the
Charleston, was sent on board to superin-
tend the necessary repairs. This consnm-
ed several days, but finally the hour of
departure was set for Saturday evening,
June 18th, ut six o'clock. at that hour
the Charleston signalled $50 ahead. ("
The Itata signallcd in return that she was
not ready. Again and again did the Char
lesion signal for her prize to put to sea,
but it was evident that the Chilians were
ayerse to undoing the results of their long
and tedious voyage.
at S:45 p. m. the Charleston again sig-
nailed. The reply came back that the
Itata had not received her supply OF
water. At 9 o'clock Admiral McCann sig
nailed to the Itata "put to sea at once,
water or no water" The Itata accord
ingly departed. The return voyage was
devoid of incident.
An Associated Press reporter visited the
Charleston and from her officers learned
that the feeling on the part of the Gillian
congressional party is extremely bitter
toward the United States, to which they
looked If not for assistance, at least, fol
non interference.
The Charleston also brings news that
the insurgents have now about 10000 men
in the field, while the government forces
are not quite as numerous. Besides