Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-11
Assumed by the Astute Naval
Authorities.
An Attempt to Shroud the Itata
Affair in Mystery.
The Pacific Squadron Acting on Sc
cret Instructions.
The Charleston Reported or San Pedro
ON Her way South In Chase of
the Pirate Craft
Associated Press Dispatches.

WASHINGTON, May While there
are no new developments regarding the
reported issuance of orders to the cruiser
Charleston and the men-of-war compos-
ing the South Pacific squadron togo after
and seize the insurgent vessel Itata, which
is now supposed to be on her way to
Chile with arms, taken from the
schooner Robert and Minnie, it is be-
lieved orders have been sent to Admiral
Brown, commanding the Pacific station,
and to Admiral McCann, commanding
the ships OF the South Pacific station. to
capture the Itata by force, if necessary,
and take her to the first American port.
AN AIR OF SECRECY.
The greatest air of secrecy surrounds
the affair, and tonight it is utterly i'm
possible to learn that any orders of any
nature regarding the Itata have been
issued by the navy department, or that
any will be issued.
Secretary Tracy left the city yesterday
ON the Dispatch, in company with Com
modore Folger, toinspect the new naval
proving ground down the Potomac, and
has not returned. At his house it was
trip to Fortress Monroe, or gone down
He left word that he would not return
until noon tomorrow.
Commodore Ramsey, chief OF the
bureau of navigation, and who issues all
orders directing the movements of the
ships of the navy, was seen tonight, but
declined to say anything on the subject.
There is the strongest reason for be-
lieving that those orders were issued
yesterday before Secretary Tracy left the
department. and that the Charleston is
now on her way south after the Jtata.
THE cHARLEsToN's GUN TESTS.
Commodore Ramsey said tonight
that he received an unofficial dispatch
from San Francisco, saying that the
Charleston had gone to sea to test her
guns, but had not returned, as had been
stated. Orders were issued sometime
ago by. the navy department for the
Charleston to go to sea for the purpose
of giving her eight-inch rides q trial in
firing while the ship executed certain
maneuvers, but whether the orders
were further supplemented by sealed
orders or not, could not be learned.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Solely
since Thursday, and when seen tonight,
be also declined to say anything that
would throw any light whatever on the
subject. Soley said he was not fully in
formed as to what had transpired at the
department during his absence, and
was not In a position to say anything
in the absence of the secretary, who
would return tomorrow. He also de-
clined to affirm or deny that any orders
had been issued by the department in
consequence of the sudden departure Of
the Itata.
Naval officers in Washington, who are
familiar with the coast of Lower Cal
ifornia, say it is likely the schooner
Robert and Minnie may have deposited
the rifles intended for the :Chileans on
some one of the small outlying islands
near the coast, and that the Itata pro-
cured them there, instead of taking
chances Of sighting the schooner at sea,
as this was the most practicable scheme,
and, moreover, would not tend to sus-
picion by the United States authorities,
as would be the case should the schooner
be seen lying off the coast.
THE rTATA's HISTORY.
The ltata is an iron screw-propeller
ship, of 200 tons, and built in England
in 1873. She has compound engines OF
Anticipated make, and is not capable,
probably, of steaming more than nine
or ten knots an hour. She was formerly
owned and operated by the Chilean
Navigation company, and how she came
into the hands of the insurgents is not
known here, unless she was seized by
them at the beginning Of the insurrec-
ton.
The United States vessels in Chilean
waters are the Baltimore and the flag
ship Pensacola, with Rear-Admiral Nc
Cam in command. The San Francisco
when last heard from had left Peru, and
will likely join the Baltimore and Pensa-
cola early this week. With the Charles
ton, the admiral will have under his
command three of the finest ships of the
new navy, besides the Pensacola, which
is the best of the wooden class in the
service. With these four ships, it is not
anticipated that much opposition would
be met with, should the United States
see fit to capture the Itata, even should
she be reinforced by the best ships of
the insurgents.
THE CHARLEsrONS ORDERS.
1t Is Believed That She Is ON the Track