The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-18

next two days the Charleston will likely re-
main at Acapulco, in the meantime keeping
lookout for the Itata and watching her consort,
EsrEeralda- An official OF the navy de-
partment said tonight that 1t was not
likely that the Esnerada. would seek to
procure coal at any of the sea coast towns
on Central American or the Columbian coast, as
these countries would undoubtedly act as
Hexico has done In refusing TO violate the neu-
traiity laws by aiding the insurgents to repien-
ish their coal supplies or procure munitions of
wa-.
NEW YoaK, May E.--fspecial.l 1.-THE Herclds
washington City correspondent sends the fol-
lowing: While navy officials maintain great
secrecy as to the instructions sent TO Rear Ad
mirais Brown and McCann, / am informed that
the long cablegrams passing daily be-
tween the department and these officers
90 not relate entirely to the search
Tor the Itats. A hint was accidentally
dropped by high naval officer yesterday that
our efforts TO capture the Itata have embittered
the Insurgents toward the United States and
that American interests at Iquique, fnsnrgent
headquarters, are consequently in danger.
This, then, would account for the Balti-
more aad Pensacola having been ordered
to- join the San Francisco at Iquique. 1t is
probably tr'ic that these vessels have orders to
watch out for the Itata, but as it will be two or
three weeks before she can possibly reach
there the hurried trip OF Rear Admiral
McCann from Valparaiso to Iquique,
which was made under telegraphic instruc-
ions from Washington City doubtless m Ind I some
II wsssurnfsed some days ago that these vessels
would GONE north to intercept the Hate, but nc
cording p dispatches received yesterday, the
baltimore ana San Francisco are at lquique, and
the understanding at the navy department is
that they will stay there for some time.
Tho Pensacola, which has not yet arrived.
wfll also remain there. These facts indicate
that fh6 department finds it more important to
look after American interests at the insurgent
stronghold than ya.,araiso, the headquarters of
the Chilean government, where II was origi-
naily the Intention to concentrate orr Pacific
squadron.
Tharc is every reason to believe that the long
cable received from Rear Admiral Brown gave
newsof such character as to warrant the de-
partrnent in sending sll the available vessels to
Iquique immediately. 1t il also believed
that the Charleston has orders to make
that port in case she does not over
take the Ifata. The navy department has de-
finite information that the inslrgent CT ser
Esmeralda desired to take coal at Acapulco, but
the Mexican authorities peremptorily denied
the privilege According to the opinion of navy
officials here the insurgent feetsis in precar-
ious position. They ure 80 near the line OF
piracy that any little act of theirs against a
foreign power would make them maritime
outlaws and the lawful prey of any nation.
This government has seen fit not to consider
them pirates so long rs their operations are
confined against one nation, but should the
least effort be made by them to prevent the
capture Of the ltata the situation would be
changed This government then would have a
right to fire on rebel vessels wherever found,
and 1t is intinated that the commanders of the
Pacific cruisers would not hesitate to do SO.