Huntsville gazette., 1891-12-12
rendered tentold more active by a European

rendered tenfold more active by European
war.
He favors tie construction of more vessels Of
the Indiana type
1t only by the possession of ships of this type
mat the defensive strength of the United
states can readily be measured. We may have
many medium sized cruisers of 1900 tons or be-
low, which perform useful service in time OF
peace IN carrying the flag about the world,
which give practical training to officers and
men, and which perform important auxiliary
service in war. But when opposed to armored
ships these vessels can not be counted as an
element of force.
THE GILLIAN TROUBLE.
Secretary Tracy devotes considerable space
to the Chilian trouble, and gives detailed ac-
count of the attack on the sailors of the cruiser
Baltimore. Numerous accounts have been
published of this incident, but this one is the
result of a full and official investigation, and
contains many points which have not before
been made public. The secretary says:
At 2p. m. on the 10th of October the Balti
more, being then at anchor in the harbor of VAL
paralso, number of seaInen belonging to the
ship went on shore in uniform for liberty, in ac-
cordance with the universal practice prevailing
On board ships OF war in foreign ports. Two
weeks had passed since the surrender OF VAL
paraiso to the congressionalist leaders, and the
city was quiet. Other foreign war ships in the
harbor had already given liberty to their crews,
and no reason existed for Withholding a like
privilege from the crew of the Baltimore
AT 6 p. m. the men had been ashore four
he ur5. 1t is the general testimony that they
he'd been during this period, and were then,
orderly, sober and well behaved. The first
encounter appears to have taken place at this
time between one of the crew of the Baiti-
more and Chihan, who spat in his face. The
sailor knocked the Chilian down, and was
immediately set upon with his companion,
another of the Baltimore's crew, by angry
crowd. The two sailors took refuge in a passing
street car. They were dragged from the car by
the crowd. One of them, Petty Officer Charles
kiggn, was stabbed and left to die in the street.
his companion, Talbot, an apprentice escaped,
bnt was afterward arrested catgut nippers
were put on his wrists, and he was struck again
and again by the police on his way to prison.
Another petty officer, johnson, then in neigh
boring house, seeing Rggin lying helpless in the
street, went to his assistance. The crowd had
now left. Finding Riggin still breathing John
son took him in his arms to carry him to a drug
store near by. At this moment squad of po-
lice, with fixed bayonets came up the street
!" hen at close quarters they fired at johnson,
being SO near that his face was blackened by the
discharge. One shot entered Higgins neck and
shoulder, ipfiicting a death wound. Another
shot passed through Johnson's clothes.
The affair of the street car was only one of
many simultaneous attacks made upon the Bal
timore's men. The attacks lasted for an hour
They were not confined to one locality, but oc-
city. In many instances the American sailors
were in restaurants and hotels quietly getting
supper when attacked by crowds numbering
from twenty five to 200 men. The part borne
reports. Thirty six of the Baltimore men were
arrested and taken to prison. being subjected on
the way to treatment OF the utmost brutality
Catgut nippers were placed on their wrists,
and in the case of one man, McW1ll-
iams lasso was thrown around his neck
Williams, another apprentice, 10 years OF age,
was arrested by mounted policeman, who put
the nippers around his wrists and then started
his horse into gallop, throwing the boy down
Coal HEAVIER Quigley, IN trying to escape from
the mob, was struck with a sword by police
officer. Petty Officer Hamilton was dragged to
prison dangerously wounded and unconsclous,
md his companions, attempting to relieve his
su fferings. were threatened with blows from
musket butts, and compelled to deslst.
| Coal HEAVIER Turnbull received eighteen
wounds in the back, two of which penetrated
his lungs, and subsequently, caused his death.
Other men were seriouly injured, and several
of the wounds were caused by bayonet thrusts,
clearly showing the participation of the police.
AS result of the attacks, two of the men, Rig
gin and Turnbull, died, and eighteen others
were more or less disabled by wounds.
At the examination Immediately following the
arrest, which was conducted secretly, request
was made of the authorities by Capt. Schley to
allow one Of his officers to be present in court.
The request was denied. Before the men were
discharged they were required to sign paper
in Spanish. a court official, whom one of the
men asked what might be the meaning of the
paper, declared that it was mere form, stating
that the signer had not been engaged in the
trouble.
The sailors during the attack were without
arms, and therefore defenseless. OF the thirty
charged, there being no proof of any violation of
the peace on their part. The judicial investiga
tion into the conduct of the men failed to show
that a single one was found drunk or disorderly
It is clear that their only offense lay in wearing
the uniform OF the country to which they be-
longed
Whether the attacks upon the seanen of the
Baltimore were preconcerted or not their real
cause can only be found in the bitter hostility of
the Chilians toward the United States-a feeling
largely due to the false and malicious accusa-
rxx-nio haya hap and
later at Valparaiso, in reference to the action of
the navy of the United States during the prog
ress of the revolution.
STRICT NEUTRALITY.
The secretary says the course of the navy dur
ing the Chilian war was stri :tly neutral, not
withstanding all the charges to the contrary.
He presents the instructions of March rs to
Admiral McCann which were published in the
press some time ago, and in which q strict
neutrality was commanded, and states that
these instructions were carried out to
the letter. The Itata matter was settled to
the complete satisfaction of the insurgents,
whose officers disavowed any knowledge of the
acts of that vessel. The junction Of the ends Of
the submarine cable outside of Iquique was
complished by the cable company in the execu-
ton of its lawful rights, and the act was in no
way the act of the United States government
The Baltimore was present in pursuance of the
instructions to Take whatever measures are
necess Ary to prevent injury by insurgent yes
sells to lives or property Of American citizens,
including American telegraph cables The
visit of Admiral Brown to Quinteros bay when
the revolutionary troops were landed there is
also referred TO- and Admiral Browns letter ex-
planning the matter and explicitly denying that
he gave any information to Balmacedas officers
or allowed any Chilians on board at that time is
given in full. In concluding this subject the
secretary says:
1t therefore appears that neither in the affair
of the Itata, whose surrender was voluntarily
determined on by the provisional government at
Iquique, nor in the presence Of the Baltimore
when the agents OF an American cable campany
spliced their cables in the open sea- nor in the
visit of Admiral Brown to Quinteros bay, was
there any ground Of offense given by the
navy of the United States to any person, party
or government then existing in Chill, nor was
any assistance encouragement of any kind
rendered to what was at that time recognized
by all the world as in fact the government of
the country. Yet it is impossible to ac-
count for the series of outrages perpetrated
on the crew Of the Baltimore on any
other suppostion than that those who
concerted them were influenced by the calum
nies which had been actively circulated and that
they were aided and abetted by 2 police guard
which should have suppressed them. No charge
or even suspicion of misconduct attaches to the
men who. on the night of the 18th of October,
endeavoring without weapons to defend them
selves against an armed attack. were driven by
tba rol:oa m q Cbiliau prisOn bQrauso they To-a