Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-14
OLD SLEUTH MORSE.
THE TERRIBLE MEN HE SAW ON
THE ITATA.
The Captain Had Tigerish Eyes and a
Sailor Had Bristling Mustache-A
Remarkable Interview.

Harry N. Morse, the San Francisco
detective who travelled around with
Marshal Gard in the Robert and Minnie
matter, has been interviewed in the San
Francisco Examiner and gave the re-
porter funny story. Mr.. Morse is said
to be in the employ OF the Chilean lega-
tion at Washington. The arms which
formed the schooner's cargo were landed
in San Francisco right under the detect
ives nose by the railroad, piled up on a
wharf, loaded ton the schooner, which
was towed out to sea, and Mr.. Morse
never made move.
In his interview he makes the follow
ing introduction:
IF never felt so chagrined in my life. If
had had some authority to act it would
have been different, but was powerless
to prevent the shipping of those arms.
When | started for San Diego l knew
nothing about the Itata, but was in
structed to look out for the schooner.
When l arrived there the Itata was the
center of interest, and the only thing to
do was to prevent her leaving the port if
possible. Marshal Gard had instruc-
tions to seize her, but he had reason to
suspect that his authority would net be
respected and that the seizure would be
mere formality.
"The customs officers ought to have
discovered the true character of the ves-
sci when she came into port, and if they
had half done their work of examination
they could not have failed to find evil
dences of her business. She had six
forty FOUNDER guns, two Gatlings and
lot of small arms, and in her hold were
thirty-eight prisoners. But they did
not search her at all.'
THE TIGERIsH-EYED CAPTAIN.
The criticism of the customs officers is
all right, but soon the detective shows
that he has fine descriptive talent.
Heie is his description of the terrible cap
tain of the Itata it is thrilling in the ex-
treme; particular attention is called to
that touch of realism worthy of Mr.
Howells, where the captain is said to
have drawn 'a deep breath"
Marshal Gard and talked over the
situation, and finally decided to GO
aboard. We were received politely by
Captain Maunzen, to whom introduced
the marshal. The captain is German.
| He has wide tigerish eyes, set in fiery
red face, and his firm mouth and chin
denote great determination. He has
one of those thin, sharp noses, turned
up at the end, that indicates great
deal OF shrewdness and cunning. But
ceiyed us with perfect composure.
Marshal Gard told Captain Maunzen
that he was instructed to seize the ship
and prevent her from leaving port. The
captain drew deep breath. smiled and
invited us to take some wine with him
before going into details. l suggested.
that the order be reversed, and invited
him to dine withus ashore. He accepted
the invitation and we went ashore, leav-
ing one of my men, G. A. Spaulding, in
charge of the ship as deputy marshal.
Before leaving the ship the captain held
a consultation with his passengers, one
of whom was Don Silva Palma, admiral
OF the Chilean navy, very courteous
but determined gentleman. The admiral
said he was very sorry to do anything
disagreeable to the United States, but
the fate of nation depended upon the
delivery of the schooner's cargo to the
insurgents, and nothing would be al
lowed to interfere with the project"
REAL LIVE cUTTHRoATs.
Detective Morse found that Captain
Maunzen was not alone in doing the
'tigerish eyes, act, for one of the crew
had a mustache which "bristled out
straight" and they all looked like real
live ''cutthroats."
The detective says in this respect:
"* | never saw harder lot OF
cutthroats than the fellows aboard the
Itata. The thirty eight prisoners had
been released from the hold and had
10,xl hn .,a1. An%A
demalion crew. | saw one fellow who
wore tall hat, blue jacket and trousers
minus half of one leg, and only one shoe.
His mustache bristled out straight and
he was tough looking greaser gener-
ally. Ragged shirts and trousers seemed
to be the regular uniform"
Then the detective says that his man
Spaulding did not receive any money,
but only "a biiarwood pipe" as pres
ent from Captain Maunzen when he
was put ashore.