Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-19
Testimony Against Collector
Berry's Vigilance.
Cannon, Muskets and Soldiers
Seen on Board.
Three Men Who Will Testify tt
Those Statements.
The San Diego Sun Calls the Matter the
Governments Case Against the
Collector-what Three Men
Discovered on Board
the Steamer.

The fact that the steamer Itata had
arms and soldiers on board when in San
Diego harbor, has been disputed by Col
lector Berry of that port, and affirmed
by Marshal Gard. The marshal has
maintained that if Berry had done his
duty in the premises, the affair would
have had different result. In connec-
tion, the following taken from the San
Diego Sun, of yesterday, will be of
interest:
Captain Keith of the pilot boat Dawn,
Ed. Jones, the day carpenter on the
Itata, and A. Blair, the night carpenter,
were subpenaed today to appear before
the federal grand jury and will 60 to
Los Angeles tomorrow in charge of Dep
uty Marshal Crawford. They promise
to be interesting and important wit
nesses.
Captain Keith will testify, it is said,
that the Itata was a man -of-war, giving
circumstantial data, which will COM
pletely upset the story of the Collector
of the Port j. R. Berry. Captain Keith
knows all about the arms and munitions
of war on board the vessel and the num-
Der of men who were concealed in the
hold.
The two carpenters who were en-
ployed to make certain needed repairs
to the interior Of the boat very soon OBJ
tanned a knowledge of what was going
on, but were pledged to keep their
mouths shut while the Itata remained
in port. They came across several
heavy guns covered up with canvas, and
saw 260 stands of new rifles and 200
stands of old ones. Their work also
brought them into proximity to the
men concealed in the hold. These were
Chilean sailors or marines, and they
were packed in under the bows like so
many sardines, with little ventilation
except what they got through hole in
the forecastle deck. This hole was con-
cealed from outside view by a great
coil of rope shaped like bee
hive with small orifce in
the top. To make the hole larger
little of the rope was unwound and
soup and other eatables were lowered to
the men below. The collectors and
marshal's deputies passed by this coil
frequently, but were too attentive to the
courteous and friendly conversation of
the captain to be mindful of it.
At the time the carpenters said moth
ing and sawed wood, but their lips are
now unsealed, and they promise, to
strengthen what has become the govern
ment's case against the collector very
materially. Besides giving this evidence
they will testify that tackle arrange
ment had been devised by which two of
the heaviestlguns could be instantly
raised from the hold, upon an alarm be
ing given, and brought into use on the
deck. s.,
The captain of one OF the steamers
that visits this port tells the Sun that,
under new law or ruling the customs
officials are obliged to make thorough
search of every incoming vessel, even
removing sheathing where it is neces-
sary in the search for contraband goods.
This was the understanding of Marshal
Gard, and he supposed when the Itata
was turned over to him that she had
had the thorough inspection required
by law. Had he known the facts in the
case he would have put company of
soldiers on board and telegraphed for
the Charleston.