Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-16
THE INSURGENT SHIP
Now You See 1t and Now
You Don't.
A Variety of Rumors Concern
ing the Itata.
All the News of a Vague and Unsat-
isfactory Character.
A Pacific Mall Steamer Causes Some
Excitement by steaming Up
the Coast.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Another strange steamer outside is sup
posed to be the Itata. There is no
American.steamer in sight.
LATER-A telegram from Acapulco
says no news of the Esmeralda has been
received since she left that port, and
and that no American ship has been
seen. At the war department. it is
stated no'news has been received. A
prominent official says that news OF the
Itata being off the coast of Central
America, may be expected.
EARLIER REPORTS.
A dispatch received late last night
from Acapulco says: --4.
"The Chilean cruiser Esmeralda en-
tered this port yesterday and sailed
again today. Several of her officers
came ashore and used the wires, and
made various inquiries regarding the
action of the United States, showing
that they were informed that the
cruiser Charleston had been sent in
pursuit of the Itata. 1t is believed that
she steamed north to intercept the
Itata and protect her should the
Charleston attempt to capture her.
The officers who came ashore were very
reticent, but from one of the sailors it
was learned that they expected to sight
the Itata and act as her convoy down
the coast. The Esmeralda has a
numerous crew, and in appearance they
are veterans and will fight"
The above dispatch is confirmed at
the navy department, but the officers
are inclined to be reticent. A promi-
nent official said the cruiser was warned
not to remain in port, as Mexico was
not harboring insurgent vessels, and did
not recognize any other government in
Chile than that OF Balmaceda.
NO NEWS AT WASHINGTON. N
WAsHrNGroN, May is. The same re-
ply, "no news, was made by Actiax
Secretary Ramsey, this morning, to q
question as to whether he had heard
from the Charleston or Itata.
1t is known at the department that
the Chilean insurgent cruiser Esmeralda
put into Acapulco day or two ago. She
appeared there late in the evening. and
slipped out of the harbor and disap-
peared before daylight.
A CABLE FROM ADMIRAL BROWN.
WASHINGTON, May 15.-A lengthy
cable dispatch was received at the navy
department, this afternoon, from Ad-
miral Brown, commanding the flagship
San Francisco, now at some Chilean
port. Information as to its contents
was refused, further than to say that it
was an answer from Admiral Brown to
instructions cabled him last week.
NEWS EXPECTED SOON.
SAN DIEGO. CAL, May 5.-The Pacific
Coast steamship company's. steamer
Newbern will arrive here from Mexican
ports about midnight, or early tomor-
row morning. 1t is believed that the
Newbern will bring some information in
regard to the Charleston, Itata and Es-
meralda, and her arrival here is awaited
anxiously.
MYSTERIOUS VESSEL.
SAN Diego, May 15.-The cruiser
Charleston is reported, on apparently
good authority, as having passed Point
Iona, last evening, going north.
HUENEME, CAL, May ia large
steamer, flying signals, stood in close to
this place, this morning. AS near as
could be made out, she was Pacific Mail
steamer. After saluting, she stood off,
bound north.
SANTA BARBARA, CAL, May 15.--An
unknown steamer was sighted off the
coast, this morning, acting in peculiar
manner. She was first observed at
Z :45, then going up the channel. She
rounded the upper end of Anacaysa
island, and sailed along the island on
the outside; then turned and stood out
to sea. 1t is impossible to tell the size
or rig OF the steamer, as she was twenty
miles away, and only the smoke could
be seen.
Is WAS THE SAN BIAS.
SAN FRANCISCO, May l5.-It is now
pretty definitely settled that the steamer
which was signalled off Hueneme in the
Santa Barbara channel this morning
was the Pacific mail steamship San
Bias, which put in to announce her
arrival at that point.
SAN DIEGO, May 15.-It is now be-
lieved that the vessel reported off Point
Iona last night, and which was sup
posed to be the Charleston, was the
Pacific mail steamship San Bias from
Panama, which is due at San Francisco
Saturday.
LIE AONIbEhhAI BALLS.
SAN Francisco, May 15.-The steamer
Montserrat, which has been loading a
cargo of provisions here for Chile, left
this afternoon. Watch was maintained
over her to the last by the customs Off
cials, that no arms or contraband goods
be shipped.
SOME BRITISH OPINION.
LONDON, May 15.-The Standard in an
editorial this morning says: "We can
only account for America IS extraordinary
zeal in pursuing the Chilean steamer
Itata on the assumption that the gov
eminent is delighted at having an op-l
portunity in retrospectively justifying
its Alabama contention, as against Eng
land. It is doubtful, however, whether
this ingenuoue behavi or can establish q
new dictum in international law"