The record-union., 1891-05-17
thorities
Special to the SUNDAY UNION.

thorities.
Special to the SUNDAY UNION.
WASHINGTON, May l6.-There is great
excitement here in the Navy Department
over the receipt of a message from the
American Consul at Acapulco.
The message is rather brief, but fur
nishes the first reliable news that has vet
been received as to the whereabouts OF
the United States cruiser Charleston. 1t
reads:
ACAPULCO (Mex), May l6.-The in
surgent man-of-war Esmeralda has put
into port. She was closely followed by
the United States cruiser Charleston and
both vessels are lying within 500 yards of
each others guns.
so far the Itata has not been sighted"
The Navy Department officials have no
fear of an engagement. The general inn
preston is lhat there will be no HOSTILE
ties, at least until the Itata comes in sight.
The Charleston. it is thought, will un-
dertal<e to place crew on the insurgents
steamer and return her to San Diego.
In the event of the Esmeralda obiectinp
to the proceedings there is likely to be
trouble.
lIAiEh AtNOONI.
WASHINGTON, May l6.-After week of
waiting, some tangible news was to-day
received at the Navy Department from
the Charleston. First came n dispatch
from Acapulco stating that the Chilean
lnSurgent cruiser Esmeralda had put out
of Acapulco harbor yesterday aud had
returned to port to-day.
Later on through the State Department
a dispatch came saying that the Charles
ton had arrived at Acapulco and that the
Esmeralda was still in port, but giving
no news of the Itata. What the next
step is to be no one at the department
knows or feels free to tell. The Charles
ton is to take on COAL as her supply has
probably nearly run out during the
weeks chase.
Whether the Esmeralda is to have the
privilege of taking coal aboard cannot be
learned here. as it is a matter entirely
within the control of the Mexican Gov
ernment; but the presumption at the de-
partment is against it, as the neutrality
laws would be strained by the Mexican
Government if it allowed anything be-
yond water and food supplies TO be fur
nlshed the belligerent.
The theory at the Navy Department is
that the Charleston, whose commander,
Captain Remey, has orders admitting of
large discretionary movements, will now
lie at or near Acapulco for time, trust
ing that the ltata, which is a slow, seven
knot ship, has not yet passed down the
coast, and will try to coal in that neigh
borhood.
If she is sighted the Charleston will
doubtless try to seize her. She cannot do
this in Mexican waters, so that it would
be necessary to head her off outside the
three-mile line, or if unsuccessful in that
to follow her to sea when she goes out.
What the Esmeralda will do in the
meantime is problematical.
The general impression is that the Off
GERS of that vessel will RELY more upon
strategy than force to obtain the supplies
carried by the ltata and some of the off,
GERS believe that she is trying to lure the
Charleston away from tho Itata's real
course. a recourse to force TO prevent
the Charleston from capturing the Itata,
however, would, it is said, be the death
blow OF tho 1nsurgent cause in Chile, as
the entire naval force of the United States
in the Pacific would, if necessary, be
promptly called into play to destroy the
insurgent navy.
In a cablegram received at the State
Department, Admiral McCHnn announced
were both at lqutque, Chile. to-day.
So it appears that the Baltimore has
come north, and the San Francisco has
been stayed III her southern course lust
at the point where the Chilean insurgent
navy is now nearly altogether assembled.
i MS pOluI iS dIIiCSG bnS SNIICflG NORTH or
Chile, and is where the Itata would nat
urally find her destination if she eluded
the Charleston.
THE EsMERALDA ORDERED OUT OF PORT.
CITY OF MEXICO, May I6.-The Gov
ernment denies the truth of the pub
lished rumors that the Esmeritlda sue
ceeded III buying even q limited amount
OF coal at Acapulco, but says. ON the con
trary, she was ordered out of port end is
now lying Off the coast in neutral waters
The general opinion at Acapulco is th,t
the Itata has passed that place and gone
south, and the Esnleralda hgs been wait
ing for the United States steamer Charles
ton.
At 5 O'Clock this afternoon an unusual
commotion was observed on the Esrner-
aida, but thorough searcn of the yator
failed to show any sign osan approaching
vessel.
THE SAN FRANCISCO AND BALTIsfoRE.
IQUIQUE, May I6.-The United States
warshlp Baltimore, from Valparaiso, ar
rived here this morning. The Baltimore
and San Francisco will remain on this
coast under command Of Admiral Brown.
Admiral McCann viii be transferred to
the Pensacola, which is expected here in
few days, and will then leave for the
Atlantic.
EsMERALDA IN SEARCH OF COAL.
SAN DIEGO, May 16.-Purser Walter
OF the Pacific Coast Steamship Newborn,
when interviewed to-day said that tho
Chilean man-of-war Esmeralda WIS
short Of coal when the Newbern passed
her on the lst inst. off Cape San Lucas
The officers of the Esmeralda visited tho
NeWberu at San Jose Del C2bo the next
day, and said their destination was some
port in the United States where they
could get coal They also inquired as TO
the quantity of coal the Newbern was
carrying, and seemed disappointed when
informed that the steamer had only q
small quantity.
The purScr corroborates the report Of
Won Helm's story about seeing another
war ship much larger than the Esmeralda
on the night of the 1st. He thinks this
also must have been an inSurgent shin.
for the officers of the Esmeralda know Of
her whereabouts, and did not appear to be
alarmed, as would have been the case if
the ship had been Balmaceda's Imperial
The officers of the Esmeralda refused Il
tell the name of the other ship wher
questioned.
DID NOT MEET THE VESSELS.
SAN FRANCISCO, May 16.-The Pa,
Mail steamship San Bias arrived in
last night from Panama and way
1t was expected that the San Bias W
bring some news of the Chilean ST
Itata or Esmeralda, and possibly of \.
Charleston, but her officers report tha,
they did not sec any OF them. The,peo-
pie at Acapulco were expecting Il visit
from the vessels, but up to the time the