Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-05-14
Engagement Between the two
Vessels Denied.
THE CHARLSTONS INSTRUCTIONS.
Late Irish News, Pullman Denies,
Latest From Chill, The President
Nearing Home, State and Foreign
News, Etc.
NO FOUNDATION.

cial from the City of Mexico says:
Persistent rumors are in circulation
there to the effect that the United
States Cruiser Charleston overlook
the Chilian vessel Etata on the high
seas, and a naval engagement was
fought, in which the latter was
worsted and blown out Of the water.
NO NEWS TILL TOMORROW
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, May A.
The rumors coming from the City
of Mexico, to the effect that the
Cruiser Charleston had overtaken
the Steamer Etata and had fired
upon that vessel are regarded here
as having no foundations: The
Charleston passed San Diego at
noon on Monday. The run to Aca-
pulco, the nearest telegraph point
below the Gulf of California, is l 300
miles. The Charleston was steam
ing at the rate of about fifteen knots
aud was seen to have been moving
out of her course to inspect passing
vessels, and, even though pushed to
the highest point, she could not
reach Acapulco before tomorrow,
and any news therefore of her opera
tions could not be received through
Mexican sources before her arrival
there.
DENIED AT WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, d. g., May A.
There is no news from the Etata or
Charleston at the Navy Department
this morning. No credence is given
to the report that the Charleston has
sunk the Etata. In the first place
IL Is said that the news of such an
event could only be received through
the arrival of the Charleston at some
port connected with the telegraph
lines. which has not 50 far occurred.
In the second place, nobody sup
poses the Etata would resist the
Charleston, for she is totally unpre-
pared to do so.
CHARLEsToN's INSTRUCTIONS
SAN FRANCISCO, May 14.-The
sealed orders received here by Cap
tain Remy, of the Charleston, came
in cipher, and were known at the
time only to the officials in Wash
ington and Captain Remy. They |
have leaked out, though, somewhere
in the east, and are now pretty well
known here. Captain Remy was
instructed to capture the Etata at
all hazards and return her to San
Diego. The instructions even out
lined the Charleston's course, direct
ing her, after leaving San Diego, to
steer along the coast in a straight
line, so as to pass close to Payta, the
most prominent point ofland on the
Peruvian coast, some miles north of
Iquique. This does away with the
idea that the Charleston will give
the Etata stern chase Off toward |
the Hawaiian islands, the direction
in which she started, and thence
toward Chill. 1t is the United |
States governments purpose to pre-
vent the Etata from landing in
Chill the munitions of war she Is
supposed to have on board, and
whether the Charleston captures
her near the Hawaiian islands or
In Peruvian waters, II matters little,
but the war vessel, according to the
judgment, will stand
u better chance of success by taking
a straight course and waiting for
her victim of Payta. The insur-
gents have the advantage that the
coast of Chill from Caldera north is
In their possession, and anywhere
within those boundaries they can
land with safety, providing the
Charleston Ia not there to intercept
them. But us the Etata, when she
left San Diego, went In long tacks
out into the ocean, IL Is probable
that when she got far enough out
iteered directly for the coast, aud
will attempt landing while steam
ng directly east. such course
Nonld give the Charleston less than
ifteen miles leeway north aud south
n which TO catch sight Of the runa-
way and then capture her before she
AN land her cargo.
PoRrLAEDERs AND THE CHARLES
TON.
PORTLAND, May l4,-Thls city
las two representatives on board the
Irvernmeut cruiser City OF Charles