New-York tribune., 1891-05-14
IS THE ITATA SUNK
TAGUE RUMORS IN MEXICO.
A REPORT. THAT THE TRANSPORT HAS BEEN
SUNK BY THE CHARLESTON.
NOTHING TO CONFIRM THE sToRY-MEx1cAN
OFFICIALS HAVE NO INFORMATION ON
THE sUBJECT-wATCHING FOR THE
SHIPS ALONG THE CoAsT-vEs-
Sells SEEN BY FISH


SHIPS ALONG THE coAsT-vEs-
Sells SEEN BY FISH
ING SCHOONER.
City Of Mexico via. Galveston, May 13-"Ihe
Anglo-American" lnewspaper) publishes rumors OF
the sinking Of the Itata by the United ota'es
cruiser Charleston, but gives neither time nor
place. The authorities here say they have no In
formation whatever concerning the matter.
The Government has given strict orders 70 'he
port authorities on the Pacific coast to report the
appearance of any Chilian or other warshlps. It
will be difficult to get news, as the GovernmehC
wires have to be relied on altogether. The generai
opinion here is that the Itata and her conveys
will double up on the Charleston. The Govern
ment has ordered the gunboat Democratic TO keep
sharp lookout for the vessels.
1t is rumored here that private telegram has
been received announcing that fishing schooner
Yesterday saw two vessels out at sea, on the
coast, at full speed. One Of the vessels was
sighted at 10 q. m. and the other at p m, Dut
they were so distant that the fishermen were not
able to distinguish them. This report, however,
cannot be traced to a trustworthy source.
The Charleston sailed from San Francisco at d
a. m. on May o. Captain Remey having orders 10 take
Injury TO his own ship The Itata had eludcd the
authorities and sailed from San Diego at 0 80 D. H.
on May 6. She sailed northwestward about $50 miles,
toward San Clements where she met the schooner hoo
ert and Minnie and took on arms, ammunition, ETC., lot
the Chan insurgents This work was compieted
Friday afternoon. She thus secured start aneah oil
the Charleston of than twentyfo hours In tlme
and about 240 miles in distance. On the morning Oh
May IL the Charleston off san Pedro, Cal Under
her orders she was to touch at various ports where
the Itata might stop, but since Monday no news mas
been received from her. 1t is believed that the Itata
was to meet the Chilian cruiser Esmeralda on cape
San Lucas about 100 miles from San Diego and trans
fer her arms etc. The Itata is c0astng steamer OF
200 tons net measurement and with her load Of arms
and ammunition 1t is probable that she could carry
enough coal to steam longer than six days without
stopping for new supplies From San Diego to VAL
paraiso is about 5000 miles, and the Itata can
make only about 800 miles day she will have to stop
for coal several times before reaching Chilan waters
The chances of the Charleston overa)ng her seemed
good when the cruiser sailed, and IL she escaped
from the Charleston she would stl have to look out
for the san Francisco and Baltimore, which are
steaming nOrthward
The Charestons down the coast was at the rate
OF about fifteen knots hour, and 1t was considered
probable that she might overtake the ltata at cape
san Lucas. If not found there, the Charles, es,
she was expected to reach to-day or romor-
row. The Charleston carries six 6nch guns,
two 8-inch breechOading rifles, four 6-pounder, two
3pounder and two i-pounder rapid firing guns, , i1nr
ton and Esmerada ships similar as to the general
plan and possess nearly the same armament, but the
Esmeralda has larger guns than the Charleston