Morning journal and courier., 1891-05-19

ChATAcStOh 1teheNtS H1cT ShASo
 of the Itata - The Esmeralda Stin
 at Acapulco Their Next Stopping
 Place. T.
 WASHINGTON, May 18.-Just before 4 o'clock this afternoon the navy depart ment received confirmation of the press dispataches to the effect that the Charles ton sailed southward from Acapulco last evening, leaving the Esmeralda in port. There was no word of the Itata. The pre- sumption is that the Charleston's com mander was satisfied that the Itata had passed Acapulco either before he arrived there or while he lay in port, and that he had resumed the long chase. It is esti- along at about seven knots, and as she was ten days out last Friday she should have been just off Acapulco, where it is reported from that place she met the Esmer- aida. AS she is a much smaller vessel than the Esmeralda and burns very much less coal it is regarded as within the probabilities that the latter vessel might have supplied her with fuel, which would account for the strait the war ship is now in respecting a further supply of coal. If it be true that the Itata was off Acapulco Friday night she when the latter started again in pursuit last night This is about the same lead that she had when she started from San Diego, so that it does not appear that conclusion. But if the two vessels now follow the same course as the Charles ton steaming at fourteen knots, should come up with the Itata by tomorrow | night. This event, of course, is based up- on the assumption-which is not founded | upon strong probability-t the two | vessels are steering exactly upon the same course. If the Charleston passes the Itata | the next port where they are likely to be heard from is Panama, about 1, 200 miles from Acapulco, or Payta, Peru, stil further down the coast. As it is, the vessels have | probably GOV cred less than half the dis tance to Iquique, the nearest Chilian port. SAN FRANCISCO, May 18.-The grand jury at Los Angeles Investigating the facts in relation to the cargo carried by the Chilian ship Itata obtained the following | testimony, it is said, from two deserters from the Itata. These men testified that when the Itata started north she had on board sixty new rifles and two hundred old ones. When the Esmeralda and 1tata met off Cape San Lucas the former had $50 men all told and the Itata had % sailors and 60 soldiers, the latter being in citizen clothing. They were instructed if they divulged the secret of the vesseri mission the death penalty would fol
 low. The Itata carried four 6O-pouno guns which were hidden under th' canvas with her small arms il
 the forward hold. The soldiers wer'
 slowed away there, also their food beinl l cent then, from on dock Every appear
 ance of the vessel being prepared for wa
 was removed two days before she steamed
 into San Diego, when she looked like first-class merchant It was understoot
 by everybody aboard that the Itata was ol the lookout for the schooner with the rifle
 and other munitions of war. The program 1l was for the Itata to get munitions of wa
 from the Robert and Minnie at some plac
 in the tropics, to transfer them to the Els
 meralda who would escort her then south
 ward to Iquique. If the trip was made with
 out interference so much the better, but
 not the Esmeralda proposed to give battle
 The Esmeralda and 1tata were commando
 from Iquique to San Lucas by each other
 masters, who exchanged to the rightfr
 commands at the latter point. Some il
 formation was obtained indicating that I was the intention of the 1tata to transfe the guns and ammunition from the Itat
 to the Esmeralda at Piehiluque on the eas
 coast of Lower California. Whether u
 Esmera1da met the Itata there before r
 turning to Acapluco is unknown.
 h l MT. Holloway, Peruvian consul, col e tends that the Itata had an ample co r, supply when leaving San Diego to allo n, her to steam to Iquique without stoppin y and gives it as his view that the steam
 has gone direct to that port.