Los Angeles herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1890-1893, 1891-12-24

foreign sailor was involved to invite his
consul or the commander of his vessel
to be present. 1t happened that while
the Baltimore affair was under investi-
CATION another case was on
trial in the same court, which
involved the stabbing of a sailor
on one of the German warships, by some
Chilean sailors. The secretary of the
German consul was present at this
hearing at the invitation of the Judge.
When the investigation OF the Baltimore
affair commenced, Captain Schley di-
rected Lieutenant Sears to attend the
hearing, but the officer was denied this
privilege by the Judge of the court, and
no one at all was allowed to be present
during the investigation.
The local authorities have recently
requested Captain Schley to allow the
men who were injured to come ashore
and attempt to identify their assailants
among the police. The men will visit
the police station next week and inspect
the members of the force, but as the
affair occurred over month ago, and as
there was excitement in the streets at
the time it is not thought probable that
the sailors will be able to make any
positive identifications.
There was a strong feeling among the
members Of the crew of the Baltimore
during the few days following the at
tack upon the liberty party to avenge
the attack upon their comrades. 1t is
state secret notvery closely guarded, that
the same feeling prevailed in the cabin,
wardroom and steerage. There were
many muttered threats in the forecastle
of the Baltimore of sending another
'liberty party' ashore, better prepared
Tor emergencies that the one which met
with disaster on the 10Th of October.
But the Baltimore has an exceptionally
fine crew: the men are largely native
Americans and have been with the ship
since she went into commission. They
are under perfect discipline and nothing
approaching disorder was allowed to oc-
cur.
The sailors on other foreign men-of-
war 60 ashore at will, and are not mo-
Tested, but owing to the boycott which
has been established by the officials of
Valparaiso in refusing to give any
promise or guarantee OF protection to
American sailors, they are confined to
the decks Of their ship, practically in
state of siege in what is supposed to be
q friendly port.
The Junta de Gobierno, which has
had control of the affairs of Chile since
the overthrow of Balmaceda, has gone
out of existence and has been super
ceded temporarily by a council of state,
with Jorge Montt, former president of
the junta and now president-elect of
Chile, at its head. Montt will become
president Of the republic on December
26th. There has been considerable
friction between the Liberal and Con-
servative parties since congress opened,
but if any serious rupture occurs, it is
not looked for until the regular govern
Montt selects his cabinet.
President Montt has given no special
indication OF any sympathy with the
general ill-feeling in Chile against the
United States. In recent interview he
expressed the hope, to the Associated
Press correspondent, that all difficulties
which had arisen between the two
would be settled amicably, as
he did not believe the people of either
nation desired to see any trouble. He
also expressed his disapproval of the
charges and insinuations against the
American minister in Santiago, which
had been made recently by certain
Chileans in the United States, who
claimed to speak for the government of
Chile. He presumed that the charges
would work to the detriment of Chile as
they might result in unpleasant relations
between the Chilean legation and the
present administration in Washington.