The morning call., 1891-05-12


any particular locality and so foil any
violent resistance contemplated by the
belligerent party.
Ano her point appeared to-day in the
question whether the Itata would be exempt
from seizure if she should now clear at a
British port. This seems to be disposed
of negatively. Had the Itata taken on ma
terials OF war in the open sea and then gone
into British port, that is some place along
the British columbian coast, and there
cleared according to law, the matter for pur-
suit would have been a matter for the En-
glish rather that American authorities.
THREE SHIPS IN PURSUIT.
1t is regarded as certain that three United
States vessels have each been assigned
certain route, and each one has orders to
capture the Itata, peaceably If possible, but
if not to regard her as fugitive and fire
upon her. 1t is not believed she will offer
any resistance whatever IL she is encoun-
tered by our vessels or any one of them.
The Democratic papers say that Blaine's
hand is visible in this, as in about every
thing else arising under this administration.
1t is said he is at present trying to negotiate
a commercial treaty with Chile, and fears
that this Itata incident viii ruin all his pros
poets unless the United States Government
makes some sort of demonstration.
AN UNFRIENDLY FEELING.
A State Department official said to your
correspondent to-day: " Probably you are
not aware that Chile is not in love with our
free country, and once threatened TO send
gunboats to blow up San Francisco in the
State of California. We do not want to in
cur her displeasure until we get some big
guns mounted at San Francisco and then
we can tell her to come off the perch.
NOTHING TO SAY.
Secretary Tracy this afternoon sent out
word that he had nothing to say about the
Itata or Charleston. Other officials in the
lltr rnfto
The official mind of the department is evi-
IDENTIFY in dread that possible unguarded
admission TO a reporter might result in the
disclosure of the plan of campaign in which
the entire available naval force in the Pa
cifc is arraying itself against the steamer
whose warlike character has not yet been
demonstrated.
Certainly the Government appears to be
making extraordinary efforts to recapture
the Itata, for in addition to cabling Ad-
miralS Brown and McCann to head off the
runaway before she reaches Chilean waters,
it is understood that instructions have been
sent to United States Consular officers at
all points between California and Chile
where the Itata could reach 10 promptly ad-
wise the naval officers Of her movements If
she is sighted.
a STRANGE CONTRAST.
In strange contrast to this exhibition of
zeal is the course of the Charleston, which
is in chase of the runaway. This vessel
sailed from San Francisco early on Satur-
day morning, bound south. She is an 18-
knot vessel, and last night should have been
$50 miles down the coast, or near Cape San
Lucas, where the Chilean inSurgent war
ship Esmeralda is said TO be lying in wait
for the ltata. But instead of covering this
distance the Charleston got about hall way
and then went to anchor over night.
TWO THEORIES.
Later advIces show that she was last seen
just above the Mexican bo undary line. BY
such officers as have opinion they feel free
to express, the Charieston's movements can
be explained in two ways-either the de-
partment believes the Itata is lying some
where of the coast Of California, or 1t has
no intention OF seiZing the vessel unless her
presence is made unpleasantly noticeable
within easy reach. The motive for such an
attitude by the Government as indicated In
the last theory IS, in brief, that it might not
be good diplomacy for the United States TO
go too far in the direction of hostility
toward the Chilean insurgents.
OUR DUTY NOT CLEAR.
The duties deyoving upon a friendly Gov
ernment IN cases such as this have never
been finally and clearly enunciated by
authorities in international law. but il can
be safely assumed that in the operations of
the United States Marshal in SeiZing the
Itata and Robert and Minnie, and in the
pursuit OF the ltata as long as she WAS in
OhANSQ 0tdACo hdtClog Jul 0OfGluHlCnG
has already shown what the Gen.
eva arbitration, In the Alabama case, has
declared to be due diligence.
MOVEMENTS OF TIE CRUISERS.
SAN PEDRO, May 1.-THE cruiser
Charleston, which arrived off here last
evening at o'clock, remained until
o'clock this morning, at which hour she
left, going south.
The man-of-war Omaha left here for the
north at 8 O'Clock this afternoon.
SAN DIEGO, May 1.-THE steamer
Charleston was sighted off Point Iona at
IL 80 o'clock this morning. She was under
full sail aud steaming southeast.
HELD TO ANSWER.
Los ANGELES, May 11.-George A. Burt,
the supercargO of the Robert aud Minnie,
Captain O'Farrell and the five seamen on
board the craft together with Pilot Dill of
San Diego were to-day charged with viola
ton OF the neutrality laws and bail fixed at
5000 each in the cases of Burt. OFarrell
and Dill, and S2500 each in the cases of the
seamen. Dill was the only one who gave
bail. The others are still in the hands of
the United States Marshal.