The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-06


caton and three or four Hotchkiss and
reyving cannon and Calling guns.
HIoUE, June 5.--The machinery of the
/ Ita is in bad state. and will require
| soe days TO put it in order again. The
| juta alleges that, the arms and ammuni-
| tie having been transferred to the Itata
| ng the island of San Clemente, Ameri-
| ca law was not violated, and is making
| sting representations to the United
SIZES government with view of getting
| p{session OF the munitions.
WASHINGTON CRY, June 5.-Secretary
Hcy says that the next step will be to
sad the Itata back to the United States to
snd trial. There is no expectation that
te officers and crew of the Itata will
ppard their liberty by returning
Eth the vessel to San Diego. and in
let, as it was reported from Mexico
lat the commander of the insurgent
larship Esmeralda acted as captain as far
5 Acapulco, there are at least good
hmors why he must not return to the
United States. In official circles it is be-
Ieved that the Itata is not likely to suffer
my penalty as a result of the escapade.
Fredence is given to the state
nent telegraphed from Chile
hat the vessel took the contraband
rms and ammunition from the Robert
and Minnie outside of United States juris-
Fiction. If this is true, the offense against
The neutrality laws is miniminized and it
is very doubtful if a case could be made
out against her in the present state of I'M
certain construction of the law. There is
little doubt that she can be held on other
charges, such as contempt Of court,
in sailing away while under an injunction,
the marshal and sailing with
out clearance papers; but these are minor
offenses, whose punishment is likely TO
take the shape Of fines and not go to the
length of forfeiture of the vessel.
A dispatch received at the navy depart
ment from Admiral Mccain at Iquique
makes correction in the statement in
regard to the Itata as to where the arms
were transferred from the Robert and
Minnie. This transfer, the dispatch says.
took place of San Clement island, a few
miles from the coast, instead of of San
Diego harbor. The location of the trans
fer may be of Importance in determining
the question of jurisdiction of the United
States courts.
The account which came from San Fran
cisco yesterday of naval engagement in
Valparaiso harbor was received with in
credulity at the navy department. Such
facts as are officially known seem TO dis
credit the story. The engagement is re-
ported TO have taken place on April d in the
presence of foreign men-of-war. Admiral
McCann was there on that day on board
the Baltimore, yet in his report on the
next day he failed 10 mention any such
event. In addition to this, the depart
ment officers say that they have no doubt
that if an engagement with such pro-
nounced results had taken place it would
be promptly telegraphed 10 the United
States government, instead of taking the
slower course of a mail steamer.
SAX Francisco, June 5.--"The South
American Steam Navigation Company
ought TO be grateful to the United States"
said an attache of the Chilean consulate
yesterday, ''for rescuing their steamer
Itata from the insurgents. That is about
all that the seizure or surrender of the
Itata means, if my Interpretation of inter
national Law is correct. OF course the in
suit to the dignity and authority of the
stars and stripes is apologized for in the
surrender of the vessel, but as for her be-
ing forfeited to pay for the coal which the
Charleston had burned in chasing her,
that is another question" The Itata. ac-
cording to the summing up of the official
in question. belongs 10 the South Ameri-
can Steam Navigation Company, the heav-
lest of the Chilean firms in the coast ship
ping business. The company had lean
ings toward Balmaceda, but would have
remained entirely neutral in the strug-
gle had the insurgents permitted.
But the rebels confscated the company's
feet of six or seven steamers and con.
yerted them into transports and tenders
on war vessels. The manner of their &C