The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-06-11
THE lTATA.

THE iTATA.
The Governments Case Against tho Can't.
ured Fugitive . Poor One BelI9r in Of
hcial Circles That She VIII He Llber.
ated.
IQUIQUE, June 6.-The Itata incident
is practically at an end. A prize crew
from the United States cruiser Charles
ton went aboard the long sought for
craft Friday morning and took formal
possession of it. The steamer
arrived in this port Thursday
morning and took mp . position
near the Charleston. Its long and
successful run from San Diego and
its evasion of the United States war
ships insured it royal welcome from
the citizens Of Iquique and it received
it. Contrary to the general impress
sion all Of the arms and ammunition,
consisting of 5000 rifles and 2.OOO, 900
rounds of ammunition, which the
Itsta received from the schooner
Robert and Minnie are still ip
the hold Of the steamer and will
return to San Diego with it Just what
led the insurgents to surrender the
ship and arms Is not known definitely
but the general opinion is that Admiral
McCann informed the authorities that
unless the cargo as well - the ship was
given up to him he. in conformity with
his instructions from the navy depart
ment, would take action to get them.
It will be some time before the Ifata
will be ready to start northward. Its
machinery is in bad shape and it is a
wonder that it succeeded in getting to
Chilli at all. The congressional govern
inent has announced the arrival of the
Itata and its delivery to the war yes
fels in this document:
The congressional party has acted in strict
honesty In making every atonement for having
violated the laws Of the United States. In Q
communication addressed to Secretary Blaine
II has called his attention to the fact that the
ltats did not embark the arms at San Diego
bnt did so after II had sailed from that port
and ut that uninhabited island far from the
coast. II asks that while the Itata goes to San
Diego the arms may remain here In custody Of
the American admiral until judgment Is rem.
dered by the California courts"
WASHINGTON, June GA cablegram
received from Admiral McCann at
Jquique settles the status of the Itata.
The admiral says the transfer of arms
from the Robert and Minnie took place
not of San Diego but of st. Clements
island, which is outside the Smile limit
The proceedings were not, therefore,
according to the same authorities, in
violation of the neutrality laws.
s10 snh c.
Francisco of the naval engageme ent in
Valparaiso harbor, stating that the in
surgent cruiser Magallanes sailed un-
der the guns of the government forts
and almost annihilated the govern
ment boats, is received with incredulity
ut the navy department. The officers
say they have no doubt il an engage
ment with such pronounced results
had taken place news would have
been promptly telegraphed to the
United States instead of taking the
slower course of the mail steamers
Secretary Tracy says the next step
will be to send the ship back to the
United States to stand trial There is
no expectation that the officers and
crew of the Itata will jeopardize their
liberty by returning with the vessel to
San Diego. As it was reported
from Mexico that the commander
of the insurgent warship Esmer-
aida acted as captain of the
Itata as far as Acapulco there are 1t
least good reasons why he must not re-
turn to the United States. 1t may be
necessary for McCann to detail some Of
his men to act as the crew. In Official
circles il is believed that the Itata is
not likely to suffer heavily as the
result Of her escapade. Credence
is given to the statement tele-
graphed from Chill that the vessel
took the contraband arms and ammuni-
ton from the Robert and Minnie on the
high seas outside of United States juris-
diction. II this should be true her Of
tense against the neutrality laws is
minimizcd and it is very doubtful il
case could be made out against her
in the present state of uncertain
construction of il. There is little
doubt that she can be held on
other charges, such as contempt of
court in sailing away while under in
junction. kidnapping the marshal and
sailing without clearance papers, but
these are minor affairs whose punish
ment is likely to take the shape of
fines and not 20 to the length of for
feiture of the vessel.
Attorney General Miller said that
the department of justice would take
no action in the case of the Itata until
that vessel had been turned over to the
law officers of the government at San
Diego, Cal, when the course usual in
such cases would be fOllowed-that is
to say she would be libeled and held
subject to the finding of the proper
legal tribunal
LONDON, June 6.-The surrender of
the Itata to the American authorities
has caused a sensation here second only
to the baccarat scandal The oppo-
nents of Balmaceda, and that includes
Col. North and other nitrate mag
mates, are deeply chagrined, while the
friends Of the Chilian executive
are corresponding elated. At the Chill
ian consulate there was great re-
joicing. Secretary Orrego said there
was great hope that the loss of the Itata
and the arms on board Of her would
seriously cripple the rebellion and
hasten its overthrow, which, however,
was certain before long. Senior Orrego
said the United States had given n
grand example to the world of the en-
ergetic enforcement Of its laws against
the peace of friendly nation.
and that the conduct of the Ameri-
can government could not fail to
command the respect of both Europe