New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-12

,mount 70 twenty-four siX-inch and six eight-inch
hreechioading rifles. while in the secondary pat
teries are twelve slNpounder, eight three-pounueI
and six one-peunder rapid firing guns. eleven
az nm. Hotchkiss revolving cannon and eight
Calling guns.
San Francisco, May 1.-THE fact no longer is
concealed even in official Naval circles, that the
swift cruiser Charleston is now off in hot chase
after the Gillian transport ltata, which ieit Dan
Diego last Wednesday while under arrest ana car
ried off the Deputy United States Marshal Inc
Itata. after leaving San Diego, took on board a
consignment of rifles and ammunition, which hao
been shipped from San Francisco on the schooner
Robert and Minnie The transfer Of the iatters
cargo is believed to have occurred off San Ciem-
ante Island. northwest of San Diego harbor, and
IL is believed that the Itata steamed south Fiji
dav night or Saturday morning. The Chllah
c-niser FsmeraIda is believed to be lying on Oape
Gan Lucas which is the southernmost poht vi
land In Lower California, awaiting suppheS cS'i
ried by the Itata. The sea run 10 tha' pom. 70
about 700 miles. The Itata is heavily ioaoeu,
and although said TO be fast craft 1t is estimated
sbe cannot exceed six to eight knots. ana .ne
Charleston. which left San Pedro this morning, J"
is Thought certain can overtake her or reach ''t,
Lucas in advance of the transport II nou iouhu
there the Charleston will proceed direct 10 AGA
nulco. which will be the first point at "incii "is
f,trfl
tho cruiser Esmeralda is met as convoy Oh inc
- q ia understood that the orders of the
Charleston are explicit on the point oil capture
,d - the Itata is sighted it is believed certain
NOW that there will be capture or Tight OF po.'i
Tho fact that a Gillian cruiser accompanied vie
Itota north WINS first ascertained through the de-
serters from the Itata who escaped iroih u'"o
steamer at San Diego. 1t at first douoted tnaV
one of the most powerful of CHILEAN warsn,ps
shopld 90 so far from the Chilian coast at ms
;nnctnre bnt il is definitely known that the rs
meraIda is now in port at Acapulco on the MeAlcah
coast. which fact the Navy Department at WASH
ineton was probably fully advised OF when orueiS
were issued to the Charleston. The ehort 10 Keep
the destination Of the Charleston secret
Vas natural as representatives of the Chilian in
surgents would be prompt to ADVISE une eisiu"
of the intention of the American Government 10
sn;zo tho Itata and it is now deemed probable
that tho Esmeralda will cruise north toward
Son Lucas in the hope of meeting the ltata before
the Charleston can arrive and to protect the cargo
ond crew from seizure if possible. Apart from
other considerations it is known that on poaro
the Itata was the commander of the Esmeralda
and a large portion of her crew, ana presumably
O. nortion of the Esmeralda's secondary oa''elS'
There is therefore. strong incentive Oh Vne p"io
Of the Gillian warship to meet the luaVa anu
prevent her being conveyed back 10 AneiiO"n
ua,.rs The fact that there appears now
strong likelihood of a meeting OF the Vwo evenly
matched warships under conditions that VIII IT,
ouire fine management to prevent hghu ID unoi'
oughly recognized by Naval men on TINS coaSV
The orders to Captain Remy, OF the Ohares.on
are well authenticated be binding in the matter
90 tho recanture Of the Itata if sighted, and on
the mart of the Esmeralda it is believed as fuIiy
Nob she
time The Charleston and Esmeralda are shps
similar as to the general plan, and possess nearly
,b. same armament. The Esmeralda, however,
has two pivot guns of ten-inch callbre, WIN
weight of twenty-five tons each, while the Cnarles
ton has two eight-inch rifles, fore and aft welgh-
ing twelve and half tons. This is regarded ny
some critics as outmatching the Charleston III
ease Of a fight But apart from these guns the
ornaments of the two ships arc practically the
same. The Charleston is the swifter SHIP ana
while never in action has a splendid crew anu
fighting commander
The Charleston left San Pedro shortly after
o'clock this morning, and was sighted teh iiiies ."
Point Iona. having made nnety-miie run IN SIX
hours or al a 6freen-knot gait. There were addl-
tional orders waiting her at San Diego. but she
kent on her southwark course without stopping
There are no telegraph stations south OF CIseHaua
Just south of the boundary line III Lower Oad a.
NAV be brought north by one OF the Fanaiha OF
coast steamers nothing further is likely 10 Nc
heard from her or the ltata until the charleston
returns or is heard from at some OF tne MeAlcah
norris which cannot occur before thursday or
IntsryieXys here with lawyers as to the legal
s+atns in case the Charleston should oyertake or
sinh the Itata are to the effect that while the ltat
flies the Gillian flag, according to all ad-
vices received she is not the representative
~ any CONSTITUTED authority. Balmaceda is stlll
the head of the CHILEAN Government. ana ne alone
is recognized by foreign governments. me I'ata a
was Government vessel but she was selzeu DS nd
insurgents and is being used against the recognized
Government and therefore the insurgents have no
standing under the present legal status OF the case
In the event that the Esmeralda lnerferes 10 pre-
vent the capture of the Itata she also be con-
sidered in the same category as the ltata.
Collector Phelps said this afternoon; concerning
the case of the schooner Robert and Minnie, that
he supposed condemnation proceedings Will De
brought against her in the Southern District
Her offence appears to be that she carried arms
Knowingly to aid insurgents against the recog-
nized Government of friendly Power. The case
is not like that of the Alabama at all. The
schooner did not load with arms with the knoWi
edge of the United States Government The arms
were loaded here, but the public were led TO De
Ieve that the schooner was going up 10 hum
boldt and such given out as her uesthatoh
The efforts made by the Government to overtakt
tha Itata and her cargo of arms show that the
Government is neutral in the Shlnan tronpIe
Collector Phelps thought 1T would De olmcuIt
trace any responsibility In the case ol the l'aI'
hack to the American manufacturer Oh arms q
lion, n Y, from which point the cargo so Of tn h.
Robert and Minnie was shipped. Az wouiu o.
d;eScult to show that the manufacturers knew
v~bo would receive the goods or for what purpos
they were to be used -, ,ooa;na % en-
it is stated to-day that the loa1ing ,oi OF, VI y
steamer MOntserrat at this port for Chih VIII D
s"rsonnded with the greatest possible vigilance
ssd prsSus tSs e sarr 5@s an
ims,vs grain cargo to Chilli II has also been sal
that the Gillian Government has employed
detective and that the customs o n aSd,t w
=. sssse precautions it has been arranged to hay
The wharf where she will lid illuminated 6y nigh
by electric lights The United states s; rtsyese
er.ventina possibility of the repetition OF 81
Robert and Minnie episode on either ia nOs vI
Smaller scale Not only arms put also eARos sIe
SLIT III, r-oIcbad for The MOntSerrat nnShe