Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-05-21

not so far occurred. In the second place
nobody supposes that the ltata would fight
the Charleston for she is totally unpre-
pared 20 do so, and even If she attempted
j the Charleston could readily subdue her
force without resorting to the extreme
measure of blowing her ont of the water,
as II is rumored she has done.
u is apparent that the navy department
officials are somewhat puzzled to account
for the lack of news from the vessels, and
are obliged to content themselves with the
belief that the Charleston is not persuing
straight course, but is steaming easily to
and lro aud examining passing steamers
and looking around the islands off the
upper Mexican coast.
SAN FRANCISCO, Cali, May ia dis
patch from an officer on board the Charles
ton, which arrived at Acapulco yesterday,
says
1.-THE Itata has not been seen or heard OF
up to 3 a. IN. When the Charleston entered
the harbor she passed near the CHILEAN
war vessel Esmcralda. The Charleston
went to quarters and landed battery for
an emergency. The Esmeralda speaks all
vessels that she meets, Two days ago She
attempted to buy coal at Acapulco, but
failed 70 get any because Of lack Of coin.
Soon after the Charleston anchored the
Esmerada steamed into port.
Captain Remey had nn interview with
commander ofthe Esmeralda The latter
said frankly that the Charleston would
never take the ltata until the ESmerada
was sunk. Captain l}emey replied that his
orders were tu take the ltata and il would
make no difference whether the Esmeralda
was. in Acapulco or not The Charleston is
ready for action, as every one expects Il
hight if the ltata appears 2
Another dispatch from Acapulco de.
scrlbes the trip OF the Charleston down
the coast in search of the ltata 1t says:
AS soon as the Charleston was outside
the Gate She was sent along at a l6-knot
pace and headed down the const. Orders
We're given to keep Il bright lookout and
report everything that looked like smoke
or passing vessel. Nothing OF moment
occurred until Monday, when we were
about off Ensenada, and smoke was seen
70 the southwark, our course was ut once
changed and we headed toward it. All
hands were at quarters, as there was every
possibility Of the stranger proving to be
the ltata, and Captain RemCy was de-
termlned 70 make her heave to while he
sent an officer aboard Of her, il it took
shot or two aGross her bows to induce her
70 stop her engines For some time there
were no Cul0fs to be made ont flying at
the stan of the approaching vessel. This
served to strengthen the idea that She was
the ltata and did notearetU fly the Gillian
national ensign.
The two vessels were rapidly approach
illg each other, and long before firing n
shot was thought TO be necessary. She ran
UP her flag, and the quartermaster and
signal officer at the same moment reported
that the stars and stripes were flying. She
then made her number, and we found her
% he the Crescent City. As she passed She
dipped her ensign, which we returned and
then resumed our course.
Other craft We're occasionally seen but
nothing again aroused our interest and
enthusiasm. Working the guns of the
main and secondary batteries, small arm
drills, sighting and aiming exercises were
continuous during our run, and when we
reached here 1t was with the full satisfac-
ton Of knowing that no measure had been
neglected that would be of service in
bringing this game of hare and hounds to
u successful issue.
pom our arrival preparations were at
once made for coaling ship, and at pres
ent We are taking it in rapidly. Luckily
are coaling ports are large, and we hope Ia
finish before the Esmeralda, She is living
net very for from us, and making every
effort to fill up her bunkers. The Ttata's
coal supply, although notdeinitely known
cannot hold out much longer. and She
must soon seek port. Should the Esmer-
aka take aboard a deck load ii Will look
very much. as though she were going TO
therelief Of the ltata. At present the pre-.
yailing opinion is that We are to Keep as
close TO the Esmeralda rs possible.
We fortunately have clean pair Of
heels. The Esmeralla has been so long
ont Of dock that She Is more OF less foil.
MI are Wishing that We had another fast
cruiser here, then one could follow the
movement Of the Esmeralda and the other
patrol the coast and watch the coaling
ports.
THE lTATA MAY HAVE ESCAPED.
Cry or MEXICO, May H. vi, GAINES
ToT.-The American war-ship Charleston
and the Gmlian man-nf-war Esmeraldu
are living at anchor near lie entrance tO
the harbor ii Acapulco The Chilian cap
tain says that his vessel has not called 1T
any American port, Consequently. he
says i il not probable that the United
States authorities will interfere with the
movement Of either himself or his vessel
An officer Of the lasmeralda, III reply to
Q question put to him in the telegraph
office At Acapulco, as 10 the probability of
an pld-tashiOned sea fight between the
Charleston and hsmeralda said in Il iocJ-
Lar and rather ambiguous way: "0h, the
ltata is already out Of danger She has
plenty Of coal and provisions to carry her
~ her destinatipn,@
This remark has given rise to the report
that the ltata coaled at sea and proceeded
to her destination, while the CHILEAN war
ship steamed for Acapulco to throw the
United States authorities off The track,
MORE GILLIAN wARsH1rs COMING.
~ Universal the only government organ
that has So far made any mention Of the
arrival of the Esmeralda at Acapulco, saws
that in addition to the ESmeralda other
Ghilian war-shlps are expected at Mexican
ports.
4 telegram from Guatemala states thar
schooner captain Just arrived, reports hav-
ing seen two strange looking vessels under
ttlll san proceeding in southerly direc-
ton.
WASHINGTON, May ts.-Admiral NfcCann
evidently believes the tata has passed
Acapulco, and is going on down the coast
toward Panama, for at o'clock sunday
evening the Charleston, under his orders.
steamed out of Acapulco harb6r in d
solitll-westerly direction. The Charleston
is now acting directly under Admiral Me
Cann's orders and ID is understood at the
department she will next touch at PAN
anna, where the ltata will probably stop if
She has passed Acapulco.
II the Charleston steams at the same rate
Of speed she made from san Francisco IL
Acapulco She will probably reach Panama
some time Thursday evening, allowing for
dcyiations from her course ID spenll nass.
ing vessels, If she can head the ltata off
there, She will bring her back to San Diego
at once. The Esmeralda at last accounts
received by the department, was still at
Acapulco trying to gct coal, and If the sur
mise that the Itata has passed that port
proves correct, she viii not likely give the
Charleston any more trouble
Ii is estimated that the Itata has been
stenming along ut about seven knots, and
as she was 10 days out last I'riduE night
she should at that time have been hust on
Acapulco where il is reported frbm that
place that she met the Esmerafda. As
She is u much smaller vessel than the
Esmeralda and burns very much less