The morning call., 1891-05-12
HUNTING THE SCHOONER.
Experiences of Two San Francisco Dete
fIraS Told h,r TeI,or,

HUNTING THE SCHOONER.
Experiences of Two San Francisco Detec-
tives as Told by Them.
The interest taken in the movements of
the cruiser Charleston since her departure
from San Francisco and her chances of over
taking the Chilean steamer Itata, which, it
is generally believed, she is trying to catch,
has in no wise abated.
G. A. Spalding, the Deputy Marshal who
was supposed to be in charge of the Itata
when she ran away from San Diego, arrived
in this city yesterday. Spalding was inter-
viewed last night. and his version of the
San Diego comedy was learned. Spalding
states that he left San Francisco a week ago
last Sunday with Detective Harry Morse,
and on reaching San Diego Morse and
Spalding reported to the United States
! Marshal, and accompanied by him went on
board the ltata and took charge Of her in the
| name of the United States Government
Spalding was placed in charge of her, he
having been sworn IN as Deputy United
States Marshal. Morse and the Marshal
then went ashore. This was on Tuesday
night Spalding saw nothing to excite his
suspicion. The crew were engaged in get
ting coal on board.
CLOSELY WATCHED.
A room was placed at the disposal of the
deputy and after smoking a cigar he pre-
pared to retire. This he did and then found
he was being closely watched. as every few
minutes some one would peer in through
the blinds over the window. Thinking there
might be something up, hedressed and went
on deck, where he ran against the captain,
who seemed annoyed and asked Spalding
why he did not stay in his cabin. The Itata
was then getting up steam and the captain
suggested that Spalding take a cigar with
him, and, on the invitation being accepted,
led the way to his own cabin. on the hurri-
cane deck. Then for the first time Spalding
saw Pilot Dill. who steered the insurgent
steamer out Of the haTbor. The
| by several of the supposed passengers,
! Que Of whom was no other than Admiral
| Don Silva Pulma, who commands the rebel
| feet. Deputy Marshal Spalding then no.
tced tl at all the party were heavily armed
| aud four of the party had Colts navy re-
| Volyers on the table, and looked at the dep
uty as If they would like to make target
Of him.
A PRISONER.
The party remained in the cabin some
time, and on trying to leave the room Spald-
ing found he was prisoner. In addition to
the armed men in the cabin two of
| the crew, armed to the teeth, paced
up aud down outside the door. The
Deputy Marshal then asked Pilot Dill
If he was gong to pilot the steamer out of
| the harbor. Dill made no reply, but Ad-
miral Don Palma did. Poin ting TO the
heavy revolver at his side he said, mo. but
this will prove that we are desperate men,
and the fate OF nation depends.on us. !"
Spalding was then allowed to 60 out on the
| hurricane deck and found the main deck
swarming with men. All were armed with
breech-lOading rifles and revolvers. For
ward at the fore hatch gang of men were
engaged in hosting guns from the hold and
lar tod
and loaded. The peaceable merchant
steamer was transformed into an armed
vessel with her decks swarming with men.
LOOKED BIG TO HIM.
On being asked how big the guns were
! Spaldi1g replied about so big" holding
! his hands about thirty inches apart. AT
| 80 O'clock a boat came alongside and
| three men climbed on board the Itata. The
! captain at once ordered the boat hOisted
and no sooner had this been done than the
orders were given to get the steamer under
! way. Spaldlng was closely guarded all the
! time by four men armed to the teeth As
! soon as he saw the crew getting up the
anchor he at once protested against the ship
| going to sea. No notice was taken Of the
| protest, however, for as soon as the anchor
was up the Itata steamed out of the har-
| Dor. Spalding then warned the captain
| OF the lllegaity Of the action he was taking
and protested against being detained on
] '
to go in the boat with the pilot and was told
he would be landed at Ballast Point The
vessel was soon off the point when boat
was lowered and the representative of the
| United States invited to get into her.
ACCEPTED THE INVITATION.
| Spalding lost no time in doing so, and as
he was going over the side Of the steamer
| the captain presented him with briar-wood
| pipe to keep as a memento Of his visit to
San Diego. 1t was then daylight and in
| order to get to San Diego he had to hire a
! boat.
Spalding says he saw nothing of the Rob
| ert and Minnie, but was sure that the men
! on the steamers deck were hidden On board
| all the time she lay in San Diego.
AS SEEN BY OTHER EYES.
Harry Morse arrived in San Francisco on
/ the Southern overland at S:45 o'clock last
evening, and he gave his story Of what took
place as follows: After placing the Dep
uty on board the steamer Marshal Gard and
myself hired the fastest tug in the harbor,
and started out to find the schooner Robert
and Minnie. The Marshal teld me his or
ders from Washington were to take
her II found inside one league from
shore, If not in Mexican waters.
We did not find her until daylight and
| then she was fully fifteen miles off shore,
! far outside the league limit, but | urged the
! Marshall to take her anyhow. He replied
| he had his orders from Washington and
| could not disobey them. We then returned
| to San Diego and a telegram was sent to
| Washington, and in reply the orders came to
| capture the schooner no matter where we
found her.
ANOTHER START.
| We got on board the tug as fast as pos
| sible and again started out after the
! schooner. / saw nothing to excite my sus-
| piclOn as we passed the Itata. After getting
| outside to our surprise We could see nothing
| of the Robert and Minnie, but soon after
| saw the Itata steaming out of the harbor.
| We saw her stop and lower the boat to put
| the deputy ashore, after which she started
] in northwest direction. We were helpless,
| as we could do nothing to stop her.
| Mr. Morse said that the story of the Esme-
! rada being outside the harbOr was all non-
sense. From what he could learn the war
| ship was lying at Acapulco, waiting for the
| Itata to bring her a supply of COAL
Mr.. Morse said, further, that he learned
! from Pilot Dill that while the Esmeralda
was coming up the coast she captured a
| Chilean steamer. and her crew were put
| on board the Itata. The men were kept
| below, in irons, while the steamer lay in
| San Diego, and were then forced to join the
| Insurgents. This was the crowd seen by the
deputy.
HER ARMAMENT.
He also learned from the pilot that the
guns carried by the Itata were six 40-pOund-
ers and two Gatlings.
Morse met the rebel leader DOu Palma,
ashore in San Diego, but did not know then
who he was He described him as an intel
ligent man, of very determ ned nature.
Mr. Morse said that both Marshal Gard