The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1891-05-27
THE CHASE OF THE ITATA.

THE CHASE OF THE ITATA.
A dispatch to the Alta reports that at
5 80 P. NJ. May 9Th, the Chilean steamer
Itata got up her anchor and quietly
steamed out of the harbor Of San Diego
with United States Deputy Marshal on
board.
1t had been suspected for long time
that the Itata was employed in procur-
ing stores and provisions for the Chilean
Congressional squadron and that she
was to take on the arms and ammuni-
ton shipped on board the schooner
Robert and Minnie, if it could be man.
aged without an infringement Of the
neutrality of the United States.
It is stated that the Marshal had re-
ceived instructions from Washington to
seas under the neutrality and piracy
laws, and that he intended to bring the
schooner back If he could catch her.
Major Gard, the Marshal, two other
officers, captain and four soldiers from
the barracks went out IN a steam launch
and steered for the Coronado Islands
where the schooner had been seen the
day before.
Just outside they sighted vessel and
gave chase, as soon as the stranger saw
the steam tug he put about and ran
south, to reach, it was supposed, Mex
lean waters before he was overhauled.
The tug overlook the schooner two and
half miles south of the international line
and her name Robert and Minnie was
plainly visible on her stern, but being in
Mexican waters the Marshal returned to
port and telegraphed for farther instruc-
tons.
A second time the Marshal went out
with his party but returned at midnight
reporting that the schooner was no.
where to be seen.
Meanwhile the captain Of the Itata
was on shore with six-oared gig wait
ing for him and as soon as the Marshal
was we'll outside in his launch, the cap
tanned pulled off to his ship, hoisted up
his board, weighed and ran out the
harbor carrying with him the Deputy
Marshal who was on board.
Another Deputy who was stationed in q
small boat at the entrance to the harbor
reports that when the Itata steamed past
he saw the pilot between two armed
Chileans, and that there were two guns
at her bows and two at her stern, and
that there were at least eighty armed
Chileans drawn up on deck, though
while in harbor she was only known to
have one small cann5i: on board and a
crew of about sixty men.
No doubt the Itats soon found the
Robert and Minnie, transferred her war
like supplies, and has started off south
for the Chilean coast.
THE LATEsT.-After leaving San Diego
the Itata headed northwards for time
until they found suitable spot, and
then the Deputy Marshal was put on
shore.
Telegraphic instructions from Wash
ington despatched the U. S. s. Charles
ton in chase of the Itata. and special to
the San Francisco Morning Call, dated
City of Mexico, May 18th, states that
the Charleston and Esmeralda were both
lying at Acapulco. A later special
Washington, May 18th: ''This afternoon
the Navy Department received despatch
confirming a former one to the effect
that the Charleston sailed Southwark
from Acapulco on the evening of the
18th, leaving the Esmeralda there, but
there was no word of the Itata The
Omaha just returned from the China
station, was also hurried off. The U. S
ships Baltimore and San Francisco ART
at Iquiqui, which is probably the objec
tive point of the Itata as well as of the
Charleston. The Pensacola is also ex
pected at Iquiqui.
ALI sorts of surmises are af1oat as t.
the whereabouts OF the Itata, the proba
bility of her having taken the arms ant
ammunition supposed to be on boart
the schooner, and the possibility of he
being able to make the passage t,
Iquiqui.
The Consul for Peru and Uruguay a
San Francisco, stated: The Itata is
twelve-knot steam vessel, and shout,
reach Iquiqui within eighteen days. TIL
distance is about 1900 miles,"
Authentic advices from San Diego a
the time of the sailing of the Itata, stat
that 800 tons OF coal were taken on boar
at that port as well as 500 tons of fonl
Her average consumption of coal is nc
more than 16 tons daily. Two deserter
state that when she started north to Q
to San Diego she had on board sixty ne,
rifles and two hundred old ones. Their
were ninety sailors and sixty soldier.
the latter in citizens dress. She carrie
four sixty-pound guns slowed away i
the forebold, and when she left tn
south she had on board 1900 tons
coal.
..
at the Hawaiian Hotel.
The following named arrivals b