Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-19
THAT SAUCY ITATA
The Charleston Is Yet a Long
Way Astern.
ESCAPE MIGHT BE VERY COSTLY.

Principles Involved the Same as Those
Which Governed the Geneva Tribunal
The Charleston Leaves Acapulco
Facts About Her Chase-what Chilian
Deserters Say-A Forcible Levy on
Coal Which Resulted In PROMPT
Apology-The Esmeralda.
WASHINGTON CITY, May IA dis
patch was received at the navy depart
ment yesterday announcing the depar-
ture Of the cruiser Charleston from Aca-
pulco on Sunday night. The dispatch
also stated that the insurgent vessel Egg
meralda was still there. No information
can be obtained as 20 where the Charles.
ton will 60 next, but it is thought that
she will go down the coast of Chill. A
telegram from the City of Mexico saws
that nothing has been seen of the Itata
and that she is probably now off the coast
OF Central America, having been supplied
with fuel by the Esmeralda
Not Afraid of a Fight
In an interview at Acapulco Sunday an
officer OF the Esmeralda said: I'VE will
try to get coal here, but if this is impossi-
bic, we are sure of getting it within few
hours sail. We are not afraid of con-
fiict with the Charleston, but our orders
are to be prudent and not provoke con-
fict.' He dad not know whether the
Esmeralda would now 90 to Chilli, but
said the captain had received a long
cipher on Saturday which probably
directed her future movements.
The Importance of the Capture.
1t may not be known to the general
reader, but toe fact is that the capture of
the Itata Is a matter of great Importance
TO I ncle sam. If she lands her mum.
tons OF war safely the CHILEAN authorities
viii have good claim for large damages
against the United States: for the prnci-
pie Is the same as that upon which the
Alabama case was decided. when England
had 10 pay a pretty penny" for letting the
Confederate prlvateer get away.
The Itata not so slow.
y telegram from san Francisco SAYS:
Peruvian Consul Holloway in talking of
the probable escape of the Itata saws:
Many singular misstatements have been
made IN regard to the Gillian steamer. In
the first place the Itata i a twelve-knot
vessel, and she should reach Iquiuue. a
run Of less than 5000 miles, inside of
eighteen days. When she ,left San Diego,
about May 6, she had SO tons OF coal
aboard, and she does not burn over fifteen
tons daily. Such being the case, she has
enough fuel to last her about fifty -four
days.
Testimony of Deserters.
Three deserrers from :he Itata have
given their evidence TO this effect She
had on board ninety sailors and sixty
marines when she was in port at San
Diego, all instructed to secrecy. She
carried four sixty pound guns hidden
under canvas with her small arms in the
forward hold. The soldiers We're slowed
away there also, their food being sent to
them from the deck. Every appearance
of the vessel being prepared for war was
removed two days before she stea med
into San Diego, when she looked like a
frst-class merchantmen.
The Programme Laid Out.
The programme was for the Irats to
get arms from the Robert aud Minnie.
and when IN the tropics TO transfer them
TO the Esmeralda. which would escort
her TO IquIque. If the trip was made
without interference, so much the better,
but if not the Esmeralda proposed to do
battle. The Esmeralda and Itata were
commanded from Iquique to ST Lucas by
each others masters. who exchanged TO
their rightful commands at the latter
point. Some information has been OBJ
tanned which leads to the belief that on
May Il a transfer Of arms and munitions
OL " dT Was uldue from the ltdta to the
Esmeraida at Pichilinque, on the cast of
southern California
The British Lion GrowIs.
a copy of the Gillian Times has
reached here by the steamer San Bias. 1t
says the British forced an apology from
the iusurgent man-of-war Bianco Enca-
lado just before the latter was sunk by
the torpedo boats. The Blanco was en-
gagged in blockading Iquque when she,
with other vessels of the blockading fleet,
ran out Of coal. Two English and Ger
man merchantmen were lying side by
side, both coal laden The rebel feet took
lold Of them, on the pretense that they
we're in range in the event of firing, and
lowed them out to sea, despite the pro-
tests OF the captains
Had to Apologize or Fight.
Out Of range of the forts guns the
insurgents made a forced purchase of
such coal as they needed. They volun-
tarily paid an eXtravagant price for it,
but nevertheless the captains of the YES
sells reported the matter to the British
Admiral Hotham, who gave the Blanco
the option OF apologizing or fighting
within twenty -four hours. 1t was then
1l:30 a. m. Precisely at noon the Blancc
ran up the British and German flags
above the rebel standard and fired royal
saiura