Morning journal and courier., 1891-05-12
STILL CHASING THE ITATA.

STILL CHASING THE ITATA. The Cruiser Charleston in Hot Pur suft-Win Capture the Insurgen Vessel or FiSht-The Charleston ts Go as Far as Acapulco-The Itats
 Accompanied by the Cruiser Esmer. aida.
 SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.-The fact nc longer is concealed even in official naval circles that the swift cruiser Charleston is now off on hot chase after the Chilian transport Itata, which left San Diego last Wednesday while under arrest and carry ing off the deputy United States marshal The Chilian cruiser Esmeralda is believed to be lying off Cape San Lucas, which is the southermost point of land in Lower California, awaiting supplies carried by the Itata. The sea run to that point is about seven hundred miles. The Itata being heavily loaded, and although reputed as g fast craft it is estimated she cannot exceed six to eight knots, and the Charleston, which left San Pedro this morning, it is thought certain can overtake her or reach San Lucas in advance of the transport. If not found there the Charleston will proceed direct to Acapulco, which will be the first point at which any further intelligence can be received. Even though the cruiser Es- meralda is met as convoy of the Itata it is understood that the orders to the Charles ton are explicit on point of capture, and if the Itata is sighted it is believed certain now that there will be a capture or fight or both. ;
 SAN DIEGO, Cal, May 1.-The steamer Charleston was sighted off Point Loma at 11:30 this morning. She was under full steam and heading southeast.
 SECRETARY TRACTS SILENCE.
 WASHINGTON, D. O., May 11.-Secretary Tracy this afternoon sent out word from his office that he had nothing to say about the Chilian vessel Itata or the Charleston, and Commodore Ramsay, chief of the liberty to say anything whatever on the subject. The government seems to be making extraordinary efforts to capture the Itata for, in addition to cabling Ad- mirals Brown and McCann to head of the runaway before she reaches Chilian wa tsrs it is understood that instructions have been sent to consular officers between Cali fornia and ChiG where the Itata could touch to promptly advise the naval officers of her movements if she is sighted. In strange contrast with this exhibition of zeal is the course of the Charleston, which is in chase of the runaway. This vessel sailed from San Francisco early Saturday morning bound south. She is an 1S-knot vessel and last night she should have been $50 miles down the coast, or near Cape San Lucas, where the Chilian insurgent war-ship Esmeralda is supposed to be ly- ing in wait for the Itata. But instead of covering the distance the Charleston got about half way and then to cover over night. Such officers as have an opin- ion that they feel free to express, say that the Charleston's movements can be explained in two ways-either the depart ment believes the Itata is lying somewhere off the coast of California or it has no in tention of seizing the vessel unless her presence is made unpleasantly noticeable within easy reach. The motive for such an attitude by our government as that in dicated by the last theory is rather hinted at than directly stated by officials. It is, in brief that it might not be good diplo- macy for the United States to go too far in the direction of hostility toward the Chilian insurgents. The duties devolving upon friendly government in such cases have never been finally and clearly enunci- ated by authorities in international law, but it can be safely assumed that in the opera tions of ths United States marshal in seiz- ing the Itata and the Robert and Minnie and in the pursuit of the Itata as long as she was in American waters our govern ment has already shown what the Geneva arbitration in the Alabama case has de- clared to be due diligence. The policy of our government in this matter will proba- ply soon be made clear by the movements of the Charleston, and if she should con- tent herself with thorough search of American waters and return to port, it may be that the government will rest sat isfed.
 THE TTATA NOT ALONE.
 SAN FRANCISCO, May 1.-The fact that Chilian cruiser accompanied the Itata north was first ascertained through de serters from the Itata, who escaped from that steamer at San Diego. It was first doubted that one of the most powerful ot Chilian warships should go so far from the Chilian coast at this juncture, but it is now definitely known that the Esmeralda is now in port at Acapulco on the Mexican coast, which fact the navy department al Washington was fully advised of when orders were issued to the Charleston. The effort to keep the destination of the Charleston secret, therefore, was natural as representatives of the Chilian insurgent: would be prompt to advise the Esmeralds of the intention to seize the Itata and il is now deemed probable that the Esmeral da will cruise north toward San Lucas il hope of meeting the Itata before tht Charleston can arrive and protect the crew and cargo from seizure if possible. Apart from other considerations it is known tha a@o @Ia I o4 the Esmeralda and large portion Of he crew and presumably a portion of thu Esmeralda's secondary battery. There is therefore, strong incentive on the par of the Chilian warship to meet the ltat and prevent her being conveyed back t. American waters. The fact that there ap pears now 8 very strong likelihood of | meeting of the two evenly matched war ships under conditions that will requir fine management to prevent fight, 1 thoroughly recognized by naval men ol | the coast.
 | CAPTAIN RENTS ORDERS.
 The orders to Captain Remy of tn Charleston are we'll authenticated to b binding in the matter of the recapture 0 the Itata, if sighted, and on the part of tn Esmeralda it is believed as full that sh
 will fight if she can reach the scene in time The Charleston and Esmeralda are ship
 alike as to general plan and possess neal
 ly the same armament. The Esmeralds
 however, has two pivot guns of ten inc
 calibre with weight of % tons each, whil
 the Charleston has two S-inch rifles for
 and aft weighing 124 tons. This is re
 garded by some critics as outmatching tt
 Charleston in case of fight; but apart fro'
 these guns the armaments 9f the two shiI
 are practically the same. The Charlesto
 is the swiftest ship. and while never in a.
 tion has splendid crew and fightin
 commander.
 THE cHARLEsToN'S WHEREABOUTS.
 The Charleston left San Pedro shortl
 after 5 o'clock this morning and WI
 sighted ten miles off Point Loma, havin
 made ninety mile run in six hours, or