Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-01-26

anything they or any one mad done,
the United States had done. or
was charged with having done, by its
civil officers and naval commanders If that be
the true aspect of the the injury was to
the government of the United States, not to
those poor sailors who were assaulted in man
ner so brutal and SO cowardly.
Before attempting to give outline of the
facts upon which this conclusion rests / think
it right TO say a word or two upon the legal
aspect Of the case The Baltimore was in the
harbor OF Valparaiso by virtue of the general
invitation which nations are held to extend to
the war vessels of other powers with which
they have friendly relations.
Hospitalities Extended to SchIey.
This invitation think must be held oriina-
rily to embrace the privilege of such commune
nication with the shore as is reasonable, neces-
sary and proper for the comfort and conven-
ience of the officers and men of such vessels.
Captain Schley testifies that when his vessel
returned TO Valparaiso, on Sept IA, the city Off
cials, is customary, extended the hospitali-
ties of the city TO his officers and crew
It is not claimed that every personal col
lision or injury in which sailor or officer of
such naval vessel visiting the shore may be in
volved raises an international question; but
am clearly of the opinion that where such
sailors or officers are assaulted by resident
ment whose uniform these sailors and officers
wear and in resentment of acts done by their
government, not by them, this nation must
take notice of the event one involv-
ing an infraction of its rights and
dignity; not in a secondary way, Us
where a citizen is injured and presents his
claim through his own government, but in
primary way, precisely if its minister
consul or the flag itself had been the subject OF
the same character of assault. The officers and
S.lii off ha EaIf ipopr fha hayla Of
Valparaiso under the orders of their govern
ment, not by their own choice. They were
upon the shore by the implied invi-
tation of the government of Chill
and with the approval of their
commanding officer; and it does not distinguish
their case from that of consul that his
stay is more permanent, that he holds the
express invitation of the local government to
justify his long residence. Nor does il affect
the question that the injury was the act of a
mob. If there had been no participation by the
police or military in this cruel work, and no
neglect on their part TO extend protection, the
case would still be one. in my opinion. when its
extent and character are considered, involving
international rights.
How the Killing Occurred.
The incidents of the affair are briefly as
follows: ON Oct. IL last Captain Schley. com
manding the United StatessteamshipBa Baltimore
gave shore leave to III petty officers and sailors
of his ship, These men left the ship abou 1:50
p. IN. No incident of violence occurred; none
of our men were arrested; no complaint was
lodged against them, nor did any collision
outbreak occur until about o'clock p. M
Captain Schley states that he was himself on
shore and about the streets of the city until
$50 p. m; that he met very many of his men
who were upon leave; that they were sober and
were conducting themselves with propriety
saluting Chilian and other officers as they met
them. Other officers of the ship and Captain
Jenkins of the merchant ship keweenaw, cor
roborated Captain Schley as TO the general
sobriety and good behavior of our mem The
sisters of charity at the hospital to which our
wounded men were taken, when inquired Of
stated that they were sober when received. TT
the situation had been otherwise, must be-
heve that the Chilian authorities would have
made arrests. About p. m. the assault began
and it is remarkable that the investigation by
the judge of crimes, though so protracted,
does not enable him to give any more salts
factory account OF its origin than is
found in the statement that il began between
drunken sailors. Repeatedly in the cores
pondence il is asserted that it was impossible to
learn the precise cause Of the riot. The minis
ter of foreign affairs, Malta in his telegram to
Mr.. Montt, under date of Dec. 81, states that
the quarrel began between two sailors in q
tavern and was continued in the street, persons
who were passing joining in it.
The testimony of Talbot, an apprentice, who
was with Riggin, is that the outbreak in which
they were involved began by Chilian sailors
spitting in the face of Talbot, which was re-
sented by a knock-down. II appears that Rig
gin and Talbot were at the time unaccom-
panied by any others of their shipmates.
Attacked by the Mob.
These two men were Immediately beset by
crowd Of Chilian citizens and sailors through
which they broke their way to a street car and
entered 1t for safety. They wero pursued,
driven from the car, and Rlggin was 50 seri-
ously beaten that he fell in the street appar-
=.
the Chilian investigation made to us that seri-
ously impeaches this testimony. II appears
from Chilian sources that almost instantly.
with suddenness that strongly implies
meditation and preparation, a mob stated
by the police authorities AZ one time
to number 1000 and at another 1900, was en-
gagged in the assault upon our sailors, who are
represented resisting with stones, clubs and
bright arms The report of the Intendente of
Oct. 80, states that the fight began at p. m.
in three streets which are named, that in
formation was received at the Intendencia
at 8:15 and that the police arrived on the scene
at 6:3n n full half hoTr after the assault began.
At that time he says that mob of 2,0O men
had collected. and that for several squares
there was the appearance of a real battle
field"
Fleeing for Their Lives.
The scene at this point is very graphically
set before us hy the sChilian testimony. The
American sailors who. after 50 long exami-
nation, have not been found guilty OF any
breach of the peace, far the Chilian
authorities are able to discover, unarmed and
defenseless- are fleeing for their lives, pursued
by overwhelming numbers, and fighting only
10 aid their own escape from death or to succor
some mate whose life is in greater peril.
Eighteen Of them brutaIy stabbed and
beaten, while one Chilian seems from the re-
port to have suffered some injury; but how
serious or with what character of weapon, or
whether by a missile thrown by our men or
by some of his fellow rioters, Is unascertained.
The pretense that our men were fighting
with stones, clubs and bright arms is, In
view of these facts, incredible. 1t is further
refuted by the fact that prisoners, when
searched, were absolutely without arms, only
seven penknives being found IN the possession
of the men arrested while there were received
by our men more than thirty stab wounds,
every one Of which was inflicted in the back,
and almost every confused wound was in the
back or back of the head The evidence of the
ships officer of the day is that even the jack
| knives of the men were taken from them be
fore lea wing the shin.