Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-12
He Leaves for La Guayra With the Chicago
and Philadelphia.


and Philadelphia.
The cruiser Chicago, with Acting Rear Ad-
mlra John q. Walkers two-whte-starred-bl
pennant flying at the mzzen, and the big white
cruiser Philadelphia left the Brooklyn navy
yard yesterday morning. bound for La Guayra.
Venezuela, and under sealed orders.
Late on Saturday night a messenger was
dispatched from Washington with two large
official envelopes containing instructions to
Rear Admiral Walker. One of these was a
white envelope marked Immediate" and con-
tanned the instructions from the Secretary of
the Navy to proceed to sea without delay with
both the Chicago and the Philadelphia.
The other envelope was blue one indorsed
state Department, Office Of the Secretary
and with the caution that it was personal to
Admiral Walker and not to be opened until the
cruisers were at sea. The order to go to sea
was surprise to the officers Of both vessels. in
asmuch as on Saturday night it was officially
stated that one Of them would probably be sent
to Venezuela and the other would 20 to New
port.
GAN hands" were called at daybreak and
after decks had been holystoned and washed
down and breakfast eaten. orders were given to
get up steam on both vessels, and at IL O'Clock
signals were hosted on the Chicago 10 '.get
under way and follow tho Chicago closely" 1t
was Just 10 o'clock when the Chicago left her
mud bed at the foot Of Main street and rounded
out into the river, followed, 1000 feet sstern,
by the Philadelphia
The Chicago Is slower vessel than the Phil
adelphia, having a record of 15h knots, against
1875 knots by the Philadelphia. But both YES
sells will keep together, and are expected to
reach La Guayra about Friday.
The batteries Of the two vessels are as fol-
lows:
Chicago-Four eight-inch. eight six-inch and
two five-inch breech-loading rifles; two six
Founders and two two-pounders rapid firing
guns; four forty -seven-millimeter and two
thirty-seven millimeter Hotchkiss revolving
cannon and two Calling guns.
Philadelphia sx-inch breech-loading
rifles; four six-pounders. four three, ounders
and two one-pounder rapid-tiring guns; three
Observation-Disclosures Hotchkiss revolving
cannon and four Calling guns.
AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
There we're no developments in the Venezue-
Ian situation today and State Department Off
cials say that no dispatches have been received
from Minister Scruggs.
Commander White of the Z. s. gunboat
Concord cables his arrival in the port of La
Guayra last Saturday. The Kearsarge had not
arrived. No details of the situation were fur
nished by Commander White, although a DIS
patch is momentarily expected.
DETENTION OF THE SOUTH PORTLAND.
Acting Secretary Adee was visited today by
Mr.. Francisco Gonzales and Mr.. Arthur Smith,
respectively the owner and CAPTAIN of the
steamer South Portland, which is now being
detained in New York harbor on suspicion of
an attempt to violate the neutrality laws by
carrying arms to the Venezuelan insurgents.
They were told by Mr.. Adee that the State
Department possesses no judicial function in
their case, but that they must await the action
of the court which is Investigating the matter
The vessel was detained last Saturday by the
collector Of customs at New York. She had on
board a large quantity Of arms and amInuni-
ton bought by Gonzales. and, az claimed by
him. purchased as a speculation.
The Venezuelan minister, Gen. Bolet Peraza,
received information. however. alleging that
these arms were intended for. the use of the
Venezuelan insurgents. He communicated
with Gen. Terrero, who engaged detectives to
investigate the matter. Collector Hendricks
also detailed Special Agent Whitehead on the
case, and a result of their investigations Min
lister Bolet Peraza made formal demand upon
Secretary of State John W. Foster that the yes
sci be detained.
The request coming from the duly accredited
representative of friendly government Secre-
tary Foster was compelled as matter of i'll
ternational courtesy, to accede.
Collector Hendricks was instructed to detain
1t pending further investigation.