The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-11
Two Investigations of the Chilian Affair.

carrying the doubtful anu nceu1ul states
OF the North.
Two Investigations of the Chilian Affair.
- tits apparent that the return of the Bal
tlmore to Sun Francisco looked to Il pur-
pose quito different from that Of having the
ships hull cleaned and painted. The pro-
longcd questioning Of her crew now going
on ut Vallejo confirms the view which has
been taken by the Navy Department of the
character Of the October riots in the streets
Of Valparaiso.
1t Is true that this investigation was not
necessary to support the case made by our
country against Chilli The origin Of all the
present trouble was that prima tacie case
OF mob violence against the sailors OF the
Baltimore was made out from the very first:
and that instead OF expressing regret for
this occurrence and Offering reparation,
the Santiago Government failed to do
either. President HARRISON characterized
Its reply to the moderate note Of our Gov
eminent as offensive.
Back Of this source OF trouble was the
question as to the true character Of the
outrage. Prior to making any admission
whatever on that point Chilli had insisted
on a judicial inquiry. and our Government
determined. at last, to avail itself Of
similar privilege. Investigation is a game
that two can play. and against the testi-
mony taken under Gillian auspices at VAL
paraiso will be set Off the testimony OF the
current investigation at Vallejo. In the
statement which has recently been made
that the offensive despatch OF Mr.. malta
NIT hafp
ted to President MoNTT. and in the
further statement that the Foreign Min
lister Of the new Cabinet. Mr.. Pc
RE1RA. has paid very friendly visit
to Mr.. EaAN. there may be hopes Of re-
tracing OF Chili's mistaken course in, tho
diplomacy Of this affair. But should it go
to arbitration upon the evidence. the report
Of the District Attorney in Chill upon the
proceedings held before Judge FOSTER can
be accompanied by report OF what is
now going on in California before District
Attorney CARTER and Judge Advocate
REMEY. Meanwhile. 1t is noteworthy gain
that the Gillian District Attorney has gone
80 far as to describe the outrage OF Oct. 16
as an unfortunate incident" while Mr..
PEREIRA takes a step further and actually
calls it a "deplorable incident" It is per-
haps not too much to hope that by and by
we may find the Gillian Government ready
to admit that the outrage was an incident
that demands redress.
The testimony Of JOHNSON and LANCER
has distinctly implicated Gillian sailors,
soldiers. and policemen in the savage attack
upon the Baltimores men. LANCER says
he saw two soldiers or armed policemen.
Il dc
Afterward. when not more than five yards
distant, he saw two OF them level their
rifles and fire at RIGGIN and at JOHNSON.
who was supporting him. One Of these
shots MORALLY wounded RIGGIN. Yet the
report Of the Gillian District Attorney
coolly declares that 1.-The correct course Of
the police has been acknowledged by every
one of the American sailors. except two"
The exception in this case is decidedly i'm
portant. as it comprises the immediate wit
nesses Of the gravest Of the outrages.
The testimony at Vallejo shows that there
are other witnesses besides these two about
the correct course OF the police" MCBRIDE
testified that without word Of warning
and at q distance from tho main disturb
ance. while turning down q side street. he
was seized by two policemen who beat him
severely with their sword bayonets. al
though he made no resistance. He succeeded
in escaping, but was overhauled by a mount
ed policeman. and was knocked down and
beaten again. Witness after witness denied
ever having testified that the police did their
duty. The presumption. accordingly. is that
some question was adroitly framed In the
Valparaiso investigation which seemed. by
<loo cot tfl ,v,11 n a nj nft ho
course Of the police authorities. The report
OF the Gillian District Attorney ascribes the
riot to the character OF the ward in which 1t
occurred, but it is shown that the attacks
were made In three or four different parts
OF the city. and one man. CARSON. was fol-
lowed by a bowling mob into the Colonna.
one Of the best hotels In the city. situated in
fine part Of Valparaiso. Most striking Is
the testimony OF witness after witness that
after going ashore they were warned that
they would be attacked. Not only keepers
of restaurants. but an English sea Captain
and the clerk OF the bank where they
changed American for CHILEAN money. were
among those who thus gave warning to the
American sailors.
When the whole story Is ready. including
tho testimony OF both officers and men, it
will undoubtedly justify the terms used by
Secretary TRACY In describing the incident.
He declares that several Of the wounds re-
ceived were caused by bayonet thrusts.
clearly showing the participation Of the
police; that the men had been ashore only
four hours. and were orderly. sober. and
we'll behaved; that they were without
arms and therefore defenoeless. "It Is
clear" he added. "that their only offence
lay In wearing the uniform Of the country
to which they belonged" One noteworthy
illustration OF this last assertion Is afforded
by the sailor who was chased into the Hotel
Colonna. and on being driven out took ref
uss in cigar st0ra In the latter place he