Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-01-26


ing themselves with propriety, Saluting
Chilean and other officers as they met
them. Other officers and Captain Jen-
kinS Of the merchant ship keweenaw,
corrobOrate Captain Schley as TO the
general good behavior and sobriety OF
our men.
The Sisters Of Charity at the hospital
TO which our wounded men were taken,
when inquired Of, stated that they
were sober when received. II the situa-
tiOn had been otherwise, we must be-
lieye that the Chilean police authorities
would have made arrests. About p.
m. the assault began, and it is remark
able that the investigation by the judge
of crimes, though so portrayed does not
enable him to give any more satlsiac-
tory account of its origin than is found
in the statement that it began between
drunken sailors. Repeatedly in the
correspondence it is asserted that 1t
was impossible TO learn the direct cause
OF the riot The Minister OF Foreign
Affairs, Malta, in his telegram to Mr..
/ MOntt, under date OF December 81,
states that the quarrel began between
two drunken sailors in a tavern and
was continued in the street, persons
passing joining in 1t.
The testimony Of Talbot, an appren-
tice, who was with Riggin, is that the
outbreak in which they were involved
began by Chilean sailor splitting in the
/ face of Talbot, which was resented by a
| knock down. IL appears that Riggin
and Talbot were at the time unaccom-
panied by any others OF their shipmates.
These men were imm idately beset by
a crowd of Chilean citizens and sailors,
/ through which they broke their way TO
street car and entered 1t for safety.
They were pursued, driven from the
car, and Riggin was so seriously beaten
that he fell in the street apparently
dead. There is nothing in the report OF
Chilean investigation made to US that
seriously impeaches this testimony. 1t
lappears from Chilean sources that al
most instantly, with suddennesS that
strongly implies meditation and prepara-
tion, a mob, stated by the police author
tiles. at one time to the number OF two
thousand and at another one thousand,
was engaged In the assault upon our
sailors, who were represented as resist
ing with stones, clubs and bright
arms"
The message then gives in detail the
| facts connected with the outrage, and
continues: No amount OF evasion or
subterfuge is able 70 cloud our vision OF
this brutal work. 1t should be noticed
i'm this connection that the American
sailors arrested, after an examination,
were during the four days following the
arrest, every one discharged, no charge
of auv breach OF the peace or other
criminal conduct having been sustained
against a single one of them. As to the
mart taken by the police in the affair
the case bv Chile is far from sstiStac-
tory. The point where Riggin was
killed is only three minutes walk from
the police station, and not more than
| twice that distance from the lntenden-
cia. and vet according to their official
report a full half hour elapsed after the
assault began before the police were
upon the ground. The evidences OF the
existence OF animoSity towards our SAIL
ors in the minds of the sailors OF the
! Chilean navy and OF the
police of Valparaiso are so
/ abundant and various as to leave no
dOubt in the mind Of anyone who will
examine the papers submitted. 1t man
/ ifested itself in threatening and insult
inc gestures towards our men as they
Dassed a Chilean man Of war in their
| boatS and in the deriSive and abusive
enitbets with which they greeted every
lappearsnce Of an American sailor.
, ON the evening of the riot, Captain
| ScbIey reports that boats from the Chill
can war ships several times went out OF
| their course to cross the bows OF his
boats, compelling them to back water.
! He complained OF the discourtesy and
/ IN was corrected. That this feeling was
shared by men Of higher rank Is shown
nv other incidents related in the corre-
snordence. The evidence Of our sail
ors clearly shows that the attack was
svnected by the Chilean people; that
threats had been made against our men,
81 tbat in one case early in the after
noon the keeper Of one house into
which some Of our men had gone closed
bfs astablishment, in anticipation OF at
+ocl, which he advised them would be
! r,oda upon them as darkness came on.
/ THESE incidents conClustyely establish
! that the attack was upon the uniform,
tbe nationality, and not upon the men.
The origin of this feeling is probably
! found in the refusal Of this government
m rive recognition TO the congressional
D,rtv before it has established itself, in
! the seizure Of the Itata for an alleged
/ violation OF the neutrality law, in the
cable incident and the charge that Ad-
miraI Brown conveyed information to
| VALPARAISO Of the landing at Quintero.
/ II is not my purpose to enter here any
/ defense OF the action Of this Government
/ in these matters. 1t is enough for the
nreSent purpose to say that II there was
snv breach Of international comfy or
dutv on our part, it should have been
made the subject Of official complaint
| through diplomatic channels or Of re-
| nrisals for which full responsibility
| was assumed.
We cannot consent that these incl
dents and these perversions Of the truth
shall be used to excite murderOus attack
mon the unoffending sailors and the
government OF Chile so acquitted Of re-
sponsibility. We continued the eStab-
tIished diplomatic relations with the gov
ernment in power until it was over
thrown and promptly and cordially
recognized, aud the new government
\ when it was established. The good
| offices of the government were offered
10 bring about peaceful adjustment and
=