Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-25
DISPOSITIONS OF THE SAILORS.
The Naval Correspondence Which Accom-
panied the Presidents Message

panied the Presidents Message.
That part Of the documents accompanying
the Presidents message furnished by the Nav,
Department included the full report of the
dispositions Of the Baltimore's sailors taken in
the inquiry held at Vallejo, Cal, and which
was completed two weeks ago. This was pre-.
ceded by the correspondence between the de-
partment and several officers who at various
times were in the South American waters
Admiral McCann, in letter of March "a
closed with the following, showing that Mr..
Egan was not alone in his bad judgment of the
outcome of the affair: at is evident to nv mind
that the land and naval forces of the congress.
sional party are wholly inadequate to a success.
ful prosecution or ending Of the civil war in
Chile. In other words. President Balmaceda is
master of the situation"
Admiral Brown wrote at great length August
IL recounting the events in connection with
the capture of Valparaiso by the insurgents.
lie said: Having been informed by the gov
eminent authorities IN this city that a landing
had been effected. and having learned from ex-
perience TO distrust the correctness OF all such
information given me as official / got under
way. steamed up the coast and entered Quin-
teros bay, saw for myself that a landing had
been made from eight transports and six men,
of-war, and without communicating with any
of the ships l returned to this place and cabled
the result Of my observations to the depart
meu:."
ADMIRAL BROWNS INSTRUCTIONS
Rear Admiral Brown was detailed to succeed
Mccain by order of March &c and relieved
him July IA. Among the instructions given
him by the department was the following: in
reference to the granting OF asylum, your ships
will not, OF course, be made a refuge for Grim
inals. In the case of persons other than GRIM
inals they will afford shelter wherever il may
be needed, to Americans first of all, and TO
others, including political refugees. as far as
the claims OF humanity may require and the
service upon which you are engaged will per-
nit
A considerable portion of the correspondence
is devoted to the Itata case and contains moth
ing new. A bitter feeling against the United
States was shown in Iquiquc when the Charles
ton left with the ltata IN charge for San Diego.
CAPT. scHLEY's DISPATCH.
On September 25 Capt. Schley telegraphed
Secretary Tracy that he had just returned from
Santiago; that there was strong feeling and
great hostility among Chileans against Ameri-
can citizens. and that Mr.. Egan informed him
that the authorities are giving him much an
noyauce on account of Balmacedists, who
held important positions, taking refuge III
the American legation. Tho cause of the
above hostility was stated to be the
Itata case, the cutting Of the telegraph cable
the San rTaHcisco gong 10 QulnterOs, where
the insurgents landed. and the false telegrapbic
reports from Lieut.. L W. Sturdy to New York
that President Balmaceda escaped in the San
Francisco.
To avoid any difficulty between the men of
the Baltimore and the Chilean sailors no lib
erty had been granted.
Thereupon the Baltimore was ordered to re-
main in Valparaiso.
Four days later Capt Schley reported. as the
explanation called for by the department., that
when the San Francisco sailed FOR Callao Sep
tember IA Lleut. L. W. Sturdy telegraphed TO
the New York Herald that President Balmaceda
escaped in her, though he had been assured to
the contrary by the American consul. This
news, having been telegraphed back to Chile,
caused much excitement and strong feeling
against American citizens. Capt Schley re-
ported that Lieut. Sturdy's correspondence to
the Herald had been stopped and that he had
suspended him from duty.
He further stated that when the congress
sional forces landed at Quinteros bay, on August
~, Admiral Brown went there with the San
Francisco to witness tho Decentralization, aud
on his return to Valparaiso the friends Of the
cougressionalists accused him of being q gov
eminent spy, which, OF course, was false, but
the pres made bitter attacks ON Admiral
Brown.
The corrsspondencs over the assault upon
the Baltimore sailors October l6, presents few
new features. Secretary Tracy aSksd Capt
6chley for some particulars nos given In hb
acoounto Of the ARRAY. He answered October Is: