Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-10
Nothing Done Yet in the
Way Of Reparation.
Chile's Irritating and Unsatis-
factory Diplomacy.
Senior Pereira's Lengthy and Disap-
pointing Communication,
A Grave Disparity Between the Find
ings OF the Chilean Court and the
Testimony Being Taken
at vallejo.
Associated Press Dispatches.

Associated Press DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON, Jan. o. There is no
doubt that the administration received
with disappointment the dispatch yes
terday from Senior Pereira, Chilean
minister of foreign affairs, through
Minister Montt. 1t was a recapitula-
tion of the findings of the Chilean judi
cial officer. instead of statement that
might be regarded as an apology for the
attack on the crew of the Baltimore.
The length to which the proceedings
have dragged and the statement to
Blaine by Montt that other links were
to be added to the long chain OF legal
formalities, naturally had an irritating
effect upon the administration, which
postponed further communication with
congress upon the subject in the hope
that satisfactory understanding would
be reached in short time.
Upon further consideration, however,
it appears that the dispatch marks a
tangible advancement towards the de-
sired object. The tone of the dispatch
is much more friendly and conciliatory
than characterized some of the pre-
ceding communications. AS the pro-
ceedings so far have resulted only in in
dictments against offenders, it is hardly
presumed that the Chilean government,
after the stand it has taken, will be ex-
pected TO make an apology and promise
of reparation, until the trial has taken
place and the prisoners convicted of
murderous assault. Minister Months
statements warrant the assumption that
the trial will begin Immediately, and if
it is apparent that the regular processes
of Chilean law are being carried forward
with proper expedition, and that there
is fair ground to expect an apology, the
United States government will doubt
less continue to await the result for q
reasonable time.
Minister Montt characterizes as alb
surd the statement coming from
Vallejo, CAL, that Davidson, a Balti-
more sailor, was tried and con-
victed In Chile without his knowl
edge, or that of the officers of the ves-
sci. Minister Pereira's dispatch of
Yesterday supports Months statement on
this point, for it shows that Davidson
was indicted but not tried. 1t is en-
tirely improbable that he will ever be
tried in Chile for rioting, as it is not
supposed that he would be surrendered
to the legal authorities of that country,
even should they demand his surrender.
A grave disparity is noted between
the finding of the Chilean district at
torney and the testimony collected from
the Baltimore people concerning the at
tack on them. The reports of the medi-
cal officers of the vessel have reached
the navy department. Medical Inspector
Cooke, reporting on Higgins death,
says: latter receiving several wounds,
not necessarily fatal, he was wounded
by rifle ball. Some wounds were in
ficted post-mortem. There is good evil
denee that the party from this ship, con-
sieting of III men, were assaulted in at
least six different localities nearly SIM
ultaneously. The attack was appar-
emily premeditated."
In the case of Coal-heaver Turnbull,
the inspector says: "He died from an
incised wound penetrating the left lung.
He was FIRST knocked down by blow on
the head with stone and cut while ly-
ing unconscious. He was arrested and
taken unconscious to the prison ward.
His wound penetrated the pleura and
the lung. He received eighteen or
twenty other stab wounds in the pos
terror. 1t was impossible for the medi-
cal officers of the ship to secure proper
attention for him, and attendance was
entirely lacking at night. The police
were appealed to but would not permit
him to be removed to another ward.
Finally, when it was represented
that Turnbull would die, he and
four others of our wounded men
were liberated and taken aboard the
ship. Turnbull died October 25th. The
attack was apparently premeditated and
inspired by the hostility which por-
tion OF the Chilean people entertain to-
wards Americans"
The disparity referred to is evident
when it is noted that Minister Pereira's
dispatch says: "Only one isolated shot
was fired; it was from a revolver; the
police carry Columbian carbines." To
reconcile the Baltimore mems state
ments with those of the Chilean minis-
ter, will be difficult task. Possibly
the investigation being conducted at
San Francisco will throw clearer light
upon the matter.