The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-14

sailors as the man who robbed him on the
day of the riot. Davidson thought he
recognized another Chilean sailor as one
of the armed men whom he saw chasing
Hamilton with a knife. Langdon thought
he recognized another sailor as one of the
mob that attacked him, but could not
swear to it. In the examination Of wit
nesses by the court the subject OF the ac-
lions of the police during the riot was
studiously avoided.
ION the same day / was called to serve
on commission To consider from what
arm the bullet that killed Riggin was
fired. The board consisted OF n Chilean
naval officer, Chilean army officer and
myself. We could not agree on decision.
reported that from my investigation I
felt certain that the bullet that killed
Riggin was fired from a ride, or from d
revolver OF over 3S-caliber. 1t was, I be-
lieved, from a 45-caliber rifle, such as is
used by the Chilean police. l had not
seen in Valparaiso any revOlverS of suifi-
GENTLY large oaliber to inilict such q
wound. Tine Chilean officers thought il
was fired from revolver"
Captain ". :. Schiey, commanding the
Baltimore, was then called. He testified
as follows: 1.-The Baltimore first arrived
at Valparaiso April Z, 1891. Sho remained
little over month, when she went 10
Iquique to act in connection with the
Itata matter. During this stay ut Nalpa-
raise the men were given liberty on shore
repeatedly. There was 70 trouble of any
kind. The residents were exceedingly
cordial to US. When we arrived az Iqui-
que it was in possession of the Congress
SionaliStS. The Junta, in SurrenGering
the Itata, stated that they cid 50 because
they could not indorSe so palpabie a ViO-
latiOn of the laws Of neutrality, nor could
they defend the action Of their officers in
escaping from the municipal authorities
of san Diego. Nevertheless, after her de-
livery, the whole tone OF the people
changed. The papers stated that The
United States was guilty Of an act Of in
justice which coulu never be forgotten or
forgiven.
While at Callao, the agent of the
American Cable Company called on Adj
niral Mccain, and requested his aid in
securing uninterrupted communication
by cable between Valparaiso and CallaO.
The cable touched at IQuiqUe on the way
between the ports, and the Junta had re-
fused to allow messages to pass through.
Admiral McCann instructed me to aid the
company, if they wished to put loop in
the cable III the sea, beyond Chilean juris-
diotion. l consulted with the Consul at
Iquique, and, finding the Junta obdurate,
l notified them that the cahie-boat would
cut the cable, and advised them not TO in
terfere. | went out with the cable-bOat,
and ascertained the point over five milos
from shore. The cabie-boat cut the cable
and put in loop. / then left Iquique and
Went to Caldera.
con August Goth | returned to Valpa-
raise. I arrived on the day Of the baJtle
OF Concon. found great excitement
prevailing, and thought it best not to give
the men leave. Within a week the bat
ties of Nina del Mar and Placilla took
place near the city. During the night
after the last battle the city was given
over to pillage and rapine, and in the
morning over 800 men, women and chill
dren lay dead in the streets. Many fires
occurred. The same day a naval force
was landed from the cruiser San Fran
cisco to protect the American Consulate.
''In few days the Baltimore sailed for
Mollendo, Peru, 10 land the refugees
aboard. / returned at once to Valpa-
raise, and arrived September 18th. The
San Francisco at once sailed for San
Fancisco. \ few days atterWard the
American legation at Santiago was sur
rounded by police and every one leaving
prevailed, and l gave no leave for long
time. But as affairs quoted down a lit
tie, and as all other men-of-war were
giving leave to the men. | allowed III
men to go on liberty on October 10th.
AT $50 P. NJ, october 10th | and the
First Lieutenant went ashore for walk.
We saw a large number of our sailors
walking about the streets. 1 was much
impressed with the cleanliness, sobriety
and good conduct of the men. The First
Lieutenant and | commented on this.
met Hamilton, one OF the crew who was
afterward badly wounded. He was en-
tirely sober and orderly. l saw also
Jerry Anderson, who was af-erward
stabbed. He, too, was sober. / spoke to
lN4l I fH,ll X nj
Wallace and Williams, all about 5
o'clock. All were sober. l left shore
for the ship at $40 by the clock. ! had
seen fully seventy of our men on liberty
All was then quiet. About $50 | heard
of the riot.
''IThe next day I called on the Judge,
and he said to me: This affair is the di-
classes with your men because you sided
with the Dictator He stated that he had
nothing against the men still held, and
they, eleven in number, were released
next day. Meanwhile / organized a
board, consisting of LieutenantS May and
Sears and DR.. White, to investigate the
trouble. The court sat from October 18th
TO 2lst. The report surprised me. | did
not know before that the assassination of
my men had been SO general, so cowardly
and premeditated. l sent DR.. Stitt to in
quire whether the wounded men in the
hospital were sober when taken there
on the night of October 10th. The Sisters
of Charity replied that they We're My
men were sober and unarmCd. After
this riot great GOODNESS was shown US.
We were neglected in all ways and
avoided by our former friends. and many
small diScourtesies shown us. No one,
official or unofficial, ever expressed any
regret for the treatment of my men. The
newspapers tried to make it out merely a
drunken quarrel, although / cannot see
why Chileans should be held excusable
for numbering my men, even ii they We're
drunk. Drunkenness is not punishable
with death by any existing laws
Captain Schley's testimony concluded
the investigation and the court adj
journed. IL will take a day or two more
to reduce all the testimony to writing,
and have it duly signed.
NEW AND VALUABLE TESTIMONY.
SANTIAGO, Chile, Jan. BIN special
correspondence the Associated Press
it is stated that Captain Schley informed
the Navy Department of fact that had
just come TO his knowledge. A German
physician who lives in Valparaiso saw
Riggin shot by the police officer; that he
went into the drug store where kiggin was
taken to see if he could assist him; that two
policemen were present at the time to
whom the physician said he thought they
would get into trouble for having shot
the sailor. The policemen replied that it
made no difference, as the man was only
a ID Yankee, and they intended to
shoot more of them. Efforts are being
made now to have this evidence produced
in court.
Board of Trade.
L. II