The Princeton union., 1892-01-21
CHILI'S GUNS TALK.
A Rumor That the Yorktown Had
Been Fired Upon in the VAL
paraisO HarbOr.
Great Excitement Caused in Washing
ton by the Report, Although
1t Is Unconfirmed.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 19.-A rumor was in
circulation here tonight that the United
States cruiser Yorktown had been fired
upon in the harbor of Valparaiso by the
Chilians. The startling rumor caused
great excitement for while and frequent
calls We're made on the associated press to
ascertain If there was any truth in it. When
the story was reported to Secretary Tracy,
he treated it very lightly and was disposed
to riditu!e the report. He added that he
had no news whatever to communicate to
the press tonight.
The Chllian war cloud which week
ago was no larger than mans hand, now
envelopes the war and navy departments.
decided change has come over officials
IN the two departments. They are less reti-
cent. The events of the past lew days have
stirred them up and the continued and
persistent display of hostility by Chill to-
wards our sailors and officers has changed
the feeling Of lorbearance to one OF con-
tempt for their petty insults. On all hands
the feeling that war is approaching is ex-
pressed. Commodore Ramsay, chief Of the
bureau Of navigation, = very positive but
extremely conservative officer, said this
morning: cit looks war-like this morn
ing"
Secretary Tracy's office this morning was
the scene of bustling activity Bureau Off
GERS were coming and going all day. A
number OF contractors who are building
government vessels were in consultation
with the secretary. In the office of the chiet
Of the bureau of navigation, Commodore
Ramsay, the hustle is greatest. Three or
four OF his assistants have been detailed to
translate cipher dispatches, and they are
kept busy putting mess, ,ges into shape for
transmission and making intelligible the
cablesrams that come in from the South.
But above all the greatest activity has
prevailed for some time in the bureau of
naval intelligence. the agents of which are
said to have been at work on a plan Of
possible campaign, besides collecting all
Imaginable information from abroad. 1t
is through this bureau that the secretary
has kept himself thoroughly informed on
the movements OF the agents of Chilli, who,
it is runlored have for some time been
ransacking Europe for war material. The
comprehensive operations now conducted
by the department. are largely for the pur-
pose of ascertaining just what the naval
system can accomplish in the event of hos
tillties, besides stimulating everybody to
his best efforts as a means of useful training
BALMAcEDA REFUGEES.
Secretary Tracy this afternoon sent a
cable message to Commander Evans of the
Yorktown, Valparaiso instructing him to
take the Balmaceda reiugeS now under his
protection to Callao, Peru. and land them
there. but to use his discretion as to the
time his departure. The cecretary said
sent to the Boston at Callao, contemplate
ing any change in her station. The de-
parture Of the Yorktown from Valparaiso
would leave the United States without
single naval vessel in Chilian waters. The
Yorktown could hardly make the trip
from Valparaiso to Callao and return in less
than weeks time The distance between
the TWO ports is about 800 miles.
AS Capt. Evans is vested with full discre-
tion, it is not at all likely that he will
leave Valparaiso Immediately, and in fact
not until he is relieved by another vessel or
IS thoroughly satisfied that the condition of
affairs in Chill justihes him in leaving the
United States minister without means of
leaving that country in the event that cir
cumstances made it desirable or necessary
to do SO. 1t is therefore regarded as prob
able that unless the negotiations take de-
cldedly favorable turn within week or So
that the Boston, which is the nearest shin
will be sent to VALPARAISO i'm order that the
yorktown can safely leave that port with
the refugees. 1t was stated almost posi-
lively at the navy department this alter
noon that no orders bearing on this subject
have been sent to Admiral Walker at
Moneyideo.
AT WORK ON THE CORRESPONDENCE.
Ihe president denied himself to all visit
ors to-day and worked on the Chilian cor
respondence. He is preparing his message
to congress in the privacy OF one of the in.
ner rooms on the upper floors OF the White
House Monday. though designated as the
PRESIDENTS day or comparative isolation
generally finds a number of callers at the
house, but to-day these We're denied admis-
sion. 1t is still the belief that the message
and correspondence will be seat to congress
on Wednesday.
Secretary Blaine was somewhat indis-
posed yesterday, and to-day he deemed il
wise to remain indoors. His attack was
somewhat similar to that of ortnight ago.
but was not so severe and he recovered
quickly from it, Senator Mont. the Chill
ian minister, visited the state department
this morning in the hope of obtaining 81
audience with the secretary, but was obliged
to call on h1m at his house. The secretary
received him and the interview lasted about
an hour. -
"a II IN IIIc navy
department this morning that Senor Mont
had notified this government that all
apology from Chill would be Forthcoming.
This could not be confirmed and it was in
iim2ted at the state department that there
was no basis for the report ,
report was also in circulation that the
difficulty with Chill will he settled by arbl-
1ration: but the authority could not be
learned: The programme is said to have
AN outside power, presumably England to
ctter her services as arbitrator, and the offer
will be made to-day or to- morrow.
Secretary Blaine, in a conversation with
friend to-day, left it to be Inferred that the
probability of an amcablc settle
ineit OF the difficulty with Chile highly
Improbable in fact, lie broadly
hir,ted as much when asked how tile latest
phase of the quarrel, the gross insult to
Commander Evans, 0; the Yorktown, has
affected the situation. The presidents
message to congress is alreado printed, and
unless reparaton is offered ere then will
&C TO the senate on Thursday.