The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-20
Secretary Blaine's illness Canses the
President to Change His Plans.
His Message on the Chilian Trouble and the
Correspondence on the Subject May Not BE
Presented to Congress Till Next Week.
Views OF Senators and Representatives
on the Prospect and Wisdom Of War.
PETER and Kyle Opposed to Going to Extremes
Minister Egan's Refugees-HurryiDg
Work at Mare Island Navy-Yard.
MESSAGE DELAYED.

MESSAGE DELAYED.
The President WIN Not Send Chiiian Corre-
spondence To Congress for n Few Days.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
WAsHISGToN. Jan. 19.-The illness OF
Secretary Blaine to-day will result in de-
lay ing the transmission OF the Chllian cor
respondence TO Congress, probably, until
next week. When he left the White House
the Cabinet was discussing the message Of
the President to accompany the correspond
ence. as the President desires, of course,
that what he has to say-his recommen-
dations, etc.-shall have the concurrence
and approval of the members of the Cabi-
net But no conclusion had been reached
when Mr.. Blaine was compelled to leave,
and as he was the official most interested
in the matter, the further discussion was
without result The next meeting will not
occur until Friday. and as the conclusion
of the President. whatever it is, will have
to De put in shape after adjournment the
message will not be ready for trans
mission Saturday. and as Congress in
all probability will not be in session that
day the week Will have passed before the
opportunity TO get it before Congress is
presented. The rumors that the delay In
sending in the message and correspondence
was due to the expected offer of arbitra-
advices that moro friendly spirit pre-
walls in Chilisn official circles are untrue.
Neither of these occurred
Among Secretary Tracy's callers to-day
was Mr. Clement Griscom, president Of the
Red Star steamship line. He has had sew
eral interviews with tho Secretary of late
and il is understood that negotiations are
pending for the purchase Of certain steam
ers from that company by the government
in the event of war. No announcement TO
that effect has yet been made at the Navy
Department., but IL is thought the govern
ment has secured an option on several
vessels that will be used as transports
should hostilities occur.
FoLGER WANTS THE MONTEREY.
Commodore Folger, chief of the Bureau
of Ordnance. is said to have told Secretary
Tracy that in case of war he wants to be
relieved Of his present important duty and
placed in command of the coast-defense
vessel Monterey, now awaiting completion
at San Francisco. He regards this vessel
as the most formidable now belonging to
this navy. and he considers it superior in
fighting quality to any ship owned by
the Chilians. including the celebrated
Captain Pratt. now building IN France for
the Chilian government. The Monterey is
now complete, except her armor and guns.
One of the latter is on it's way across the
continent at the present time and the other
is awaiting trial at the Indian Head prov
in - haf I'D <ha
armor, and Commodore FolRer hopes TO be
able to have the vessel ready for service
within couple of months, provided the
work can 60 on at the highest speed.
One of the duties of Commander Evans
of the Yorktown. st Valparaiso. in addi-
tlor to his general instructions to keep
the Navy Department advised of the con-
dition of affairs in Chilli, is to report with
of the CHILEAN navy. so far as he is able to
ascertain. In accordance with these
specific instructions no to-day in
formed the Navy Department that the
Chilian steamer Esmeralda left the
port of Valparaiso at 1 o'clock this morn
ing TO 60 TO the assistance of the British
mail steamship John Adler, which 10 re-
ported ashore 100 miles south of Valparaiso.
This was the sum and substance of his dis
patch. That II made no allusion whatever
to the Yorktown's having been fired on Is
taken az an absolute refutation of the
rumor to that effect circulated last even
ing.
cannot be questioned, that the Balmaceda
refugees are still on the Yorktown. and.
consequently, are in no danger OF falling
into the hands of the Chilians by reason OF
the wreck OF the steamship John Adler, as
reported by the London Times IN a dis
patch from Santiago. The statement that
they were placed on that vessel IN disguise
at Valparaiso Is, therefore. incorrect The
fact that the Esmeralda has gone to the
of ha Inh hn I'M In
however, that the local authorities incline
to the impression that the refugees were
passengers on that vessel
woeful want of this country is coaling
stations in southern waters. as well as at
other points of the globe. and Secretary
Tracy, knowing the great Inconvenience
to our vessels in the South
Pacific waters in obtaining sup.
q steamer at San francisco to carry about
fifty thousand tons of coal and land at
Callao. OF. should the occasion demand it.
carry it further south. where the United
States men-of-war can take on
Secretary received q dispatch to-day
from Toulon, France stating that the
Chilian war ship Captain Pratt. which is
being built at that port, and DOW nearly
before Apnl i. This information
will undoubtedly relieve the minds
of many people. as the Prat Is
regarded In some circles as about the most
formidable man-of- war ever built and able
10 cope with the best fighting vessel of any
of the great powers.
There will be about 125.0o0 words in the
message and correspondence which the
President will submit to Congress. Sec
retary Elkins, IN an interview this
evening, ssid the situation was very
serious and that war must come M
less Chilli made ample reparation. The
whole matter he added, was IN the hands
of the President and Secretaries Blaine and
Tracy. The Cabinet was in full accord
with them, and whatever they decided
upon would meet with the approval Of the
other members of the Cabinet.
Secretary Blaine sent for Senator Hale
this afternoon while the latter was In
Hale and his colleagues regarded
was not allayed when it was
learned that Mr.. Blaine wished TO consult
with the Senator regarding Chilian affairs
and not about his lllness. Dir. Hale
informed colleague. while on his way
from the Capitol. that he was really
alarmed at the situation. "A stage In the
negotiations has been reached. II is report
ed" he observed. where the least mistake
on either side may precipItate conflict"
Word has been received in Washington
that the Philadelphia. the flagship of Ad-
miral Gherardrs squadron, has sailed
sonth from Barbadoes There Is con-
placed In command of the naval
force in the Pacific in case of
war, but the general opinion centers
upon Rear Admiral Kimberly, who 10 ~
] the head or the active list. de 10 now %