The morning call., 1892-01-07
Examination by the Board Of
Survey at Mare Island.
Strict Silence Maintained in Regard 10 the
Affair al Valparaiso.
The Sailors Confined TO The ShiD-TeStI-
mOny in the Case Of the Chilean
Hob to Be Taken To-Day.
special to THE MORNING CALI

VALLEJO, Jan. Cat daybreak the Bal
timore was lying comfortably in the big
stone dock with twenty-seyen feet of water
eral feet to spare Just as soon as the light
enabled the men TO get to work the vessel
was aligned, so as TO sink into the fixed
props at the bottom Of the dock, and then
the pumps were set to WorK. There were
frequent pauses, for the dock-master was
taking no ris ks, and at 9 o'clock there were
still eighteen feet of water around the ship,
which had now sunk safely into position.
By 1890 o'clock the water was all out. and
it was found that the incTustation of barna-
cles was comparatively slight, the divers
having done good work before the ship
left Valparaiso. The chief anxiety of
the authorities is to learn how far
the pitting has gone. The Bati-
more has been In commission two
years, and has been locked twice during
that time. besides receiving a hasty scrap
ing by the divers. If the plates have only
been specifically affected the Baltimore can
soon be put in trim for sea, and the minds
Of the builders Of modern cruisers will be
greatly relieved. 1t is a fair test case in this
particular.
SMALL REPAIRS NECESSARY.
So far as tie general repairs are con-
celned the Survey Board went over the yes
sci to-day, and it is understood that, while
there is nothing 10 make the ship unfit for
immediate service, there are cutie number
81 IL
prolong her stay, If nothing occurs
to call for sudden departure.
The whole topic of conversation in
Vallejo is how soon will the Baltim ore
leave? The disbursement of something like
$500 a day is a boon which the local store
keepers do not like t. see speedily termi-
mated. Every scrap Of information about
the vessel Is eagerly snapped UP ana the war
talk has by no means died out. For II so
naI pens that there are hundreds OF people
on and around the water front OF Vallejo
who know Chile thoroughly and who pre-
diet that the pending investigation Will not
be a mere gentle Endorsement Of the Chilean
courts position.
RESULT OF CONSPIRACY.
In truth there is much ct the very outset
Of the investigation that indicates an official
determination and ability 10 make out a
very SUOng case against the VALPARAISO
mon. There is no disposition nor Is there
any necessity to manufacture evidence, but
from all that can lie learned the volume Of
testimony will show that the attack on
the BalU ores men was the result Of
weeks Of conspiracy that wholesale muir
der was clearly premeditated, and that
nothing viii he gained by a mercilul or
tenn, orIzng policy.
PLAN OF ACTION,
United States District Attorney Garter,
80 Mopfatr GAfaful
Reporter Clement Bennett arrived on the
morning train and promptly boarded the
Baltimore, where they were introduced to
Capt lin Schley. Presently Admiral Irwin
came in, and a few minutes later Com
mander COchTaue appeared in fun uniform,
the Admiral and Captain Schley being In
fatigue uniform. Colonel Remry. the judge
Advocate IN civilian uniform, was the last
IN attendance. a long and earnest discus
sion eusucd on the question OF admitting
the press representatives 10 the hearing, and
iU was understood that an announcement
would be made on the subject later in the
day. 1t was also decided to hold the in
vesiigatiOn IN the courtroom and not on
board the vessel.
After a half hours conference D strict
Attorney Garter and Colonel R-mey decided
that valuable time would be saved by devOtinz
the entire day TO the pTenaTing of a plan Of
action, deferring the taking Of testimony
till tomorrow.
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The two officers then went into executive
session in the courtroom over r mass Of
type-Wrtteu matter exceeding 500 fOOlscap
pages, which we're understood TO be abstracts
Of the evidence taken before the Chilean
court in Valparaiso, and the testimony in
detail of the American sailors. During the
day numerous cipher messages were wired
to Washington, and, In fact, the soil
tary wire at Vallejo was practically
EfupEpd with CnNh Indicating n w
closely the Government is in touch with
the authorities on the island There are. it
is said filty-f0ur witnesses to be examined,
and the work, even with night sessions,
cannot be completed this week. The Off
cidl StcnOgTapher, Clement Bennett. is as
sisted by Mr. Larnan and two rapid type
writers, the object being 10 forward the tes-
timony to Washington at the close OF each
day. so that no time may be lost IN prepar-
ing a case for the consideration of Con-
gress. The Attorney-General is said to
have urged all reasonable dispatch consist
ent with full presentation of the facts,
and District Attorney Garter and Colonel
Rrmey are bending their energies to this
end
sCHLEY A DIsCIPLINARIAN.
Captain Schley was much amused at the
interviews" with him published by some
OF the city papers on the evening of the
BaltimOre's arrival in San Francisco Bay.
To a CALL reporter he said this morning
that he had held no such interviews, and he
evidently looked on CafOrnia's lovely cli-
mate as cOnIributOry to an exubeTant growth
of imagination. He stated that in the pres
ent state Of affairs, while an eXamin alton is
pending and grave national interests are at
stake, 1t would be entirely out Of place for
him 10 say a word, though he might
be able 10 say great deal. zone
thing l will state" said Captain Schley
eneTgetirally. IF it had not been for the
splendid discipline of my crew. and the con-
troll exercised by the officers we would have
been IN a fight in about three minutes"
This tailed exactly with the statement of
members OF the crew, so far as they could
be induced TO talk yesterday, that after the
riot ana tho murder OF their comrades not
even the 15-inch rifed guns in the forts of
Valparaiso would have prevented them
from going into action at moments notice.
SILENCE ENJoINED.
There is no question that this Is the
feeling among the BaitimOre's men now
Captain Schley exacted a pledge from the
newspaper men not to talk to the men while
on the ship and the pledge was hOnorablY
kept. II was, perhaI S, the more easily kept
because the wounded sailors and those di-
rectly concerned in the affair at Valparaiso
were placed under the eyes of yigilaut
officers IN positions where they could not be
approached. The men will not be allowed
ashore for day or two, although
Captain Schey's desire is 80 give
the boys chance AS soon as possible. The
eXpedeDcy Of keeping men under temporary
restraint while so grave question is pend
ing must be evident to any one acquainted
with the temptations and impusive dispe-
sitlon OF the sailor the world over. When
the testimony has been taken the men will
he allowed leave TO 60 ashore in place
where, at all events, they are not liable 10
be stabbed in the back and killed. The
probability is that the Baltimores men can
be freely interviewed in San Francisco in
side OF three days, though the inquiry may
last several days longer.
PRESENT INDICATIONS.
To sum up the whole situation at present.
so far as the eye can penetrate the veil of
official secrecy, the probable result OF the
testimony will be to show that the ami
mostly which Chileans are known to have