Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-01-14
from the Chilean authorities. The dis
patch adds that the relations between
Chile and the United States are improving.
LYNcnnuaoEa IN CHILE.
Curious Stories About the Yorktown nns
the American and Chilean Navies

the American and Chilean Shsies'
Especial Telegram TO tho Dispatch.)
LrvcHnURo, Va, January ia letter
was received here yesterday from young
Lynchburger who is one of the crew OF the
United States waf-ship Yorktown. which
is now stationed on the Chilean coast, OF
at Valparaiso. The young man states that
oil the crew Of the war-ship are discon-
tented on account Of the harsh treatment
Of the officers, and says that Americans
are noted for their love OF liberty" and
vet II n seaman shows any disposition 10
kick, after the repeated annoyance OF some
petty officer. he is court-martialed tor In
citing mutiDy.
CUT ASD DRIED.
The court-martial sits ut the dinner
table and tries the man. and the verdict Is
always cut and dried. The court 10
farce, and nine times out OF ten the SEN
tence is personal spite. and the man goes
TO prison. On one occasion of the coast
OF Brazil he states, they were overtaken
by terrific electrical storm. and the ofil,,
Ger OF the watch (a lieutenant was AFRAID
10 go on deck. and absolutely forced the
men out 20 do what he should have done.
CHILEAN wAR-sHIPs.
There are q number of Chilean meD.of-
war here: Admiral Cocbrane (sister ship
to the Blanco, which sunk in the war; ana
the Huascar, iron-clsds. and the armored
cruiser Esmeralda. Admiral Condell, Al,
miral Lynch, Imperial, and Albato, ana
the cruiser 0'Higgins. and lot OF torpedo
boats, such as the Gushing. with TWO pig
guns like the Vesuvius. 1T lwould couiu
renounce the United States navy and JOIN
the Chilean navy. The three Cringoes
that were on the Blanco when we were
aboard are now commissioned oii1cers on
the Cocbrane. Promotion is rapid when
fighting is going on. An American sarior
dare not go ashore since the little episode
Of several months ago.
We are in poor plight. a. none OF the
new ships have torpedo gear, and would
have 10 depend entirely on the guns.
Our strength amounts TO eight S-inch.
twenty-seven 6-inch, twelve 6-pound,
twelve S-pound. eight 1-pound, twelve
Hotchkiss revolving guns. and eight Cat
ling guns.
ARMAMTST AND SIZED.
The Yorktown's battery is SIX 6-inch,
mounted on central pivot automatic re-
turning shield-protected carriages, and
the secondary battery consists OF two 6.
two 3, and one 1-poUnder, two Holchkiss,
and two Gatling guns, five torpedo tubes;
and no gear OF torpedos. She is supposed
TO steam seventeen knots. but we could
only get thirteen out of her, as all the fire::
men caved in mostly. She has boilers of
the locomotive pattern. j send you a
sketch of her.
THE OTHER SIDE.
The Chileans have (about) two l0-inch.
six s-inch, fifteen 5-inch, seven 4-inch, and
a more numerous battery of rapid-fire
guns. Nordenfelts, Hotchkiss, Massinis.
and Gatlings, and full outfit of torpe-
does to back them up. If 1t comes 10 a
crisis. in my opinion. we have our hands
full, although | heard the captain say he
would whip any Chilean in port.
A later postscript, presumably written
on the same day the letter was:
"1o-day's Chilean Times states that Chile
has nothing TO lose and all TO gain III war
with the United States"
ORDERED THERE.
The following ships are ordered here:
United States steamships Miantonomoh,
Chicago, Newark. Philadelphia, Boston.
Atlanta. Kearsarge, Concord. and Benning-
ton. from the East, and the San francisco.
from Frisco, making twelve ships in oil,
under the command of Kimberly. l be-
heve.
The only drawback. | guess, will be the
men. as the Miantonomoh went into CON-
mission with only twenty men.
The Chileans are overhauliDg the two
eighty-ton guns which got disabled III
late fight.