The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-26

more had been included in the Indictment his
oftnSe being so far as | have been able 10 as
certain, that lie attempted TO defend his ship
mate against an assailaGt who was striking MN
with a knife.
VINDICATION OF OUR MEN,
The perfect yiudcalion OF Tmen is furnished
by This report. Que only is found to have been
guilty Of a criminal fault, aud that for an ACT
clearly justified.
Evidence That Rlggin was killed by police
man or soldier on duly is shown directly by the
testlm Ony OF johnson, in whose aims he was al
the time, and by the evidence OF Charles Lam
gOn an American sailor, not lhcn a member OF
the Baltimore crew. who stood close by ana saw
the tran SactOn. The Chilean authorities do not
pretend 10 fix the responsibility OF this shot upoh
any particular person, but avow their inability
10 ascertain WHO fired il further than that it was
fred from the crowd. The character OF the
wound, as described by one OF tie surgeons oI
Tie Baltimore, clearly supports his OPINION tudt
II was made by fe ball, the 0ritce OF the exit
being as much as an inch or an inch and qaar-
ter in width. When shot the poor fellow was
UNCONSCIOUS and In the arms OF a cOmTade, VINO
was cndeayoring to carry him to aneighboring
drugstore for treatment. The story OF the
police that in coming up the street they passed
those men and left them behind them IS inc0n-
SiStent with their own statement as 10 the direc-
uOn Of their approach and win their duty 10
protect them and Is clearly disproyed. Ia fact,
Rlggin was not behind but 10 front OF the ad-
yauclng force, and not standing in crowd but
unconscious and supported in the arms 0i J0hn'
son when shot.
1t must however, be understood that this
Government, while exercising the utmost for
bearauce toward weaker powers will extend It's
strong and adequate protection 10 its citizens.
its officers and It's humblest sailors, when made
the victims OF wanicnness and cruelty in resent
ment. not for their personal misconduct, but for
The official acts Of their Government.
TAXING TESTIMONY.
UpOn information received that Patrick Shields,
an lrishmaD, and probably British subject but
at the time a fireman Of the American steamer
KeeWeenaw, in the harboT Of Valparaiso for
repairs, had been subjected TO personal in
iuries in that city largely by the police,
] directed The AItOrney-Geueral TO cause the
evidence Of the officers and crew OF that vessel 10
be taken upon its arrival 10 San Francisco, and
this testimony is also herewith transmitted. The
brutality ana even SaYagery OF the treatment OF
these poor men by Tie Chilean police would be
incredible IL the evidence OF Shields was not
supported by other direct testimony and by the
distressing condition of the man himself when
lie fually was able TO reach his vessel. The
captain Of the vessel says; "lIe came back
wreck, black from his neck 10 his hips from The
beating weak aud stupid, and still in Kind OF
paralyzed condition, and has never been able TO
do duty since"
The claim for TeparatiOn has been made in be-
half Of This man, for While be was not a citizen
OF The United States, tie dccuine so long held
by US, as expressed in consular regulations aud
principles, which are maintained by This Govern
ment IN regard 10 protection, as distinguished
from the relief of seamen. s well settled. It
held that the circumstance that The vessel IS
Ame rican is evidence that the seameu on board
are such. and in every regularly dOcumente
merchant vessel the crew Will hud their proiec-
tl0n IN The flag that covers them.
Following Is the concluding portion OF the
Presidents message on the Chilean question.
After SUNNI arizlng lie correspondence up 0 a
certain point he says: The communications OF
the Chilean Government in relation 10 this cruel
aud disastrous attack upon our men, rs VIII ap-
pear from the correspondence, have not in any
degree taken The form OF manly and salts
factory expression OF regret, much less auology.
Tie event was Of so serious a character that II
The iujury suffered by our men had been wholly
tie result OF accident iu Chilean port, tie incl
dent was grave enough 10 have called FOR some
public expression Of sympathy and regret from
the local authorities.