The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-26

"SNo souynt 70 provoke cOllisiOn which
could opiy end in thHr destruction. or t,
aggr9Sate thcir condition BY intensiiylng ,
popular feeling that at ono tlmo so threatened
pe legation as to require Mr. Egan to appcn
to the Mintster OF Foreign Affairs.
But the most serious incident disclosed b.
the correspondence Is that OF tho attack upor
tho sailors Of the Baltimore In the streets O
Valparaiso on Oct. 10 last
In my annual message. speaking upon tn,
Information then in my possession. I said:
So Ter rs have yet been able to learn. nj
other explanation OF this bloody work ha.
seen suggested than that It had its origin r
hostility to these men as sailors OF the United
States. wearing tho uniform Of their Govern
ment, and not IN any individual act or per.
sonal animosty."
HIS FORMER CONCLUSION NOT MODIFIED.
We have now received from the Gillian Gov.
eminent an abstract OF the conclusions 81 the
Fiscal General upon the testimony taken by
the Judge OF Crimes In an investigation which
was made to extend over nearly three months
l very much regret to DO compelled to say
that this report does not enable me to modify
the conclusion announced in my annual mos.
sage.
am still OF the opinion that our sailors were
assaulted. beaten, stabbed. and killed. not for
anything they or any one Of them had done.
but for what the Government Of the United
statcs had done. or was charged with having
done. by it's civil officers and naval COM
manders II that be the true aspect OF the
case. tho injury was to the Government Of the
United States and to these poor sailors who
were assaulted In manner SO brutal and 80
cownrdly.
Before attempt to give an outline Of tho
In tt1, fab 7 ipk
1t right to say word or two upon the legal
aspect Of tho case.
The Baltimore was in the harbor OF VAL
paraso by virtue OF that general Invitation
which nations are held to extend to the war
vessels OF other powers with which they have
friendly relations.
This invitation. think, must be held ordin-
arily to embrace the privilege OF such COM
munication with the shore as is reasonable,
necessary. and proper for the comfort and
convenience Of tho officers and men Of such
vessels. Capt Schley testified that when his
vessel returned to Valparaiso on Sent. H. the
city officers. as ia customary. extended tho
Inequalities OF tho city to his officers and
crew.
1t Is not claimed that every personal collision
or injury In which a sailor or officer OF such
naval vessel visiting the shore may be involved
raises an international question: but 1 am
clearly Of the opinion that where such sailors
or officers arc assaulted by resident popu-
lace. animated by hostility to the Government
whose uniform the sailors and officers wear,
and in resentment OF acts done by their Gov
eminent. not by them. their nation must take
notice Of the event as one involving an infrac-
ton OF its rights and dignity: not in second
airy way. as where citizen il injured and pre-
scnts his claim through his own Government.
but in primary way. precisely rs II its Minister
or Consul. or the flag itself had been tho object
OF the same character Of assault
Tho officers and sailors OF the Baltimore
We're In tho harbor Of Valparaiso under the
orders OF their Government, not by their own
choice They were upon tho shore by the i'm
piled invitation Of the Government of Chilli.
and with the approval of their commanding
officer, and it does not distinguish their case
from that OF a Consul. that his stay is more
permanent or that no holds the express invi-
tation OF the local Government to Justify his
longer residence.
Nor docs it affect the question that the in
jury was the act Of a mob. II there had been
no participation by the police or military in
this cruel work. and no neglect on their part
to extend protection. tho case would sti!l b.
one. in my opinion. when it's extent and char
acter are considered. involving international
rights.
Tho incidents of'the affair are briefly as
follows:
On Oct. 10 last Capt. schley. commanding
the United States steamship Baltimore gave
shore leave to III petty officers and sailors OF
his ship These men left tho ship about l 30
7. NJ. No incident OF violence occurred: mono
OF our mon were arrested. no complaint was
lodged against them. nor did any collision or
outbreak occur until about @ o'clock p. NJ.
Capt. schley states that he WAS himself on
shore and about the streets Of the city until
$3.50 T. NJ: that he mot very many OF his men
who were upon leave; that they were sober
and were conducting themselves with propri-
city. saluting Gillian and other officers as they
met them.
Other officers OF the ship and Capt. Jenkins
OF the merchant ship Keweenaw corroborated
Capt schley Us to the general sobriety and
good behavior OF our men.
The Sisters OF Charity at the hospital to
which our wounded men were taken. when In.
Quired OF. stated that they were sober when
received. II tho situation had been otherwise,
We must believe that tho Gillian police au-
thorities would have made arrests.
About q o'clock p. NJ. the assault began, and
It'll remarkable that the Investigation by tho
ouuBo VI SIAHcos tHOu8h bo pEOL[aCLeu, does
not enable him to give any more satisfactory
account OF its origin than is found IN the state.
ment that it began between drunken sailors.
Repeatedly In the correspondence it is as.
serted that it was impossible to learn tho pre-.
else cause of the riot.
Tho Minister OF Foreign Affairs. Malta, in
his telegram to Dir. Montt under date Dec. 81,
states that the quarrel began between two
sailors in n tavern and was continued in the
street, persons who were passing Joining in it.
The testimony OF Talbot. an apprentice, who
was with R2gin. is that the outbreak in which
they were involved began by CHILEAN sailor
splitting In the face of Talbot. which was 70.
scented by Il knock down.
1t appears that Riggin and Talbot were at
tho time unaccompanied by any othors of their
shipmatos These two men were Immediately
beset by crowd OF Gillian citizens and sailors.
through which they broke their way to street
car and entered it for safety.
They were pursued and driven from tho car,
and lliggin was SO seriously beaten that lie
fell In the street. apparently dead. There is
nothing In the report Of the CHILEAN investiga-
ton made to US that seriously impeaches this
testimony.
MOD WAS ENGAGED
1t appears from CHILEAN sources that almost
instantly, with suddenness that strongly