New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-02
JAPANS BAD BARGAIN.
SHE IS SAID TO HAVE BOUGHT THE
GILLIAN CRUISER EsMERALDA
FOUND. AS SHE is OUTCLAssED BY MANY
sMALLER But MORE MODERN SHIPS.

FOUND. AS SHE is OUTCLASSED BY MANY
SMALLER But MORE MODERN SHIPS.
Word was received at this city Yesterday that
the Gillian cruiser Esmeralda had been sold to
the japanese Government. Investigation showed
that this news was little more authentic than
most Of the news which has been received re-
gardng the details of the war between China and
Japan 1t Is as certain anything can be In this
Japanese-Chinese war that the Mikado has made
a bad bargain in buying the Esmeralda from
the Chlian Government. The sale effected
through a company In Valparaiso which is one
of the subsidiary houses of Charles r. Flint &
Co.. of NewYork. For the last ten years Charles
r. Flint has been making himself a dominant
American force in South America and has in a
large manner, supplanted the Grace firms which
used to flourish up and down the east and west
coasts. 1t is therefore. perfectly natural that
any transfers of Chilian man-of-war would be
made through Flint & Co.
Why the Japanese should wish to own the
Esmeralda is another question. In her day she
was a very good ship. In fact. when the Es-
merada first came out and had made her meas
ured mile Of speed. she accounted the best
ship Of her class ever aioat. The Esmeralda. the
Blanco Encaada. and the Huasca are memorable
in the annals of South American wars Report
SAYS that the Esmeralda was first sold to the
Bolivian Government and by the Bolivian Gov
ernment 10 Japan. AS Bolivia has no seacoast
whatever. and has no treaty with China or
Japan, this, of course. II 1t Is true. was mere
subterfuge. 1t is said that the Esmeralda will at
once sail for Japan. where a native crew will be
placed on board of her. which will be great
blessing to the Esmeralda.
When the writer saw the Esmeraida in the Bay
Of Panama. in 1885. her CRATE bars were burned
out and she was in such a condition that eight
knots an hour would have been GOOD speed
for her 10 make. When she first came to Chil
she was manned by Chilian naval Officers put
her English fremen stokers and engineers were
retained Afterward they were discharged and
native Chil!ans were substituted for them. The
result was the ruin of the Esmeralda.
Several times when dsagreements have arisen
between this country and Chill 1t has been stated
that the Esmerada could lay New-iork or san
Francisco under tribute. all OF which was the
sheerest nonsense. The Boston. the Atlanta ana
the Chicago are and always have been more imam
n match for the Esmeralda In any sort oi a sea
fight There never was more oVerrated country
than Chilli or a more overrated boat thdh '"V
Esmeralda. 800.
The Esmerada was launched in June Of lss5'
AT the works Of W g. Armstrong CO. IN
England and is OF 1000 tons dsplace ment. Her
armor is one inch thick. and her engines OF c','
horsepower She carries two 2i-ton breech-load-
terry of machine guns. Her speed on her tr'al
trip over the measured mile. was eighteen hilols
an hour She is "A boat which has long since
been outbullt and is inferior In armor and arma-
ment TO other vessels In the Chian Navy Inc
Chilians have for instance. the Blanco Enc aiada'
which was launched In April. 1893. 10 replace Il
vessel Of the same name which was sunk Dy a
torpedo through the carelessness or her oincerS
in the recent civil war in Chill. The last Biahco
Encalada was a cruiser with denecuNe u"th
and an arnor belt. with a displacement OF f'fOo
tons. -,
II would seem harlly possible that the Japan p,
csc in their high state OF CIVILIZATION, WouIu
nurchase a worn-Out and cast off vessel ot Inc
Chilian NAVY One rumor says that the Japan
ese have not bought the Esmeralda, but that II
has been bought by the Chinese Charles H.
Flint when seen yesterday regarding these
matters was shown a clipping from an alter
noon paper which stated that the japanese
| have bought the Esmeralda- He read ne cnp-
ping with great interest. ana SAID cannot
firm or deny. ! have seen correspondence m re-
garding the matter. but can tell you thls. IN
saIe has been affected through Flint CO., "i
| Valparaiso These different companies are man,
aged I'm an Independent manner. ana sh0ulu
not as yet have received information fegdiuihs
the Esmeralda ! am much pleased TO recelNe
the news but have no authority 10 give lhiol
nation II she has been sold by fhnt va Vi
| ValDarajso | shall hear Of 1t. know tnat ne
gotiations fer sale nave Deef PehuIis.
From what Mr. Flint said IL was gathered
| that q was the japanese Government that had
| heen negotiating for the Esmeralda sun Mf.
Flint Is a shrewd man. and hurried away TO take
| the first train for Washington