Evening star., 1898-03-04
'Reparation for the Assault at Valpa-
raiso.
ATTITUDE ADOPTED TOWARD CHILE
Same Principle May Be involved in
+. the Maine Disaster.
AN INSTRUCTIVE CHAPTER

United States ship Maine was caused by
the agency of private Spanish subjects it
| does not follow that the Spanish govern
| ment Is relieved from responsibility. A case
| involving practically the same principle
was that of the assault on the sailors of the
United States ship Baltimore in the harbor
of Valparaiso. Chile, in 1891. The Balti-
| more anchored at Valparaiso, and about
100 of her crew went shore. A Chilean
sailor who was spelling for a fight spat in
the face of one of the sailors OF the Balti-
more. This was resented by one of the
sailors companions. whereupon a crowd OF
Cnileans, sailors and civilians, rushed In
upon them. The two American sailors
| forced their way out and jumped on a pass
ing horse car. The mob boarded the car
ana pulled them off. One of the sailors
Was injured SO that he died subsequently and
| lne otner was seriously wounded. At the
time OF the assault upon these two sailors
an inolscrlmnate attack commenced, ex-
tendlng to widely distant parts of the CITY,
against United States sailors wherever they
Gould be found, with bayonets, clubs and
STONES. Inc police either did not interfere
20 protect them, or Joined in the attack or
captured and dragged off to prison those
tnted states sailors. The result of the as
sauit was the death of two of our sailors
and serious injuries to sixteen Others
| The above facts having, been ascertaiped
py board OF inquiry, which Captain
Schley, the commander of the Baltimore
was directed by the Navy Department to
| convene, Acting Secretary Wharton of the
state Department cabled our minister at
| santiago to state to the Chilean govern
ffent that the conclusion of the President
was that the assaults were animated by
| nostillty to these men as sailors of the
United States; that, If the facts are as re-
ported by Captain Schley this government
| cannot doubt that the government of Chile
Will offer prompt and full reparatfon
l IVA 1tal
| that the administration and judicial au-
tnoritles weH investigating the affair; that
that Investigation under Chilean law is Sc
cret and the time not yet arrived to make
known results; that when that time does
| arrive the result would BE- communicated
aithougn that government did not recog-
| me any other authority competent to
/ Judge criminal cases than that established
| by the Chilean people.
| Ihe report of the judicial investigation,
Wnich was subsequently communicated to
anls government, made it appear that the
Gnair was merely an ordinary brawl be-
| tween sailors, and that the assault was
provoked by the American sailors 1t was
| iecomm ended that three of the Chileans
| ana one American concerned be condemn
ed 10 terms of Imprisonment varying from
Iorty days to three years. 1t was stated
tnat II would probably be about two months
peIore hnal sentence would be passed
This was not satisfactory to Mr.. Blaine.
| ana a few days after its receipt he cabIed
| Minister Egan stating that the President,
/
! that had baen submitted by the govern
| nent OF Chile touching the affair, and to
| evidence OF the officers and crew of the
vessel, and of some others who witnessed
lne assault, mad reached thu following con-
i clusionS: WI
| 1. Ihat the assault was not relieved of
| me aspect which the early informa ton of
the event gave to it, viz: That of an at
| TACK upon the uniform of the United States
/ navy. having its origin and motive in a
Aeehng of hostility to this government and
II in nrv1Ng S,tNt IS
them. .-..,..,.. my VI
| '2. That the public authorities of Val.
Paraiso hagrantly failed in their duty to
pa1tect 1;o our men, and that some of the
ponce and of the Chilean sailors and SOL
| siers were themselves guilty Of unprovoked
assauHs upon our sailors before and after
3. He is therefore compelled to bring
the case back to the position taken by this
government in the note of Mr.. Wharton of
OctoDer * last, and to ask for a suitable
apology ard for some adequate reparation
for the injury done to this government"
In the course of this cablegram Mr.
blalne said: NO self-respecting govern
| ment can consent that persons in it's ser
vice, whether civil or military, shall be
beaten and killed in foreign territory in
resentment of acts done by or imputed to
their government without exacting a suit-
apie feparation: The government of the
United States has freely recognized this
principle and acted upon it when the in
jury was done by its people to one holding
an oflc1ai relation to a friendly power in
resentment of acts done by the latter.
In such case the United States has not
sought for words of the smallest value or
OF equivocal meaning in which TO convey
| its apology. but has condemned such acts
In vigorous terms, and has not refused to
| make other adequate reparation."
The Chilean government upon presenta-
tion of the above expressed It's willing
ness to submit to arbitration the de-
termination Of the reparation which Chile
might have to make. Mr.. Blaine in
structed Mr.. Egan to give assurances Of
the Presidents readiness to meet the over
lures. of the Chilean government in the
most friendly spirit, but added: 1.-The
President will not engage at present In
discussion of the methods suggested in the
matter of the reparation to be made for
the assault upon the American Sailors be-
cause he believes that the usual diplomatic
course is now available to that end, and
because he has no doubt that the whole
matter will soon be brought to final and
honorable conclusion under the sense of
Justice evinced by Chile
After some further correspondence. the
affair was settled by the payment by Chile
Of an Indemnity of $75OOO. gold.