Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-11-05
SALvo coNDUcTo.
Rear Admiral Evans Tells How the
Yorktown Rescued Refugees.

miral Robley d. Evans, retlreu, Who
describes 1.-The Most Dramatic Event In
MY Life" in the Delineator for October.
She had been hurried to the Pacific be-
cause Of threatened trouble between the
two countries, Chile and the United
States, caused by the ill-treatment OF
a number Of the crew Of the U. S. 5.
Baltimore in the barber Of Valparaiso
while on shore leave. One Of the men
had been killed. stabbed to death, and
many others seriously wounded.
Two days after our arrival the Bal
timore sailed for San Francisco and the
Yorktown was left alone to represent
the United States while the courts OF
Valparaiso endeavored to arrive at
some conclusion as to who was to blame
for the unfortunate occurrence.
The American minister at Santiago,
Chile, Mr.. Patrick Egan, had given
asylum to many political refugees OF
the Balmaceda government, and these
only added to the embarrassment OF
the situation-they were practically
the guests of the United States and
must be protected and fed at all haz-
ards. To protect them proved much
easier than to feed them, and Mr.. Egan
found himself in a most serious situa-
ton. Finally, the mob threatened to
burn the American legation, and thus
secure the persons who had taken ref
uge therein. This threat, fortunately,
was never carried out, but 1t produced
one curious result-orders by wire from
the president for the commanding off,
Ger of the Yorktown to proceed to San
tiago and report to him by telegraph
as soon as possible the conditions sur
rounding the American legation.
Upon my arrival at Santiago, I found
very curious condition Of things. The
American legation was surrounded by
spies who stood about with firearms
ready to shoot any refugee who show
ed himself. They also did all til
could to annoy Mr.. Esan and prevent
him from obtaining the necessary food
supplies for those under his care.
There were nearly 100 refugees in
the American legation at this time, and
to clear them out and get them to a
place Of safety was the business Of the
minister. After had wired the presi-
dent at Washington the general condi-
tions at Santiago, conferred with Mr..
Egan and informed him that I would
receive the refugees on board the
Yorktown at Valparaiso provided they
could be turned over to me with the
permission and approval Of the Chill
can government, but not otherwise.
A few days after my return from
Santiago, received a cipher message
from Mr. Egan that he and few
friends would visit me the following
morning, which / Of course understood.
The train containing the party was
stopped few miles out Of Valparaiso
and Mr.. Egan and his friends were low
cred over a steep bluff into the boats
of the Yorktown, which were waiting,
and safely brought on board with the
statement from the minister that they
were there by permission Of the Chilean
government. AS they came over the
side and saw the crew standing at
quarters ready for action, one Of them,
on officer of high rank, who had served
his country for over fifty years, placed
his hand on one Of the six-inch guns
and said: Captain, this Is practical
salvo conducto." mo, General" I re-
o1,4 % Aoo O
practical salvo conducto." To get the
remaining refugees on board was the
important thing, and to this we devot-
ed ourselves.
1 wired my own government that the
presence Of the refugees on board
would seriously embarrass me in case
Of trouble, and asked permission to
proceed to Callao or some other port
and land them. The answer came back
promptly: use your own discretion"
and l did.
A visit was made to the British ad-
miral and he was informed Of my in
tentions and what proposed to do If
the Chilean squadron followed us.
Four hours before our departure, all
other foreign vessels, including the
Chilean flagship, were informed Of our
proposed sailing, and an offer made to
carry any mail they might have for
Callao.
The Yorktown was cleared for ac-
ton and at p. m. got under way. AS
har n1o hn
engines were sent full speed ahead, and
the little white gunboat turned rapidly
and stood for the open sea, her crew
all standing by the guns ready to reply
properly to any hostile act which we
all had good reason to think might
come at any moment. Passing rapidly
down the line Of Chilean ships with the
marines at Present Arms" the bugles
sounding a salute to each, observing
most carefully every detail Of interna-
tional courtesy, she cleared the end Of
the line and passed the fleet Of foreign
men -of-war, most Of which were under
steam and ready to move.
During the time We were passing the
SHlledH SHIPS, anu lor HNe vi Ten HllH-
| utes after, when we expected them to
follow US, the situation seemed to me
intensely dramatic The whole picture
was beautifully set, and the danger was
enough to keep ones nerves in a pleas
ant state of tension. The small gum
boat would have been no match for the
force opposed to her. They could have
sunk her and killed all her crew with
one broadside. but the beautiful flag at
her staff commanded and received the
consideration it always deserves, and
no hostile act was committed; not a
shot was fired, and not single Chilean
ship got under way to follow us.