The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-09-22

Kear-Admirni Evans. Retired, Teus
How the Yorktown rescucd Re,u-
gees at Santiago.

town, under m,S command. arrived I'm
the harbor of Valparaiso. Chile. about
December 1st. 1899 after rough
passage from New York. says Rear
Admiral Robley ID. Evans. retired. who
describes ''The Most Dramatic Event
In My Life" In The Delinsator for
October. She had been hurried to
the Pacific because of threatened
trouble between the two countries,
Chile and the United States. caused
BY the ill-treatment OF a numebr of
the crew Of ths U. 8. s. Baltimore in
the harbor OF Valparaiso while on
~hors leave. One of the men had
been killed. stabbed to death, and
many others seriously wounded.
Two days after our arrival the Bal
umore sailed for San Francisco and
the Yorktown was left alone to repre-
sent the United States while the
courts Of Valparaiso endeavored to
arrive At sc-ae conclusion as to who
was to blame torthe unfortunate oc-
currenee.
The American Minister at Santiago.
Chile. Mr. Patrick Egan, had given
asylum to many political refugees of
the Baimaceds government and these
only added to the embarrassment of
the situation--the 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
situation. Finally. the mob threaten
Cd TO burn the American Legation.
and thus secure the persons who had
taken refuge therein. This threat.
fortunately. was never carried out,
but II produced one curious result
orders by wire from the president for
the commanding officer OF the York
town to proceed to Santiago and re-
port TO him by telegraph as soon as
possible the conditions surrounding
the American Legation.
Upon my arrival at Santiago
found very curious condition OF
things- The American Legation was
surrounded by spies who stood about
With firearms ready to shoot any ref
ugee who showed himself. They also
did all they could to annoy Mr. Egan
and prevent him from obtaining the
pecessary food supplies for those un-
der HE care.
There were nearly one hundred ref
ugses In the American Legation at this
time. and to clear them out and get
them 70 a place of safety was the
bueineb Tor ths Minister. After had
wired the President at Washington
the general conditions at Santiago, /
coufsrrsd with Mr. Egan and inform-
% him that would receive the ref
uuses on board the Yorktown at Val
paraiso provided they could be turn
ed over to me with the permission
ment. but not otherwise.
A few days after my return from
Santiago received cipher message
from Mr.. Egan that ne and few
friends would visit me the following
morning. which I of course under
stood. The train containing the party
was stopped few miles out Of VAL
paraiso and Mr.. Egan and his friends
were lowered over steep blum into
the boats CT the Yorktown. which
were waiting. and safely brought on
board with the statement from the
Minister that they were there by per-
mission Of the Chilean government
As they came over the side and saw
the crew standing at quarters ready
for action. one OF them. an oficer OF
high rank. who had served his coun-
try for over fifty years. placed his
hand on one Of the six-inch guns and
said. Captain. this IL a practical salvo
conducto." mo. General. 1 replied
pointing to our flag. that y the prac-
teal salvo conducto." To get the re-
maining refugees on board was the
important thing and to this we de-
voted ourselves.
! 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 dis.
cretion." and / did.
visit was made to the British Ad-
mira and he was informed Of my in
tentions and what proposed to do II
the Chilean squadron followed Us
Four hours before our departure al