2
CORRESPONDENCE.
A Complete History of the
Chilean Controversy.
Events Covering a Period ot
Eighteen Months.
Incidents Leading to the Existing:
Diflicnlties Reviewed.
Minister Eg-an's Dealings with the Bal
maceda Government and His
Halations with the Pres
ent Regime.
Associated Press Dispatches.
Washington, Jan. 25.—The corre
apondence accompanying tho president's
message to congress concerning the
Chilean imbroglio, is of great volume,
and would probably fill more than 100
columns of an ordinary newspaper. It
dates back as far as August 15, 1890,
eighteen months ago, and much of it
haa been described with sufficient ac
curacy in tbe president's message sent
to congress at the beginning of the
present session, and the newspaper
publications that have been made.
It is divided into three portions, the
first comprising the correspondence be
tween Mr. Blame and Mr. Egan, or Mr.
Wharton in Mr. Blame's absence; the
correspondence between Sefior Lazcano,
the Chilean minister under the Balma
ceda administration, and lastly the
notes exchanged between Secretary
Blame and Don Pedro Montt, the
present Chilean miniater to Washing
ton.
The Egan Correspondence.
The Egan correapondence begins
August 16, 1890, with the statement of
the changes in the Balmaceda ministry,
which constituted a precursor to the
revolution. Many chapters of this cor
respondence are now ancient history
and therefore of little interest at the
preaent juncture. The one fact that ia
established is that Minister Egan had
an abiding faith up to the last moment
in tbe ultimate triumph of Balmaceda
over his enemies, and the downfall of
the insurgent cause.
March 9. 1891, Mr. Egan transmitted
to Secretary Blame a request by the
Chilean government tbat tbe United
Statea permit one of its shipa to carry
from Valparaiso to Montevideo a sum of
about $4,000,000"bar silver which was re
quired for the payment of the interest
on the national debt abroad; that tbe
Chilean government feared its capture
by the revolted fleet, if the sum was
sent in the regular course of business.
March 17th, in a dispatch describing
the sanguinary battles in the neighbor
hood of Iquique, the minister says that
the revolution had the undivided sym
pathy and the active support of the
English residents in Chile; that the
English superintendents of the nitrate
works urged their men to join the revo
lutionists, and Colonel North contributed
the sum of £100,000 in ita aupport.
April 14th the minister tells of an
effort of the Chilean government to col
lect duties on exports from insurgent
posta; the protests made by the Ger
man and British ministers and the as
surances that he has received that
American vessels will not be subjected
to any inconvenience.
April 2Ut he telegraphs tbat the
Chilean government urgently requests
that the proposition of the Chilean min
ister for the purchase of a man of-war
from the United States be favorably
considered.
Mr. Egan began his efforts as a peace
maker April 24th, when be telegraphed
for permission to act with the Bra
zilian minister and French charge
d'affaires in an effort to restore peace,
the indications being tbat mediation
would be accepted by both parties.
The next day he received Mr. Blame's
permission to act as mediator.
May 24th Mr. Egan informs Mr.
Blame that tbe good offices of the United
States, Brazil and France have been
most cordially accepted by the govern
ment of Chile and the revolutionists,
those of England and Germany having
been declined.
THE ITATA INCIDENT
first appears in tbe correspondence in
connection with tbe declaration sent by
McCreery, American consul at Valpa
raiso, to the state departement here
(Mr. Wharton being then tbe acting
secretary in Mr. Blame's absence) that
the South American Steamship Co. insist
that the Itata is their property and has
been taken from them by by the
insurgents. Tho came day Mr. Egan
notifies the state department, at the re
quest of the Chilean government, of the
presence of the Itata in California
waters.
May 14th, Mr. Wharton, alarmed by
the threats current in Washington that
Balmaceda threatens to shoot the en
voys who appear before the mediators,
insists that under the circumstances
they should have the treatment of a
flag of truce. Two days later, in an
swering, Mr. Egan disclaimed any such
intention on the part of Balmaceda.
Then follows a long history of the
attempt of the mediators to secure
peace in Chile, winding up with an ac
count of the breaking off of the negoti
ations as the result of the attempt to
assassinate Stfior (iodoy, one of Balma
ceda's ministers.
May 28th Mr. Wharton encloses to
Mr. Egan for his information a copy of
a letter from Mr. Davis of Lima, Peru,
quoting the rumor that Mr. Egan had
advised Bulmaceda to grant letters of
marque to privateers as a war measure.
On the Ist of June Mr. Wharton in
structs Mr. Egan that prompted solely
by a desire to restore peace, and entirely
disinterested, the president desires him
to informally and discreetly ascertain
whether the good offices of this govern
ment can in any way be used for the
termination of the conflict in Chile. On
the same day, by telegraph, Mr. Whar
ton informs Mr. Egan that the expecta
tion was entertained of the return to the
custody of the United States courts, of
the arms on the Itata and the ship her
self. In answer to the president's sug
gestion tbat he renew bis
EFFORTS OK MEDIATION,
Mr. Egan telegraphs -li ne 9th, that
while the revolutionists were not in
clined to make »ny reasonable peace
propositions, the Chilean government is
well disposed to entertain any that
might be made.
Bear Admiral McCann figured in the
negotiations at this stage, and he, then
at Iquique, approached tb<> revolu
tionary leaders at Mr. Egan's instance,
THE LOS ANGELES HERALD TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 26, 1892
in the interests of meditation. June
12th he writes Mr. Egan aa follows: "I
have to regret that in my note to Sefior
Errazuriz, I incautiously quoted too
freely from your letter of the 2J inst.,
especially that line in which you ex
press the opinion that 'the government
at Santiago cannot be disturbed.' The
consequence of tbis inadvertency on my
part (being nneccu-totned to diplomatic
fencing) will be seen in the declaration
of Sefior Errazuriz."
He also adds tbat the loss of the Itata
and arms at that time, excited great
animosity against the United States at
Iquique.
The declaration of Sefior Errazuriz to
which Admiral McCann refers was rip
ply to the effect that he must be par
doned if he excused himself from dis
cussing at that moment Mr. Egan's
statement tbat the government could
not be overthrown. Mr. Egan writes a
note of regret to the admiral, dated June
27th, saying that the circumstance has
been ueed to his detriment.
There was some correspondence in
the latter part of June relative to the
Central and South American cable.
Mr. Wharton transmits to Mr. Egan in
formation received by wire from the
president of tbe company, relating to
tbe company being forcibly prevented
from working the cable between Iquique
and Valparaiso, and expressing the
willingness of tbe company, but the
fear that if the cable were connected
through between Peru and Valparaiso
it would be cut by the officials at
Iquique. In reply Mr. Egan strongly
recommends that the telegraph com
pany accept the offer made by the
Chilean government to pay the expenses
of opening communication with Valpa
raiso, and to give guarantees against
damages to the cable.
July 3d, Mr. Wharton summarily dis
posed of the request of the Balmaceda
government that a war vessel be sold to
them by replying: "1 have to inform
you that the navy department replies
that it has none for sale."
September 26th, Mr. Wharton informs
Mr. Egan that hia efforts of peace are
highly appreciated and fully approved.
He also informs him of the arrival in
Washington of Sefiors Montt and Vara?,
representing the Congressional party as
confidential agents. Of their mission,
he says:
"The object of their visit is under
stood to be the presentation of the
claims of their party to recognition as a
belligerent government. Conspicuously
asaerting their capacity as authoritative
repretentatives of a de facto combatant,
and claiming to be envoys of an organ
ized sovereign government, they have
by their own pretensions made it quite
impracticable for thia department to re
ceive them or communicate with them
directly, even in an unofficial way, as
ou frequent occasiona in the past. The
executive ia not diapoeed to prejudice
the question of recognition of a revolu
tionary movement, and nothing haa yet
occurred which would constrain thia
government .to a decision of the quea
tion of the international status oi the
Congressional party in Chile. The non
reception of the Congressional agents is
in no wise a decision on tbe merits of
tbe main question. Positive results
must be awaited, showing the true
purpose of the people of Chile, and in
the meantime this government feels
bound to maintain its attitude of
"impartial forbearance."
July 25th Mr. Egan telegraphs that
the Chilean government seeks to exact
an assurance before clearing cargoes,
that if the ships are captured by the
revolutionists they will be forcibly liber
ated by their respective governments.
In reply Mr. Wharton briefly declinesto
give any such assurance, adding tbat
the government of tbe United States
will always take proper steps to protect
vessels flying its hag.
July 28th Mr. Egan writes tbat the
English government has placed tbe war
ship Eapiegle at tho services of the Bal
maceda government in conveying the
silver treasure to England. Tbe next
day he cornea out with an unqualified
contradiction of tbe story that he has
advised the issue of letters of marque
to privateers, or that he has given Bal
maceda any suggestions as to the con
duct of tbe war. He adds that he has
maintained cordial relations with the
government, "and at the same time I
have the assurance that I have retained
the friendship and confidence of the
leaders of the opposition." In proof of
this latter statement he cites the fact
that the peace negotiations were con
ducted at his legation. As thia point ia
of importance, in view of the changed
relatione of the parties later on, it may
be of interest to add that Mr. Egan then
wiites: "Since the commencement of
the ravolution I have been requested
on various occasions by tbe oppotition
to exercise my good offices in their be
half in favor of the liberation of the
prisoners, the mitigation of puuieh
inent, the preservation of convent
schools and clerical colleges from mili
tary occupation, and other similar mat
ters, in all of which cases every intima
tion that I made to the government was
most cordially received and in almost
all cases promptly acted upon. In tbe
present terribiy excited condition of
public feeling here, when every act and
word are closely criticised and often dis
torted, it is extremely difficult to avoid
being misrepresented, but so far I can
congratulate myself upon having been
able to keep this legation clear of all
entanglements."
August 3rd Mr. Egan transmits state
ments current at Santiago to the effect
that the English war vessels were help
ing the revolutionists by carrying their
mails and endeavoring to secure the sur
render of torpedo boats belonging to
Balmaceda.
August 23d he writes that ha has
sheltered iv the legation the opposition
leaders, Edwards and Matta; that it is
threatened that the government would
search the legation building; that upon
big protest the president (Balmaceda)
bad disavowed any such intention.
In half a dozen dispatches Mr. Egan
tells tbe well known story of
TUB DOWNFALL OF BALMACEDA.
describing the scenes consequent upon
the capture of Valparaiso and Santiago,
and*announces that he has iv asylum
eighty refugees, including the wife oi
Balmaceda and her four children. He
says that the Spanish legation has about
the same number of refugees: that the
French, German, Argentine and Bra
zilian legations have more or less, and
that the only legation that closed its
doors and denied asylum, was that of
England.
September 4th Mr. Wharton dir t jcts
Mr. Egan to recognize the new govern
ment and open communication with its
head, and on September sth, telegraphs
that he has done so, and that his rela
tions with the new government are
entirely cordial.
September 17th Mr. Egan writes that
since the unfortuate Itata incident the
young nnd unthinking Chilean element
have had a bitter feeling against the
United States, and that tbe English
element, as bus always been their cus
tom, will do all in their power to pro
mote and foster this feeling. He says
that the reasonable men in power admit
that the United States could not con
sistently have taken any other course
than tbe one she adopted, and that
Errazuriz, when acting aB minister
of foreign relations two weeks ago, bo
stated to him, without reservation. In
this relation the minister alludes to
the charge that the United .-tates
steamer San Francisco carried news to
the Balmacedists of the Congressional
landing, and encloses an unequivocal
denial cf the charge by Admiral Brown.
THE QCESTION OF ASYLVM.
The minister tells of Balmaceda's
suicide, and then begins a recital of his
efforts, lasting months, to protect the
refugees in his legation. September
24th be telegraphs that he is expected
to terminate the asylum and send the
refugees out to be prosecuted, but to do
ao would be to sacrifice their lives, and
he has refused to permit them to go out
of the legation, except under safe con
duct to neutral territory. He says, on
account of the Itata and other ques
tions, bitter feeling has been fomented
by the government supporters against
Americans. Secret police surround the
legation, with orders to nrrest visitors.
Two of Mr. Egan's servants have been
arrested and are now in prison. Against
this disrespect to the legation he haa
addressed a protest to the minister of
foreign affairs.
Later he telegraphs that twenty per
sons have been arrested in tbe last two
days for entering the legation, and oth
ers have been prevented by the police.
All this ia intended to force him to drive
out the refugees, which he will not do
without instructions. He has addressed
a second note to the minister of foreign
affairs requesting an exnlanation of such
extraordinary, unjustifiable and offen
sive conduct.
The department evidently sustained
Mr. Egan's course in this respect, for on
September 26th tbe following telegram
was sent to him: "Mr. Wharton in
structs Mr. Egan, by direction of the
president, to insist firmly that the re
spect and inviolability due to the min
ister of the United States and to the
legation buildings, including free access,
shall be given and observed fully and
promptly by the Chilean authoiities.
The government of the United States is
prepared to consider in a friendly spirit
the question as to whether asylum has,
under the circumstances, been properly
given to the persons now at the legation
when the facts are more fully before it,
bu' it cannot allow to pass without a
firm protest the evidence of disrespect
towards its minister, which Mr. Egan
reported. It is expected that this pro
test will be followed by prompt action
on the part of the authorities of Chile."
On the following day Mr. Egan tele
graphs the department that he has
acted strictly in tbe spirit of the depart
ment'n instructions in the Barrundia
affair. He adds: "Three notes have
been received from the minister of for
eign affairs, in which he charees that
the refugees had abused tbe right of
asylum, and for this reason defends his
action towards the legation. Mr. Egan
has informed the minister that the
charge is absolutely and entirely un
founded, and has asked for safe conduct
for the refugees. Similar requesta bad
been made by him two weeks previous,
informally, but orders were given that
all persons leaving the legation should
be arresied, and many persons were thus
obliged to procure passports to visit the
legation."
In a long letter dated September 29th
he explains these events at great detail,
showing in substance tbat the allegation
of the local authorities was that the
refugees were engaged in a conspiracy
against the government. . The inten
dente himself had declared to him that
he did not believe the story a moment,
but at his suggestion Mr. Egan caused
the friends of the refugees to discontinue
their visits to the legation. Neverthe
less the arrests and police persecution
continued in spite of Mr. Egan's best
efforts, through the medium of three
notes addressed to the foreien office, to
cause their cessation. He telis of in
timations conveyed to him that he
should cause the refugees to leave the
legation to avoid complications and per
sonal unpopularity. He speaks of the
refugees in other legations, and calls at
tention to the fact that in the case of
one or two army officers who escaped
into the English legation, in spite of its
refusal to take any refugees, the govern
ment did not hesitate to grant safe con
duct.
MINISTER MATTA'S BROSQUENEBS.
In his notes to Minister Egan, rela
tive to this subject, Sefior Matta, the
Chilean miniater of foreign affairs, is in
instances rather brusque, as may be
seen from the following extracts : '"'Re
lating to the extraordinary, and without
example, events taking place at the le
gation, the envoy extraordinary will
permit me to excuse discussion of the
point, because everything done and
everything that will be done by the police
agents, not only exercise the attributes
incumbent upon the local authorities,
which are better informed and better
posted on what takes place inside the
legation and its vicinity, than appears
to be by the envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary. In reference
to the communication of his excellency,
the envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary to his government, upon
these subjects, and the proceedings that
may follow, and the new instructions
and orders they may be given him,
these are not matters to give grounds
whatsoever for diecussion with the un
dersigned, who believes and hopes that
knowing the facts, such aa they are,
they will be judged in the aame light
and by the same criterion that he him
self judges them."
In a telegram of the date of Septem
ber 30th, Mr. Egan statea that in a note
sent him the miniater for foreign affairs
refuses safe conduct or permission to
refugees to leave the country, and main
tains tbe correctness of all that has been
done by tbe authorities. The minister
for foreign affairs also repeals the un
founded ani absurd charges o( the refu
gees conspiring in the United States le
gation, s-ince Saturday the trouble to
the legation had ceased and no more ar
rests had been made.
EGAN AGAIN SUSTAINED.
Again was Mr. Ej;an sustained by the
president in the following telegram,
dated October Ist: "Mr. Egan is in
formed that the president desires to es
tablish and maintain the must friendly
relations with Chile, but the rig.it of
asylum having been tacitly, if not ex
pressly allowed to other foreign lega
tions, and having been exercised by our
minister with the old government, in
the interests and for tbe safety of the
adherents of tbe party now in power,
the president cannot but regard the ap
plication of another rule, accompanied
by acts of disrespect to our legation, as
the manifestation of a most unfriendly
spirit. Mr. Egan is instructed to fur
nish a copy of this to the minister for
foreign affairs, and to take the utmost
prccauth ns to prevent any abuse of tbe
privilege of asylum by those to whom
he has extended it. Their intercourse
with outside persons, whether by person
or by letter, should be under his super
vision and limited to the most necessary
and innocent matters. The discussion
and adjustment of the matter would
probably be much facilitated was there
an authorized agent of Chile at Wash
ington."
In answer, October 3d, Mr. Egan tele
graphs that the minister of foreign
affairs disclaims any intention of dis
respect to the legation, but claims a
right to take measures outside the lega
tion to frustrate the conspiracy on the
part of the refugees. Mr. Egan insists
that there has been no abuse of the
asylum, an 1 says he will prevent any.
Hi- design is to obtain Bafe conduct for
the refugees out of the country. He
announces, three days later, that tbe
Spanish minister has agreed to act in
harmony with him in the matter of
refugees.
Iv the notes passing between himself
and Sefior Mattn, which Mr. Egan en
closed, the former asserts that the
authorities have no desire to molest per
sons entering the legation, although a
few persons have been detained, who
may have field intercourse with the
refugees without Mr. Egan knowing it
or being able to know. He cites an in
stance oi persons passing papers through
an open window. In reply Mr. Egan
refuses to admit the right of the regular
authority to blockade the legation. He
asserts that the papers passed through
the window were letters thrown in by
one of the brothers of the refugees who
had bejn twice arrested for attempting
to visit the legation. That the letter
related to family affairs and was in his
(Egan's) poesesaion, and was at the
minister's disposal. Finally he asserts
tbat under international law tbe refu
gees are free to receive correspondence.
In a telegram dated October 13th, Mr.
Egan says that tbe intendente's instruc
tions are to |authoiize the arrest of no
one except upon well-founded suspicion ;
that the minister deplores all arrests
made by police agents. He avers that
no vexation was intended for the lega
tion, but declines safe conducts. Were
it possible to do so, he says, without dis
respect to the law, the interests of the
country or the prestige of the govern
ment, it would be given as a proof of
amity to the legation. In reply Mr.
Egan cites instances where the Chilean
government had recognized the right to
safe conduct in such cases. A long cor
respondence followed between Mr. Egan
and Sefior Matta on this point, and
while it was in progress, on October
16th,
THE BALTIMORE TRAGEDY
occurred and was reported on the 16th
by Mr. Egan to tbe state department.
On the next day he wrote: "So far
Captain Schley has not ascertained the
causes which led to the disturbance, but
tbe general impression is tbat the at
tack was unprovoked. Some weeks ago
an attack was made upon a number of
nailers of one of the German ships of
war, resulting in the killing of one of
the Germans, and it was understood
that the attack was made because the
Chileans mistook the Germans for
Unite < States eailors."
Tbe minister encloses correspondence
in relation to the assanlt, passing be
tween himself.and Captain Schley, and
Captain Schley and the intendente. In
tbe course of the latter, Captain Schley,
after requesting a searching nveatiga
tionsays: "I can say in advance that
if there were evidence that any of my
men had been tbe instigators in this
affair, they would have been dealt with
most severely under the laws ot my
country, and I feel that if it should be
otherwise, your excellency will bring to
to justice the offenders."
The follows some correspondence in
reference to the safe conducts of the
refugees, with Mr. Egan's statement
that he has suspended the discussion
until the Chilean government resolves
what it considers proper to do under
the circumstances, and that "the in
terpretation of the United States of the
refusal to grant safe conducts, as an act
of slight courtesy and consideration,
cannot be a cause for surprise."
The correspondence returns to the
Baltimore tragedy. Mr. Egan's tele
gram, of October 23d, says that Captain
Schley's report shows the assault to
have been brutal and unprovoked, and
implicates the police as having been in
it. In prompt reply, follows Mr. Whar
ton's note expressing surprise at his
failure* to receive the notice of regret or
of the purpose of a searching inquiry
on the part of tho Chilean party, re
questing Mr. Egan to call the attention
of the Chilean government to the facts,
and inquire if there were any qualifying
facts or explanation to be offered of the
apparent expression of unfriendliness
towards the United States, and conclud
ing us follows: "If the facts are as re
ported by Captain Schley, this govern
ment cannot doubt that the government
of Chile will offer a prompt and full ex
planation."
Mr. Egan telegraphs October 26th,
.asking what reparation would be ex
pected if the facts were as reported by
Captain Schley.
BLAINE TAKES UP THE CONTBOVERBY.
The correspondence at this point re
fers again to the question of the refugees,
and October 26th, Secretary Blame him
self, having then returned to Washing
ton, telegraphed the minister as follows:
"Mr. Egan is instructed to maintain bis
present position, and ia authorized to
draw on the department for money to
meet the extra expense, if needed,"
Returning again to the subject of the
assault on the sailors of the Baltimore,
Mr. Egan sent a telegram October 28th,
which has been published, summarizing
the reply made by Minister Matta to
bis presentation of the case, in the
course of which the minister says that
the United States "formulates demands
and advances threats, that without be
ing cast back with acrimony are not ac
ceptable, nor could they be acceptable
in the present case, nor in any otner of
line nature."
Mr. Egan at the same time tele
graphed to Washington the text of the
long note, as well as tbe report made to
him by Captain Schley of the results of
the investigation conducted by the
board of naval officers appointed to in
vestigate tbe trouble. Captain Schley'b
report ia practically identical with his
statement made before Judge Advocate
Remy at San Francisco, recently, and
published in the newspapers. Ho Bays
that a nu Tiber of tne wounds were
recognized as bayonet wounds, pointing
to police participation in the assault.
That it is believed the asßault was in
spired by Chilean sailors recently dis
charged from the transports, together
with the longshoremen, and that it was
premeditated, as was shown in the
widely separated localities where it oc
curred, while the men were at supper
iv the hotels and restaurants. He as
serts that hia men were unarmed and
defenseless, with no instruments be
yond several Email pocket knives and a
small iron pestle.
In communicating these facts to the
Chilean foreign office, Mr. Egan said
that the eadors of the Baltimore were
unarmed; were orderly in their conduct,
gave no cause or provocation; that tbe
attack was apparently premeditated, and
tbat the assaults were made by armed
men, who his government must con
clude were animated in their bloody
work by hostility to those men as sail
ors of the United States. He says that
it must be conceded from the character
of many of the wounds that the public
police, or some of them, instead of
affording protection to the men as
saulted, took part in this cowardly at
tack and generally acted toward those
unarmed men with brutality. There
fore, in conformity with Mr. Wharton's
note, he asks for an inquiry and the
punishment of the guilty parties, and
suggests reparation. Mr. Egan transmits
the full text of Sefior Matta's note in
reply. The summary of it was given in
his telegram to Mr. Wharton, already
published.
October 30th Mr. Egan telegraphs
that the investigation is secret. The
next day he telegraphs that he had re
ceived from the minister of foreign af
fairs a note from the intendente in re
gard to the assault, and that, like the
minister's other note, this note ex
presses no regret for the occurrence. It
states that the result of tbe investi
gation will be communicated to Mr.
Egan, and that if the real culprits are
discovered they will receive due punish
ment.
The report of the intendente of Val
paraiso says it is entirely impossible
that the police of that city could have
committed the cruel and brutal ex
cesses which the United States minister
imputes to them, and that a mob of
2000 collected; that the fight in which
all, especially the Americans, fought
with stones, clubs and like weap
ons, was general, and that the
only part taken in it by
the police and military guard was
tneir endeavor to quell the disturbance
and airest the participants. The in
tendente professes ignorance of the
origin of the .fight, but thinks it com
menced between drunken sailors.
Neither does he know who shot Riggin.
He believes the authorities did all they
could under the circumstances.
November Ist, Mr. Blame, by tele
graph, instructed Mr. Egan to claim the
privilege of reading the paper which the
American sailors signed in a language
they did not understand, and without
being accompanied by counsel. He is
also instructed to see that no one from
the Baltimore is allowed to testify ex
cept in the presence of a friend acting
as counsel, and in his own language,
openly, not secretly.
In November Mr. Egan telegraphed
that the same judge who would not al
low an officer of the Baltimore to be
present at the inquiry, permitted the
secretary of the German consulate to at
tend tbe investigation of the killing of a
German man-of-war's men. whi'h took
place last month. On the same day he
writes that the minister of foreign rela
tions had complained to him that the
judge of crimes is independent
of the executive under the old
Spanish laws in use in Chile,
aud tbat he could not comply with the
request to show the document, until the
process was completed.
In a note to Minister Egan, dated No
vember Ist, Captain Schley gives him
tbe names of a number of witnesses to
tbe assault on the Baltimore's men, and
on the same day Captain Schley wrote
the intendente that Minister Egan could
supply the names to bim upon applica
tion.
November 2d, Minister Egan, fearful
that the intendente might take Captain
Schley's communication as a declara
tion to furnish the names, suggested
that he again communicate with him
upon the conditions laid down in Mr.
Blame's telegram, and have him furnish
directly the names of the witnesses.
At this stage in the correspondence,
Secretary Blame turned to the Ameri
can consul at Valparaiso, and sent him
tbe following telegram, dated November
3d: "Give me all the facts you have
and all the information relative to the
riot. Use naval cipher."
THE PATRICK SHIELDS CASE.
At this stage also the case of Patrick
Shields, the fireman of the 11. S. S.
Keweenaw, and an American citizen,
was brought to the attention of the
state department upon Consul Mc-
Creery's report that he had been put in
jail without process of law and brutally
beaten by the police. Mr. Egan aleo
tells of the attacks being made on the
legation by the newspapers, of threats
of violence made without hindrance,
and of a public meeting at which reso
lutions were passed calling on the gov
ernment to request the delivery of the
refugees. He continues that the gov
ernment did not deny the story of the
attempt on Colonel Canto's life (the im
mediate cause of tbe demonstration)
prior to the meeting, and before the
legation had been permitted to be pub
licly denounced.
November 8, Consul McCreery, at
Valparaiso, telegraphed directly to Mr.
Blame a substantial confirmation of the
story of tbe riot, as told by Minister
Egan and Captain Schley.
November 10th [Mr. Egan reports an
official call on the president of tbe pro
visional government; says he was re
ceived most cordially, and upon pre
senting his congratulations was asked to
convey the president's acknowledgment
and appreciation of the courtesy to the
government of the United States.
November Kith Mr. Egan writes Sec
retary Blame that the refugees in his
legation had been treated as guests,
"and in this way I have been at an ex
pense during some months past of over
$5000."
The next day he complained again
that the city police who had been watch
ing the legation became insulting and
boisterous under the influence of liquor,
and from the streets used insulting lan
guage to the refugees.
On the 15th he writes that he has
seen a number of untruthful and en
tirely indecent attacks made upon him
through the press of the United States,
especially an article in a New York
paper, by Mr. Julio Foster, who pre
tended to speak as a representative or
mouthpiece of the Chilean government.
He said that he brought the matter to
the attention of the minister for foreign
affairs, who in an inclosed note Bays:
"Being surprised that the question
should be discussed hero instead of in
Washington where Chile has now an
envoy extraordinary, I have to say that
there ia no evidence in this department
that Mr. Julio Foßter has ever received
any special commission or authority
whatever."
The minister next transmits copies of
a number of. letters passing between
himself and Captain Schley and the
intendente, in the course of " the testi
mony given by the Baltimore's men
before the judge of crimes.
November Kith Captain Schley re
quests from the intendente the same
protection and privileges to his oflicer;-)
and men when on shore as tho Chilean
government accords to other foreign
men-of-war. and which are usual among
nations in time of peace. On the same
date the intendente replied that he had
instructed the commandante of the po
lice that he should post daily from 6 to
Ba. m. at tbe passenger mole an officer
with an appropriate force to protect the
EAGLESON'S
Great Eeduction
SALE
OF
Winter Underwear
AT
Greatly Reduced Prices.
EAGLESON'S
Special Sale of
GLOVES!
AT
GREATLY REDUCED PRICES.
Walking, Driving, Dress, Coaching,
Teamsters' and Grip
men's (Moves.
112 S. Spring Street,
Opposite the Nadrau Hotel,
FORMERLY AT 146 NORTH SPRING ST.
1 13 6m
market boat that Captain Schley might
send. "Further than this, aa the pro
tection depends upon the p-dice force,
and aa these, according to official docu
ments, do not inspire the confidence of
the commanding officer of the Balti
more, I leave to his discretion and pru
dence the calculation whether it ia
proper to allow the sailors to come on
shore. In regard to the officers, I do
not believe there is any hindrance to
their coming ashore."
Further correspondence is trans
mitted from Mr. Egan, including his
notes to Minister Matta, complaining of
the gross insults offered to tbe refugees
by the spies surrounding the legation,
and denying emphatically the charges
made by the minister against the
refugees of having, "with voice, with
gesture and with actions provoked the
passers-by."
At this point the correspondence is
diverted to the case of Shields which
Minister Egan brought to the attention
of the Chilean government without
making a specific claim, and in connec
tion with which he sends a number of
eworn declarations. Theße are sub
stantially similar in purport to the evi
dence taken in California recently at
the instance of the department of
justice, upon the arrival of the steamer
Keweenaw. They are accompanied by
a formal claim by Shields for an indem
nity of $5,000 United States surrency,
attested by consul McCreery.
_ Tbe long controversy as to the condi
tions under which the Baltimore's
sailors should be allowed to testify be
fore the Chilean judge of crimes, was at
last terminated as shown by dispatches
from Minister Egan dated November
20th, stating that they were giving their
evidence on the 20th of November
under the conditions approved by the
navy department, in the presence of an
officer of the vessel, acting as inter
preter.
' egan's numerous complaints.
Mr. Egan continues his complaints
respecting the bad conduct of the police
around the legation, in a dispatch dated
November 30th, in which he says: "It
will be seen that from the very begin
ning of those annoyances every com
plaint which I have been obliged to
make about disrespectful conduct to
wards the legation, has been met by in
sinuations or suspicions of conspiracy or
indiscretions of conduct, against the
refugees, and even against employees
of the legation, but -up to the present
the honorable minister has not ventured
to make a siDgle tangible charge, for the
good reason that no such conspiracies as
those insinuated have ever existed.
December 3d Mr. Blaihe requested Mr.
Egan to inform him who asked him for
his testimony in the Baltimore case,
which according to telegraphic advices
received by the Chilean minister
(Moutt) from the homo office, was re
quested of him twenty days ago and not
given.
December 4th Mr. Egan telegraphs
that following impeachment pro
ceedings affecting some of the refugees,
the secretary of the chamber of depu
ties has in writing requested to be al
lowed to notify the refugees in person.
Mr. Egan replied that he could not with
propriety have communication with
this officer, and that he would not, re
ceive any personal service in the lega
tion without being instructed. On the
same day ho replied to Mr. Blame's
query as to the evidence in the Balti
more case, that he had referred the
minister of foreign affairs to Captain
Schley, and that the captain had fur
nished all the information, by giving
him the names of witnesses and sending
his men before the judge.
In a letter of the same date, Mr. Egan
speaks of the publication in the press of