Mr. Egan to Mr. Blaine.
Santiago, December 3, 1891. (Received December 4.)
Mr. Egan reports that the Baltimore is expected to sail shortly, and that in view of that fact he made unofficial efforts on the 3d, through a friendly medium to have safe-conducts granted to refugees, and met with an absolute refusal, but he still hopes for an early solution. He represents the feeling of vengeance entertained by some as terrible and unscrupulous to a degree that can hardly be imagined, and says that according to important persons, one of them a cabinet minister, the capture of the refugees would certainly result in the death of some of them. He complains of the proceedings, which Capt. Schley considers most unfair and unintelligible, of the officials of Valparaiso who supply the press with the correspondence relating to the Baltimore case and passing between the judge of crimes, the governor of Valparaiso, and the minister for foreign affairs, the intention being apparently to prejudice but one side of the case. He makes special mention of one letter of the judge of crimes which was published on the 3d, and by its decided animus created in the press a current of bitter feeling against the men of the Baltimore. He also complains that the presence of the secret police, by which the legation has not ceased being watched, is personally distasteful and evidences but little respect to the legation.