The relations between Chile and the United States have, in a number of instances, been considerably strained. As a result there was for many years an existant prejudice against the _Yanqui_. The first occasion arose during the war between Peru and Chile, when the United States offered its mediation, which was resented by Chile because that country desired to reap the spoils of war. Another instance happened during the Balmaceda administration. During his term, and the struggles which resulted between himself and Congress, the sympathies of the United States were with the President. A minister sent to the United States by the revolutionists, after they had established a _junta_ at Iquique, and were in possession of the customs throughout northern Chile, was refused recognition by President Harrison. The steamship _Itata_, belonging to the Chilean line, which at that time ran as far as San Francisco, was seized and held for some time because she was loaded with arms and ammunition intended for the revolutionists. Although the vessel escaped it was followed by a United States cruiser and overtaken at Iquique, where the revolutionist _junta_ turned it over to the cruiser and it was taken back to San Francisco. This kept the opponents of the government out of much-needed supplies. Later arose what is known as the “Baltimore incident.” Admiral Schley, in charge of that gun boat, had been sent to Chile to protect American interests. He sailed freely in and out from one port to another, and was charged by the revolutionists with giving information to the government party of their movements. As the navy was all on the side of the revolutionists, they claimed that only in this way could the other party on land have secured certain information. Admiral Schley denied the accusations, and all of these charges were afterwards proven to be false. Near the close of that internecine struggle a number of sailors and others from the _Baltimore_ had gone ashore at Valparaiso. While in a rather disreputable saloon in that city an altercation arose between some Chilean soldiers and the party of American marines. One of the Chileans was knocked down, and a general fight resulted in which the Yankees were assaulted with clubs, knives and revolvers. One American was killed instantly, another died from his injuries a short time later, and a score of others were more or less seriously injured. In the diplomatic correspondence which followed, an indemnity was courteously demanded by the United States, to which an almost insulting reply was made by Chile. International trouble threatened for a while, but Chile made apologies and paid the sum of $75,000 as compensation. The matter was then dropped, but the anti-American feeling did not evaporate as quickly as the war-cloud.