AMERICAN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 100, 29 April 1889, Page 5

AMERICAN NEWS.

San Francisco, April 7.

A letter to the Now York "World' from Bermuda, under date February 24th, gives this curious item :—" Two days ago the garrison of Fort Cunningham deserted. It is thought they sailed on the ship Gebonder, Captain Snort. Tho fort is on a small island, and when a detachment from Fort Georgo, Bermuda, went to relieve the garrison, not a man was found. The fort was tenantlc-ss, and the ollieors and men gone.. Their disappearance is a mystery. At tho Coloured Methodist Conference of the Lexington (Ky.) district, held in Paris, Ky., tho first day's session was marked by a murder, on account of a negro named Page occupying a pew rented by another named Kellis. The latter ordered Page out, and he not being in a hurry to go, was seized by the pew-lessee and thrown out. Then Page drew a revolver and shot Kellis, narrowly missing the bishop at the same time. A pistol fight took place in a church at Uniontown, Pa., on Sunday, March 24th, between tho Lystar and Dietrich families. All the audience, except the combatants, left. The Dietrich side of the house was badly used up

A sensation was created in Ottawa on March 24th by President Harrison's proclamation declaring . Behring Sea closed. It was a complete surprise to members of the Canadian' Government, as negotiations are pending in regard to the claim for compensation for the seizure of three British sealing vessels in Behring Sea. The population of Canada, exclusive of Montreal, has decreased 239,3.0 in five years, caused by French Canadians leaving for the United States.

Up to March 28th President Harrison had nominated, and the United State? Senate confirmed, tho following gentlemen to fill leading foreign missions: Robert J. Lincoln (son of the former President, Abraham Lincoln), Minister to England ; Whitelow Reid, editor and part proprietor of the " New York Tribune," Minister to France ; Allan Thomdyke Rice, editor of the "North American Review," Minister to Russia; George B. Loring, of Massachusetts, a "plutocrat" as the " New York World " calls him, Minister to Portugal; Thomas Ryan, of Kansas, who has served twelve years in Congress, Minister to Mexico; Patrick Egan, Presi dent of the Irish National League of America, and formerly a leading baker in Dublin, who has only been nationalised two years, Minister to Chili: John Hicks, of Wisconsin, Minister to Peru ; Colonel Fred Grant, Minister to Austria ; and John C. New, formerly Secretary of the Treasury, Consul-General at London.

The New York press is not united on the wisdom of Mr Lincoln's appointment as Minister to England. The " World " says he is not lit, neither in point of ability nor public service. The "Star": "Asa representative of the American poople, his ability, in contrast with ex-Ministers Lowell and Phelps, will be pitiable." The " Sun," " Times," and "Herald" endorse him. Sir George Stephen, President of the Canadian-Pacific R.R., will be accompanied to Canada by one of the Prince of Wales' sons next month. The young Prince will make an extended tour of the Dominion and the United State?.

A Santiago de Chili correspondent of the Valparaiso "Mercurio " writes under date February 20th : "In less than a week the bodies of seven murdered people have been found in different streets of this city. Of this number, five, at least,bear marks proving murder." J. H. Blackburne and J. Gunsberg, of London, the strongest chess players in England, were in New York on March 18._ Mr Blackburne is en route to Australia via San Francisco. He will return to England in one of the P. and O. boats. A London despatch of March 29th says that in view of the impending prosecution of the Comptoir d'Escompte by the Government, the directora of the Bank are reported to be realising on'their private property so as to be safe, in the event of contingencies. It is believer! a prosecution of the Societe dcs Metaux would prove abortive. The whole of the Paris copper stock — 150,000 tons — is held by the Bank of France, the Rothschilds, the Bank of Paris and Baron Hirsch. After-effects of the Paris panic are reported from different quarters. Conqueard, the banker of Geneva, committed suicide. At Lemens, the centre of a great farming district, a large number of persons have been thrown out of employment through the bankruptcy of their employers. In one clay 900 bills of exchange were returned unpaid.