AMERICAN SUMMARY

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 217, 13 September 1890, Page 2

AMERICAN SUMMARY

San Francisco, August 23.

The first steamship of the direct line between New York and Australian porta sailed from the place firsb named on August 20fcb, with a cargo of 5,000 tons of miscellaneous merchandise, and will soou be followed by another ship of the same line. New York dealers are prophesying that hops will reach a very high figure this season, owing to the continental crop of Europe being practically nothing. Somo go so far as to say the quotation will range as upward as ib did in 1882, when it touched $1.25. Secretary Blame is afc outs with his party on the strongly protective features of the McKinley Tariff Bill. He urges a recognition of the reciprocal principle with other nations, and has also brought President Harrison to his way of thinking. There is also a division among the republican leaders on the subject. La grippe has re-appeared in New York. Three deaths by it occurred in tho hospitals recently. It had also appeared in Alaska, and prevailed to such a degree aa to interfere with the United States censuataker's work. Gold has been discoveyed on a farm in West Ausonia, Connecticut, owned by 8. H. Platb. It is claimed the find is a rich one. Figures of the decennial census of ,1890 show San Francisco's population to be 297,234. In 1880 it waa 233,959—increase, 63,275, or 27-04 per cent. Both the Republicans and Democrats have held State nominating Conventions in California during the month, the first namod at Sacramento, the second at San Jose. For Governor, the Republicans have nominated Henry Harrison Markham, of Pasadena, Loa Angeles County, a recent comer; and for the same position the Democrats have put up Edward B. Pond, the present Mayor of Sau Fraucieco. Both nominations are very acceptable to the respective parties, aud bofch candidates go into tho Gubernational race with the utmost confidence, each satisfied with his chances of success. The steamship Normandie brought to Now York, August ISfch, the statue of General Lafayette, presented to the United States by France. Only one monitor waa found seaworthy enough to escort the U.S. warship Baltimore, commissioned to carry the inventor Ericsson's remains to his native country, Sweden. This return- of the body is, according to the instructions of the Acting Secretary of the Navy, "in recognition of the debt owed Sweden for the gift of Ericsson, whose geniu3 rendered us the highest service in a moment of grave peril and anxiety." Prince George failed to visit Newport, Rhode Island, after all, with his gunboat Thrush, much to the disappointment of the society people who were awaiting him. The Pacific Coast' Labour Union have, by resolution, gone beyond the question of the number of hours that constitute a day's work and the compensation therefor, and now represent to employere, superintendents, and foremen that the men working for. them must be addressed more respectfully than heretofore. If any vile, obscene,, or profane opitbefea be need toward them, the Union propose- to prosecute the offender to the utmost limit ot the law, and will charge the treasury with the expenses therefor.

A joinb resolution has been reported favourably in the United States House of Representatives from the Committee on education and labour, proposing an amendment to the constitution to for ever prohibit in the United States the manufacture, importation, transportation and sale of all alcoholic liquors used as beverages. Joseph T. Jameson, a millionaire, banker and broker, of New York, committed suicide in that city, August 17th. He was led to it by illness. A syndicate has been formed in the United States with the centre in Baltimore, controlling §5,000,000, to buy up _ coiiee plantations in Brazil and regulate prices. A special correspondence from St. Petersburg, August 4tb, states the exports of cereals from the principal Eastern houses from January Ist to May 26th to be 2,520,000 tons, of which 1,750,000 tons were wheat. The visible eupply of grain compiled by the New York Produce Exchange, August 4th, is as follows:—Wheat, 18,473,000 bushels, an increase of 44,000; oats, 2,531,000 bushels, a decrease of 98,000; barley, 40,000 bushels, an increase of 11,000. The town of Shafter, Texas, was sacked, August 4th, by twenty Mexicans, and afterwarda burned. The State Ranger, G. F. Gravea, was killed, and the sheriti, Lee, seriously wounded. The New York "Commercial Advertiser," August 4th, says:—" It is doubtless true chat Secretary Umdom will be able to obtain in our own market the required 4,500,000 ounces monthly, bub if London is put to straits to obtain its requirements of silver the price to which the metal will go will be limited only, by the clause in the new law specifying a cessation of purchasing when silver is on a par with gold." The United States authorities have despatched Dr. Salmon, veterinary inspector, to Liverpool, England, to examine American cattle as tbey are landed there from American ports. A hailstorm that occurred in the southern part of North Dakota, July 30, almost ruined the crops on 5,000 aciea of land. A STREET DUEL. Walter Stoddard, a local artist of Greenwood, Miss., and J. D. Money, also a resident of the place, fought a duel in the street on July 51st. Stoddard wae instantly killed, and Money badly wounded. The trouble grow out of charges of municipal corruption. The same day, Deputy-Sheriff Nichols, of San Antonio, Texas, was stabbed to the heart with a dirk-knife by James Graham. JSamo day, Jeremiah Miller, living iv a lonely cabin on North Mountain, near Mechanicsburg, Pa., after accusing his wife of iuiideiity, wounded her mortally, and then killed himself. Same day, Peter McGrury, night-watchman in the St. Louis Cemetery, shot and mortally wounded Annie Stakin, a pretty servant girl, Jiving in Louiaville, Kentucky, because ehe refused to marry him, and then attempted his own life, disfiguring hie face horribly. It was not an average day for killing either. WHEAT CROP. The best authorities estimate the wheat crop of the present season in the Dakotas North and South, and Minnesota, at 100,000,000 bushels. The hot weather has not done any serious damage ' taking the couutry as a whole, and harvesting is now in progress. The value of this crop to the north-west is estimated at £60,01)0,000 at the lowest-. Plot winds have materially reduced the already low condition of the crops in that part of Western Kansas, and many fields will not yield a single ear of corn. THE BRITISH SQUADRON. British squadron, under Vice-Admiral Watson, arrived at Newport, Rhode Island, July 31st. As the Beilerophon, Partridge and Canada, whiqh. make up the flse.b, cast ■ anchor in the outer harbour, they were greeted with salutes from Fort Adams and the navy training station. The vessels remained till August 6th, and the officers received many attentions from society poople. On the 4th twenty-four satloia attempted to escape by stealing the ship's boat while excursionists were landing. The craw sent in pursuit shot one, cut another's finger with a cutlass, and captured all but three ac they were landing at the torpedo station. THE EXCLUSION OF CHINESE. A substitute Chinese Exclusion Bill has been reported to Congress, which contemplates the barring from entry to the United States all natives of China, excepting " diplomats and their servants." This looks like an attempt by Morrow, representative from the Pacific Coast, and who is candidate for Governor of California, to throw duet in the eyes of the people just previous to election with a fool Bill. Wherein would bo the sense of the presence of a Chinese diplomat in this country if not one of his countrymen, except himself and servants, would be allowed to land ? Count Tolstoi's now book, " Kreutzer Sonata," has been debarred from the United States mails on the score of indecency. By the recent census. Chicago's population is declared to be 1,098,576 —an increase during the decade of 118*32 per cent. This makes it the second city in the United States as regards population, a place held ten years ago by Philadelphia.AN AERONAUT KILLED. Charles Cosgrove, an aeronaut, was killed at Portland, Maine, August 10, while making a descent from tho balloon by parachute. He had taken the place of. the regular balloonist, Romig, who was ill, and consequently was a little new in the business. The balloon ascended 1,000 feet before'ho trusted himself to the parachute, which descended rapidly at first, and when about 200 feet from the ground, Cosgrove's grip loosened, and he fell, striking on his right ehoulder and head. Tho body was mangled out of recognition, and death was instantaneous. THE CENTRAL AMERICAN WAR. The latest advices from the belligerent Central American Republics show that the situation has shaped iteelf in favour of Salvador, and its president, General Carlos , Ezeta. A treaty ot peace has been signed with that republic by Guatemala, on a most favourable basis, and will bo shortly promulgated. All the points demanded by Ezeta have been conceded, and therefore the order.? of the Salvadoran troope to march into Guat-amala have been countermanded. In Guatemala consternation and confusion ieigns. Provisions and all other necessaries are being sold at fabulous prices. Commerce is depressed, and merchants have sent orders to the United States and European points rescinding or delaying the. shipment of all ordered goods for Guatemala. The effect of the war is felt by all classes, and if.it had continued it would have broken up the commerce of the country. The outcome of the negotiations is the result) of the efforts of United States Minister Mizner, aided by the legations of Nicaragua, Coeta Rica, and the diplomatic corps. It is generally accepted that Mizner acted under the orders of Secretary Blame, who ia jealous of European interference in the matter. Meanwhile, Salvador is still watchful should peaceful measures fail, and her army will be held in readiness for the reopening of hostilities. She is well found in arms and munitions of war. Senor Cotter, the agent who arranged the $21,000,000 loan with the French bankers for the Guatemalan Government, arrived in the Republic, August 19th, just at the moment hostilities were declared at an end. Id is b9lieved the loan will be made. Guatemalan troops, at last advices, were chiefly employed in suppressing revolutions within their own borders.

President Harrison has sent a message to Congress, urging measures of relief for the settlers in the recently-acquired territory of Oklahoma. The suffering i 3 widespread, and many are dying of starvation. The run of salmon this year in British Columbia h fully equal to last year. Twenty thousand fish have been taken by the canneries in one day. DESTRUCTIVE FIRES. The town of Wallace, Idaho, the greab mining centre of the Cceur d'Aleno district, was completely destroyed by fire on July 27th. Fifteen hundred people were rendered homeless. Wallace is situated 110 miles east of Spokane Falls, Wash., and was one of the moat flourishing towns in the north-west. Village of Brae, in Scotland, was nearly obliterated on July 28fch by a conflagration. Four women were killed, and many persona injured. The business portion of Seneca Falls, New York, was swept away in flames on the morniag of July 30th. An area of nearly three acres was burned over. Careful estimates place the loss at between §600,000 and $1,000,000, with insurance of §100,000. Up to July 30bh, five incendiary fires had taken place in one week ab an oil village called Bairdstown, 20 miles south of Toledo, Ohio. In the last blaze, that occurred on the date mentioned, every business house in the place was destroyed. The cause of these fires is thought to be the passage by the authorities some time ago of an ordinance forbidding the sinking of gas or oil wells within the town limits. It is alleged that men who aro holding town lots at big prices, hoping to sell them to oil-men, finding their aspirations checked, leagued together to burn the town, with a view to turn the site into an oil-producing territory. The citizens have employed a detective to look into the matter, and an armed posse patrol the streets to guard against incendiaries. A fire in East Saginaw, Michigan, July 29th, consumed 19,000,000 feet lumber, ten dwelling-houses, Bixby-«ix railroad cars, and other property. Total loss, $375,000; insurance, $185,000. Fitzsimmons and Cannell's docks on the lake front, Chicago, took fire on July 30th, and before it was controlled from ten to fourteen acres of lumber were cleared off, besides a number of freight cars, and a large quantity of railroad material. The loss will reach $300,000. The business portion of Walnut, Illinois, was swept away by tire, July 31. Fifby-six housee and stores were destroyed, and sixteen families burned out. Loss, 125,000 dollars. Same day, the Hungarian seifclement at Braddock, Pa., was destroyed. 120 families were rendered houseless. A benzine exposion in the pharmacy of W. A. Mitchell, Denver, on August 5, resulted in the wrecking and ignition of the building. The clerk whose carelessness led to the accident, was taken to the hospital, shorn of his clothing, and a blister from head to foot. Two firemen wore terribly injured by the ruins falling on them. One had both hips broken, the other both legs ; a third waa severely, bub nob seriously hurt. CYCLONIC DISTURBANCES. A cyclone of unparalleled violence swept over the vicinity of Montreal, and also the parish of St. Ann's, Madawaska County, New Brunswick, August 6th, doing great damage on land and water. At the moment the storm buret? there was a canoe meet ab the Isle Cadrux Lake. The tiny craft were a mile out from the shore, and instantly every one was capsized. Loss of life, if any, had not been reported. At Sb. Claire, Sb. Ann's, and Corval, houses were unroofed, barns struck by lightning, and many buildings swept completely away. Ab Lachine, the immense building of the Dominion Bridge Company, and the equally large structures of the Canadian Screw and Barbed Wire Factories, were unroofed and left in ruins. In Neyv Brunswick the cyclone covered a territory of two miles wide, thirty-one buildings were blown down, telegraphic communication was interrupted, and the crops are heavily dam- " ' A STRANGE DISEASE. It is reported that the inhabitants of fishing villages along the Newfoundland coast are dying by hundreds of an unknown epidemic. Nothing has so far proved a cure, nor has any alleviation been found. The disease marches from house to house, victim to victim, with nothing to stay its awful progress. The first reports of the epidemic reached St. John's on August 6th by the arrival of the regular fortnightly coasting steamer, which calls afc several of the more important fishing stations on the French shore. The captain reported to the health authorities that while touching at Lapolle he was informed that a strange epidemic had broken out in Coachman's Cove. The people thought it a virulent type of diphtheria, called "black throat." There being no regular physician on the coast, nothing definite is known except that not a single person so far attacked had recovered. Other peculiar features were that many cases of death ensued in thirbysix hours after the disease appeared, and putrefaction set in the moment life left the body. The population of Coachman's Cove is bub little over 150, yet nearly half that number have died since the first outbreak. INTOLERABLE HEAT. July 31st is said to have been the hottest day ever felt in New York. The mercury rose above the 96deg mark after two o'clock, and the sun blazed down with consuming power ; the streets wore the appearance of those of a southern city. Several cases of sunstroke were reported before noon, some ending fatally. The exact record of those it was not easy to secure, because in addition to the great number of cases cared for at the hospitals, many victims were taken from the streets to stores and offices and sent directly to their homes in private conveyances. At the hospitals, the house and ambulance surgeons had their hands full. Thousands of people fled from the city, and it was really dangerous for people to venture into the streets, especially in the commercial part of the town. Ambulances froiu Bellevue, Chambers-street, Gouverneur and other hospitals were dashing everywhere, picking up persons prostrated by the heat and conveying them to hospitals for treatment. In New England cities the heat was also excessive and much suffering was experienced. A PHENOMENON. A d&spatch from Indianapolis, August 12th, says a log fire which had been set ablaze in the middle of a ten-acre area, led to remarkable reeulte. Withoub warning the earth belched forth flame, great trees were hurled skyward, and a large creek converted into foam and steam, its course turned up stream, and birds, snakes, rabbits, and fish thoroughly cooked in the heated waters. A vasb, bub unsuspected, reservoir of natural gas had taken fire, and great holee blown in- the earbh, besides a vast) cavern into which the body of the water of the creek drops, making a miniature Niagara. The ground for acres around has been rendered useless for farming purposes. AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR. A cyclone, the firsb of any considerable importance within the memory of New England, and one equalling in destructive power those so frequently reported from western communities, visited the suburb of South Lawrence on the morning of July 26th, and in fifteen minutes had killed eighb people, seriously injured from eighteen to twenty, eiightly injured ab i leasb twenty more, cub a swathe through

a thickly peopled section 100 feet wide and a mile long, rendered many people homeless, destroyed or greatly damaged some 75 to 100 buildings, mostly dwelling-houses, levelled a beautiful square of over 500 trees, and entailed a property loss freely estimated ab $100,000, all of which was uninsured against damage by wind aad storm. This calamity is the greatest that has visited Lawrence since the fall and burning of the Pemberton Mills, thirty years ago. Such visitora are generally supposed to be confined to the Missiaippi and Ohio Vallejs. RAILWAY DISASTER. The Woodshall express train, in the Old Colony Railway, was wrecked at Quincy Station, Mass., oa the morning ot August 19, by, according to general impression, the spreading of the rails. The train consisted of a locomotive, baggage-car, smoker, Pullman car, and four ordinary coaches heavily loaded. It was only running ten miles an hour, and had passed the station, when at President's Bridge, the engine left the track and plunged into an embankment twelve feet high. The tender, baggage car, smoker and Pullman passed by the engine, and were stretched along for a distance of 100 feet beside the track. The foremost passenger coach left the rails and fell upon its left side upon the engine. This presented the principal scene of death and agony. Fifteen persons . were killed, twenty-three seriously injured, three fatally, and several more sustained slight injuries. Among the wounded was E. C. Bailey, of Dorchester, formerly proprietor of the Boston " Herald." He was badly scalded. The fireman and engineer were both killed. COMMERCIAL. San Fkancisco, August 23, 1890. Flour.—Family extras, $4.25 to $4.50; bakers' extras, $4.25 to $4.35. Wheat.—No. 1, $I.3Bi'to §1.40. Barley.—Chevalier, $1.50 for standard, and $1.30 to $1.35 for lower grades. Hops.—Strong at 20 to 22£ cents for crop. Pacific Coaßt, 1889, 18 to 21 cents. Coal.—Sydney, §8 to $8.50 on the spot; and $7.75 to $8.25 to arrive. Canned Salmon.—sl.2o to $1.25 on the river, and $1.25 to $1.30 in port) at San Francisco ; Alaska, 90 cent 3to $1. Quicksilver, $56.50 to $56 per flask. Lumber. —Cargo lots of pine or fir at mill I posts :—Rough merchantable, 40 feet and under, $10 ; above 40 feet and up to 80, $11 to $14 ; above 80 feet, $18 to $25 ; dressed, tongued, and grooved, $18; shingles, $2.25 ; lattus, 4 feet, $2. Freights.—Three vessels jusb / in from Australia were chartered for wheat loading for Cork for orders prior to arrival, as annexed : British merchant, 36s 3d ; Clancaird, 38a 3d ; Rontenbourn, 37s 6d. ' SHIPPING NOTES FOR THE MONTH. San Francisco, August 23. July 30.—British barque Alice Muir loads lumberat Moodyville, for Melbourne. August 5. — British barque Elizabeth Graham, loads lumber at Port Gamble, for Melbourne. August 6.—Ship Ivy, loads lumber on the Columbia River, Oregon, for Melbourne, 70s. August 12.—Ship W. A. Campbell, lumber on the Sound for Sydney, 523 6d ; ship Mercury, lumber on the Sound for Port Pirie, 66s 9d. i August 15. —Nicaraguan barque Don Nicolas loads merchandise at San Francisco j for Melbourne.