AMERICAN NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 143, 18 June 1891, Page 9

AMERICAN NEWS.

SCENE IN AN ALABAMA CHURCH,

L. F. Burgess shot and seriously, if nob fatally, wounded Samuel G. F. Atwood at Pleasant Valley Church, Alabama, on Sunday afternoon, May 12th. They were both church members. About two months before, Burgess' son insulted Atwood's daughter, and hard feelings had existed between the families eiuee that time. Tho matter was brought up for adjustment in tho church. A commission was appointed and held an investigation. When tho commission retired to consult, the parties in interest decided not to wait for the decision, but to fight it out there and then. Although tho church was full of people, tho drew their pistols and beean firing afrostch other. Atwood fell, badly wounded, and Burgess, unhurt, rushed from tho scene. A man named Martin Smith, who tried to stop the light, was shot through the hand.

THE CHILIAN SITUATION.

Agents of the Chilian Congressional party in Paris, May 26th, deny the statement sent out by tho supporters of Pieeidenb Balmaceda in regard to the hitter's success at Iquique. Tho Congressional party, the amenta say, are amply supplied with funds, owing to receipts from duties on nitrate which they collected. The Congressional forces intend shortly to attack Balmaceda in the central provinces. The Congressional party has concluded a treaty with Bolivia, and is also favoured by Mexico. The warship Esmeralda has been enabled, for this reiiaOn, to coal in tho porb of Acapulco. On entering port the warship saluted the Mexican flag, and the salute was returned. The real situation appears to be that while Balmacada and his partisans control the interior of tho Republic, the Congressional party, by means of tho men-of-war they have seized, dominate the coast.

Quite an excitement wr.s caused in San Francisco on May sth by the seizure of the Chilian vesael Jtata, while purchasing eupplios in the harbour of San Diego, Cal. A United States Marshal was pub on board, bub the vessel, which proved to be a man-of-war in disguise, pub to sea when she was ready to go, carrying the Marshal along and landing him at some point on the coast. The ltata also took in arms and munitions of war when she got outside from the schooner Robert and Winnie, waiting for her off the harbour of San Diego. The armament had been purchased in San Francisco. For these offences against international law, the United States cruiser Charleston was ordered to puisne the runaway vessel, and was still chasing her at last accounts. United States Admiral Brown, of the fc-outh Pacific squadron, was also ordered to take tho ltata wherever he catne across her. The vessel will probably bo peaceably surrendered to the United States naval authorities. The Charleston arrived at Callao May 25th without haviDg sighted the Itata.

ENGLAND AND VENEZUELA,

Hepocts from Caracas, May 13th, mention that trouble had {irown out of the death of an Englishman named Campbell in a quarrel on Venezuelan territory. CaaapboH had crossed the boundary line from British Guiana peeking mines and to open up lands for British colonists. He refused to take a permit from a Venezuelan judge for a mining expedition into fcho country, and his arrest was ordered. A fight ensued, and in the melee Campbell was wounded by a discharge -from his own pun, it is said, and died with lock jaw a few days after. < On bearing of his death, the British authorities sour, a force to take possession ot the 6nt:re district. Both the Venezuelans and the English residents in the disputed territory are arming , , find a serious conflict; between the two factions waa impending.