AMERICAN SUMMARY.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7777, 3 February 1891, Page 6

AMERICAN SUMMARY.

SAN FRANCISCO, January 12. An interesting relic o£ the Samoan disaster, in the shape of the propeller of the Nipsic, i 9 soon to be placed on exhibition at Washington. It is now at Mare Island Navy yard, having been taken there from Honolulu, where- it was taken from the Nipsic. When the American ships were driven on the coral reef at Samoa the Nipeic's engines were going at full speed, and she was making frantic efforts to get to sea. The propeller was pounded on rocks, and its blades stuck hard in the coral. At every revolution they were twisted and curled up out of all resemblance to their former shape, but remained unbroken, showing the wonderful tensile strength of the material. An interesting test of the silver law took place at Philadelphia on January 3rd. Judge Harley and Geo. H. Merrick, of Denver, called at United States mint with a brick of silver weighing 5140z, presented it to the weighing clerk, and demanded that it be coined into money. Upon their demand being refused they waited upon the Superintendent of the mint and made the same demand, but he refused to accept the brick for private coinage, and they then presented a formal demand in writing. After presenting the demand Merrick asked the Superintendent to give them a certificate or letter certifying that he and Morse had offered them silver for coinage and that it had been refused by him, so they will be saved the trouble of providing that or proving that fact in Court, where they propose to test the right of the Government to refuse bullion. Colonel Bolysted having written a refusal to receive their bullion, the two gentlemen wrapped up their brick and departed. The ground on which Messrs Morse and Merrick base their demand is, they claim, a constitutional one, and it denies the right of the Government to make what is known as " Seienorage." At present the market value of silver bullion is 1034 cents per ounce, five and37l£ grains, while the actual value of an ounce when coined into silver dollars 129.2. It pays the market bullion price and makes a difference which is seignorage between that price and the legal tender value. In regard to the failure of Kean's Bank, Chicago, a petition was presented iv Court on the 16th, to the effect that the missionary Bishop, William Taylor, of the Church, during his last year's tour in the Uoited States, raised about 12,00Udols for his Congo mission. This he deposited with Kean in November. He took a draft on London for 3Qoodols of this amount, and left for the scene of his labors. The remaining 9000dols was still in the Bank when it failed, and perhaps the SOOOdols also, as ie is not known whether the draft was cashed befere the failure. Taylor sets forth that the money was a trust fund, and should be made good but of the assets. That, relying on this fund, Bishop Taylor hired a lot of missionaries to go to Africa, whose transportation cannot now be secured, and bought a 100 of supplies in New York, whicu cannot now be paid for. The' Court took the matter under advibemerit. The Spanish vessel Angelita was captured off Florida by the United States revenue steamer McCane without papers or charter. A crew was sent aboard the suspicious-looking prize to take her to pore. The Spanish captain showed fight, but was sent aboard the McCane. . A dozen men were hurled 400 ft down a shaft in the Uteria mine, Savandress, through the breaking of a cable. Ten were killed. On Christmas Day the New York Herald, feasted 2000 newsboys. The Michigan law providing for cumulative voting has been declared illegal by the Supreme Court. A fight in the Negro church, Oamono, Alabama, on Christmas Eve resulted in one death and many injuries. Manuel Garcia still keeps Cuba in terror, though a reward of ten thousand dollars is offered for his capture. <An English corporation with a capital of twenty-five .million dollars will establish twenty agricultural settlements in Brazil.

Four hundred Italians landed in New York recently destitute, and .will be returned.

A submarine boat to stay twenty-four hours under water with men is being built at Detroit.

THE INDIAN WAR.

Particulars of the Indian war state that the battle of Wounded Knee on December 21st was a bloodthirsty encounter. The military approached the hostiles in line of battle. The Indian chief Big Foot surrendered. The rebels were surrounded. There were 150 Indians, all well armed, 250 squaws, and 250 soldiers under Major Wniteside. As the Indians were being disarmed, all of a sudden they whipped their blankets to the ground, seized their rifles c and began shooting at the troopers not 20ft away. The soldiers were afraid to shoot for fear of hitting their comrades, and the Indians all ran south, the battery firing rapidly as they ran. The mounted troops were soon after them, shooting them down on all hands. Fifty Indians were shot down. The engagement lasted an hour and a half. Many took refuge in the ravine and the soldiers shot them down wherever they found them. Capt. Wallace was killed with a tomahawk. Father Craft, a Catholic missionary, says that thirty soldiers were wounded and several were dead. When the news reached the Pine Ridge Agency pandemonium broke loose amongst the Indians. There were 5000 in all. A large number broke away from the friendly Indians and joined General Brooke, including Bed Cloud. A friendly Indian village was burnt. Efforts were made to burn the agency, but they failed. The Indians refused to treat with General Moles, and said "We want no treaty. We are here to fight." Ghost dancing was going on continually up to January 4th. Fire arrows were thrown at the Agency, but fell short. Another engagement took place at Wounded Knee. On January 6th a wagon train with supplies was besieged by a hundred Indians. One soldier and seven Indians were killed. After three hours'n£htingthejtroopscame to the rescue. Iwo hundred Indians in Idaho took to the mountains and are causing great excitement. Lieutenant Casey, of the 23rd Infantry, was killed by an Indian while one watching the rebel camp. A serious skirmish occurred {at Fish Lake, near Manitoba, between the Canadians and the police and the Indians. Three Indians and one white were killed.