AMERICAN NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1840, 29 June 1874, Page 2

AMERICAN NEWS.

San Francisco, May 27. Details of the partial destruction of three villages in Massachusetts, by the bursting of reservoirs are of an appalling character. The reservoirs were in the mountains, and usod for mill purposes in the village below. They broke away the dams, and the torrent rushed down on the villages, sweeping away everything in its course. 181 persons were drowned. The damage of property is estimated at four million dollars. 400 families are rendered homeless. Adding to the confusion and distress, as soon as the catastrophe was known, robbers and roughs from neighboring towns poured in eager for plunder. The women's crusade against the liquor traffic is being suppressed by the authorities. 40 women were arrested at Pittsburg for obstructing the road. They express their determination to continue the work. The steamer Sioatora, carrying scientists for the observation of the transit of Venus, are ready to leave New York. They_wULland Dartiesjrt Crqsset's Island and Desolation Islands, elaborate instruments and eighteen months' provisions aboard. The Mayor of New Orleans telegraphs for further aid towards the sufferers by the great Louisiana inundation, and says 45,000 rations are distributed daily. Contributions to the amount of one million dollars will be required to prevent the horrors of famine and great loss of life. A fall of buildings at Buffalo has killed eight persons. Four ruffians fought their way out of the Indiana State Prison with revolvers and bowie knives, killing a turnkey. The American steamer Manchu was wrecked in a gale in the Japan seas; fortyseven persons were drowned, chiefly Chinamen. A man and his wife, and an old woman, and her son, were burned in Mexico for sorcery by Genor Castello Alade, of Jacomimo. They were tested by compelling them to swallow holy water.

A strike of stage drivers in New York has caused the disappearance of vehicles from the streets. Over forty business premises at Independence, Ohio, were burned. The loss , is estimated at 500,000d01. ' The sea in the great ice gorge at Quebec has broken up, and damaged and wrecked a large number of steamera and other vessels. The damage is 1,600,000d01. The New York police are making raids on gamblers. Seventy were arrested. The police of San Juan, Porto Rico, are arresting freemasons, on the ground that they favor the separation of the colonies from Spain. Intelligence from Japan states that the chief of the rebels and ten leaders have been caught and executed. More brutal murders in San Francisco. A hundred Catholic pilgrims left New York for Rome. Havana intelligence states that a courtmartial has been held lately, condeming large numbers of persons to death and imprisonment for treason. A Bill has been introduced into Congress empowering the purchase of 10,000 acres at Pango Pango, Samoa, as a naval j station for the United States, but without assuming any political control of the lands, which are to continue under the Native Sovereignty, subject however to conditions necessary to secure the right of the United States. The Bill was referred to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, which is now considering Colonel Steinbergher's report in favor of annexation of Samoa. It is understood that the Annexation Committee opposes it, and favors the purchase of any lands required. Thousands of Mormons are joining ' Brigham'B Young's Order of Enoch, which requires every member to give all his property to the Church.