SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SUMMARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12424, 13 February 1901, Page 5

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SUMMARY.

[Per Press Association.] (By Telegraph from Auckland.) SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 24. the Venezuela rebellion. A despatch says that persons from the mainland of Venezuela report that the Venezuelan gunboat Miranda the sloop Maria Teresa, owned by a British subject. It is said the Government suspected arms for rebels were being imported from Trinidad, and ordered that vessels trading with the islands should be stopped. The Maria Teresa, which was anchored ab Aguiria, attempted to move to smooth waters, when the Miranda's men without or explanation are said to have taken possession of the sloop, poured kerosene over her and burned her to the water's edge. All coasting vessels have been stopped. The rebellion is spreading, and it has been previously reported that the Government seized two steamers of the Orinoco Steamship Co. The American Government will despatch perhaps more than one warship to the scene of the disturbance. It is stated that under the eyes of the Venezuelan authorities on Dec.- 14 troops of two thousand men, composed of Venezuelan .and revoliintionary bands, invaded the territory of Columbia and attempted an attack on the town of Cucut-a. They were driven back by the Columbian troops, though they -were well armed and had two cannon.

THE NICARAGUA CANAL.

The' negotiations now pending in China and between the Ujnited States and Great Britain will now be tied up for some little time. One effect of this- is greatly to diminish the chance of the Nicaragua Canal Bill passing during the present session of Congress.. It is believed that the British Government will finally c-.ms&nb to the establishment of an amended Hay-Paunce-fote treaty, as Press comment upon it has become more kindly since it has been carefully considered. However, this must be merest conjecture, as- no sign has been given officially, and it is not impossible that the treaty may bo allowed to lapse without being considered at all by England. Powerful American interests are at work to defeat the authorisation of the construction of the canal. So it is evident there are many who will regard themselves as bene.fited by the difficulty between England and the United States as to the specifications regarding the fortification of the proposed great canal.

A NEGRO BURNED AT THE STAKE. A barbaric affair occurred at Leavenworth, Kansas, on Jan. 16. Alexander, a negro, who had been identified as having attempted to assault a young lady a few days before, and who was believed to have assaulted and murdered another girl, was taken from gaol by the mob and burned at the stake. Kansas has no law providing for capital punishment, and ib is declared that this lack paved the way for horrible wreaking of vengeance on the man. The Legislature, now in session, will erect a law. prescribing capital punishment. The sheriff's defence.is that he was helpless-in the face of a thousand infuriated men, who attacked the gaol to which the prisoner had been removed from the State Penitentiary for trial, and used sledge hammers and chisels in breaking open the doors. After dragging the prisoner from his cell, they proceeded to prepare his funeral pyre on the spot where the body of his supposed victim was found. Alexander protested his innocence to the last, but no attention was paid to his entreaties.