MAIL NEWS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1611, 14 January 1903, Page 18

MAIL NEWS

(Per R.M.S. Sierra, at Auckland). SAN FRANCISCO, December 18

The oil-burning steamer Progreso was rent by an explosion at the Pulton iron works, San Francisco, on 3rd December. Eleven men were killed and nine others seriously injured. Tlie explosion proceeded from tlie mysterious ignition of gas from 400 barrels of petroleum stored in the fuel tank of the vessel. The big tank of the steamer was soon a roaring furnace, and the wharf and buildings xvere for a time threatened. The fire burned fiercely for many hours, and the vessel finally sank- investigation has failed to disclose the caxxse of the explosion, but samples of oil like that discharged into the Progreso shoxv it to be of a lower test than required by laxv. Merchants and business men ha/e addressed a communication to the Board of Supervisors asking that the required flash test be made not less, than 150 degrees.

In Chicago on 4th December fourteen persons met their death by suffocation in a hotel fire. The hotel xvas four stories high, and contained an immense number of small rooms. It had been condemned by the building inspectors, and additional fireplaces and fire-escapes xvere ordered. The latter were in process of construction, and many persons escaped on the scaffolds. All the dead were smothered in their beds. Persons on the third and fourth floors xvere ke*yoncl the reach of tlie firemen and other rescuers, and xvere sleeping soundly. Some of the occupants jumped from window's, and were badly hurt, while three were dashed to death xvhen a half-com-pleted fire-escape collapsed.

San Francisco is much elated over the laying of the Transpacific cable. The ship Silvertoxvn arrived with the cable to be laid between this port and Honolulu on board, and an attempt was made to land the cable at the beach station here on 12th December. The first trial was not successful oxving to currents, but two days later the landing and splicing xvere effected in the presence of a vast concourse of people. The ship then started on her trip to Honolulu, sending hack frequent messages. Within txventy-four hours the vessel encountered a storm so severe that heavy seas sxvept the decks of the great craft; but the laying of the cable proceeded, and the sending of messages xvas not interrupted. The reports as to the weather conditions ha\ r e been of the greatest interest and value to the officials of the Weather Bureau, xvhich for the first time gained information as to storm conditions to the westward. It is believed that the Silvertoxvn xvill reach Honolulu on Christmas Day, and that the cable xvill be in use very shortly afterwards. fCahlegrams kax r e informed us that the cable has been successfully laid, and that messages between San Francisco and Honolulu were exchanged at the New Year.] The English company xvhich is engaged in making tlie cable to be laid between Honolulu and Manila, via Midxvay and Guam, reports that satisfactory progress is being made, the cable being manufactured at the rate of fifty miles a day.

San Francisco is cheered by the notification that she is to have a visit from President Roosevelt in May.' A monument in memory of the Battle of Manila is to be dedicated at that time, and Admiral Dewey, as well as the President and other officials, has accepted an inVita<tion to be present at the ceremonies.