SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12447, 2 September 1902, Page 6

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

(Per Sierra, at Auckland.) SAN FRANCISCO, August 14. Oil' has proved an unqualified success on the Oceanic Steamship Company's Mariposa. The vessel reached port on August 11, after a trip of. 7200 miles to and from the South Seas, using only oil as fuel. To the astonishment of everyone she reached port iv day ahead of schedule time. Lieutenant Wenohell, of t-he United States navy, who went to Tahiti us a- passenger on board the Mariposa in order to repol't as to the results to the United States Government, became satisfied long before Tahiti was reached that oil as a fuel was eminently satisfactory in all respects. This splendid 'trip made by the steamer is accepted as a- proof that oil oa-n bo depended upon in the engine room. The passengers were delighted at the*absence of smoke and dirt, and took much pleasure in inspecting the working of tho engine, as they would ne-ver have been able to do in comfort when coal was used. The vessel came in as clean and bright as when she left port, and the occasion was one of general rejoicing, as the- result of the experiment is regarded to be of great importance to shipping interests, as well as to the oil .producers of California, and elsewliere. Oil has been discovered in immense quantities in this State, and railways are to be built' direct from the fields to the tide water so that the new fuel can be< furnished at wen lower rates than those which at present aro deemed low enough to make the use of oil instead of coal a wonderful saving of expense. Harry Tracy, outlaw, from tho Penitentiary ai Salem (Oregon), who he-Id his pursuers at bay for more than two months, is doad. He died by his own hand, too, though he was so seriously wounded that he could not have long survived. Closely pressed, he attempted to hide in a wheat field. He was shot in the leg, and, bleeding terribly, dragged himself about 75 yards. H« attempted to staunch the flow of blood, but, finding that hopeless he placed a revolver to his temple and fired. The body was found several hours later. Tracy had killed 10 men, nine of these while trying to make his escape r.nd during his flight. Ho was a- strange creature, and absolutely outside all restraints which appeal to ordinary human beings. Yet he- was careful of the , feelings of women and children with whom he came in contact, and desired that these should think well of him. In death he presented a horrible sight: he was covered with blood, and was? worn by his struggles. Ho was not exactly emaciated, but was all bone and muscle, without any superfluous flesh. His powers of endurance were almost superhuman, and his quickness and strength were such as to make it possible to describe him only as a human tiger.' His eyes were wide apart, and had a piercing look; he had a wide forehead, sloping back from the oyebrows. The back of his head was rather flat, chin somewhat projecting, and his-rather broad lips were firm even in death. Such an example of misdirected energy aitid power is not often encountered. He had plenty of ammunition to the last, but relied once too often on the terror whioh his presence inspired to prevent his betrayal. He allowed an 18-year-old boy to leave the rariehe. where he was staying, warning him not to give any notice of his (the. outlaw's) whereabouts. The boy hastened to inform, and, a hastily organised posse of citizens managed to do the work which the police officers of two States had been unable to accomplish in two months.

Near Trinidad (Colorado) a coal mine explosion occurred on August 7. These; disasters have occurred so frequently of late as to suggest the need of some Government' supervision, in order to lessen the dangers to which miners are exposed. On the day in question the powder house in the mine probably contained 10001b of powder, which exploded. The exact number of lives lost is not known, but mine mutilated bodies have been recovered. It is believed that the entire mine is ruined, or can only be put in order after months of labour. VENEZUELAN TROUBLES. ; A despatch from Port An Prince states that a terrible battle occurred at Barcelona (Venezuela) on August 3, and that on the following day the revolutionists entered the city. They kept up a continuous firing night and day, destroying houses in order t) reach the centre of the city. On Thursday, at midnight, two-thirds of the city was in the hands of the insurgents! On Friday the Government strongholds were carried, and the last survivors of the Government officers tried to escape by the river, io the sea. Fail ing this, they made a last stand, but surrendered to the revolutionists at noon. Among those taken prisoners are the Prosideait of the State of Barcelona, and the commander of the Government troops, eight generals, and 23 colonels. The dead on both sides numbered 167. Alt the houses in the city were sacked, and in some instances inoffensive women and children were killed. All the stores were pillaged, including those belonging to the foreigners, and the French cable office was robbed; the American, Italian, and Dutch Consulates were pillaged, and the ccnsuls have asked for men-of-war to protect life and property. The United States cruiser Cincinnati will go to Barcelona immediately and take provisions. The news from cue seat of this revolution is contradictory in many respect 3, but it is certain that the town of Petit Goave has been burned and 4000 person* rendered homeless. The Fcuchardists, or revolutionist!, landed and attacked the town, which was sqon after in flames. It is believed that the Government officers set fire to the toyrn. and abandoned it when they saw they could not hold it against the invaders. A despatch from Panama, dated August 1, says that the Peace' Commissioners, who left that port on July 29 on the British steamer Cana. to visit the revolutionary general, Horrera, near Agua Duloe, have rotunicd. They were unable to fulfil their mission because a severe battle was in progress, tho revolutionary forces having attacked Agua Dulce. Battalions of revolutionary forces attacked the Government entrenchments with fierce courage. The slaughter is said to havo been excessive and barbarous. On the same afternoon the white flag was raised in the. camp of the lleyolutionists, and they asked for an armistice in which to bury their dead. This was granted. The losses up to July 30 are said to bo 200, while the Government forces had eight killed and clevon wounded. General Morena, one of the roturned Peace Commissioners, says that the entrenchments at Agiia Dulce are a masterpiece of military art. At the expiration of the armistice fcho engagement was recommenced with the same fierceness. General Salasar, Governor of Panama, received a letter from the Governor-general, Morales Berti, eaying that ho is enthusiastic as to the outcome, and hopes to win the battle, wliich will decide the fate of the isthmus. Salasar is doing all in his power to help Berti. The progress of the Revolutionists in the interior is hindered by heavy ra*ins, which make it very difficult to march over the country. Tfo&re has been some talk of the Germans landing men at Porte Cabello to protect the German interests. Commander Nickels, of tho United States navy, hag received instructions to be ready to land a force in case of an attack on the port for the protection of the American interests, and for the protection of foreign property; also, if requested, he is to prevent bombardment without duo notice. The United States Minister (Bowen) has cabled the State Department at Washington from Caracas that the Revolutionists ■have cut tho cable at Barcelona.