THE SAMOAN DISASTER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7079, 3 February 1891, Page 4

THE SAMOAN DISASTER.

An interesting relic of the Samoan disaster, is the shape of the propeller of the Nipsic, is soon to be placed on exhibition at Washington. It is now at the Mare Island Navy-yard, having been taken there from Honolulu, where it was taken from the Nipsic. When the American ahips were driven on the coral reef at Samoa, the Nipaic's engines were going -full speed, and Bhe was making frantic efforts to get to sea. The propeller was pounded on the rooks, and its blades struck hard 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. the i:t^ t vn wae. Particulars ot > • Indian war state tnat the battle at Wounded Knee on Dec. 21 was a bloodthirsty encounter. The Indian chief, Eig Foot, surrendered, and the rebels were surrounded. There were one hundred and fifty Indiana all well armed, aad tw» hundred and fifty equaws ; and there were two hundred and fifty soldiers, under Major Whiteside. As the Indians were being disarmod they suddenly whipped their Blankets to the ground, seized their riflea and began Bhooting at the troopers, who were not twenty feet away. The soldiers were afraid to aboofc for fear of hitting their comrades, and the Indians all ran South, a battery firing rapidly aa they ran. Mounted troops were 8o«n after tfcem, and fifty Indians were ahot down. The engagement laatedanhaur and a half. Many Indians took refuge in a ravino. The soldiers shot them down wfiecever they found them. The scone was one of great confnßion, Captain Wallace

was killed with a tomahawk. When the news reached Pino Ridge Agency a pandemonium broke loose amongst the Indians thare, five thousand in all, and a large number broke away. The friendly Indianßjincludingßedcloud, joined General Brooke. A friendly Indian village was burnt, and efforts were made to burn the Agency, but failed. The Indians refused^ treaty with General Wales, and said, " We want no treaty, we are here to fight." Shooting and war-dancea went on continually up to Jan. 4. Five arrows were thrown at the Agenoy, but fell short. There was another engagement at Wounded Knee on Jan 6. A waggon train with supplies was besieged by a hundred Indians. One soldier and seven Indians were killed. After three hours' fighting troops came to the rescue. Two hundred Indians in Idaho took to the mountains, armed, causing great excitement. Lieutenant Casey, of the 23rd Infantry, was killed by an Indian while out watching the rebel camp. A serious skirmish occurred at Fishtake, near Manitoba, between Canadian police and Indians. Three Indians and one white were killed. UNITED STATES SILVER LAW. An interesting teßt of the silver law took place at Philadelphia on Jan. 3. Judge Harley and G. H. Merrick, of Denver, called at the United State 3 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. 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 coinage, and that it had been refused by him, so that they would be saved the trouble of proving that fact in Court, where they propose to test the right of the Government torefuaebullion. Colonel Bolyshed gave a written refusal to receive their bullion. The two gentlemen then wrapped up their brick, and departed. The ground on which Messrs Morse and Merrick based their demand is, they claim, a constitutional one, and it denies the right of the Government to make what is known aa "seignorage." At present the market value of silver bullion is 103£ cents per ounce, while the actual value of the ounce .when coined into silver dollars is 129*2. It paya market bullion price, and makes the difference, which is seignorage, between that price and the legal tender value.