American News.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 7, 22 December 1869, Page 2

American News.

A despatch from St Louis states that the Indians are still troublesome in New Mexico. Trains are, attacked, and much stock run off. A steam boiler exploded, on October 1, at an agricultural fair near Indianapolis, Indiana. Nineteen persons were killed aiid nearly 100 injured. The ladies are progressing in Ameriea in more ways than one. At Dorchester, Massachusetts, a Miss Katie Murphy won S3OO at a jumping match, having jumped lift. 2|in., to 10ft. 9in. leaped by a young man named Michael Elynn. A man named Recker was picked up in the sea near New York by tho propeller Delaware, from New York to Norwich, Conn., on August 27th. His story is that he was thrown oveiboard from tho steamer Old Colony, on which he was a passenger from New York to Boston, after having been drugged and robbed. A terrible affray took place at a barbacue at Wilderville, Tennessee, on August 26, in which William Butt, Irving Butt, his son, and William Andrews were killed, and Thomas L. Taylor, Buy Stewart, Bill Andrews, and James Andrews were wounded, the first two severely. Dr Robbins was hit by a ball, although not engaged in tho row. Rum, it seems, was the disturbing element at work.

A proposition is said to be mooted among some Western Congressmen to pass a Bill at the next session authorising a connection of the James and Kanawha Rivers, by means of 400 miles of canal, with the Mississippi, thus opening a new water route from the far "West to the seaboard. Norfolk is the city that is to become one of the great ports of the Union by this enterprise. The New York Times says it is no longer a State secres that Mr Motley has been instructed to notify Lord Clarendon that whenever it is thought best to renew negotiations for a settlement of the Alabama claims, it will be done at Washington. The subject has been vexy recently the theme of an important correspondence between representative parties in England and the United States, and the most favorable proposals which the English Government is .supposed to be prepared to j make were communicated, but they were not such proposals as the Government of the United States would entertain for a moment. It is not probable that Mr Motley, up to this time, has been encouraged to expect any more acceptable terms than these from Mr Gladstone.

| New Hampshire boasts of a boy, but 11 years old, who is " extremely vicious and headstrong ;"—so much so, indeed, that on the 4th September he entered a room where old Mrs Spat-hawk, his grandmother, was sitting with a Mrs Starkweather, and shot the former lady dead with a small revolver, so quickly that Mrs Starkweather could not tell who fired the shot. At first he denied having any knowledge of the affair; but at the inquest, with "true childish candour," he confessed that he was the murderer, adding apologetically that he " wanted to get the old critter out of the way." It seems that Master Sparhawk had planned the murder for a month, and that matters were brought to a crisis by a few words he had with his aged relative concerning the duty of obedience. The Mormons, it is reported, are discussing the propriety of their abolishing polygamy, and David Smith, the son of the founder of the sect, has been denouncing the practice in iiis sermons lately delivered at Salt Lake City. Brigham Young is also reported to have told "Mr Colfax, two years ago, that it was not improbable a new revelation might be received abolishing polygamy, and a change may be expected. The Pacific Railroad has been completed, and the difficulties experienced in 1857 in sending out troops and supplies to Utah will not be incurred. Polygamy is forbidden by the laws of the United States; and if tho present or future administrations endeavor to enforce the statute, the success of the United States army will be certain. Divid Smith, who is reported to b" a man of education and influence, is under thirty years of age ; while Brigham Young is ignorant, and his powers are on the decline. The influence , of the reform party, it is supposed, will be very great,' and will effect a change in the customs.

Considerable excitement exists in East Davenport and Gilbert Town in consequence of a man returning from a shooting excursion stating that he saw what he first took for some wild animal crouching by the bank of a river. It suddenly sprang in, and emerged with a fish which it devoured ravenously. Getting closer to it ho discovered it was a boy apparently about fifteen or sixteen, entirely without clothes, and covered with light sandy hair, of a silky appearance. He plainly saw the face, and describes it as revoltingly ugly and brutal in its aspect. He attempted to approach it, but the creaturo became alarmed-* and, taking to the water, swam to a neighbouring island, and hid anion" the sedges. On returning home he gave information,.and a close look-out has been kept. The creature, whatever it may be, has been seen twice since, and the .Wild Boy of the "Woods will doubtless be.shortlv r.'ip) tll\»d.