SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 27 April 1901, Page 3

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

(Per s,s. Sonoma at Auckland.)

The Wreck of the Rio. San Francisco, March 29.

I Strange to saj r , it has not yet been possible to find any trace of the resting place of the City of Eio de Janeiro, in the bottom of San Francisco Bay. Search has not been abandoned at any time, but there has been no result. The fog at the time of the disaster was so dense that two men and surviving officers of the ship are unable to make any accurate guess as to the grave of the vessel. The investigation into the cause of the wreck resulted in the censure of the pilot and of Captain Ward, who went down with the ship. The chief engineer was blamed severely and deprived of his license. Jt is likely the trouble may lead <o some change in the pilot service as now conducted, as it is clearly evident that the pilot, here as elsewhere, is entirely in command from the time he boards the ship until the time he again goes over the side. Chicago Explosion In Chicago on March Ilth a boiler in a laundry exploded, wrecking a largo building and burying in the ruins a dozen people, mostly employees of the laundry. At least twenty five others were seriously injured. The cause of the explosion can never bo exactly known, as the engineer perished. The gas used in the engine was manufactarod on the premises, and large quantities of gasoline were used. It is presumed this caused trouble in soms way. The sufferings of injured girls were terrible, some of them being hurled from the upper storey windows by the force of the explosion, and some being pinioned in the debris and burned.

America and tha Philippines The Spanish Minister at "Washington has received the final payment of one hundred thousand dollars, and the United States has received the final session of " Any and all the islands of the Philippine Archipelago lying outside of the lino described in Article 3 of the Treaty of Peace between Spain and the United States, of December, 1898." At the same time the protocol war signed by the Secretary of State, Colonel Hay, and the Duke d'Arcos exchanging ratifications of the Treaty of Cesiion. The specific purpose of the transaction is said to add the islands of Cagayansulu ond Sibutu to the possession of the United States.

America and China. Much anxiety is felt here with regard to affairs in China. It is feared that the Powers which have retained military forces there may decide to shut the United States, which retained only a legation, out of a voice in the settlement. The British press ridicules the American attitude generally, saying the United States objected to China's proposed concessions to Russia, but was not ready to fight to enforce its objections. The German press declared it absurd that the United States should claim twenty-five million dollars indemnity, while Germany was claiming sixty millions, pointing out that America had but 1600 troops at Pekin, while Germany fhad twenty-five thousand. The lapsing of the Alanchurian Treaty has calmed matters somewhat. But it is evident that the respite can only be temporary. Two Mammoths of the Sea.

The largest American vessel afloat has just been launched at Newport News. She is the Korea, for the Pacific Mail Company, and will be put on the run between San Francisco and China about January, 1902. A sister ship is also in process of construction. Each will have to attain a speed of 18 knots, but the builders are confident the ships will be able to attain a speed of 22 knots. The Korea will have accommodation for 200 cabin passengers, 1,200 Asiatic, and 100' European steerage. There will be room for officers and crew to the number 225. Her tonnage is 12,000. He equipment will be most luxurious, and the cost of each ship will be about 2,000,000 dollars. The other large steamers of the Atlantic trade have all been built abroad, so the Korea and the Siberia will be tlie largest American-built ships afloat. Death of General Harrison.

General Benjamin Harrison, a former President of the United States, died of pneumonia at his home in Indianapolis, on March 13th. He was the only Democrat who has been elected to the high office of President since the close of the civil war.