AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1923, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

AXJBTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. DEATHS IN AMERICA. NEW YOB lx, Oct. 13. A message from Pana, Illinois, states six men have died and three tire Hearty dead as the result of drinking poisonous liquor obtained from an establishment ostensibly leecnsed to vend onlysoft drinks. Fusel oil and wood alcohol were the poisons which caused death Jieeording to the coroner’s verdict, following oil the inquest. All the victims wore men of the family, and included the son of the proprietor of the establishment. The coroner’s jury indicted four persons for murder, including the proprietor, his sons, and a local chemist, who had disappeared. ENORMOUS BUSH FIRES. CAUSES GREAT DAMAGE. (Received this day at 8 a.in.) NEW YORK, Oct. 13. A message from Pasadena. California, states fanned hv high winds, forest fires from the hills and through the canyons of the surrounding country, have laid a score of magnificent rest, deuces over an area of five square miles, and have attacked the suburbs and threaten the city proper. Millions of dollars damage has already been done. Three persons were seriously burned. Twenty thousand men are fighting the fire, dynamiting buildings in an attempt to stop the flames’ progress. Los Angeles is in the direct natli of the fire, which is eating its wav through vast groves or magnificent trees covering the countrvside. and considered the most beautiful section of California, inhabited bv Eastern millionaires who have laid out large estates.

PROHIBITION LAW. 'Received this dnv at 8 a.m.) jtr WASHTXGTOv. Oct. 13. ’ The Federal Prohibition Commissioner. Mr Haynes, addressing a conference of thousands of citizens l-eoresent-ing various organisations for law enforcement declared if patriotic citizenship co-ordinated in the support of prohilition enforcement it will he gressivelv successful. Rev .Johnston declared the withdrawal of liquors from bond bad been greatly reduced, but tint smuggling of liquor continues in large, amounts. Though prohablv over-esti-mated in the press it is impossible to estimate the amount of illicit manufacture though in some sections of the country it is very large. There are strong indications that the industrial population is drinking less than formerly. There was a sharp drop in drunkenness and alcoholism immediateIv after the adoption of prohibition, but since ID2T there has been a constant. significant increase, and the enforcement of the law in some sections of the country is to inefficient that it means virtual nulificatiou.