AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1924, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

[Reuters Teleorams.] PNEUALOXIC PLAGUE: A GRAVE OUTBREAK: NEM YOKE, Nov. 1. A Los Angeles despatch says tho Black Death which swept London in ibo fifteenth century is believed to have broken out hero. A Alexican woman died recently apparently of pneumonia and seventeen attended her 1 uncial. Twelve of them are’ now dead, and physicians say the remainder cannot survive. Three of these never entered the House fo the first victim. The greatest consternation prevailed and autopsies were rushed through. The city hoaltli-ollicer reporting his diagnosis said: It is definitely established tho ailment is pneumonic plague, a very terrible plague, a very terrible disease, in the form of double pneumonia. Both lungs become infected and the temperature goes to a high mark, and death follows swiftly, generally within four days after the disease first appeal's. The mortality is very high. M’o feel that of the seventeen Mexicans the total deaths will'be one hundred percent. Armed guards have been placed around the districts in which tho victims resided. The dead were placed in an isolated ward. Pneumonic plague is the same disease which struck London in the loth, century and wo do not know how it originated.

LEAD POISON DISASTER. NEM' YORK, Novemlier 1. Five employees of Standard Oil Coy’s plant in New Jersey died through inhaling tetraethyl lead fumes in expertincuts to increase the efficiency of petrol. Forty-four other laboratory workers are under treatment. Gas produces insanity and five victims died in straitjnekets, raving maniacs. Fivo of these under treatment arc in a serious condition. Regarding tho remainder, the hospital authorities say some are .suffering from headaches and others from mental disturbance and mild delirium. Other symptoms arc low hlooil pressure and extreme nervousness. Physicians at first were at a loss how to deal with the cases but now believe that injections of syposulpfiite soda arc having a beneficial effect.

The New York health commission has now prohibited the use of petrol treated with tetraethyl lead. Similar action is expected elsewhere.

AAIERICAN POLITICS.. NEM’ YORK, November 1

State officials arc holding an investigation into the Presidential campaign, because of its peculiar character. It has tended to overshadow the vitality „f the important congressional and sen: itorial campaign, which likewise exhibit extraordinary features. Neither Republicans nor Democrats have a dear majority in tbe present Senate, due to the presence of two FarmerLabour senators and a group of programme Republican followers of La, Foletto. Thirty-three senatorial scats will lie filled at tho present election of which seventeen are now held by Republicans. fourteen by Democrats and one Farmer Labour. Democrats must capture twenty and Republicans twen-ty-one in order to obtain the requisite majority. Democrats are certain of seven senatorial victories, since within seven southern states there are no Republican candidates for the senate. Republicans already have one victory, namely, in Alnino, where a Republican Senator was elected. There arc no out standing issues ill the senatorial campaign, since upon tho last two years legislation there is no party uniformity. Roth parties therefore ,uo emphasising only the need to give olio party senatorial control in order to make possible the unity of policy with the Presidential executive. Although there is a nominal Republican majority in the House of Representatives, the 'Republicans actually will need to win 23* in order to assure effective control, while the Democrats require t „ ..;,iii only “I*. The Democrats have

waged a vigorous congressional campaign and whatever the result ol tlio Presidential election they will ho able to secure in either Senate or House, Labour’s active support. •Many Democratic candidates for the House during the campaign have lent their weight to the Democrats’ claim that they will bold a majority in a now House. Democrats expect to be victorious in the south and west while Hie Republicans claim the east and middle west will be theirs. There being no La Rolette candidates for Congress the situation is especially interesting. There are now twenty-two women candidates for the House.

TRAM AND TRAIN CRASH

terrible SCENES "WITNESSED

NEW YORK, November 3.

A tram ear in Chicago, crowded with belated workers and dancers, was crossing the St. Paul railway tracks when a runaway freight train crashed into it, cutting the car in two. Ten persons were killed and numbers injured. Doctors amputated one woman’s leg to get her free from the debris and she reached the hospital in time to save her life. Terrible scenes were witnessed while the firemen dug tho bodies from

the wreckage. ACQUITTED. OTTAWA, November 1. At Montreal, Delorme (cabled on July 20, and August 23, 1923), was acquitted after a third trial. KLUXERS CAUSE TROUBLE. NEW YORK. November 1. Tho Ku Klux Klan staged a parado at Niles, in Ohio, in defiance of tlio advice of the police. They clashed with n rival Catholic organisation, calling themselves the Knights of the Flaming Circles, who shot six Kluxers, several of whom will die. Three of tho circlers were also shot. The State Militia was called out to quell the disturbance.