AMERICAN CABLE NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1926, Page 2

AMERICAN CABLE NEWS

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.\ ANOTHER HURRICANE. SAN FRANCISCO, Sent. 28. A message from Vera Cruz (Mexico) states that the city ot V era Cruz has been swept by the most devastating hurricane there experienced since the year 1888. Several ships have been partially wrecked. Heavy seas flooded the piers of Vera Cruz and drove out those living in the neighbourhood. The hurricane blew for several hours, and then it swept overland. The streets are littered with fallen trees. So far few casualties have been repoitCd ’ GALVESTON (Texas), Sent. 28. _ Some loss of life and damage that is estimated at two and a half . dollars, was caused by the hurricane at Vera Cruz. , , Advices received there . state that many small craft were sunk m the haibotir and houses blown down. SONOALA ROBBERY ' SAN FRANCISCO', Sept. 28.^ Joseph Placide Ducrest, who. in 1921 allegedly robbed tlie specie tank on the steamer Sonoma, of Australian bullion, but who was frustrated before escaping with it, may he prosecuted for piraev on the high seas. Tins was m r diluted by Chief Detective Duncan Alatheson. who is ascertaining if Captain Thomas Trask, of the Sonoma, will swear to a Federal warrant for Ducrest’s arrest. Ducrest was recently sentenced at San Diogo to eighteen months’ imprisonment for smuggling aliens, hut. he was immediately brought here foi questioning in connection with the 10bbery. Ducrest is now in the Leavenworth Penintentiary. The police here say that if Captain Trask decides to prosecute, Ducrest will bo sent for at the end of his prison term, and will ho brought back here to face trial for piracy. Ducrest, after allegedly robbing the vault, secreted part of the loot in a length of hose in the funnel aboard the steamer. The rest, tied in canvas, was thrown overboard as the Sonoma docked here, hut it was later recovered, with the exception of about ten dollars’ worth out of one hundred and twentyfive thousand pounds sterling stolen. Ducrest, it is alleged, realising that detection was near, fled on a- stolen motor cycle, and was not heard of till his arrest* in San Diego. OIL KING’S BRIBERY. NEW YORK, Sept. 28. The United States Court of Appeals, at St .Louis, has issued a decision today ordering Sinclair (the oil king) and his associates to return the Teapot Dome oil fields to tliy Government, on the ground that they obtained them through fraud. The Court uttered an outstanding condemnation of corruption in high places. The Court’s opinion states: • “It would seem that men of standing in the business world, when accused of being bribers, would be quick to resent the charge and eager to furnish all the information possible that might remove such a stain on their reputations. It is incredible that a former Cabinetpublic lauds for the people of the United States, when accused of bribery and corruption in connection with his official duty, in matters' where great public interests are concerned, would not he quick to refute the same. Men with honest motives and purpose do not remain silent when tlieir honour is assailed.” Both the Sinclair and Daugherty cases (cabled on May 28tli. 1925), will probably go to the Supreme'Court for final decision. !