GOSSIP FROM CALIFORNIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 97, 24 April 1879, Page 4

GOSSIP FROM CALIFORNIA.

[From the Correspondent of the Auckland

Herald.' ] A. STEAMBOAT COLLISION. San Francisco, March 16. Though we have not much rain in San Francisco, we are indebted to heavy fogs for moisture all through the summer months, and a fog here means a fog in real earnest. Sometimes you cannot see a finger before you, and with shut eyes, anyone would imegiDe a light rain w*b falling. On the bay il is almost miraculous that co few accidents happen. The fo^-horn blows day and night on many occasions. Lisf werb, however, we hod a sensation collision on the water. One of our iragniflcent sieamprp, II Capiton, collided with the Alnmedp. The fog wns pea-coup thick, and, in spite of horus and whistles, the last boat plunged hpr plough-like bow into poor II Capitoft's sidp, cutting her almost in two. M-n and women shrieked, and went madly for the life preservers. Not knowing how to use them, one strapped his on his th'njh, another put his arm through one The ladies hung them in various places about lheir forms. One lady took cff her bustle-string (we wear newspaptra strong round our waists for bustles here), and passing it through the buoy, tied it on bustle fashion ; others, having a few grains of common sense, put them on over their heads and under their arms, in proper fashion ; others only popped their heads through like a horse in s halter ; others tied them on tbeir feet, so that there wag a severe struggle in the water as to which should be oppermost— " headß or tails. 1 Thus, differently accoutred, they plunged madly into the boiling waters — a funny although a dangerous experiment, aod certainly a motley and ridiculous crowd. But all were saved, fortunately, and one old gentleman, on being dragged out, was deeply indignant at having lost his valise, containing an M.S., which it bad taken him six months to

Compile, on tbe Chinese question. Amateur performances on tbia threadbare subject being decidedly objectionable, tbe community at large feel thankful for the loss of that valuable valise. A BEMABKABLE SUICIDE. Hood Allton is a gentleman wellknown in literary circles on this coast, having at one time been editor of tbe Mtrced Tribune, California, also latterly a contributor to the San Frun* cisco Chronicle T of this city. This unfortunate gentleman has committed suicide under remarkable circumstances. Some days ago he mysteriously disappeared from, his home, but leaving no clue. His wife, to whom he waa fondly attached, refused to believe that he . bad absconded, the family circle being one of perfect happiness. .No clue had t been discovered, up to this day, when a special despatch to the Chronicle from Allton himself, announced his death, such despatch being written previous to the suicidal act. It appears from his statement that years ago he was hit on the head, and, ever since that time, he has bad at times a mental delusion lasting several days, which caused him to wander away from all his friends. He knew his mind was disordered at these periods and tbe impulse to move away from home was irresistible. Latterly the feeling changed, and a wish to kill all those he loved became, likewise, irresistible. "When the fit was upon him he would not .dare to tike his child in bis arms lesfc he should destroy it ; and, therefore, sooner than kill his people, he chose, rafcher, to put an end to his own existence, which he deliberately did. Quite a sensation has arisen from the fact in the place where he died, hundreds of miles from this city. FIRS IN A HORBE KBPOaiIORY. A terrible and horrible accident is telegraphed from New York Cny— ■ - " Tattarsaii'a in Flames." In this magnificent horse repository was accommodation for 112 horses, out of which 60 bad perished in the flames. One pretty little black mare escaped minus her ears, eyes, and one side, which was burnt away,, and, in this state tbe poor little thing had to wait. four hours for tbe official executioner to put bar out of, her misery. The scene after the fire was pitiful and horrible., The hordes had crowded together in mutual terror, while here and there one or two had died suffocated in their stalls. Nothing left but a heap of charred remains^ the, vajiue of the aoimalaburpt pmouptiag to somewhere near 63,000 dollars. . i PAILUBEB AND PROPHECIES. Nothing bat. pa/i jcs, firea, 'suicides, and murders. Now we have the firm of Godchaux and Co., a large drygoods wholesale house, failing for 1,000,000 dollars, dragging down with it b^U the dry-goods stores in the city. Yon walk sorrowfully by the large and beautifully - decorated stores, whose handsome blinds in while and gold, with tbe pretty brass wire half-door which closes tbe portals at night, closely veiling the ladies' delights . behind. The jewellers, too, are faHing right and left. Nothing but desolation in trade stares you in the face. The; clef k* atlhe Poet-office, thoae also of* the Mint are being dismissed by the dozen. Men and women lounge about with nothing to do — the moat highlyaccomplished people sit with folded bands. No work; no work here in the; Golden City. And yet, behind the! counters of the backs lies gold enough; to buy a small universe. It is a terrible! ao#lto^rj&ding.>tat« of things, and! ..W te^feflM fjm'tm ,fAc?etf , tofj W /. . ftft(s»S r -*W. shedding iie golden ligbrdown from tbe blue, cloudless day, on troops of bejewelled and

velvet-robed women, yon would never dream of the want and poverty all utuejo, uocbred for, going on far from the eye of the world " Mra Grundy." Trully San Francisco is a riddle that few can rightly read. Leland Stanford; the great railway man and millionaire, lies dangerously ill in bis palace on Nod Bill, another human hack going to give up hie reckoning. Mrs General Sherman is dead, the General dying, co everything seems topey-turvey in each particular department. A prophecy in a daily piper a few deye ego declared that in 1831 there will be an almost annihilation of America, or rather Americans. We ere promised every kiud of disease, plague, f. ver, cholera, together with rapine, fire, earthquakes, and murder, all of which are to arise out of afijjht atnong the planets and other lieuizem of the upper region?, in which case it would be weli to hark hack to the peaceful shores of New Zealand, where nothing more Berious than a tidal wave was ever ptomised to the people, and even that was a snare and a disappointment. FASHION CHIPS I know my lady friends will be glad of a little feminine gossip about those trifles which are far dearer to their dear little hearts than either panics, deaths, or prophecies. This is the 66f160a of flowers and fashionp. The present modes are very simple and pratiy. Short dreese?, thank heaven, are still en regie, which saves an immense accumulation of dust, and the dust hare beats the dust of even Auckland or Wellington, if that is possible. The short Prioceee coßtuma ia worn with a long jacket or fichu draped at the back for house costume, and short skirt, flounced, with French waist and belt, ia the mode. Gray and fawn shades in colour, are charming, also coffee colour, which is in fact the new colour. Buttons are painted. Any lady may have these by purchasing the plain silk buttons and painting them herstlf. Brooches and earrings are also made of silk on little frames of wood, md paintsd by hand. Each design should be different. French lace is the trimminij most used for wraps, which are black for tha most part. For neck gear the f-^hion is most complete. A coat bodicr, for example, is turned black from the front, and the netk filled in with crepe liese in soft plaits in which flowers nestle lovingly. Lace bows have also flowers in decoration — flowers in the hair and a bouquet at the waist For evening wear loops of pearls, are a charming addition, double neckerchiefi of ville de crape are gathered to the left side, aod fastened with a long epray of roees; a new style ia a kerchief of soft twill, with narrow lace edge, and a spray of flowers to fast* n the same.

Lace shoes are of satin on which a lace, design is co perfectly imitateJ that it appears to be a lace covering. The smallest pompadour heel ever worn ti6B come in. The latest in parasols is, the •• Pekin satin stripe," the stripe alternate in silk and satin of bright and dull colour, in brown, black, end blue. They are very pretty, bat when it comes to the cardinal I stop comment, saying, chacun a son gout. The handles are strong, shell and pear 1 , gold mounted; also imitation of coral, malachite, &c, gold mounted. I guess my lady friends will abide by ibe plainer kinds. Our ladies have been | wearing cardinal velvet bonnets, — :o me simply hideous and dangerous, too, amongst the boviaee. Cameos ere the favourite jewellery. Spanish lace veile are ala mode. Brides wear, instead of orange blossom, a crown of blush roses.. Paniera are again in vogoe for full drees toilettes; Indie muslin (the veritable) has come up again for evening wear. The newest bouquet-holdera ara in the form of butterflies, glowworms, bees, and birds. Young ladies wear for evening, large bows of ribbon on the front of their hair, which must be hijfa. Hoping every lady will take a hint, I adjourn my fashion talk pro tern. MBS SCOTT SIDDONS, The beautiful Mrs Scott fciddons has been entertained at RiJean Hall, Ottawa, by the Princess Louise of England, and Her Royal Highness has done Mrs Siddong the honour to aßk her to sit to her for her portrait. No wonder, as. Mrs Siddons is one of the most lovely and most distingoishedlooking women* I ever saw. POLITICAL AOITATION. During the past week the municipal elections have been held in Oakland (across, the bay, Sacramento, and Salines city. These elections, long looked forward to with increasing interest, have neither proved decisive: nor even satisfactory for either of tbe leading parlies. It gives hopi to the working-men and Republicans for a victory in the Fall election. On the face of the returns, however, the sbwoing is slightly against the work-ing-man and in favor of the Republicans, as compared with last year's results. In Oakland an] Sacramento last year the working men gained ihe day, whereas this year they elect five men out of eighteen. Mr Andrews is the popular favourite for the Mayoralty. Tbe Republicans are elated with hope from the signs of the times, which is too long a subject to enter upon here. I gather from such that this [party holds ita stsengtb, and that tbe working men'a movement, is taking a backward step* Quite a furore has been raised against Welloch,i the Vice-President of tbe working-, men's party. He has bjeen. guilty ofj gross misdemeanors in connection with! bis office, and the working men are

anxious to get rid of him, having paseed a resolution that, unless he g»vrs his support to the new Constitution to be adopted on the 7(h of May next, he roust step down end out of his official position. Meenwhile Denis Kearney ie passing victoriously throughout the State, forming clubs everywhere, and being enthusiastically received, bands of music welcome him, and precede him &s he walks; a surging crowd follows at bis heels; and his speeches, despite their vulgarity and blasphemous tendency, are received with wild and de!l»bied yells and cheers. Still the Chinese come; 600 have just landed, and there is as little hope as ever of their decreasing in number. Filter Pen.