LATEST AMERICAN GOSSIP.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 165, 12 July 1879, Page 4

LATEST AMERICAN GOSSIP.

[Correrpondent rf Auckland Herald.] San Francisco. June 9. OPERA BOrjFFE : " 11 M 8. PINAFORE." " Pina'cre ! " " PinVora ! ! " " Pinafore !! ! " Nothing but " Pinafore ' now -i-daye. Pinafore en ibe children, pinafore on the dotbee-Hnes, pinafore in the windows of the stores— -what do I mf an ? Well, not to either of the last thr*e do I refer; it is to "H M.S.'s Pinafore," now being produced at three theatres in this city in the shape of a semi comic opeietta. The mesic is by that most popular composer, Arthur Sullivan, while the libretio is frrra the pen of Gilbert. It is a charming libretto, nod tbe music is simple, pure, aud taking the refrain of old Fnglisb airs throughout in reconstructed form. America has gone crazy over "Pinafore." At eight theatres in New York it is now running, and it has up to the pres. Nt date been played 1000 timee, and still the cry is " Pinafore." And now we have it in our city, where everything is giving place to the wee two-act opera, which any company cf amateurs could get op in a week. A little thing ■muses en innocent mind, and (bough the denizens of Sao Francisco are not credited with being imbued with many innocent proclivities, they are for (he nonce as entranced over " Pinafore " aB children over a Punch and Judy show. FEMALE PKD9.: EXCITING CONTEST. We have another craze in oar midst which almost equals that of •'Pinafore" —1 Bay fquale, but really 1 may say supersedes it. It is pedestrian iem in Us fairest form. Fanny Edwards, the champion walker of New York, challenged Madame La Cbapelle, champion of Chicago, to walk ICOO quarter-miles in 1000 consecutive quarter-hours, day and eight, covering a Bpace of 31 days 6 hoars and 10 minutes Tbe ladies •re walking in Plait's Hall, round which a track has been laid of loam and sawdust. Fenny Edwards is an American — a short and fluely-developed figure, with remarkably good understandings, falls to ber portion. She dresses in black or violet satin, with handsome sashes of various colors, changing the dress several times during the day ; the garment is short, falling just below her knees, snd her hose invariably match with her sasb, She bas an easy, swing. ing gait, and never seems to tire for a moment. Madame La Cbapella is tall and very slight (to call her spiritualistic is the most appropriate term), with large lustrous eyes, sod feet that seem more formed to tread on velvet tban on sawdust. She walks rapidly round the course, as though fly ioy, with a Blight forward bend. She is the most rapid walker in America, with an almoßt superhuman amount of endurance. Tbe most interesting part of the performance is when tbe fair pedestriennes fall asleep on tbe track. Walking round with whip in band, simply coached by tbtir respective trainere, which means that the tracer place bis Brms akimbo, and the sleeping walker leans against the •ogle made by the arm. For hours they walk (bus, starting out ot the commencement of each quarter, which being accomplished io about three or four minutes, giviDg five laps to each quarter-mile. They are taken to their rooms, laid down on their coaches, with the feet raised nigh on pillows, and so rest for the remaining minutes of tbe quarter. In these quiet moments by day ; they change their garments, eat, •nd are rubbed wtih alcohol. Both ladies are as bright-looking to-day as when they started two weeks ago. The sleeping part of the business is the most attractive, They are taken up from the couch unconscious, and remain so until laid down again, tbe walking being merely mechanical. The betting is high; the enthosissm great. A PEkALE " BEBTLE-CBUSHEB." Mibs Yon Berge is also on tbe track for " exhibition walksJ" She is a cart horse style of female, with a huge body and wide-swinging step. How she foots it, heel and toe. Heavens ! She cornel down upon tbe flat of her foot like' a thunderbolt; being neither young nor pretty, but large and coarse, she excites tittle interest. The two champion ladies are accompanied all day long by ladies who walk for pleasure, thus relieving tbe monotony for tbe jaded tramps, who must be jaded, though they are too plucky to reveal tbe same. An untiring pianist adds a questionable lustre to tbe whole proceedings ; his fingers fast assuming a moving appearance, snd his tune often-limes betraying a doll weariness communicated by the flagging spirits of the place. THE OPEBA SEASON. The opera season closed last week with the benefit of ike beautiful Marie Ro«e. The Grand Opera House was foil, from tbe parquet te to tbe second gallery, of enthusiastic listener?. At the close of the first set of "Robert Le Diable," twelve ushers rushed down in line, each bearing a magnificent floral emblem, several contaioing, in the midst of the living bloom, costly and elegant presents — bracelets, chains, necklets sparkling with diamonds, emeralds, and pearls, with more sombre, though not less rare, cameos. Tbe curtain fell, and when sn enthusiastic recall caused it to be raised a second and yet a third time, tbe entire front of the stage was dressed with flowers, forming a magnificent tableau. Then came a second shower of bouquets, like s deluge. Being fond of flowers 1 heaved a sigh of regret to think bow tfe§ft lovely and fragrant mass would be

l^ft to die ucregarded, as the fair leneficiaire wes (o leave early (he next moroinf. Sovernl hundred dollars' worth must have been ihpre, Bn>l no on 11 wi o h^e cot wimeseed n benefit in ihis ciiy enn form on i.U-a of tbe splendour of tlie IribuJee ; ecrue ot the designs etooJ three feet high, masses cf solid colour, with the name of the recipien in another colour, the letters bring six inchrs loop, white grounds with scarlet for the natnc, scarlet grounds with violets in monogram, an 1 so cd. Lyree, flat*, temples, shipp, crown*, wreaths, corcucopiae, iv fact on endleE9 variety of all that is beautiful and costly are laid at tiie feet of our favorites. Roz? woo the people by her wealih of beauty and artistic elepauce; but for ber voice — well, it is a pretty voice, dramatic, not florid, but the woman herself i 9 (ho charmer. Tilta was my pet, no nightingale ever warbled more exquisite silver cadences than the ; ti.rowiDg the thtills nloft, below, ever) where, without thesli^htest variation of facial expression, except tbe light of her eyes, you won !er whecca came tbe shower of pearle. But Tilta is not beautiful; nay, is sometimes plain ever, yet she is charming, and, knowing her as a frieud, ste weuves a magic web of fascination about one. Her hentfit too, was quite an ovation, with flowers, diamonds, and golden luxuries laid at her feet. So closed the opera, tbank HeaveD, BDd row I can take a night's rest at will. Amy Sberwio, from Australia, in " Traviata," was not, to my mind, a success. She caunot act a bit, and her execution is slurred, with no trill; but then her voice is like a bell, and she takes high C flat with perfect assurance. She plays Josephine i.i " Pinafore" on Monday nest. So much for tbe theatres. A CHAPTER OF HORRORS. There is no cessation of horrors in our wonderful country. Lately we ' have haJ two terrible sensation?, the lynching of two brothers, for murder, being pre-eminently awful. These brothers, by name Joakum, had been imprisoned for oue year, for the murder of two ohizeop, who were quietly driving home iheir wives. A w^ek ago a masked mob broke into tbe gaol, part of whom covered the j sheriff an J bis officers with their firearms, while the remainder proceeded to tbe iron tank cells of the prisoners. William Joakum was heavily chained to the floor when the crowJ rushed in upon him, planting (he muzzles of their weapons close to his body. The wretohed man struck out at the weapons of tbe assailants, wounding many by turning the firearms aside ; ba', notwithstanding, be was riddled to death, the firearms being placed close against bis manaoled and shivering form, tearing tbe flesh in pieces off his body, after which he was banged to the root of the cell. Thomas, the brother, was not chained down, and him they suspended with despatch from a bar running across bis cell, pulling him up and down until death, he all the while declaring bis innocence, ihe affair created quite a sensation, but lynching is becoming very common now-a-day?. Tbe executiou in Sacramento of Troy, Dye and Edward Anderson is tbe finale of one of the most atrocious murders on record. Let roe take my readers over the ground briefly. Troy Dye was tbe public administrator for — well, I forget the name of the county exactly but here io California somewhere. As such, he had tbe power to administer to tbe estate of such persons who died without heirs. Dye was formerly a butcher, and a man of peaceful habits, and was nominated to his position ac administrator on the republican ticket. It would appear from the evidence, that Dye formed the acquaintance of disreputable men, who, at first jokingly led him to think of killing persons for tbe purpose of administering to their estates. Several were marked oat for doom, but no one killed. The dead body of Aron Tullis, a large orchardist, and a particular and old friend of Dye, was found dead under the fruit-laden boughs of his apple trees a year ago. The murder was cunningly devised, the attempt having been made by Anderson and one Clarke twice, previous to the final end; poison was given, but failed ; and afterwards more violent means were resorted to, which succeeded. It is a long story : How a boat was built and used for the purpose of rowing down to the victim's orchard ; how dragged on shore under the shade of trees and ferns, and there kicked to pieces — leaving no trace but one small broken plank, on which the measurement of the timber was jotted down, thus leading eventually to the detection of the villains, who, for the sake of a few hnndred dollars, had stopped the crimson tide of life in the body of an old man, long living on terms of almost brotherhood with the arch-fiend Dye, who did not kill, but paid his assistants to do the bloody deed. Dye was .promised immunity from punishment if he confessed. He did confess, but for all that they hanged him on a technicality. Had this wretch gone free, there is no doubt he would have killed his list of victims already marked out with quick despatch. At the end Dye feigned insanity, and was prostrated with fear and agony, while Anderson assumed a bold front. They hang the malefactors here in a novel dress : a white Bhroud is pulled over the body, while a black cap is pulled over the face. Thus horribly arrayed, the two fiends, master and man, were plunged into eternity under the Eftitotoer aun, the gaol-yard beneath

their feet being one mass of fragrant and delicious bloom, which sent up their breath of fragrance to the faces of the twain whose feet touched their beads when launched from the drop. A terrible blot on that lovely gaol garden was the execution of Dye and Anderson — and to the latter may be traced the death of many whose end has hitherto been a mystery.