English & American News

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 991, 27 October 1881, Page 4

English & American News

Marston, a member of a well-known publishing firm, writes to the Times that he received a letter on Friday from Henry M. Stanley, the African explorer, dated Congo River, July 4th, in which the writer says he was seriously sick all through May, so seriously, in fact, that on the fifteenth day of his illness he gave, as he thought, his last orders to his European companions. But the crisis passed, and he is now strong and hearty. The Porte has returned a favorable answer to a request for a piece of land in Syria, for the persecuted Jews in Russia and Germany. An Indian war is threatened in the United States, owing to the massacre of the officers and men of General Carr’s command. The troops in garrison are being hurried to the scene of hostilities in Arizona. Indians muster 7000 fighting men. A band of brigands ditched an overland train on the Central Pacific railway near Cape Horn mills, California. 12,000 dollars reward is offered for their capture. Forest fires destroyed a large part of the State of Michigan, and swept several villages away, inhabited chiefly by recently arrived Canadians. A thousand lives were lost. The fires were checked by rain. The Republicans carried the entire ticket in the Municipal elections, San Francisco. The result causes surprise. Mason, the warder who attempted to shoot Guiteau, will be tried by court martial. The guards had drawn lots. General Sherman, referring to the affair, says: The law must take its course, or mob law on the frontier would claim immunity. King Kalakau denies wishing to flood the Sandwich Islands with Chinese.

An air-ship, the Great North West, containing five journalists, a member of the Signal Service, and Professor King, was launched at Minneapolis, It is believed the attempt to cross the Atlantic will fail. The tenant farmers of County Down express satisfaction with the Land Bill. Bonfires were lighted over a large portion of North Ireland as a mark of gratitude to Mr. Gladstone for the Land Act. A German Commission has arrived at Toronto to report on the capabilities of Canada for large German emigration. Russia is constructing telegraphs in China, by permission of the Chinese. The success of Australian frozen meat is generally admitted in America. Persons engaged in the frozen meat trade are watching it closely. The Duke of Marlborough, needing funds, is selling the famous Sunderland library. Mr. Gladstone has replied to charges of nepotism, brought by Tories, on the ground of the appointment of two of the Premier’s sons to offices. A fearful cyclone at Shanghai has driven many vessels ashore, destroying £600,000 worth of tea. The Trades Union Congress, London, condemn any return to protection. By a railway collision at Patrick’s Well, Limerick, on 14th September, fifty persons were injured. The Methodist Ecumenical Council adopted resolutions against the opium traffic, and calling upon the Government to suppress it. Tne city of Lima has petitioned the Brazilian Congress to propose an armistice for the withdrawal of the Chilian army. An extraordinary commission is appainted to inquire into the cause of the anti-Jewish feeling in Russia. The German Colony at Odessa has proposed to levy a penalty of 50 roubles on anyone letting lodgings to Jews. At an interview between the Czar and Emperor of Germany, it is stated that the Czar promised, in case Germany was drawn into war, to maintain the attitude of Russia as in 1870. Gambetta, in a speech, said if virtue, ■“patriotism, independence, and disdain for material enjoyments more largely prevailed, Sedan would have been wiped out. Prince Jerome Napoleon leaves France for Constantinople. He is preparing a manifesto renouncing his claims in favour of his son Victor. A meeting of deputies, representing all the principal Jewish communities of Russia, •will beheld to consider their apparently hopeless condition. Lord Chanderboye, Lord Dufferin’s son, has just beaten the Byron and Leander swims from Sestos to Abydos. He swam across from Therapia to Blecos in little more than an hour.

The Queen and Princess Beatrice are at Balmoral, Lord Carlingford being Minister in attendance. The Prince and Princess of Wales are paying a visit to Liverpool. British peerages have been conferred on Lord Reay, the Earl of Howth, the Marquis of Tweeddale, Sir H. Johnstone, Sir H. Tufton, and Sir D. C. Marjoribanks, M.P. The fiftieth annual meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science was opened Aug. 31, at York, by the President, Sir J. Lubbock, M.P. A court martial to inquire into the cause of the loss of H.M.S. Doterel has been opened at Devonport, and the decision acquits the -commander and the surviving officers from all blame, and attributes the loss of the ship to an explosion of gas in her coalbunkers, which was afterwards com-

municated to the powder magazine. M. Gambetta presided at a meeting in Paris assembled to listen to an address on moral and religious teaching, by M. Paul Bert, who contended that religion was not necessary to morality. Frightful Fires : Loss or Life. Detboit, Mich., Sept. 7. — Telegraphic communication is entirely cut off with the worst parts of the burnt region in this State, so that reports are yet somewhat fragmentary, and it is hoped are exaggerated, but there are many fears that the worst, is far from being told. Some are already predicting that the loss of life will reach 100, and even higher. The complete destruction of Richmondville, Sanilac county, is confirmed. It seems to be beyond doubt that the little villages of Carson, Charleston and Tyre are completely destroyed, and Ashley partly so. The townships of Delaware Mindon and Austin, in Sanilac county and Bingham, Sherman and Paris, in Huron county are burned over and deserted. The crops in these townships were all harvested, and nearly all are lost. The remains of a family of seven, named Redmond, were found in a well near Charleston, they having got into the well for shelter, were suffocated. The charred remains of H. Cole were also found at Charleston, and a family named Susula, in Paris township. Mrs. Derbert and her 3 children were overtaken by the flames and burned to death, in Watertown district, and another family named Dennison are believed to be burned. Two families named Thorntan and Lee, it is feared, fell a prey to the flames near Richmondville.. The wind blew a gale, carrying the fire with a rapidity that often prevented escape. This afternoon the direction of the wind changed, and it is feared this will add new destruction by sending the flames over a section that had escaped. It is much cooler to-night, which is favourable in that respect, but the wind is high and the country is helpless. There are no signs of rain, without which there seems to be no deliverance.

The Board of Trade, of this city, to-day appointed a committee to solicit relief for the destitute communities. It is very evident a large work in that direction is at our doors. Hundreds of families lost all their property and this year’s crops which has reduced the condition to one of absolute immediate want.

Sept. Bth. The horrors of the situation in Sanilac and Huron counties, on the shores of Lake Huron, are deepening every hour. An appeal was issued last night at Port Huron, signed by Senator Conger and Hon. W. L. Bancroft, calling for money, clothing and provisions to be sent forthwith to Hon. E. C. Carlton, Mayor of Port Huron. The distress is unparalleled. It is believed that 300 people perished, and it is feared many more, while thousands are stripped of everything, they possess.

Sept. 9th. Details respecting the fire in Huron and Sanilac counties, show that the approach of the fire was heralded by a dense atmosphere entirely obscuring the light, in the middle of the afternoon of Monday. People carried lanterns. in the streets until three o’clock on Wednesday morning. In the woods many dead were found, the bodies scorched and charred. The high winds spread the fire, and every avenue of escape was closed. Burning masses of inflammables were lifted and carried through the air. The skill and courage of man seemed impotent, and men and cattle were roasted together in natural fire traps. Up to Wednesday night 45 bodies were found within one mile, in Paris township. Many are missing, nearly all Polish people. The whole settlement and crops and houses are swept away. In Delaware township, all the country south of Forestville, from the lake seven miles back, is swept clean. The new settlers lose everything. Men and cattle fled to the lake, where there is the utmost confusion. The fire surprised everyone in that region by its sudden descent, and only for the lake there would have been a holocaust. A large force has gone to bury the dead animals. Many have been rendered blind. There is great destitution. George Furgason, of White Rock, says since Monday he has seen 116 burned bodies on the road. Wag-gon-loads of coffins were a common sight. The latest reports say the back country townships are burned over with a large loss of life. The fires were extinguished by rains in the section between Sand Beach and Dickersville.

Chicago, Sept. B.—The Times special from Sand Beach, Michigan, says : —The fire last night was worse, and did more damage than that of yesterday. Bados, Charleston, Tyre Vere,na, Port Hope and Huron City are all burned. Twelve dead bodies were brought into Port Hope. At least 100 lives have been lost in this county. The safety of the town depends on the wind. Large coals of fire have been blowing into the town through the day. It is thought the worst is past. These dispatches are sent by boat to Port Huron. The best estimates that can be made at present place the number of families that are entirely burned out and destitute of food and clothing at 500. They must have help, and that very soon, as this place cannot support all that are coming here, and. the surrounding towns are entirely destitute of provisions.