AMERICAN SUMMARY. San Francisco, March 9.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 356, 3 April 1889, Page 4

AMERICAN SUMMARY. San Francisco, March 9.

Tremendous excitement was caused in San Francisco and all over the country on March 7th by a supposed Zoorback telegram from the Breslau "Zeitung" to the effect that the German corvette Olga and the American man-of-war Nipsic had come in conflict in Samoan waters, and that the Nipsic, by a torpedo from the German, had been annihilated with all on board. Private despatches from Berlin on March Bth confirmed the report ; but still, at the time the Mariposa sailed for Sydney (noon al date) no confidence was expressed in it, after reflection. Tho London "Times" thinks shots might have been exchanged, but there was no fight. It is utterly dia credited at Washington.

O'Donovan Kossa, the agitator, brought a suit for criminal libel, on March Bth, ' against Patrick Sarsfield Cassidy, of the New York " Catholic News." The paper charged Rossa with treachery t6 Ireland. The town of Wabash, Nebraska, was totally destroyed by fire on March Bth. Two Chinamen have been arrested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for enticing school children into their opium dent. Twentytwo girls had confessed, up to March Bth, that they frequented the places. Parties had organised to evict the Chinese colony from the city. An explosion occurred on February 25th in a factory at 1 ymouth, Pa., where squibs are made for miners. Eleven girls out ot eighty-live employed were burned to death, and two seriously hurt. On February 25th the Mayor of New York, Grant, gave notice that all telegraph and telephone wires in that city must be buried. If the work is not done by the end ot that time he will have it done by the city at companie*' expenses. The Secretary of the Navy has contracted with M. P. Picketing and Co. of New York forthedelivory of 2,000 tonsofcoalatSamoaat $3,325 per ton. The shipment will cost the Government $34,000 and the voyage occupy four months. Two thousand five hundred Panama Canal workmen were discharged at Tavernella on the 16th February. Contractors continue to curtail work on all the sections. A sLrong military force on the line ol the canal maintains order. No trouble had, however, taken place, and none was anticipated. The event of the collapse had been discounted by the fact that a gradual suspension of work has been going on for the lust two montbs, and the overflow had drifted out" easily and in various directions. The West Indian negroes were returning to their homes at the rate ot about 500 a webk, and the French steamers three times a month took oil 200 or 300 French men each. The Chilian Consul also shipped about 300 of his compatriots per month, nominally to work on railroads at home. Business on the Isthmus is reported at a complete standstill. Later Panama despatches (March 6th) say that trouble can hardly be averted when woik on the Canal is absolutely stopped on March 15th. The commanders of the British, French and United States war vessels and the Colombian authorities have made preparations to meet it. There aie now about 10,000 men left, and these are living in camps along the canal. It i? feared they will not only try to take possession of the Panama railroad, but that the revolution tepoited brewing in the interior may break out at the same time. Theßiiti&h vessel El Dorado, 270 tons burden, passed through the canal trom Aspinwall to Chagres, a distance of fifteen miles, on March 7th — the tinst to make the trip. Barnum's giant, Colonel Iluth. Goshen, an Egyptian, v.ho stood seven teet two in his stockings, died on February 13th. He weighed 630 pounds. James C. Flood, one of the San Francisco "bonanza" firm of mining millionaires, died at the Grand Hotel in Heidelbeiff, February 21st, of Bright's disease. He was 63 years of age. He was a carpenter by trade, and commenced business in San Francisco by keeping a liquor saloon. In 1887 the firm met with severe losses by an unfortunate wheat deal, nearly $12,000,000, according to some estimates ; but, notwithstanding, Flood died worth many millions. Chili has passed a law excluding Chinese from the Kepublic. Ecuador, particularly at St. Elena and \ Guayaquil, was visited by a sharp earthquake on March 3rd. Damage is reported in the province of Matafi, on the west slope of the Andes. Bishop Murray, of Australia, who is about to vie.it the Vatican, preached on Sunday, March 3rd, at St. Mary's Cathedral, in San Francisco. The Bishop took for his subject on the occasion "TheProgiess of Catholicism in Australia." He estimated that there weie now 800,000 Catholics in Australia. It has been discovered that a bloody vendetta prevails among the Sicilian colony in New Orleans, La. There are several thousand of these people in that city, and the feud, of which there have already been many victims, was brought from Italy. Bodies have been found by keen -scented dogs in the swamps on the borders of Lake Portchartrain, and also in other out-of-the-way places. Many persons have disappeared of whom no account can bo given at all. The Australian Ballot Bill was deteated in the Senate of the State of Maine, on March Ist, bj' a majority of one. The amendment totheelection law of California, known as the Australian plan, came up for reconsideration in the Legislative on March 3rd, and was rejected by a vote of 46 to 26. ( A goldlield has been discovered in Santa Clara, near San Diego, and a mineralogist specially sent to examine it pronounces the hnd to be the richest in the history of the Pacific Coa&t. The g;eneral opinion is that thisreporteddi&coveryisaluretothefloating population of California. San Diego is &u tiering severely irom reaction in the late business " boom," and hopes to resuscitate by inducing an influx ot people with money to spend. Isaiah Y. W\ Williamson, a multi-mil-lionaire, died in Philadelphia on March 6th. His benefactions in recent years reached a total or $16,000,000. He devoted twelve millions to the establishment of a great industrial school for boys. It is reported from Spruce Creek, Mount Sterling County (Kentucky), that it camo to light on March 6th that a father of nine children joined with his paramour and her brothers, and poisoned them all. The children had objected to their father living with the woman. The ciiminals fled to the mountains, butwere pursued by the citizens, captured, and lynched. Orangemen held a mass meeting in Ottawa on February 23rd, and resolved to withdraw their support from the Conservative party if the Government persisted in refusing bo disallow the Jeeuits Compensation Act, passed by the Quebec LegislatureIt was resolved, also, that a third party be formed. On March sth the Council of the Mon- I treal Board of Trade approved the Weldon Extradition Bill, introduced in the Dominion Pailiament to include American defaulters. This Bill has created a panic among the refuge " boodlers " now ia Canada, and the fugitives are raising a fund of $100,000 to prevent it 3 passage. John W. Eno, of New York, is one of its most active opponents. Th« Edison Electric Light Company's patents have been declared invalid ia : Canada. I ■n l^ •-^yrzrrzr.T??" j Birmingham, March 29. ! At tho Miners' Conference held here when ; some 300,000 men were represented it was i unanimously resolved to recommend the 3 adoption of eight hours for five days a week j as the standard of the labour market. ' London, March 29. 1 In the action for breach of promise ' against the jockey, Banker, a verdict £1,000 damages was given. Tho Emperor William was present at the dinner given to Prince Bismarck last night ' by the German Chamber of Deputies. I