AMERICAN SUMMARY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2015, 4 March 1890, Page 4

AMERICAN SUMMARY.

San Fbancisco, Feb. 8

Walker Blaine, Solicitor of the State Department, and eldest eon ;. of the. Secretary of State, died in Washington on January 15th from pneumonia, superinduced by the prevailing epidemic, " La grippe." Kyle Terry, nephew of Judge Terry, of California, was shot in the Galveston (Texas) Courthouse on January 21st during an investigation into a vendetta case.

The Rev. R. C, Cave, one of the most eloquent pulpit, orators in St. Louis, U.S., and a leading light in it, has created a tremendous sensation by delivering a series of sermons, in which he denied the inspiration of the Scriptures and the divinity of Christ, scoffed at His miracles and those of His apostles, and generally belabored the accepted dogmas of the Church unmercifully. His congregation is composed of the leading St, Louisians, and the Chureh is situated in an aristocratic quarter of the city. The curious feature of the case is that Dr Cave being cut off from the commission for such heretical expressions, nearly all his congregation followed him out of the fold, and will build him a new church, where be [-'can. independently indulge in the expression of his freethinking views.

A fierce and destructive storm raged throughout Western Pennsylvania on February 7th. Large buildiays, ineluding the glass works at Blairsville, were blown down, and many persona killed.

California hae been visited with storms and almost constant rains for the last two months with great detriment to business.

The single tax apostle leaves for the colonies by the steamer Mariposa, During his stay in San Francisco he was interviewed in regard to his political and social principles. As to the object of his mission to Australia Mr George is travelling on the single tax theory at present, that is, the abolition of all taxes with the exception of a tax on the value of land exclusive of improvements, because in his opinion, which is endorsed by his adherents, it is unjust

to tax the proceeds of individual industry and thrift, His business in Australia is to ©promulgate this doctrine. Mr George has many partisans in &an Francisco, and was

well received by them. During service in a North Carolina Church at Sparta, the preacher took one of his congregation to task for connubial infidelity, A riot ensued, in which the preacher and another man were killed with billets of wood and five of the congregation were fatally injured.

A resolution of loyaltv to Queen Victoria passed the Canadian Parliament on January 29th, without opposition, and little debate. Two French members, prominent annexationists, did not vote.

A meteor fell on the larger of the Comancha Peaks, near Granbury, Texas, on Friday night, January Slat. It struck on overhanging boulders and followed down the mountain side, narrowly missing a large dwelling house. Its weight is several hundred tons. Some of the fragments contain nuggets of gold. The Anarchists now in the Illinois State prison, serving sentences for offeuces committed in Chicago, have been granted a writ of error to the Supreme Court.

It is stated iu commercial circles that J. W has been offered 19,000,000d01s for his postal and telegraph lines aud cables. His investments amount to about 11,000,000d0]. Millet's "LMngelus" was ou private view in Chicago on January 19th. The painting will shortly be sent to London, where an offer of 150,000d01s has been made for it to form part or a private collection. Chinamen are being engaged on the Pacific Coast by contractors to take the place of white men.

In New York, owing to a strike among the building trades, trouble is feared.

A movement is on foot in the Southern counties of California to segregate that portion, and erect it into a separate State, expanding the area by the annexation of Lower California. The scheme meets, however, with fierce opposition. A tenement house was burned in North street, Boston, on February 2nd, and with it eleven inmates, while four more were seriously, if not fatally, injured. It originated by an Italian in the basement throwing a lamp at one of his room mates, which fell into a quantity of whiskey. A well arranged scheme has been exposed between some United States Senators—Dolph, of Oregon, and Hoar, of Massachusetts, among others —and some leading newspapers in Canada, to boom the annexation ot the latter country to the American Republic.

Governor A.. Nerdie, of Panama, has been notified by the President of the Republic of Columbia and the Governor of the Department of Panama that the Government will not permit the transfer of lands which, under the existing contracts with the Canal Company, should, under any case, be returned to the A'ational G-oveininent, or the transfer of any property which at the expira: ion of the contract will become national property. California has been visitud with storms and almost constant rains for the last two months. Great detriment to business has resulted.

New Chertsey was shaken by an earthquake on February 7th. The European residentß of Rio are leaving : the country as fast as their affairs will permit- All the berths in all steamers leaving port up to April are already taken*. and. all the' con. fidence of business men; in the Provisional Government appears to be ended. The, Czar reiterates the declaration that he will not recognise thel Kepublic of Brazil while Dom Pedro lives.

The residence of the United States Secretary of the Navy (Mr Tracy) in Washicgton was destroyed by fire oo the morniug; of February 3.d, shortly after seven o'clock, before any of the family had risen. Mrs Tracy, Miss Tracy, and the servonc lost their lms. The Secretary, his daughter, Mrs E. W. Wilmerding, and her little daughter barely escaped. Just as. the firemen arrived Mrs Wilmerding appeared at the second-storey window with her child, sud despite the protests from below jumped to the ground, fracturing her wrist and sustaining slight injuries. lhe child was also injured. Cbief Engineer Barns rushed into the house, and found the unconscious body of Secretary Tracy, which he bore to the window, where the firemen from outside raised a ladder and took him down. The Obief Engineer, returning to the house, stumbled over a body, which proved to be Miss Mary Tracy, badly burned, and brought it out. Life was extinct. Mrs Tracy jumped from the second storpy window, and difd of her injuries within an hour. The remainder of tbe household, with the exception of the servant who was suffocated, escaped. The Secretary wh«n borne from the house was at first. thought dead, suffering from asphyxiation, but tbe doctors restored consciousness after an hour's work. When the newß of the death of his wife and daughter was communicated, he fell into • BUte of extreme mental anguish, which threatened his life.. The origin of the fire, although reported as from defective flues, remain as mystery. The combustion was surprising y sudden and rapid.