AMERICAN SUMMARY.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3117, 13 February 1879, Page 2

AMERICAN SUMMARY.

San Fbancisco, Jan. 21, 6 p.m.

The Australia was detained thirty-six hours owing to the non-arrival of the English mails.

Tremendous conflagrations in New York, one in Broadway and the other in Worth street; loss, 5,000,000 dols.

Mormon wives are before Congress speaking against the Supreme Court decision declaring polygamous marriages in Utah illegal. Brigham Young's daughter was one of the speakers. The State of Louisiana defaulted January interest.

California is suffering from want of rain.

The Archbishop of Parull, Cincinnatti, a leading Roman Catholic bishop of

America, has been declared a bankrupt. He lias resigned hie bishopric. The Government of the United States formally resumed specie payments on January Ist.

Great rejoicing in financial and commercial circles.

Scarlet fever has been declared epidemic in New York.

Russian Mennonitea are expected to arrive in New York next month by thousands, fleeing to escape military service. Fifty drunken women were arrested in the streets of New York on the day following New Year.

The European steamers were ice bound recently in New York harbor. Vanderbilt intends starting a line of eight steamships between New York and Europe. Sitting Bull and his Indians, 25,000, came into the United States from Canada.

Another ship leaves New York during the present month with American exhibits for the International Exposition to be held in Sydney. Eastern manufacturers are taking advantage to a considerable extent of this opportunity for introducing their productions to a new market.

A strong company is formed for the introduction of Gary's magnetic electric machine for generating electricity for the electric light, telegraphing without the use of a battery, and other purposes. This does not include, however, his magnetic motor. ,

During the last two years the American wine business has nearly doubled, while during six years past the sale of foreign still wines has decreased nearly two thirds. -

The" increase in alcohol exportation is enormous, and the fall trade unusually large and profitable. The giant powder works in San Franciscp have blown up. The shock was felt 60 miles off. Three employees were torn to shreds. Loss, 50,000dofs.

A Congressional committee have made a strong report against further Chinese immigration to the United States.

Richmond, Virginia, was flooded by a rise iv the James river.

An engineer residing in Cincinnati has taken a contract to build a railroad from Jerusalem to Jaffa, Palestine.

Mr Spurgeon, London preacher, is engaged in a controversy with Neal Dow, American temperance lecture, because the latter charged him with excessive fondness for beer and spirits.

The resumption of specie payments has lessened Grant's chances for re-nomination to the Presidency. The New York Times intimates that the Bonanza firm of Flood and O'Brien, San Francisco, hold the titles of the Central Pacific Railroad and branches as security for borrowed money. -. Five hundred agricultural laborers, according to a letter received at New York, left England for New Zealand recently, and the authorities, in view of the prevailing distress are endeavoring to induce others to emigrate to the colony. Thirty Cheyenne Indians were recently slaughtered by the United States soldiers at Camp Robertson. The Nebraska Indians had become mutinous.

Harvard has challenged Oxford to a rowing match ; the latter declines. The Irish American citizens tried to organise a mass meeting to censure the action of the Cork Town Council in regard to General Grant. The attempt was a signal failure. The United States Supreme Court fixes the penalty for polygamous marriages at 500 dollars fine, and fire years' imprison* ment.

The direct Atlantic cable parted at Tai Bay, on the Nora Scotia Coast. Shocks of earthquakes hare been felt at Florida.

Mrs Anderson, an Englishwoman, walked 2,700 quarter miles in as many quarter hours. The feat was accomplished at Brooklyn. A gale at Aspinwall damaged the Pacific Mail works 100,000 dollars.

Ex-Governor Bravo, Mexico, has been killed with fourteen followers.

The Brazilian Government proposes the extinction of all Monastic Orders and application of the property to the reduction of the public debt.

Yellow fever has reappeared at Bio Janeiro.