The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-07-22


also communicated to Capt. Cummings and Mr..
Richards statement of their doings for the
past fortnight.
Ihey stated that both vessels, the Niagara
and Agamemnon, experienced the most violent
soutneriy gales from the day they left Plym'
outn, ana were driven as far north az lat. "a,
much higher than the rendezvous, thus delay
ing their operations for several days. The Nj.
agsra Densved In all respects like thorough
sea gong vessel, and was none the worse for
the storms.
Inc Agamemnon, on the contrary, suffered
severely. At one time, the commander Of the
Agamemnon informed the first officer that he
had no hopes of saving his vessel two hours
longer, 80 great was her straining. But the
storm subsided at last, and the Agamemnon
rode out the gale. A most unfortunate acct.
dent occurred, however, caused by the breaking
loose OF the " cone" which held the cable in its
position On the gun-deck.
Inc cable got adrift, was pitched about the
deck, undoubtedly much to its damage. Two
hundred tons of coal also got adrif, on the
same deck, and caused infinite trouble Two
seamen were injured by these accidents. one of
them having an arm broken, and the other
having leg broken. The two vessels and
their tenders finally arrived on the ground, and
on the morning of the 26th connection of the
cable was effected, the weather being then
sufficiently calm. The paying out of the cable
had scarcely commenced before the wire
snapped.
After few hours detention, another splice
was made, and the steamers started, the Aga.
memnon and her consort for Ireland, and the Nj.
agara and her companion for the American coast.
Signals were kept up between the two fleets
constantly, message being transmitted every
fifteen minutes, and all was going on we'll till
about forty miles had been paid out, when the
electricians on board the Niagara discovered
that the current was broken.
" This was at half past IL o'clock A. NJ, of
the 9th. The Niagara was Immediately put
about, and she had already reached the mid
ocean rendezvous, when, at o'clock, she was
FIRST seen by the Alice Munroe.
1t was believed on board the Niagara that
the cause of the second breaking was kink in
the Agamemnon's wire, caused by its disar.
rangement during the gale, but of this there is
no certainty. Nothing was said to Mr.. Richards
about the working of the new brakes probably
there had been no occasion to put them in use.
"The Alice Munroe parted from the compa-
ny of the Niagara shortly after noon of the 9th,
and lost sight of her about four o'clock. The
AgamemnoE had not then come in sight The
Niagara had hoped that her consort would ar
rive in season to make another trial that day,
but as the weather was foggy, though calm, it
is hardly probable that anything was done on
the 9th. For two days subsequently the
weather was quite calm and favorable, but after
that there was another succession of heavy
southerly gales, and the weather on the banks,
as experienced by the Alice Munroe, was ex-
ceedingly rough"
Letters from Havana state that the coolie
trade continues active. Three large vessels
have recently been chartered for the business :
son the 10th ult., there arrived the Danish
barque Trei Soreuse, master, from Swatoa and
st. Helena, with 302 Asistics, having lost du-
ring the passage 1853. The value of this class
of labor hands, with indenture bonds for eight
years service, varies from seventeen to twenty
two ounces, or in case of remarkable points or
moral and physical qualities combined, twenty
four ounces might be obtained, or from $3.50
to $408 per head. The stock has been much
increased recently, and for few weeks serious
decline threatened the prospects of the specu-
lators. The inevitable effect of mixing the
two classes Of labor in our various industry be.
gins to show itself in vitated subordination on
the part of the African, and submission to the
superior intelligence of the Indian, with whom
he is associated on equal terms in the field, for
Several attempts at revolt, instigated by the
Chinese laborers, have been with difficult y
suppressed without bloodshed. The ring.lead.
ers in these cases have been punished with
moderation, having to serve out their contract
term in the chain.gaDg.' The whole number of
coolies brought into Cuba since 1853 is &c, 1872,
and died on the way, from disease, suicides, and
killed during mutiny on shipbcard, 1882; died
: of cholera and diseases initiated on shipboard,
after arrival in Cuba, $3.50, and previous to
delivery to sub contractors. The heavies. loss
among the frat shipments"
Consequent upon the passage of a stringent
negro law of the Legislature of California at
its last session, prohibiting the further emigra-
ton of free negroes to that State, and compel.
ling those now resident there to give bond for
their good behaviour, large numbers of this
class of people are nov constantly arriving by
every steamer from thence, with view, we
suppose, to permanent settlement, the laws of
this Territory not being opposed thereto. A
large number are also planting themselves
upon Vancouver's Island, where, we learn, they
have met with favorable reception from the
authorities. Among them is the negro Archy,
the famous {" bred Scott" of California, for
whose special benefit, we have heard il said,
this negro act was passed, the oolored popula.
ton of California having become very turbu.
lent during his trial, threatening by force and
violence to rescue him from Slavery, 10 case
the courts should decide that Slavery could
constitutionally exist under the laws of Califor.
MIA. So far as we have been able to form an
opinion of this class of our community, we must
say that they are quiet, orderly, aud UMPIRE
tending people, none of whom have the ap-
pearanoe of being likely even to give the Ter
ritory much trouble in governing them, while
our laws shall permit their residence here
Rget's Sound Democrat.
The candidates for Congress in the St. Louis
(Mo.) district-Messrs. Francis p. Blair, iun..
Republican; J. R. Barrett, Democrat and
Samuel M. Breckenridge, Amer;can-are can.
wasting the district together, and thus are en-.
abled to reach every voter. Mr.. Blair is &C.
quitting himself nobly, and will be re. elected
by majority of several thousands. Mr..
Breckenridge complains that in thor speeches
neither of his opponents ever allude to him or
bis party. They would be very foolish if they
did. .,.
Abel C. Pepper, former U. S. Marshal for
Indiana, and Democrat of the Id school, has
come out as an independent candidate for the
State Senate in Ohio and Switzerland counties,
(strongy Democratic,) on platform of his
own making, that comes clear up to the mark.
The Douglas Democrats of Indiana are very
generally declaring themselves.
E. G. Holland, who has contributed several
volumes to American literature, arrived in the
Indian Empire from three years residence in
Europe. During his studies in German litera-
ture at Heidelberg he gave two courses of lee
lures on American literature to the citizens of
the town he repeated the course at Bonn, and
was we'll lauded by the German press for
making better known the growing literature of
the United States In Great Britain we oh.