The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-26
WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, August rs, 1873.
The Mod0c Capttves.

WASHINGTON, August 25, 1874
The Modoc Capttves.
With the approval OF the sentences OF the Modo0
captives by the Executive and War Department, the
question OF dealing with the Indians OF that tribe "
ended with the United States authorities here 80
far as the six murderers who are to be hanged on-
the Sd Of October concerned but others OF that
tribe are charged with serious Offences, for which
1t Is known the oregon authorities have requested
from the government their delivery into the Gus
tody Of the State officials, the Indians now being
held by the general government The conduct Of
these Indians. preceding as well as subsequent to
the capture and trial by court martial OF tho
leaders In the plot and assassinatOns at the lava
beds last April. has been onicially communicated
here and 1t Is certain that the proper department
win give due consideration to the request that they
be given up to the State authorities. What the
definite result win be Is not at present known,
though 1t is probable that within ten Gays the
whole matter will be decided
The Reported Fight Between indiana
and Colonel Clusters Commend.
The War Department had not received any In
formation up to the closing Of the Department.
to-day OF the reported fight between Indians and
Colonel Custer's command.
Lively Competition for the Transatlantio
Mail Contracts.
The present contracts for the Transatlantic mail
service expire on the 31st OF December next, and
there will be lively competition by the varioua
steamship companies to secure the contracts fox
next year. The service is now divided between the
Williams Guion, White Star, North German
Noyds and Hamburg American packet companies.
The Inman line, 1t will be remembered, was de<
feated last time by the Williams Guion line, tha
latter showing that they made the greatest speed.
This year the Inman line has new steamers, which
they claim cannot be beaten, and will, they say,
show better time than their competitors The law
fixes the compensation to be paid for the services,
but the Postmaster General. IN awarding the cons
tract, selects the vessels Of the greatest speed
No Dilemma In the Internal Revenue
Bureau.
Statements have been published that the Inter-
nal Revenue Bureau finds itself In dilemma on
account Of the seizure and destruction Of taxpaid
malt liquors in Massachusetts Upon inquiry at
that ONCE 1t Is found that no dilemma exists there,
whatever may be felt elsewhere. The special pro-
visions Of the statute, the decisions Of several OF
the State Courts and the decision OF the United
States Supreme Court in the License Tax cases
reported In Wallace. are thought to clearly
define the rights and liabilities OF the general Cow
eminent In the premises.
Postal Cards Between the United state1
and Newfoundland.
The Postmaster General to-day addressed letter.
to the Postmaster General OF Newfoundland apS
proving OF the proposition Of that oficer for re<
ciprocal exchange OF postal cards between tho
United States and Newfoundland on the same
terms as are in operation between this country and
Canada. These terms provide for the exchange Of
postal cards by fixing additional one cent stamp
thereto
Appointments by the President. !
The following appointments have been made bR
the President Herman Bendeu, Of New York;
United States Consul at Elsinore; e. O. Sammis, Of
Florida, Consul at Stuttgart; Theodore T. Gillings
ham, of Nebraska, Agent for the Omaha Agency
Warren 8. Lunty, United States Attorney Tor th9
Western District Of Virginia.
The commissions Of the following postmaster1
have been signed by the President:-,. G. Burket
Union City, Pa. Thomas D. Thomas, Hyde Park{
Pa D. A. Baldwin, New Milford, Conn.
The George Wolfe Disaster To Be In<
Sssfigased.a -''.-'-sAz- - =. =, -.
The Secretary OF the Treasury to-day ordered
Supervising Inspector Carr at Memphis, to proceed
at once with the investigation into the cause Of
the disaster to the steamer George Wolfe. on tho
Red River.
Icteoric Showers.
The following report of mcteoric shower haf
been received at tho Signal once In this city FROM
the observer at Colorado Springs, Colorado Terril
tory )
ON Wednesday the 18th Of August meteori<
shower OF some magnitude occurred at this place;
continuing from nine p. M. to eleven P. NJ, and
again on the l4th inst, from three A. M. to fou1
A. M. but owing to the unfavorable circumstances1
such as the sky being almost totally 0bscured from
nine P: M. to forty minutes past nine ?. NJ, b3
dense masses Of cumulus and stratus clouds In tho
north, northwest, northeast and east, and 1s
addition, owing to the prevalence OF high wndr
varying from fifteen to thirty miles an hour?
blowing in intermittent gusts from north
could only be partially observed. From that time\
the wind decreased to eight miles per hour. Be-
tween the hours Of three A. NJ and four A. NJ Aul
gust ID the sky was clear and the wind almost at q
ne q IN e Sna % Of
United States Army; J. +: Smith, District Observer
Architect and Engineer Of the Fountain Colonyi
Colonel Moody, editor OF the Colorado Sprlnga
Gazette and Professor f. Whtttranl, of st. Louis.
Mo: The observations were taken from the Me-
rdian Stone, erected at this place by Professor
Ramps, Of the United States Coast Survey. Fifty<
eight meteors were observed In all.
Discovery OF q Now Comet. ,
Anew comet has been discovered at Paris by NJ
Henry. Ascension. IN. 27m. declnation north, 81
deg. and 80 min. The comet Ia bright, and Its mo<