The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-05-25
From the Maine State Press of May "a, 1871
History Of Seven Days.
The News for the week ending "Wednesday
Night, May 23.
NATIONAL CAPITAL

NATIONAL CAPITAL
Luther D. Curtis is appointed postmaster at
Winterport, Me-, vice Geo. s. Libby.
A delegation from the Baltimore and Phila-
delphia conference of the African Methodist
Episcopal church called upon the President
Tuesday and thanked him for his considera-
ton towards the colored race.
Gen. Joe Johnston is suggested as probable
nominee for Governor Of Virginia by the ad-
ministration party. Johnston is thoroughly in
favor of the Presidents policy and was serious
ly considered for Cabinet position.
A Washington despatch to the World
says Senator Blaine has had another inter-
view with the President on political mat
tiers, so far as they relate to the appoint
ments of one or two persons to Office and the
retention of others. He will leave Washington
in day or two, not to return till the October
session.
Mr.. Blaine says he never authorized the de-
NAL of the despatch which stated that he had
a long interview with the President a week ago.
On the contrary, he remained with him two
hours, and dned at the Executive Mansion.
The President and himself have always been
personally the best of friends; but politically,
istration are so we'll known as not to need
repetition to the President or the public. He
has never for moment had any faith in the
wisdom of that policy.
Mr.. Rogers, acting Commissioner of Internal
Revenue, has referred the kilograms from Col
lector Rives at Lynchburg, Va, urging the ac-
count of the assault upon and the shooting of
United States officials in the discharge of their
duty, to the Attorney General who will issue
instructions for the prompt pros cution of such
offenders. The outrages create profound sem
sation at the internal revenue Office and the
subject in all probability will be considered at
the next cabinet meeting with view to the
employment of troops to assist the revenue au-
thorities in the performance of their duties and
for their protection against outlaws.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
Two boys were burned to death by an explc-
sion of fire damp at Mnersvile, Penn, Tues.
day.
About twenty stores in the heart OF the
town Of Gilmansvile, N. Y, were burned
Tuesday. Forty-six firms were burned out.
Loss $5c 900.
Fire broke out at Woodstock, N. B., last
Thursday morning and spread rapidly until
nearly the whole town was in flames. 1t
burned fiercely for five hours, destroying over
go buildings, covering about the same ground
as the big fire which occurred in 1850, and in
Guiding dry goods stores, two hotels, sc. Is
caught in harness store
Schooner Manetta Tilton was sunk off Cross
Rip light Thursday and the captain, his wife,
the mate, cook and two seamen drowned
A oh Tpd;o
blown down Monday andone man killed and fit
teen seriously injured.
The iron steamship Saratoga was to be
launched at Roach's shipyard at Chester, Pa,
Tuesday morning at o'clock, but for some
reason she started before the time fixed, and
before the workmen were notified. Some forty
of them were under the vesesl and a number
were killed and injured. The scene after the
vessel had left the ways was most frightful and
sickening. The bodies Of the dead were scat
tered in every direction. Two were cut in half,
others had arms and legs severed, and every
thing was covered with blood. The excite
ment was intense, and in short time the yard
was thronged with people.
Thirty persons were drowned by the wreck of
vessel plying between Adelaide and Albany
Isles.
THE TURKO-RUSsIAN WAR.
The latest dispatches bring no news of
moment from the seat of war on the Danube.
The plans of the Russians are still carefully
concealed, but the general tenor of the reports
shows that they will not cross the river until o
great force is concentrated at the point or
points of passage. In the mean time they are
carefully perfecting their rearward lines of
communication, and studying the plan of their
campaign, which is likely to open dramatically
when the order to advance is given. Those
who cavil at the mastery inactivity of the
Russians lose sightsof two facts-mud and dis
lance. When the troops left the villages of
Bessarabia they could not strike the bottoms of
the roads, and during the past fortnight there
have been heavy rains. The distance between
the frontier and Giurgevo, where the main COL
umn is concentrating, is nearly 300 miles. Each
of the six corps Seventh, eighth, ninth tenth,
eleventh and twelfth) at present modified on
the European theatre of wal, has two divisions
of infantry and one of cavalry; each division of
infantry has brigade of field artillery of six
batteries, each of eight guns; each division of
cavalry has two artillery batteries, of six guns;
and there is, moreover, an immense siege
train. These are good reasons for making
haste slowly. The official declaration of war
by Roumania against Turkey is an anomalous
one. She proposes to act entirely on the defen-
sive. Her present position, however, at once
shows the impossibility of her carrying out
such intentions if she ever had any. The Gar
will have his head quarters at Bucharest until
the close of the war; The attitude of Seryia is
also assuming decided antagonistic feeling to
Turkey, and should they be induced to join
Russia, Austria will be compelled to adopt
decided course The latest intelligence all
tends toward decisive movement in the d.
rection of Widin, but the crossing of the Aluta
is an mpossibility from thu swollen state of
that river. There is no doubt that Widin is
the most vulnerable portion of the Turkish line
inasmuch as it is here that the Turks have
their basis Of operations and control the move
ments of their troops westward wherever they
are threatened either from Montenegro, and
possibly shortly from Servia.
In Armenia the fortress of Arabian, if we
may accept Russian reports, has been captured
by four Russian regiments and Russian brig
ade of sappers from fourteen regiments of
Turks. The Russian details of this victory
must be received with much caution, but the
burden of proof indicates that the town has
really fallen, though probably after an evacua-
ton by all the Turkish garrison except few
troops left to cover the retreat. The report that
Kars had once more been the scene of con-
flct is scarcely credible. The Russian general
would hardly risk so hazardous an operation,
although his idea of the number of troops in
that place seems very erroneous, and might
perhaps justify him. Muktar Pasha has 30, 900
troops in Kars, independent Of the inhabitants,
who number about $4,000 General Melikoff
has also failed to cut off Muktar Pasha's com.
munications with Kars, SO that the garrison
can receive, and are receiving, daily supplies
from Trebizond and Erzeroum. An affair of
outpost seems TO have taken place at Ziel, near
Sukum-kaleh, where the Russians have received
another check This was perhaps feint, as
they only attacked with 800 men.
The endeavor Of Turkey to give fanatcal
turn to the war which is now declared "holy"
by the Sheik-ul-Islam, the Mohammedan Pope