The Portland daily press., 1877-06-08
From the Maine State Press of June 7, 1871
History of Seven Days.
The News for the week ending Wednesday
Night, June d.
NATIONAL CAPITAL


Night, june o.
NATIONAL CAPITAL
The Secretary of the Treasury has referrad to
a committee, consisting of Treasurer Wyman,
Mr.. MCPHERSON, chief of the bureau of print
ing and engraving, and Comptroller Knox, the
question as to what estimated amount Of frac-
tional currency has been destroyed and is never
to be presented for redemption, and upon their
report will decide whether the law limiting the
outstanding fractional currency and silver coin
to $50000,000 will permit the issue of additional
silver to cover the currency destroyed in circu-
lation.
A special agent of the post Office has been
sent to Clinton and st. Francesville, La, to in
vestigate cases of postmasters of those places
both of whom report that they have had their
lives threatened if they attempt to take possess
sion OF their offices. Both are col0re1 men.
The special agent is directed to install them,
and then if not capable to SO report and if the
places continue to prevent the lawful officers
from taking possession of their federal offices
the post offices will be abolished.
Attorney General Devens has had all the rep
reservations on the Chisolm massacre referred
to him to ascertain whether there is any author
ity for the Federal courts to interfere. The
Secretary of State takes part in the investiga-
ton from the fact that the British authorities
complain that one of the parties massacred
was British subject.
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.
A great oil fire occurred near Millertown,
Saturdov @apI pta;p hor
rels of oil was struck by lightning and the oil
totally consumed. Loss $S5,000.
A fifteen year old son of S. Mung of Green's
burg. La, ''to get even with the old man" whose
discipline was rather severe poisoned his father,
his sister and her child and visitor with ar
senic. Three have died.
Peter 81. Pennell for the murder of
his wife has been sentenced to be hanged
at Elmira, N. Y, July Goth.
In the case of Lucy A. Mink tried for the
murder of Charles Kicker at Lowell the Jury.
returned verdict of manslaughter. Miss Mink
it will be recollected, is the woman who was
tried for the murder of DR.. Baker in Warren in
this state.
A water spout flooded the country two miles
Northwest of Burlington, Iowa, Monday and
did considerable damage to foundries, machine
shops and agricultural works in that locality
Mary Mastuton, aged seven years, kidnapped
from Philadelphia last April, has been re-
covered.
Union, S. G., was burned Sunday. Loss $780,
600; insurance $4,000.
Lydia Sherman, the notorious poisoner and
who escaped from the Connecticut state prison
where she was serving life sentence, has been
retaken.
Indians have been murdering mail carriers
and telegraph repairers in Arizona.
Several persons were killed and number
badly injured by an accident on the Lehigh
Valley Railroad Friday.
A Mormon avenger shot at j. B. Stillson,
Utah correspondent of the New York Herald
Saturday night and then tried to stab him.
THE TURKo RUSSIAN WAR
The sixth week of the Turko-Russian cam
paign brings with it no events of the most cur
sorry military interest from the seat of war
Even the war correspondents have become tired
of recording changes of corps or divisions
which are contradicted within few hours or
them of all significance. On the Danube the
Russians have at last occupied the chief posi-
tions, and their lines extend from Galatz to
Kalafat, but a formidable river bars their way,
and until the stream returns to the normal
summer level it will be perilous if not physi-
cally impossible to take the army across. 1t is
now hardly possible that the Russians can exc
cute great military operations for the next
three weeks. They may come to close quarters
with the Turkish armies about the beginning
of July, so the campaign will probably be pros
ecuted under the greatest heats of summer.
The region of the lower Danube is terribly un-
healthy for strangers, so it may be presumed
that the Russians will endeavor to traverse
with all celebrity the more unhealthy districts
There are 100000 Russians in position on the
Danube without counting the Roumanians and
reserves being brought forward, who amount to
$4,000 men.
A British newspaper correspondent writes
from Constantinople: During the past few
days had interviews with number of officials
of the Turkish government and with prominent
men of ::all classes, we'll acquainted with the
situation of affairs Information from these
sources and my own intimate knowledge of
Turkey and the government enable me to say
that corruption and bribery which are rife
everywhere, destroy all chances of Turkish
success. There are no horses, no money and
no order in the management of affairs. All
the carriage horses in the country have been
seized by the government for war purposes.
Another body of Sofas were exiled to-day,
who were accompanied TO the vessel on which
they took their departure by large number of
sympathizers. The Sultan is nonentity.
With 300 women and 5000 persons of all classes
in the palace to feed daily, the strain on the
treasury is intense. There is not particle of
patriotism among the officials to give ground
for the slightest hope. The contract for army
stores and equipment are awarded by means of
bribery by officials having the matter in charge.
The advertisements in newspapers of contracts
open to general competition are mere shams,
and connived at by the Minister of War and
those that surround him. The constitution of
thecountry is also sham and dsregarded in
every possible manner. The parliamentary
deputies are returning to their homes in dis
gust, and the laws which have been passed will
never be put in force. The Minister of War,
however, informed me that Turkey would figh
to the last. The Sultan has given up all hope
of aid from the English government.
In the British Commons Tuesday a des-
patch was laid on the table addressed by
Derby to Lyons, British Ambassador at
Paris. Derby informs Lyons that Great
Britain declines the proffer of De Lesseps to
keep open the Suez canal to all nations, and
had intimated to Russia that any attempt to
blockade or otherwise interfere with the canal
or its approaches would be regarded by Eng.
land as menace to India and grave injury to
the commerce of the world, incompatible with
the maintenance of the British attitude of pas
sive neutrality. At the same time it was init
mated to the Porte and Khedive that England
was firmly determined not to permit the canal
to be made the scene of any combat or other war
like operations.
Kiernan's London despatch says that
Gortschakoff's note to Lord Derby, of
which Count Schouvalotf is bearer,
states that the Gar does not want any terrific
rial increase in Europe, but only desires auton-
omy forBulgaria and the independence of Rou-
mania and Servia. He demands the cession of
Armenia from Bayazid to the coast but not