Year: 1878

From our Special Correspondent.


WAsHINGToN,D. c., Aug u, rs.


Last week will remain long and
famous in the annals of Washington and
vicinity for the number and terrific
character of the rain and hail storms
that seemed to select this little area of
city and country as the centre Tor
disturbances that were
absolutely terrifying to timid men and
hysterlcal women, and that impressed
the most stolid and Unconditional with
the trifling and lillipution character of
mans works in their capacity TO with
stand naure's resistless forces. The
week closed with a storm of an hours
duration that wrought wide spread ruin
all over the city and completed the work
of destruction begun by those earlier in
the week. Illustrative of the force Of
the gale, it may be mentioned that sew
eral sections of the iron fence between
the Treasury and White House, were
Frustrated, iron rods ! of an inch in
diameter being twisted Off as though
made of clay 0nr admirable se~er
system has been damaged to the extent
of many thousands of dollars and the
havoc above ground has been general.
More than a hundred houses were
unroofed from Monday to Saturday
night, and many others were completely
demolished. Pavements were torn up
and utterly ruined as though the work
ofchiIdren. Hundreds-perhaps thous-
ands-of shade trees have been uprooted
or twisted off. Cellars all over the city
have been inundated and many build
ings with foundations washed out, will
have to come down. A black cloud
gathering anywhere above the line OF
the horizon will now set all Washington
in a tremor of apprehension. On the
whole the season has been unprecedent-
ed for hot weather and violent disturb
ances.


The President and his advisers are no
sooner granted temporary respite by
lulI in the Indian and "moonshiners"
war and by subsidence of the more
prominent of the many other causes
threatening disorderly and violent out
breaks, than Mexico comes in to claim
her share of attention. Only recently
she undertook to discount raids of her
citizens into Texas by pleading similar
ones south of the Rio Grande by Texans;
and at Fridays meeting adyices from
General Ord consumed most of the time.
Ord intimates that the next expedition
across that river in pursuit of thieves or
any other object, will likely be attacked,
and he asks instructions to guide him
in such a contingency. A reiteration Of
the orders heretofore given was teie
graphed in reply. Our relations have
constantly grown more critical with
Mexico and apparently we must now
submit quietly, or prepare to meet force
with force Diaz can undoubtedly divert
a very dangerous public sentiment
against him into less perilous channel
by setting his brayoes to cutting our
threats.


In view of Wade Hampton's promises
of immunity from punishment for past
crimes to such Of the rifle-club criminals
ofhis State as desire to actively partici-
pate in the pending campaign, and the
turninglouseofan army ofilIicit whiskey
distillers on the personal recognizances,
it is suggested that the criminal revenue
officials there might be released on bail,
provided Kershaw and the classes
named wouldn't thereby become so exas-
perated as to Fend the Union asunder.
But shooting gallant Carolinian for so
trifing a misdemeanor as aiding motor
ious criminals to escape them; and for
trying to shoot the officials in question
has so incensed the people and outraged
a chivalrous public sentiment, that it is
doubtful if any movement looking to
their safe removal from reach Of mob
would be submitted to. Even their
nominal transfer from the custody Of a
State to United States officer, though
Immediately renlanded to the keeping
of the same jailor, was very CALLING to
South Cardinals pride; and only her
Spartan firmness enabled her to submit
to the humiliation. But she can't bear
everything and the indiscreet officials
must take their chances. Capt Eads has
been visited by the Brazilian Minister
by order of Dom Pedro who inspected
the Mississippi jetties, with request for
advice relative to the improvements
of Brazilian rivers and also presenting
him with an autograph letter from the
Brazilian Emperor, couched in the most
complimentary and friendly language.
Let it be remembered that claims by
Southern Railroads in preparation viii
require 100000 to satisfy under the
precedent established by the Democratic
House lsst winter, paying a Confederate
railroad an enormous steal after 1t had
been repeatedly rejected by the account
ling officers of the Government


Maxwell.