REPORTS from British Columbia state that work has begun on the British transpacific cable, which is to connect British Columbia with China by way of Yokohama and the Aleutian Islands.
From a photograph of the fire by P. C. Peterson, of Battle Creek, Mich. Photographs of this striking scene may be obtained by addressing him.
ON March 7, the Boer general Delarey, with a force of about 1,500 men, attacked General Methuen, whose force consisted of 900 mounted men and 300 unmounted. The British were surrounded, their mules and cattle stampeded by the peculiar tactics of the Boers, and the whole force captured. It seems that the greater portion of the captured men were afterward released, but General Methuen was held, evidently as a hostage for some of the Boer officers in the hands of the British. By this feat the Boers prevented the union of two British forces, and added five pieces of artillery to their equipment. The British lost 41 men killed in the encounter. The Boer loss is not given.
EIGHT thousand freight handlers are now on strike in Boston, and other organizations which seem inclined to join the strike immediately will bring the number of striking men up to 16,000. The strike is against the Boston and Albany and the New York, New Haven, and Hartford railroads, and was started by the Team Drivers' Union, whose membership is said to number 6,000. The express drivers have joined the strike, and this is to be followed by a strike of the longshoremen and other organizations of working men. The railroad managers are seeking now to operate their roads with non-union workmen.
THE belief in Ireland that the United Irish League is about to be "proclaimed" by the government (brought under legal restrictions) is causing great excitement in vicinities where the members of the league are numerous. When the news of General Methuen's capture at the hands of the Boers was read in Parliament on March 10, there was much cheering from the Irish members till they were "shamed" down by other members of the House.
THE Cunard Line steamer Etruria, which lost her propeller and rudder several days ago, was towed by another vessel into one of the ports of the Azores on March 9. The loss of the propeller and rudder both, rendered the great steamer unable to help herself in any way.
