p. 13 | News and Notes

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 9, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 48.

News and Notes

FOREIGN.

—The bubonic plague is still rampant in India, and is extending to cities which had not been attacked by it before.

—A report comes from Khartoum that several Christians have been murdered at that place by order of the khalifa.

—Holland’s queen has been denied the pleasure of the bicycle, her council having decided that bicycle riding was incompatible with the dignity of her position.

—A collision between a freight and passenger train at Warsaw, Russia, on November 30, resulted in the death of eleven persons. Twenty-two others were seriously injured.

—Mlle. Chauvin, an accomplished lady of Paris, having made application for admission to the bar, has been refused such permission, notwithstanding the French code contains no text prohibiting women advocates.

—The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies approved, on November 26, the Franco-Brazilian arbitration treaty, within the terms of which will fall the disputed boundary question between Brazil and French Guiana.

—Fighting is reported to have taken place between the revolting Albanians and the forces of the sultan. The Bulgarian and Servian Governments have despatched considerable bodies of troops to the disaffected districts.

—A despatch from Assuncion, Paraguay, says that Colonel Hermoso has planted the Paraguayan flag on Bahai negro territory, which is in dispute with Bolivia, and has erected and garrisoned two forts to protect the acquisition.

—According to advices from Hongkong, China, has agreed to cede to England a large strip of territory near that city, and the islands in its vicinity, England’s object being to increase her garrison and fortifications at that port.

—Two fast trains crashed together at the Tournay railway station, France, on November 24. Several cars were ground into splinters, twelve persons were killed, the bodies of several being badly mutilated, and nine were severely injured.

—The Spanish national sport, bull-fighting, is being introduced into France in spite of the law against it. The French are said to be taking to this brutal sport with avidity. When the officers of the law interfere, the fine is paid, and the exhibition goes on.

—The English Government has expressed its desire to have the United States authorize a British company to land a cable on one of the Hawaiian Islands, which would connect Canada and Australia. The French Government will oppose such authorization.

—It is believed that an attempt was recently made to wreck the United States consulate in Havana. The watchman found a gas-pipe bomb in the doorway of the building. The bomb was turned over to the police, and the matter was at once hushed up by the Spanish officials.

—There is possibility of a considerable change for the better in religious matters in Russia, owing to the appointment of Count Ignatieff as procurator of the Russian Synod. It is believed that the hostility of the Synod to religious liberty will be materially lessened by this appointment.

—The German Reichstag was opened on November 30 by the emperor in person, who made a long speech advocating the necessity of extensive additions to the German navy. The German squadron in Chinese waters is to be increased by three war ships, and the emperor’s brother has been placed in command of this second squadron.

—It is generally reported in Rome that King Humbert is about to abdicate in favor of his son, the prince of Naples. As the prince is far more favorably inclined toward Russia than toward either Austria or Germany, it is considered that this step will seriously affect the triple alliance. In view of this Austria and Germany will oppose the change.

—Several different plans are now being inaugurated for transportation to the Klondike mining regions. One Canadian company is making preparations for a sleigh road from some point on the Canadian Pacific Railway north along the Mackenzie River, and then west to Dawson. Another will build a railroad over Skagway Pass. An English company will build a wagon road over White Pass, to be followed by a railroad, while several American companies are working on similar propositions.

—Prince Oscar Bernadotte, of Sweden, second son of King Oscar, has decided to become an African missionary. He was married ten years ago to a lady not of royal birth, in consequence of which he lost all rights, prerogatives, and titles of the royal family, and became a plain citizen. His wife, who is also deeply religious, will accompany him in his missionary work.

—Notwithstanding Russia’s threat to collect unpaid indemnity if Turkey increases her navy, the sultan has authorized the Turkish minister of marine to contract with Herr Krupp for the building of four new ironclads. It is surmised that Germany has influenced Russia to permit the increase without carrying out her threat. The sultan has also placed with the same firm an order for 150 large cannon.

—A report was received in London on November 26 that an engagement had taken place between British and French forces in west Africa. This report is discredited, but it seems evident that the French have seized the village of Nikki, which is in territory recognized to be under British influence, and also the village of Broussa. The people of both nations are now realizing the danger of having their armed forces in such close proximity, and are fearful of the outcome.

—The Haitian Government has asked the United States to use its good offices in her behalf for the settlement of the controversy between Haiti and Germany. It is alleged that the United States Government will not seek to interfere with Germany’s attempt to collect the indemnity claimed unless in so doing she should attempt to seize Haitian territory. The American cruiser Marblehead has been despatched to Port-au-Prince to look after American interests.

—Owing to the continued rioting in the Austrian Reichsrath, the Austrian premier has resigned, and his resignation has been accepted by the emperor. Baron von Gautsch has been chosen to form a new ministry, and promises changes in the obnoxious language ordinances which have been the cause of the difficulty. Sympathetic riots have also occurred in the streets of Vienna and Prague, in which a number were injured by the bayonets of the soldiers who dispersed them.

—A severe battle is reported between Cubans and Spaniards in the province of Pinar del Rio. It seems that the Spaniards attacked the positions of the Cubans on two successive days, but were effectually beaten off, with a loss of over 200 killed. General Pando, who was recently appointed by General Blanco to supervise military operations in Cuba, is reported to have been killed in an engagement with insurgents in Santa Clara province. The Spanish garrison at Guiza recently sustained a loss of fifty killed during an attack of the Cubans.

—The German minister of foreign affairs has paid a visit to the pope on behalf of the emperor to give the “Holy Father” the “fullest assurances of the importance attached to the maintenance of good relations between the Vatican and the Kaiser.” He assured the pontiff that a regularly accredited ambassador would be sent from the German court to the Vatican. France and Russia have both recently commissioned ambassadors to the Vatican. The report states that from now on every great power in Europe except England and Italy will be represented at the court of the Vatican.

—The Canadian officials at Dawson City have issued a bulletin urging all who are insufficiently supplied with provisions for the winter to go down the river to Fort Yukon, as the supplies at Dawson are insufficient for its inhabitants. Many have heeded the warning. Since this action was taken it is reported that two steamers with about 146 tons of provisions have reached the city, which will in a measure alleviate the wants of the ice-bound miners. The two steamers were stopped at the point of Winchesters, when they had reached Circle City, and relieved of about thirty tons of winter supplies before they were allowed to proceed.

—The demands which Germany has made upon China in consequence of the murder of two missionaries are as follows: The execution of the murderers; the punishment of the implicated officials; the reconstruction of the mission buildings, which were destroyed by the mob; the payment of an indemnity of 600,000 taels to the relatives of the missionaries, and the payment of a heavy indemnity to cover the expenses of the German naval demonstration in Kiaou-chau Bay, and the maintenance of the garrison landed from the fleet. China will refuse to consider any of these demands except those directly connected with the murder of the missionaries.

—Another disastrous hurricane, or typhoon, has swept over the Philippine Islands. The storm, which occurred on October 6, was one of the worst that ever visited the islands. It is estimated that 500 Europeans and about 6,000 natives perished. The entire southern portion of the island of Samar was devastated. On October 12 a terrific storm swept down on the island of Leyte, and in thirty minutes the capital, Tacloban, was a mass of ruins. One hundred Europeans and a great number of natives perished here. The town of Hernina was swept away by the flood which accompanied the typhoon, and the fate of its 5,000 inhabitants was uncertain at last accounts.

—Thirty men were killed and forty injured by an explosion of fire-damp in a coal mine at Homburg, Bavaria, on December 1.

—A disastrous storm swept the coasts of England and the continent on November 26, doing an incalculable amount of damage. From present estimates it seems that at least a score of vessels have been wrecked, but it is impossible to state the number of lives lost. In the vicinity of Norfolk five vessels went down with all on board. The brig Rugby went down off Hemsby, only one of the ship’s company escaping. An unknown vessel was wrecked at Bridlington, and her entire company perished. The steamer Rose of Devon went down at Red Ruth with her crew of twelve. An unknown vessel was lost at Berwick-on-Tweed with all on board, and twenty-five lives were lost by wrecks between Yarmouth and Bacton. Severe losses of property on land are also reported from Liverpool and other places.