News and Miscellany by John Norton Loughborough

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Jan 28, 1875

News and Miscellany

By John Norton Loughborough

“MEN’S hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” Luke 21 : 26.

FIRES

SINCE our last the fire-fiend has raged to a considerable extent. Jan. 11, Mason College, at Terrebone, Canada, was burned; loss $100,000. Same date, at Hollister, Cal.; loss $5,000. Jan 13, fire in San Francisco; loss $25,000. Jan. 15, at Utica, N. Y.; loss $45,000. Same date, at Galena, Ill.; loss $125,000. Jan. 16, at Sparta, Wis.; loss $20,000; at Baltimore, Md.; loss $40,000. Jan. 17, the Deaf Dumb and Blind Asylum was burned near Oakland, Cal.; loss $200,000. Jan. 21, at Aux Cayes, Hayti; loss $100,000; At Rutland, Vt.; loss $200,000.

FLOODS

The last week has been one of great rain throughout this State and the adjoining Territories, in connection with this the sudden melting of the vast bodies of snow which had fallen in the mountains has caused severe floods, which has been destructive to property along some of the rivers. The levy broke away above Marysville, the water rushed in and flooded a part of the town some seven or eight feet in depth. Several lives were lost, and property to the amount of about one million dollars. By the same flood some of the farming lands were overflowed. In one instance an island on which 800 sheep were grazing was inundated and the entire flock perished.

SNOW SLIDES

During the recent rain there were some gigantic snow slides in the mountains, with much loss of life. In one instance as many as twenty-eight chinamen who were chopping in the mountains were caught in their camp, buried in the snow, and perished.

DISTRESS

Labor strikes at the manufacturing, mining and ship building centers of England have been general. Twenty-five ship yards with 12,000 laborers have suspended, in consequence of which prices of coal have advanced and there is much suffering anticipated among the poorer classes.

—The S. F. Call of Jan. 12, says, Small pox is raging violently in New York. There were a hundred cases last week. Varioloid is prevalent to an unusual extent.

HOME TROUBLE

There are still serious complications growing out of the Louisiana difficulties. General Sherman claims that there have been in that State alone more than one thousand murders. It seems that a Congressional committee have appointed a sub-committee to go to Louisiana and make actual investigation concerning difficulties there before they recommend any definite action to Congress.

FOREIGN

The London Pall Mall Gazette says, War, if not actually declared, is resolved upon by Montenegro against Turkey. Persons well acquainted with the East regard the situation as very grave. It is supposed that Austria will endeavor to confine this difficulty to as narrow limits as possible.

POPE

In the secret session of the Von Arnim trial a circular note of Prince Bismark, dated May 14, 1872, was read, in which he stated that, a new Pope, if not recognized by a majority of the European sovereigns, would cease to be Pope; but would stand in the same position as a Bishop appointed without the consent or approval of his government.

CRIME

It must be apparent, even to the casual observer, that crimes of the darkest dye are on the increase. Before me lies the police record for the city of San Francisco for the year 1874. It shows that the total arrests for various crimes in San Francisco for the year was 15,489. A daily for Jan. 6, contains a sample of the records of the year, as follows: Suicide of an Indian Chief; suicide of W. H. Maiben; safe robbery of $20,000; highway robbery at South Beach, S. F.; an old man shoots himself five times in the mouth; attempted burglary; swindling; boys shot by an old man because they plagued him; a woman imprisoned for petty larceny; leaves two children unprovided for; eight cases of drunkenness; other cases of assault and battery; petty larceny. Beside all this there is an account of a man who got drunk, fell on his face in the mud and water and was smothered to death. Coroner’s Jury did not decide who was guilty, the man who sold the liquor, the man who drank it, or whether the guilt rested on the liquor or the mud. Modern, false charity would be apt to pass all by but the mud hole, and condemn that.

J. N. L.