p. 503 | News and Notes by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 9, 1882

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 8, No. 42.

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News and Notes.

By Editor

—The reduction in the public debt during the month of October was $15,650,000.

—An earthquake in Syria, Nov. 5, destroyed several villages. No loss of life is reported.

—The Chief of the Secret Service says that $10.00 counterfeit notes are circulating in New York.

—There is great destitution in the county of Clare, Ireland, owing to the failure of the potato crop.

—There is great fear among the respectable classes of Italy that serious outbreaks similar to those in France, are impending.

—Destructive gales and inundations continue throughout England. In Radnershire, the grain-crops have suffered complete destruction.

—The floods in southern France have caused great damage to property in the vicinity of Mentone. The estimated loss aggregates 3,000,000 francs.

—An official dispatch from Manila states that twenty merchant ships were lost, and over 100 sailors drowned, during the terrible typhoon which occurred October 20.

—All the saloon licenses in Iowa City expired the last day of October. Most of the saloon-keepers tendered the amount of their licenses for the next six months, to the Mayor, but he would not receive them.

—The total British force now remaining in Egypt will number 11,000. Cairo will be occupied by two and one-half battalions of infantry, and a battery of artillery. A company of engineers will occupy Alexandria.

—The German Government has ordered the police of the various cities where Socialists chiefly congregate, to watch them with extra diligence. It is thought that they have formed some sort of alliance with the French Anarchists.

—The young Utes of Colorado threaten to go on the war-path, and scalp every male settler living on the Dolores River. The settlers are greatly alarmed, and say that unless the Government takes the matter in hand, bloodshed will surely ensue.

—Accounts from St. Petersburg mention a strong revival of the Nihilist agitation. Since the Czar's return from Moscow, fresh precautions are taken for his safety. No one is allowed to know twenty-four hours in advance what his movements will be.

—A student at Bowdoin has received $2,700 as damages for injuries inflicted by hazing. This sum comes from seven guilty collegians. When it is understood that ruffianism at college will be punished the same as elsewhere, we may expect it to be less frequent.

—On Tuesday of last week, the wife of Dr. Seguin of New York, in a fit of insanity, killed herself after first killing her three children. The children were all blindfolded, and it is thought that the deed was done while they were having a game of blind-man's-buff with their mother. The case is the more striking because Dr. Seguin is one of the most noted of specialists on diseases of the brain.

—Judge Advocate-General Swaim, in reply to an inquiry of the Secretary of War, takes the ground that officers of the army who refuse to pay their debts, are liable to the processes of common law the same as civilians, and that where their acts tend to bring discredit upon the army, or in any way impair the efficiency or discipline of the service, they constitute sufficient cause for a court-martial.

—Just at present, Russia seems to be the cause of much anxiety in Europe. The armament against Germany and Austria is being carried on with great activity. An order has been issued by the Russian Government entirely prohibiting the exportation of horses from Russia. This is regarded as being a mark of hostility to Germany, as the cavalry of that empire is mounted almost exclusively on Russian horses. The Persian authorities are also alarmed, because Russia has moved her military stations almost to the Persian frontier.

—About a week ago, Temescal, a suburb of Oakland, was the scene of a regular Arizona cow-boy fight. A party of roughs connected with a canning factory, have organized themselves under the name of the "Hoo Gang," and on the night in question started out with the intention of "cleaning out the town." Saloons were entered and despoiled of their contents for the benefit of the crowd. Thus stimulated they tore down fences, smashed in doors, ruined furniture, and shot at or knocked down any one who ventured to oppose them. The police were in judicious retirement, but the Sheriff has since captured a part of the gang.

—Instead of Germany occupying the Baltic provinces as was predicted some time ago, it now looks as though Russia were preparing to make war on both Germany and Austria. The internal disturbances of Russia render the aggressive policy very possible to be adopted, and should war be declared between that country and Germany, it would necessarily result in a terrible bloody campaign; principally fought out in the north. Russia, proper, would like a war to-day, if only to divert the attention of the Nihilists from their amiable scheme of blowing up the Czar; and Germany is not very contented with its hordes of Socialists. It is, therefore, very possible that St. Petersburg and Berlin may find grounds on which they can agree to differ, and sound the tocsin of war at no very distant date.—Alta.