Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 16, 1909

— The bubonic plague has appeared in Ecuador, thirty-nine cases having developed during the month of August, eight of which were fatal.

— The Allan line steamer from Boston for Glasgow went aground at Mistaken Point, near Cape Race, on September 6, in a dense fog. Her sixty-three passengers and crew of ninety men were safely transferred to the shore in small boats.

— The captain and crew of the French schooner “Qualite,” engaged in recruiting laborers in the New Hebrides Islands, were massacred by natives of the island of Mallicollo recently, when the vessel was driven ashore by a storm. A British war-ship is investigating the occurrence.

— Lieut.-Gen. H. C. Corbin, a veteran of the Civil War, and an active officer in the war with Spain, died at New York City on September 8, following a surgical operation. General Corbin had been in the military service of the United States continually for the past forty-seven years.

— Reports from Mexico City, dated September 10, state that another terrible flood has visited the Jamiltepec district in the state of Oaxaca. Sugar plantations and mills have been destroyed, and many domestic animals and scores of farm laborers have lost their lives. It is said that 100,000 persons will suffer from this flood.

— It is now believed by the Mexican authorities that the total casualties in northern Mexico from the recent floods is not less than 3,000. Floods in southeastern Mexico have also done great damage to property, and caused the loss of many lives. The loss to the Mexican railroads alone from these floods will amount to $2,000,000.

— The government has lost its case against the Barber Lumber Company, which had been accused of fraud in connection with the entry of 40,000 acres of timber land in Idaho. This tract of land is valued at $1,000,000. All the cases of the government in this connection have failed thus far, including the prosecution of Senator Borah.

— A dressmaking establishment in Boston, operated almost entirely by electricity, has an electric cutter capable of cutting 250 thicknesses of cloth at once, a button-sewing machine capable of sewing on 3,000 buttons a day, a buttonhole machine making 400 buttonholes an hour, sleeve sewers, tucking machines, and waist and skirt machines making from 1,800 to 3,500 stitches a minute.

— Mr. E. H. Harriman, one of the greatest factors in the American railroad world, died at his home, Arden, N. Y., September 9, after a lingering illness. Mr. Harriman controlled the following railroads: Union Pacific; Southern Pacific; Southern Pacific of Mexico; the San P., L. A., and St. L.; the St. Joe and Grand Island; the Illinois Central; and the Central of Georgia; and held an interest in the following: Baltimore and Ohio; Delaware and Hudson; Erie; New York Central; the Atchison; the Chicago and Northwestern; and the St. Paul. His personal wealth is estimated at from $50,000,000 to $100,000,000.

— Work is actually in progress on the construction of another mountain railroad across the Andes, this one to connect La Paz, Bolivia, and Aricas, Chile. This road will reach an altitude of 13,000 feet above sea-level.

— The reports from the cotton-gins of the country up to the first of September show the amount of cotton ginned in the United States to be 377,552 bales. Reports for last year show that 402,229 bales were ginned during the same period. The general crop reports of the Department of Agriculture indicate that the crop conditions are about the same as last year, some of the products averaging higher than last year, and others not quite as high.

— Prof. W. W. Campbell, director of Lick Observatory, has just returned with an astronomical expedition from Mount Whitney, and brings the report that water vapor has been discovered on Mars. He says: “We are now in a position to issue the strongest statement that has ever been given out as to the existence of water vapor on Mars.” This, he states, proves that the conditions on Mars are favorable to the existence of life. It does not, however, actually prove that life exists there.

— Lord Northcliffe, owner of the London Times, in a speech at Winnipeg, Manitoba, on September 7, declared that war between Germany and Great Britain was certain to come within a few years, and named the year 1912 as the probable date. He stated that the Krupp Gun Works had recently increased the number of their employees to 100,000, who were being worked day and night and on Sundays, preparing munitions of war, while all Germany’s ship-building yards were busy turning out fast cruisers and battle-ships. He further stated that this threatened war could be averted only by thorough preparation on the part of England. England will therefore do all she can to meet preparation with preparation. Thus the merciless competition will go on while the people groan under the burden of taxation made necessary by this competition.

— Six days after the publication to the world of the exploit of Dr. Cook in reaching the north pole, an announcement came down from the northern shores of Labrador that Commander Robert E. Peary was on his way back to civilization from a north polar exploration trip, claiming also to be the first man to reach the pole. He also sent down a despatch casting discredit upon the claim of Dr. Cook. Commander Peary’s story of his trip, telegraphed from Labrador, was published under copyright in the public press of September 9, 10, 11. Commander Peary’s effort to discredit the claims of Dr. Cook has aroused a heated controversy, which will not be settled for months, if it is ever settled. The opinion is quite general that both men have reached the goal of arctic explorers. In Denmark great honors have been conferred upon Dr. Cook both by scientists and by royalty, and except by a portion of the British press he is generally acknowledged to be the first man to stand at ninety degrees north latitude. Both explorers are now en route for New York, and will arrive there at about the same date, when it is expected that the exploration data of both men will be laid before competent judges.