News and Miscellany

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 22, 1868

News and Miscellany.

Can ye not discern the Signs of the Times? Matt. xvi, 3.

Western Outlaws.—The Western outlaws and express robbers are becoming desperate, and mobs of citizens are punishing them at a terrible rate. On Aug. 7, a posse of constables, at Crawford, Ill., attempted to arrest four of the desperadoes. They fired on the constables, killing one. The remainder and a mob of citizens then rushed upon the robbers, and killed them all.

The South.—Several new governors of Southern States recently made requisitions on the Secretary of War for arms under a law passed in 1796, but the Secretary has declined to furnish until further legislation is had on the subject. The governors, in consequence, have united in an appeal to Congress to meet on the day to which they had adjourned, and take action in the matter.

A new city government was inaugurated in Montgomery, Alabama, August 15, many of the officers being colored men, and the police force being half and half.

Europe.—The Pope's foreign soldiers do not like his service, and are deserting in large numbers.

Austria is rapidly reorganizing her army, and the Hungarian forces are being armed and equipped. The latest revolutionary document—the report of the Prussian General von Moltke, revealing the fact that Prussia aimed at the destruction of Austria, and only “made use” of Italy—has fired anew the martial spirit. The Austrians are frightened at the revolutions; Italy is indignant at being represented in the light of a cat's paw; and France is delighted at the mistake of Prussia in thus uselessly making two enemies.

Thirty-four times the amount asked for was lately subscribed in France to a national loan.

There are horrible reports from Japan. Several great battles have been fought; half of Jeddo has been burned; all native Christians have been condemned to death by the Mikado, and many executions had taken place. A report comes from Nagasaki to the effect that 150 Christians had been taken in a steamer to sea and drowned. The consuls remonstrated in vain.

The Great Earthquake.—One of the most awful calamities in the world's history occurred on the 13th of August, 1868, on the coast of Peru, South America. An earthquake on that day swept down nearly a dozen towns and cities, and destroyed thirty-two thousand lives, together with property estimated at three hundred millions of dollars. A wave, forty feet in height, was thrown from the Pacific Ocean upon the Peruvian coast, carrying vessels a long distance inland, and destroying lives and property along the coast for a space of two or three hundred miles.

The earthquake which occurred on the 13th ultimo seems to have embraced an area of twelve hundred miles north and south, by 100 miles east and west, on the main land. How far its influence may have extended on the ocean cannot be known. By the last previous steamer from Panama, intelligence was brought of an unusual tidal wave at Callao, some three hundred miles north of Arequipa. It is probable this was a part of the same terrible convulsion. The shock was even felt at Guayaquil, in Equador, in latitude two degrees south—a distance of eighteen degrees from Iquique.

If the report of the loss of life by this calamity be true it was one of the most destructive earthquakes on record.—Chicago Tribune.

—The tropical heats of July are said to have literally burned up the crops throughout a large portion of the Russian Empire. Indications show that there will be great distress if not a positive famine there during the coming winter. In France, however, the harvests will be uncommonly fine. The wine crop in particular will not only be one of the most abundant ever known, but will be superior in quality.