Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 2, 1909

— Five persons were burned to death in a fire in New York City on the night of November 23.

— The government of Chile has at last signified its willingness to submit to The Hague tribunal for arbitration the claim against it for $1,000,000 made by the Alsop heirs, and now being pressed by the United States government.

— As the result of the great amount of fraud recently discovered in the New York City customs service, it is reported that the customs officials of the United States government will soon begin an investigation of the conduct of customs employees in all the ports of the United States.

— Lieut.-Col. George W. Goethals, who has charge of the work of building the Panama Canal, states that the total cost of the canal will be $375,201,000. He also makes the statement that the canal will be ready for vessels to cross the isthmus in four and one-half years from this date.

— Reports from the republic of Haiti state that during the recent heavy storms and floods in that country, hundreds of persons have lost their lives, and a great amount of damage has been done throughout the stricken district. Many of the country people are camping in destitute condition in the open fields in urgent need of food and clothing.

— The insurrection in Nicaragua seems to be growing in power, the insurgents having captured several important towns on the Pacific side within the last few days. With the ports on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides of Nicaragua in the hands of the insurgents, it appears that the possibility of President Zelaya's means of escape is practically cut off in case of defeat in the general engagement which is soon expected.

— Latest reports from the mining disaster at Cherry, Ill., state that of the 189 men still in the mine, all have probably now perished. It is known that many of these lived for several days after the explosion in different parts of the workings. Letters and diaries found on the bodies of the dead now being taken from the mine indicate something of the terrible struggle for life during the long days of waiting for the rescue which did not come.

— The list of fatalities on the football fields of the country up to date during the present season is as follows: Number of dead, 27; critically injured, 20; broken collar-bones, 60; broken noses, 62; broken legs, 36; broken ribs, 26; broken arms, 24; broken ankles, 20; broken shoulders, 19; broken wrists, 8; broken fingers, 8; broken hands, 6; broken jaws, 6. And still there are many college professors who uphold the game, and think it necessary for the development of manly qualities.

— In the recent elections the liquor forces are reported to have won in the cities of Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Louisville, and San Francisco.

— Another comet is now coming into the field of telescopic vision. This is Winnek's comet, and its present observation is first reported from Argentina.

— The postmaster-general of Great Britain has secured for the government telegraphic system all the Marconi wireless telegraph stations in the British Isles.

— A portion of the Austrian press is now declaring that the recent visit of the czar of Russia to the king of Italy presages war in the near future upon Austria.

— A report from Madrid, dated November 15, stated that the Moroccan tribesmen have sent in their submission to General Marina, the commander of the Spanish forces in Morocco.

— The mail steamer “La Seyne,” running between Java and Singapore, collided on November 14 with the steamer “Onda,” of the British India line, and sank within two minutes, carrying down 101 of her passengers and crew.

— As a result of the death of a young man in a football game in Georgetown University, Washington, D. C., recently, that university has abolished the game so far as its jurisdiction goes, and other schools in the East are now following its example.

— A new powder has been invented in France which is claimed to be absolutely unaffected by either heat, cold, humidity, light, or Herzian waves, and to be also absolutely smokeless. The government is guarding the formula of its preparation.

— At Buffalo, N. Y., a large section of the viaduct over the New York Central tracks, was wrecked by dynamite. The viaduct was being constructed by a firm which works on the open-shop principle. This is the fifth occurrence of this kind in Buffalo within a period of about one year.

— The National Geographic Society at Washington, D. C., has passed upon the data furnished by Commander Robert E. Peary, as to his north pole expedition, and have accepted them as authentic proof of his having reached the north pole. The records of Dr. Cook are not yet in the hands of the society.

— At Greenwich, England, on November 18, an operation was performed at the Seamen's Hospital under an anesthetic recently invented, which, while completely anesthetizing the patient, permitted him to remain perfectly conscious. It is claimed that the anesthetic does not interfere with heart action.

— China is sending to the United States a commission to visit all the shipyards and arms factories of the United States. This commission is authorized to expend the sum of $20,000,000 for war-ships and munitions of war in this country, if, after their inspection, they consider everything satisfactory for the placing of orders. There is in this no slight indication that China is awakening to her need of self-protection against the aggrandizement of other powers. Thus are the nations of the East as well as the West preparing for the final struggle.