p. 21 | Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 7, 1909

Current Mention

— Reports from Mexico state that the volcano, Mount Colima, is now in most violent eruption. Ashes are falling thickly over a large territory, and lava is pouring out of new craters in the western side of the mountain.

— What is known as an electric storm was prevalent over the world on September 25, greatly interfering with all kinds of electrical connections. In many places on both hemispheres telephones and telegraphs were completely disabled. In some places the intensity of the electric current was so great that the coverings of electric cables were set on fire.

— The British steamer “Waratah,” with 300 persons on board, has not been heard from since July 26. A captain of another British vessel reports that on July 27, when 180 miles from Durban, South Africa, he passed a vessel on fire, which, soon after being sighted, exploded and sank. This is believed to have been the “Waratah,” in which case the entire 300 persons perished.

— Japan is falling in with the general movement for the electrification of railways. The Hachioji-Kafu line of the Japanese middle district is to be electrified at once.

— Recent victories of the Spanish troops in Morocco, and the capture of the fortified mountain on which the Moors had maintained so strong an opposition to the Spanish, have caused a change in the general attitude of the Spanish people toward the campaign. It has been reported that the Moors have sought terms of peace, but thus far no terms have been arranged, and small engagements continue. The Moors have appealed to the United States and the European powers to check Spain’s operations, but have received from all unsatisfactory replies. An engagement on October 1 between a scouting detachment of Spaniards and the Moorish tribesmen resulted in the death of the Spanish general Vicario, the loss of 235 men in killed and wounded and the retreat of the column. General Marina has asked for re-enforcements, and 15,000 troops have been ordered to Melilla.

— By the wreck of the Norwegian freight steamer “Gere” off Cape Henlopen, Va., on September 25, eight men lost their lives.

— Night riders have begun operations again in Kentucky, farmers being compelled by severe whippings to turn their tobacco over to the pool.

— A despatch from Evansville, Ind., dated September 23, states that the parade of two companies of the State militia will not be a feature of the German day festivities next week, because of the protest of the labor unions against the participation of the militia in the day’s program. The labor union leaders wrote to the chairman of the committee that the militia “was organized to fight union labor, and union workmen should not be asked to march behind soldiers.”

— Twenty-one nations participated in the great historic pageant on the Hudson River during the past week in honor of the discovery of that river by Henry Hudson and the sailing of the first steamer upon the river by Robert Fulton. Landing parties under arms from all the various foreign war-ships in the river marched through the streets of New York. These, with the soldiers and sailors of the United States, made an army of 25,000 military men. This, however, was only one feature of the great procession, which was viewed by 2,000,000 persons.

— The return of Halley’s comet is now attracting much attention among astronomers and students. It has already come into the field of vision for those who have large telescopes. About May 10, 1910, it will reach perihelion. At present it is about 250,000,000 miles from the earth. It is expected to pass through the earth’s orbit, and that in doing so, the earth will pass through the comet’s tail, a distance of 13,000,000 miles separating the two bodies. This is the comet which in 1456 so frightened the papal church that a bull was promulgated by the pope against it.

— Gov. John A. Johnson of Minnesota died at St. Paul, Minn., on the morning of September 21, failing to rally from a surgical operation performed a few days previously for the removal of a deep-seated tumor. Governor Johnson was highly respected throughout the nation as a man of sterling worth and integrity. His body lay in state at the capitol building at St. Paul, during almost the entire day of September 22, and was viewed by many thousands of his friends and admirers. Every wheel in the State was expected to cease turning for five minutes at the hour set for his funeral at St. Peter, Minn., September 23.

— Dr. Frederick A. Cook, generally believed to be the first man to stand at the north pole of the earth, arrived at New York on the morning of September 21, and was given one of the most enthusiastic receptions a private citizen has ever received in this country. Dr. Cook’s bearing continues to inspire confidence in his declarations in reference to his discovery of the north pole. Commander Peary was met by his wife and daughter at Sydney, Nova Scotia, and thence proceeded to his home by land. He expresses his purpose to accept no invitations to public receptions or ovations until the controversy between himself and Dr. Cook is settled.