Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 9, 1909

— The Cunard liner “Lusitania” now holds the record for the fastest trip across the Atlantic, the time being 4 days, 11 hours, and 42 minutes.

— As a result of the activity of the governor of Texas in hunting out violators of the State liquor law, 3,000 saloon-keepers in that State will be denied a renewal of their licenses.

— A severe earthquake shock was experienced on the Isthmus of Panama on August 30, which, though covering a considerable extent of territory, did not occasion serious damage or affect the canal.

— Because of the failure of miners and employers to reach an agreement in reference to the use of explosives in the coal-mines, a strike of 35,000 coal-miners in the Pittsburg, Pa., coal-mining district is threatened.

— An earthquake shock of considerable force was experienced in the city of Rome, Italy, early on the morning of August 31. The shock occasioned much excitement and fear among the people, but no serious damage is reported, and no lives were lost.

— All southeastern Mexico has been suffering during the week from heavy storms and floods. The town of Tula is reported as being half engulfed. Hundreds of houses have been swept away and many lives lost. These floods were accompanied by the worst tropical storms ever known in that section.

— A terrible flood visited the city of Monterey, Mexico, and near-by villages on August 28, and continued its devastating work for several days. The number of lives lost is now placed at between 1,400 and 2,000, and the property loss is estimated at $30,000,000. Contributions have been taken up in both Mexico and the United States for the relief of the suffering. The conditions reported in the press are distressing in the extreme.

— A case of deliberate train-wrecking is reported from New Castle, Pa., on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The wreck occurred on September 4 at a siding known as Chewton, and three persons were killed and seventeen seriously injured. The spikes were drawn from a sixty-foot rail, and one end of the rail was so placed as to make a safe passage over it impossible. A reward of $25,000 has been offered for the arrest of the wreckers, and a large number of men with bloodhounds are searching the vicinity.

— The Pure Food Convention, in session at Denver, Colo., has decided to indorse the decisions of the Remsen Referee Board that the use of benzoate of soda as a food preservative is harmless to the human system. A strong fight was made against the indorsement of the board’s decision, and the opponents of that decision declared that food unfit for the human stomach could be made to appear wholesome by the use of that preparation. One physician of prominence declared that “the recommendation to the government that benzoate of soda might properly be used, puts the government in the position of licensing medicated stuff fit only for the sewer.”

— Congress, at its last session, appropriated $4,000,000 for the use of the various militia companies of the United States. This amount is now being appropriated to the several States in proportion to the number of men enlisted.

— On August 31, a train on the Pennsylvania line, at Lewiston Narrows, Pa., was held up by a lone robber, and the express car was robbed. Fortunately the robber mistook a bag of new pennies for a bag of gold coin, and thousands of dollars in gold and currency were left behind.

— Dissatisfied with the stand its government has taken in reference to the Cretan question, the garrison at Athens has mutinied, and has made imperative demands upon the king. It is reported that the soldiers have threatened to seize the public buildings and the city if their demands are not granted. It is also stated that the garrisons in the provinces are in sympathy with the mutinous garrison at Athens. Quiet reigns in Athens and in the provinces, although the garrison is still encamped on the outskirts of Athens.

— The speed race with flying-machines at Reims, France, last week was won by an American, Glenn H. Curtiss, who covered the distance, 12.42 miles, in 15 minutes, 50 3/5 seconds. M. Louis Bleriot, the aviator who flew across the English Channel, was a very close second, requiring only 4 3/5 seconds more than did Curtiss, to cover the same distance. Because the speed contest was won by an American, the next international race of air-ships will be held in this country. The successful American aviator now goes to Brescia, Italy, where another international aeronaut race is being held. The greatest distance ever covered by a heavier-than-air flying-machine thus far is 118 miles. This feat was accomplished at Reims on August 27 by M. Farman, the time being 3 hours, 14 minutes, and 26 seconds. Before the contest at Reims was over, one of the aviators had received orders for 52 machines.

— On September 1, the observatory at Brussels, Belgium, received the following telegram, dated Lerwick, Shetland Islands: “Reached north pole April 21, 1908. Discovered land far north. Return to Copenhagen by steamer ‘Hans Egede.’ Frederick A. Cook.” Dr. Cook sailed from Gloucester, Mass., on July 3, 1907, in company with Mr. J. R. Bradley, in a vessel owned by the latter. On August 27 the party landed at Annatok, Greenland, and Mr. Bradley returned. The reports state that, having found conditions favorable for a dash to the pole, the doctor determined to make the attempt. Considerable time was spent in preparations, and the final dash of 460 miles was made by the doctor with only two Eskimo companions and twenty-six dogs. The success of Dr. Cook is now quite generally conceded, though it will be several days before further communications will be received from him. Dr. Cook’s accomplishment is looked upon as one of the greatest feats of the century. No less than 750 lives have been lost in the effort to accomplish what this American explorer claims to have done. Since the year 1553 the search for the north pole has been engrossing the attention of men. In that year Sir William Frobisher made the first attempt to reach that destination.