Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Aug 25, 1904

— Disastrous conflagrations, due to prolonged drought, are reported from Hungary. Hundreds of houses have been destroyed, and from fifteen to twenty lives are reported lost.

— Two negroes charged with the murder and cremation of a white man and his wife and three children, near Statesboro, Ga., were caught by a mob and burned at the stake at that place, August 16. The negroes were under military guard, but the guns of the guard were unloaded, and the guard was overpowered by the mob. A picture of the scene was taken by a photographer who was present. Other negroes being implicated in the murder of the white man and his family, a reign of terror for the negroes in that vicinity ensued, who began a general exodus from the place. Armed mobs of white men went about the country for several days, killing or injuring negroes who were suspected of knowing about the crime which led to the lynching. The two negroes burned had been convicted of the crime in court, and were under sentence of death.

— The Russian Vladivostock cruisers “Rurik,” “Rossia,” and “Gromoboi” were attacked by a Japanese squadron, August 14, and a battle lasting five hours ensued, in which the “Rurik” was sunk, and the other Russian ships badly damaged, the “Rossia” losing half her officers and men. The Russian war-ships in the Far East are now scattered in a number of ports along the coast, but most of the battle-ships are believed to have returned to Port Arthur, and it is stated the Russian admiral is under orders either to put to sea again and engage the Japanese ships, with the certainty before him of the annihilation of his fleet, or to blow up his ships in the harbor. Japan refuses to return the Russian torpedo-boat seized in Chefoo harbor, and has demanded that China enforce her neutrality by ordering Russian war-ships in her harbors to leave at the expiration of the time limit fixed by international rules for a hostile ship to remain in a neutral harbor, which is twenty-four hours, or that the Russian war-ships in her harbors be dismantled. Russia demands that time be allowed to make “reasonable repairs” to the damaged ships. Japan threatens to seize the ships in the harbor if they remain, and there is grave danger of international complications arising out of the effort to preserve Chinese neutrality. It is reported that large bodies of Chinese troops are being drilled in the interior of the country by Japanese officers.

— Disastrous cyclones and severe storms have visited various sections of the country the past week, and the cities of St. Paul, St. Louis, and New York have sustained heavy damage from them. At St. Paul the storm was of the character of a fierce tornado, which struck the city about 9 P. M. on August 20, and wrought terrible havoc with buildings in its path, even destroying the steel “high bridge” across the Mississippi, and demolishing two theaters. It is reported that a flat building was blown down and over a hundred of the occupants killed. The first reports sent out say that five persons are known to have been killed by the storm, and twoscore injured. The estimated damage to property is $2,000,000. At St. Louis, which was visited the previous day, the tornado was of small dimensions, but caused the loss of one life, and of property to the amount of $100,000. The tornado came without a moment’s warning, and there were many narrow escapes. One person was killed and ten injured by the same storm at Venice, Ill.