News and Notes | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 27, 1883

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 9, No. 36.

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News and Notes.

—The French army in Tonquin met with defeat near Harphong.

—The 575th anniversary of Swiss independence was celebrated at Petaluma on the 20th inst.

—The Philadelphia Mint has been authorized to purchase 50,000 ounces of silver for coining into dimes.

—Clifton, Arizona, is said to be so infested with roughs that the local authorities are unable to preserve order.

—Seattle, W. T., spent over $10,000 in a jubilation in honor of President Villard of the Northern Pacific Railroad.

—The President of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company has declined to extend the line from Portland to Astoria.

—The price of the New York Times has been reduced from four to two cents per copy, and the Tribune to three cents.

—A blind man recently killed a blind companion at Hongkong, in a quarrel, and was sentenced to penal servitude for life.

—Chinese sailors have asked the privilege of going ashore at New York and other cities, but have been denied under the treaty.

—The Mexican Central Railroad is progressing rapidly, and it is expected will be completed and in full operation by next summer.

—Judge Donohue, of the Supreme Court of New York, has annulled a marriage contract wherein the groom was compelled to take the bride as his wife by the threats of her father and brother to shoot him.

—Near Kaufman, Texas, on the 21st inst., James Fields shot and killed his brother, as the result of whisky and an old quarrel.

—The Telegraph informs us that an "old-fashioned thunder-storm" visited San Bernardino on the 20th inst., with a heavy shower of rain.

—Dr. Foye, of the San Francisco Small-pox Hospital, reports to the Board of Health that he has nineteen patients, all of whom are lepers.

—The State of Kentucky has erected a marble statue of ex-President Zachary Taylor, at the old homestead, on a monument thirty feet high.

—Destructive forest fires are reported on the Columbia River, near Rooster Rock, Oregon; also in the mountains back of Vancouver, W. T.

Articles of incorporation of the International Northern Telegraph Company have been filled in New York, with a capital stock of $5,000,000.

—It is said the abolition of the tax on matches is driving the manufacturers of poor stock out of the business, owing to the cheapness of good brands.

—Popular demonstrations in China are demanding the abdication of the Emperor, who is said to be lacking in energy commensurate with the times.

—The bark Britannia was wrecked off the coast of Nova Scotia last week and thirteen lives lost. They were exposed to a fearful storm nearly two days.

—Telegraphic connection between the United States and Brazil has been opened via Galveston, Texas, and congratulatory messages passed by the President and Emperor.

—Italy is having some socialistic experience, as well as other countries. In Ravenna they are making demands for reform in the usual way. The leaders were arrested.

—There is now considerable stir in scientific circles over the reported finding of Noah's ark. There is one thing certain, it would be rather a difficult article to counterfeit.

—The Secret Service Bureau has in possession a five-dollar note of the Irish Republic, recently reported in circulation. It is said to be a fair imitation of a U. S. treasury note.

—The American mercantile marine has been notified by French authorities that all vessels carrying war materials to Tonquin will be captured as privateers by the French navy.

—The Apaches are committing depredations in Arizona again—the last being the murder of a stock man near Tombstone. There are 1,100 braves absent from San Carlos reservation.

—It is reported that the American Minister to China has joined, with the English representatives in urging the Chinese Government to come to an understanding with France in regard to Tonquin.

—From Alaska are reports of very rich placer gold diggings—even to $150 a day per man, but the working season is very short. The salmon fisheries are also reported as doing a flourishing business.

—A dreadful boiler explosion took place in the Sligo Iron Works, Pittsburg, on the 20th inst. Seven deaths are reported, with a long list of wounded, while several buildings in the vicinity were set on fire.

—A difficulty has arisen at El Paso between the police authorities and the Mexican Consul regarding the extradition of prisoners across the line. The Consul is said to have treated the police with insolence.

—A lady in San Francisco claims to be the wife of Senator Sharon, and has published a document purporting to be the marriage contract entered into privately. The Senator, on the contrary, pronounces it a forgery.

—Rev. James Kemlo, of Newark, N. J., quarreled with his wife last week, plunged a knife into her throat, then drew it across his own throat, and jumped out of a four-story window. Neither of them are expected to live.

—The Postmaster-General is determined to carry out in full the law denying mail facilities to lottery concerns. There are only three States in the Union where lotteries are permitted—Kentucky, Louisiana, and Colorado.

—The Central Pacific Railroad Co. has preferred charges of misdemeanor against Freight Conductor Thompson, who it is alleged was responsible for the collision of his train with the overland express near this city, a week ago.

—There is a revival of war talk in Europe, and although there has been considerable hobnobbing among the crowned heads, and expressions of good feeling, those who claim to know, maintain that great uneasiness prevails, and prognostications are rife as to pending complications between Russia and Austria.

—The yellow fever is said to be much worse in Guaymas, Mazatlan, and Hermosillo than at first reported. Two thousand persons are reported stricken at Gauymas. There is a strict quarantine against its introduction to this State by water, but none against it overland, and fears are entertained that it may reach us in this way.

—A Stockton dispatch says that the largest crowd was in town that ever visited a fair in that place. After stating that the race-track is in excellent condition; that every stall at the track is full; that in the pools for a four-year-old race, a certain horse is first choice at $30.00, etc., there comes in the startling announcement that "gambling will be prohibited."

—Sacramento County has three murderers awaiting execution. They have all made appeal to the Supreme Court, and the sentences have been affirmed, leaving no chance for escape but the Governor's pardon, which is not expected.

—The Dakota Constitutional Convention has completed its work, and upon adjourning, adopted a resolution to submit any additional measure to a vote of the people upon petition of 5,000 voters, and upon a majority vote in favor, the measure shall be incorporated in the Constitution.

—Adolph Hartman, for thirteen years cashier of the Humboldt Savings and Loan Society, San Francisco, committed suicide last Saturday. He had been guilty of systematic peculations from deposits for a long time; and finally became desperate over the probabilities of detection.

—Another relief party will probably be sent to the Arctic regions this fall in search of the missing Greely party of explorers. The last relief expedition lost both their vessels, and the crews made narrow escapes. Even some of the enthusiasts are beginning to despair of this Arctic business.

—Special Treasury Agent Evans has returned from Washington Territory, where he has been investigating the reports as to the smuggling of Chinese from British Columbia. He states that he has given much time to the investigation, and that he has failed to find evidence that such smuggling is going on.

—Trouble appears to be brewing between Australia and the home government. Lord Derby has condemned the project of annexing the South Pacific Islands to Australia, and it is feared that his policy will cause the flooding of the colonies with French convicts. In the Victorian Parliament there was strong talk of devising ways and means to help themselves.

—A Galveston, Texas, dispatch of the 18th inst., says that a reign of terror prevails throughout the county. From the threats and speeches of a few colored persons of bad repute, a general uprising against the whites has been feared. The white farmers have their families closely guarded, and are securing all the ammunition and arms that they can get possession of.

—European correspondence says that the Austro-German alliance is directed against Russia and France. In the event of war between Germany and France, Austria is to maintain an army of neutrality. In the event of war between Austria and Russia, Germany is to do likewise. If a third party should attack Germany or Austria, the armed neutrality would be converted into active co-operation.

—A cold-blooded murder was committed in Stockton on the 22d inst. Some roughs were passing the house of Julius Deitrich, a painter, when one of them made some insulting remark to Mrs. Deitrich, who was walking in front of the house. She called her husband, who came out and after some words had passed between him and the party, one of them drew a pistol and fired, killing him instantly. The murderer was arrested, and barely escaped lynching.

—The new double turreted monitor Monadnock was launched at Vallejo on the 18th inst. This new war vessel has been built at a private yard, in face of Mare Island Navy Yard, and has been on the ways since 1875. Its length over all is 262 feet, with extreme breadth of 55½ feet, depth of hold 14 feet, displacement, 3,977 tons. The side armor is seven inches of steel; and the wood embankment twenty-four inches. Including armor, she will cost nearly $2,000,000.