Current Mention

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Oct 15, 1903

— It is expected that Congress will assemble in special session on November 9, to consider the reciprocity treaty with Cuba.

— It is believed that danger of an immediate war in the Balkans has been averted. Bulgaria is showing a decided disposition to avoid hostilities.

— Twenty-three fishermen lost their lives by the wreck of the fishing steamer “Beatrice” in a hurricane off the coast of North Carolina, September 15.

— A recent report from the Far East states that Russia has refused to evacuate Manchuria, and that China has called upon Japan for aid in view of Russia’s menacing attitude.

— Contracts for armor plate amounting to more than $7,000,000 will soon be let by Secretary-of-the-Navy Moody, the armor being intended for five new battle-ships which are to be added to the United States navy.

— The German Kaiser Wilhelm is said to possess fifty-four residences, the last one having been recently acquired at a price of $500,000.

— The towns of Hamilton and Aliceville, Kan., were swept by tornadoes on the evening of October 6, three persons being killed, and several others fatally injured. Immense damage was done to buildings and shops, the town of Aliceville being almost entirely demolished.

— The natives of Alaska are reported to be rapidly dying off from the effects of the invasion of their country by the white man, their accustomed occupations having been so seriously restricted by the whites that many are unable to keep themselves from starvation.

— A secret council of prominent men in Texas who are opposed to prohibition, among which were several State senators, was held recently in Dallas, to devise means for stopping the wave of local option which is sweeping over that State. This form of prohibition has now been adopted in about 200 counties there.

— The days of steam turbine engines on Atlantic liners seem to be rapidly approaching, the latest indication being a proposal for a Canadian fast line service to England, the ships of which shall be equipped with turbine engines, and use oil for fuel. This proposition is to be brought before the Canadian government.

— The doctrines of Christian Science were severely denounced at the Mormon annual conference in Salt Lake City, October 6, at which 10,000 Mormons from all parts of the world were assembled. Hypnotism and Spiritualism were also condemned. It appears that Christian Science has of late caused extensive defections from the Mormon ranks.

— The highest railway speed ever recorded was attained in Germany, October 6, on fourteen miles and a half of the experimental electric railway between Marienfeld and Zossen. The speed attained was 125½ miles an hour. All the passengers had previously procured special life insurance policies. No difficulty was experienced in making the run, and still higher speeds are expected to be reached.

— A report from the steam yacht “America,” which is bearing the Ziegler polar expedition northward, states that there is a strange absence of life this year in that part of the arctic regions which the expedition had reached, and numbers of dead birds were seen on the cakes of ice. An occasional stray seal was the only sign of life in a region usually filled with various living creatures, and it is believed some great disturbance of nature must have occurred there at a recent date.

— The practise of Christian Science healing has been declared legal in New Hampshire. A case which has been in the courts of that State for several years, brought by a woman to recover damages alleged to have been sustained at the hands of a Christian Science practitioner, finally came before the supreme court, which refused to sustain the charge of malpractice brought against the Christian Scientist, thus declaring in effect that Christian Science is a lawful method of treating the sick.

— A man named Welle, a criminal court official in Louisville, Ky., died after an emergency operation performed on him in a hospital there, and was restored to life by the use of oxygen, after having been dead four minutes, according to the testimony of the chief surgeon, Dr. F. E. Corrigan. Mr. Welle did not say anything about being conscious after death.

— The latest effort of the papacy to secure official recognition from the United States government is a proposition from the Vatican to make an important display at the coming St. Louis fair, the display to be in charge of a special envoy to represent the pope at the exposition, who will also be empowered to conduct negotiations regarding affairs in the Philippines. The United States government is expected to recognize the papal envoy as a diplomat in return for the display which the Vatican will make at the fair. It has been decided at the Vatican that hereafter Philippine affairs must be dealt with directly either by the pontifical secretary of state and the Washington government, or with the latter through the special envoy, recognition of whom the papacy now hopes to secure from the United States.