Mount Kasbek Landslide and Pacific Tensions
News has been received from Tiflis, Transcaucasus, Russia, of a landslide which occurred on August 17 in the vicinity of Mount Kasbek, and which resulted in the destruction of some twenty villages and the loss of about 700 lives. Earthquake disturbances seem to have dislodged a great glacier which swept down a valley destroying everything in its path. Within a few minutes the valley, which is about twelve miles long, had been devastated by a wall of rock, ice, and earth. The valley was completely filled up, in some places to a depth of 1,000 feet, with matter that was hurled into it from the mountain. A fierce hurricane raged at the time, and the bodies of people and animals were hurled to a great height and dashed against the rocks. There are ominous signs of trouble in the South Pacific between England and France over the possession of the New Hebrides. Some of these islands are now under the French flag, New Caledonia being a French penal colony. Australian immigrants are securing a foothold in the larger islands, and a British cruiser has landed a deputy commissioner of the British Government to look after their interests. The French regard this as an indication of England’s desire to seize the group. Of course, such an attempt would result at once in hostilities. In view of this considerable feeling is being worked up over the matter. The commander of the United States warship in Haytian waters has declared to the insurgents that he would allow no interference with the business or rights of foreigners at the ports of Hayti. The blockade of Haytian ports by the insurgents has been declared inefficient by the American commander, and therefore void. The German Emperor has sent the thanks of his nation to the State Department for the services rendered Germans by the stand taken by the American commander in Hayti. Advices from Constantinople indicate that Russia is still planning on the Russianizing of Syria. The governor of this province, according to the agreement with the powers in 1864, must be a Christian, but the Sultan of Turkey has the right of naming him. So far Russia has opposed every name proposed by the sultan, being determined to force the selection of a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, who will be completely dominated by Russian influence. The war between the cane sugar and the beet sugar interests has been carried into the ranks of the beet sugar men by the officials of the cane sugar interests, represented by Henry O. Havemeyer. The latter and his friends have now secured control of at least one-third of the beet sugar refining plants, with the ultimate purpose of combining them under one management, and thus weakening the forces of the beet sugar men, and strengthening the sugar monopoly. The game of war being played between the army and navy off the New England coast came to an end on September 6. It has not yet been figured out which came off victorious; but thousands of dollars worth of powder has been exploded and thousands of dollars worth of coal burned. It is probably the best use the powder could be put to, but there are thousands of shivering families who would have been grateful for a few pounds of the coal consumed. The contest between the miners of Pennsylvania and the coal mine operators has now lasted seventeen weeks, and President Mitchell declares that the miners have no intention of yielding. The strike in West Virginia has ended, the miners returning to work on the best terms they can secure. A movement has been started in Chicago to raise funds for the strikers. Considerable contributions have come from English labor organizations. A citizen of Winchester, Virginia, was arrested recently for neglecting to put kerosene in his rain-barrels, as provided by the anti-mosquito law. The purpose of this law is to destroy the mosquito before he is born, and rain-barrels are believed to be mosquito incubators. The New York World refers to this matter to remind its readers of the “narrowing range of personal liberty in these days of the public’s rights.” The terrible treatment of Siberian exiles at Alexandrowski, Siberia, has caused a strike of the convicts, who are refusing all nourishment until they are more humanely treated. Their prison cells are damp and dark, and disease is rife among them. It is said that both the sick and dead remain uncared for to contaminate the living. Revolts of convicts at Saghalien and other settlements have resulted in bloodshed. The United States minister at the capital of Venezuela reports the existence of the direst poverty there, due to the continuance of the war. He makes an appeal to the American people in behalf of the poor of that city, offering to distribute any means for relief that may be sent him. His report states that he never has known anything to compare with the widespread and hopeless poverty of the present. Advices from the North state that the Alaska salmon pack for the present year will amount to two and a quarter million cases. The bicycle trust known as the American Bicycle Company has failed, and receivers have been appointed for the concern. Prof. Rudolph Virchow, one of the most noted scientists of Europe, died at Berlin on September 5, at the age of 81. The reports of railroad accidents for the first quarter of the present year has just been issued by the Interstate Commerce Commission. It shows that during those three months in the United States 665 persons were killed in railroad accidents, and 9,560 were injured. If this record is maintained for the rest of the year, the number of casualties for the year will total 40,900. There is a deadlock in the Vermont election for governor, Gen. J. G. McCullough (Republican) failing to receive a majority of the votes. The large number of votes cast for the high license candidate occasioned the deadlock. The electing of a governor and lieutenant-governor will be taken up by the assembly next month. While the Presidential party was driving through the streets of Pittsfield, Mass., on September 3, the carriage in which the President was riding was run into and demolished by a street car. One member of the President’s bodyguard was killed, and the President and his secretary were considerably bruised in the wreck. Russia has loaned £5,000,000 to the Shah of Persia. Those who are watching the intrigues of the nations see in this the working out of Russia’s purpose of securing a controlling influence in Persian affairs, or at least of obtaining a railway concession which will give her one or more ports on the Persian Gulf. An international banking trust with a capital of $10,000,000 has been organized in New York, designed to operate especially in Latin-American countries. This combination will be known as the International Bank and Trust Company of America, and will have branches in all the Latin-American countries. The Japanese consul at Foo Chow, China, reports that in the disturbances there incident to the beginning of collections for the foreign indemnity 1,000 persons were shot down, and a fine of 50,000 yen was imposed on the inhabitants for the destruction of property caused by the rioting. Near Berry, Alabama, on September 1, a disastrous train wreck occurred, in which thirty persons lost their lives and eighty were injured. A number of the cars left the track and plunged down a steep embankment, turning over several times, and being crushed like egg-shells. Another Boxer proclamation has been posted in Canton, inciting the people to the slaughter of foreigners. It is supposed to be due to the beginning of work on the Canton-Hankow railway and to the collection of funds for the payment of the foreign indemnity. Serious and continued rioting is reported from the city of Agram, Hungary, and the troops were called out, the rioting and wrecking and sacking of houses continued. The houses of Servians were sacked and the contents burned in the streets. The fastest steamer afloat is the yacht Arrow, which, in a speed test on the Hudson River on September 6, covered one mile at the rate of 45 miles an hour. This vessel, altho only 130 feet long, has a boiler capacity of 4,500 horse power. A decree has been issued by the sultan repealing the strict anti-Armenian laws, on condition that the Armenian patriarch would guarantee that there would be no further outbreaks. The patriarch has therefore withdrawn his resignation. The White Star Steamship Company has ordered another monster ship constructed, which is to be 720 feet in length, 20 feet longer than the great steamer Cedric, recently completed with accommodations for 3,000 passengers. Eighteen vessels were wrecked at Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on September 1. Five of these were dashed to pieces and the crews lost. The list of casualties, tho believed to be large, is not definitely known. President Roosevelt continues his tour throughout the East and South, the principle themes of his discussion being the maintenance of the Monroe doctrine and finding a remedy for the evils of the trusts. Kentucky has made a law by the provisions of which no one in that State will hereafter be allowed to keep any bird in captivity except the canary. All other caged songsters must be given their freedom. Owing to the outbreak of the rabies in Bulawayo, South Africa, the authorities have ordered the extermination of between 60,000 and 80,000 dogs and all the hyenas that can be caught. The price in human lives which England paid for the conquest of South Africa is now stated to be 21,942. Those who received wounds but survived number 23,029. The price of coal in the East has increased to such an extent that shipments of coal destined for New York have been contracted for in England. The public debt of the United States at the present time amounts to $1,327,582,821. During the month of August the debt was decreased $5,818,646. Dr. Edward Eggleston, preacher and author of a number of popular juvenile works, died at his home at Glens Falls, N. Y., on September 3.