News Notes

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 18, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 51.

Recently numerous cases of death from lockjaw have been reported from different parts of the country, where school children had been compelled to submit to vaccination. At Camden, N. J., seven children have died from lockjaw, or tetanus, following vaccination, and two others are expected to die. At Atlantic City, N. J., three children have succumbed to this disease following vaccination. At Philadelphia several cases have developed from the same cause. A few weeks ago we reported the death of twelve school children in St. Louis, Mo., who had been vaccinated with a fluid containing the germs of tetanus. These children were vaccinated to guard against diphtheria, a much less dangerous disease than the one which the vaccination developed.

General Leonard Wood has purchased for the United States Government the principal portion of the San Juan battlefield. The tract comprises 200 acres, and cost $15,000. It will be considered a United States reservation, and the government will lay out a park there.

Twenty-seven men were killed, most of them terribly mutilated, by the explosion of a boiler in Detroit, Michigan, on November 26, and 27 others were seriously bruised or burned.

The Colombian Government has issued a decree declaring that diplomatic relations with Venezuela have ceased, and that the Colombian legation in Caracas has been withdrawn. The minister of war then makes the significant declaration that Colombia has 80,000 men armed for action. This may not mean war between the two South American States named; but it is thought in some quarters to be but preliminary to a declaration of war. There is strong probability also of trouble between Germany and Venezuela over the financial claims of certain German subjects which Venezuela seems to have given scant consideration. In view of the unsatisfactory negotiations between the United States and Venezuela over the claims of certain American citizens, it seems probable that the United States will make no protest against Germany collecting her claims from Venezuela.

A meteoric shower similar to the one witnessed in 1833 has now been promised for three years in succession, and has failed to materialize. Now there are those who predict that the shower will take place next year or the year following. So far the attempt to prove that the great star shower of 1833 was simply the recurrence of a celestial event which takes place every 33 years has proved a signal failure. The falling of the stars was a sign given by the Lord Himself to tell that His coming was near. The usual annual flight of meteors was seen during the present autumn, as during every other autumn; but the falling of the stars in 1833 was a sign given for a purpose, and does not occur every 33 years.

On November 28 a conference was held on board the United States gunboat Marietta, in the harbor of Colon, Colombia, between representatives from the Colombian Government forces and representatives of the rebels who were then holding Colon. The conference resulted in the surrender of the rebels to Captain Perry of the Iowa, who in turn handed them over to the representatives of the Colombian Government. Thus the surrender of the city was accomplished without the necessity of a bombardment. The American marines have returned to their ships, but the vessels will remain in the harbor until conditions on the Isthmus are more settled.

France has invited the other nations of Europe to an international convention at Paris, whose object will be to devise some means of “stopping the traffic in white slaves;” in other words, the buying and selling of white women and girls for immoral purposes. It has recently been discovered that there existed an organized exportation of Polish women to Argentina for that purpose. The traffic is also said to be carried on extensively in Bohemia and Hungary, and the alluring of English girls of good families to Holland, Belgium, and France is reported to be going on as steadily as it was some years ago when exposed in the Pall Mall Gazette by W. T. Stead.

The Supreme Court has handed down its decision in the “Fourteen Diamond Rings Case,” which is the case involving the right of the United States to collect duty on goods brought into this country from the Philippine Islands. The court decides that no duty can be collected on importations from these islands until Congress shall legislate in the matter; that the islands became American territory as soon as Spain transferred title; and that Congress has power to declare a tariff for the islands. This makes it necessary for the government to refund about $1,800,000 which has been collected from importers under protest.

A collision occurred on San Francisco Bay near Alcatraz Island on the evening of November 28 between the ferry boats San Rafael and Sausalito, in which the former was sunk. Both boats were well loaded with passengers, but so far as known only four lost their lives. As soon as the collision occurred the two boats were made fast with ropes, and the passengers of the San Rafael were transferred to the Sausalito. Many of the frightened passengers jumped into the water, but most of these were rescued by boats launched by the two steamers.

Two passenger trains on the Wabash road met at high speed near Seneca, Michigan, on November 27, resulting in one of the most terrible collisions on record. The number of the dead seems difficult to determine; but there seems reason for placing it as high as 80, while 150 were more or less mangled and bruised. One of the engines exploded, and thus added to the horror of the situation, and to the list of killed and injured. The wreck was described by witnesses as presenting one of the most frightful scenes imaginable.

A peculiar phenomenon was witnessed in Chicago on November 28. What appeared to be a comet, with a well-defined head and long, luminous tail, appeared in the sky and was visible for several hours. That it was not a meteor was evidenced by the fact that it maintained the same position in the sky, and that it was not a comet was shown by the fact that it was seen nowhere but in the vicinity of Chicago. Astronomers have given no solution of the phenomenon.

The cordial reception granted Marquis Ito, of Japan, by the czar of Russia, on November 28, is interpreted to mean a change of policy in the dealings of these two nations with each other. After the czar’s reception, a great dinner was given by the foreign minister to the distinguished visitor, and he was decorated with one of the highest orders in the gift of the czar.

Both Argentina and Chile are laying in a supply of arms and ammunition. Three cargoes were recently shipped from Hamburg, Germany, to South America, two of them for Chile and one for Argentina. All three cargoes were from the same firm, and were shipped by the same agents on telegraphic instruction from South America. There has been tension between these South American States for some time, and they seem to be constantly drifting toward a clash.

The new party in Cuba has protested to Secretary of War Root against the interference of American officials in the political matters of the island. Secretary Root denies that the American officials are interfering, and declares that it is far from their intention to meddle in the politics of that island. The elections will soon be held, and Governor-General Wood is now in Washington to perfect arrangements for the transfer of the island to the Cubans.

A procession estimated to number 50,000 persons paraded the streets of London on December 1 to show their sympathy for General Buller, whom the War Office had forced into retirement. It was considered the biggest affair of its kind that has occurred in England for many years, and was an expression of the dissatisfaction with which a large portion of the people look upon the South African war policy.

An English inventor has perfected a new rapid-fire gun which is arresting the attention of military circles. This new gun is capable of firing bullets as fast as the Maxim gun, but with a range of 6,000 yards or nearly three and one-half miles. This is but another step in the preparation of the world for its last great battle.

From Atlanta, Georgia, comes what seems to be an authentic report of the successful treatment of a case of aggravated cancer by the use of the cathode rays. The rays were applied directly to the exposed parts for fifteen minutes at intervals of three days, and the treatment extended over a period of six weeks.

The 57th Congress convened at Washington on December 2, with David B. Henderson of Iowa speaker of the House, and Senator Frye of Maine occupying the post of speaker pro tem of the Senate. It was estimated by officials of the House that over 3,000 bills had been introduced before 12 o’clock.

There have been rumors during the week that both Miss Stone, the captured missionary, and her companion, were dead; but later advices seem to indicate that both are alive and well, tho no agreement has been reached between the brigands and the friends of the missionaries.

A bill to permit railroad pooling will be introduced into Congress during the present session, and will be strongly backed by the great railroad interests. It is a trust measure, and if passed will add greatly to the power of the trust, practically destroying railroad competition.

There is war again in Chinatown, San Francisco, between the members of two Chinese societies, and several shootings have occurred. Influential Chinamen are seeking to arbitrate the difficulty, but the fighting members of the tongs are still demanding blood.

The special commissioner sent to the Philippines to investigate the condition of the currency there has reported to Secretary of the Treasury Gage, advising the issue of a distinctively Philippine coin, to be called the peso, and to be worth fifty cents in gold.

The British Government has decided not to reimburse British subjects in South Africa for damages which they have sustained on account of the Boer war, as “the amount required would be so enormous that the idea could not be entertained.”

Herr Gibler, a German manufacturer, claims to have invented a process by which steel can now be made twice as hard as by the famous Krupp process. It is asserted that actual tests prove the claims of this inventor.

A systematic robbery of the bank of Liverpool has just been brought to light. The bank has been victimized by worthless checks to the amount of $850,000. The principals in the robbery are now in custody.

The United States army transport Wright ran on an uncharted rock in the Straits of Darmen, Philippine Islands, and sank. This is the fourth transport which has met with mishap in the Philippine service.

Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Indian Territory have all held constitutional conventions, and will be applicants for admission to statehood during the present session of Congress.

A remarkable tidal wave is reported to have occurred on the eastern coast of England, on November 29, doing much damage.

The South Carolina Interstate and West Indian Exposition was opened at Charleston, S. C., on December 1.

On account of martial law in South Africa, no one will be allowed to land after January 1 without a permit.

One million dollars is the estimated damage of a fire which occurred in New York City on November 28.

The British Government has given Australia jurisdiction over the island of New Guinea.