NEWS AND NOTES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 27, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 43.

International.—Seven of the Moslems who were tried and convicted for the murder of British soldiers during the recent riot in Crete, were hanged at Candia, Crete, on October 18, and the bodies were left hanging on the scaffold for an object lesson. ......The admirals of the foreign war ships in Cretan waters have been informed by the Turkish authorities that the sultan has ordered the withdrawal of all Turkish troops from Crete. ......A conspiracy has been unearthed for the assassination of Emperor William during his absence in Palestine. His trip to Egypt was postponed on account of the conspiracy to take his life there, and several Anarchists were arrested. Others have gone to Palestine to make an attempt on his life in that country. The emperor and empress of Germany arrived at Constantinople on October 18, and were received by the sultan with flattering demonstrations. ......The use of dog meat in certain parts of Germany is said to be on the increase among the poorer classes, owing to the restrictive laws against foreign meat importation. This kind of meat is openly advertised in the markets, and the consumption of horse flesh is also increasing. ......Bands of desperadoes numbering several thousand are interfering with Russia’s railway developments in Northern China, and farmers in the Kansu district, ascribing the cause of the long prevailing drought to the presence of the telegraph poles and wires, have utterly demolished both. ......It is reported that England has taken up the cause of the deposed emperor of China, and is demanding his restoration to the throne. ......The Russian Government has concentrated 40,000 troops at Port Arthur, ready for any emergency at the Chinese capital. ......The Chinese foreign office has given to the British minister assurances that the emperor is alive and well. The chairman of this body has made the statement that the Chinese empress is not opposed to genuine reform, but only to such violent and impracticable reforms as the emperor had hastily decreed; that her majesty will proceed on lines more adapted to Chinese conditions. ......One of King Menelek’s strong vassals, Ras Mangascia, has revolted, and the king has despatched 40,000 troops to subdue him. The revolt is said to have been engineered by the British, in order to prevent Menelek from joining the French at Fashoda, as it is claimed that France and Abyssinia have entered into a treaty to oppose England along the Upper Nile. ......On October 13, considerable additions were made to the ranks of the Paris strikers, but on the 15th the strike virtually came to an end, only 500 of the strikers refusing to return to work. ......There is still much talk of war between Great Britain and France over the occupation of Fashoda. France is waiting for the report from Major Marchand in reference to his expedition. ......The Swedish minister of marine is asking for an extensive credit for the purpose of purchasing a navy. ......Fraud has been discovered in connection with Chile’s exchequer, by which it has been robbed of several million dollars. In consequence of the discovery the chief accountant has committed suicide. ......Advices from Rome state that the differences existing between the Prussian Government and the Vatican have been amicably settled, and that Prussia will soon appoint a new envoy to the Vatican to succeed Baron von Buelow. ......A despatch received from Senegambia, West Africa, states that the French troops have overpowered and captured Chief Samory, with his principal subordinates, against whom the French have been waging war for some months. ......The government of Liberia, West Africa, has delegated Bishop J. C. Hartzell, of the M. E. Church, to visit the government at Washington and request that the United States assume a protectorate over that country, in order to prevent the encroachments of certain European powers. ......On October 14 serious anti-Jewish riots occurred at Kossol, in Austrian Galicia, in which the shops of the Jews were plundered, ten persons killed, and many wounded. ......Extensive plans are now being laid for additional defences around the cities of Quebec and Montreal. Work has already begun at Quebec on the new fortifications, and the most modern guns obtainable are to be mounted there. ......Negotiations between the American and Spanish peace commissioners are still in progress, but nothing is definitely known in regard to the conclusions arrived at, if any conclusions have yet been reached. ......A report from China states that Li Hung Chang and the empress dowager of China have been married. ......A rebellion is being instigated in the province which was recently annexed to Hongkong, as many of the natives object to being placed under British rule. ......Attempts are being made against the life of the president of Switzerland by Anarchists, because of the repressive measures which have been taken there since the murder of the empress of Austria.

Domestic.—Ground has been broken for the first railway in Alaska, which is to be known as the White Pass and Yukon Railway. ......A telephone line has been completed between San Francisco, Cal., and Tacoma, Wash., with branch lines to British Columbia and Mexico, making the longest telephone line in the United States. ......Army rations are to be given to the sufferers from the recent floods in Georgia, who are reported to be in need of the barest necessities of life. ......Father Anthony Kozlowski, of Chicago, has brought suit against the archbishop and cardinal of his district for damages amounting to $50,000, because of their having excommunicated him. ......The Indian uprising near Walker, Minn., has come to an end, and the hostiles have agreed to surrender. ......At a meeting of the Christian and Missionary Alliance at New York on October 16 more than $112,000 in cash and pledges and much jewelry were contributed to the missionary work. The subscriptions ranged from fifty cents to $10,000. ......The degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon President McKinley by the University of Chicago during his visit at that city on October 17. ......The California State Board of Health has appointed Dr. C. A. Ruggles to investigate the leper conditions of the Hawaiian Islands, with a view to instituting means for preventing its spread to the Pacific Coast. ......The amount of Klondike gold received at the U. S. mints of San Francisco and Seattle is reported to be $7,900,000. ......Eight war vessels formerly belonging to Spain are now doing duty under the flag of the United States. ......The United States now has fifty-five war vessels of different kinds under process of construction. This number includes eight first-class, heavily-armored battleships, four monitors, thirty-eight torpedo-boats, and one powerful cruiser.

Cuba.—A ship-load of rations was sent to the destitute people of Manzanillo on October 14. ......There is considerable discord among the Cuban leaders, some of whom bitterly oppose the idea of disbanding the Cuban army. Much of the army, however, has already been disbanded, and it is proposed to use many of the former Cuban soldiers as mounted police under pay of the United States. ......The Spanish authorities in Cuba have yielded to the demand of the American evacuation commission in the matter of free entry of Red Cross supplies for the starving inhabitants of Havana, Cardenas, Cienfuegos, Sagua la Grande, and other places of less importance. ......Plans of the Spanish forts in Cuba have been given to the American evacuation commission by Captain-General Blanco.

Casualties and Calamities.—The Atlantic steamer Mohegan was wrecked off Lizard Head, at the southwest extremity of England, on the night of October 14. Reports of the number of her passengers are conflicting; but she is believed to have carried about 150. Of these only 31 were rescued. ......A collision occurred at Barnet, about eleven miles from London, on October 17, between a freight and passenger train. Nine persons were killed and thirteen seriously injured. ......A serious storm visited the coast of England on October 18, wrecking many vessels. In most cases the crews were saved, but fully thirty persons have been drowned.

Porto Rico.—Eight hundred American troops arrived at San Juan, Porto Rico, on October 15, and were received with demonstrations of joy by the inhabitants. Captain-General Macias left the island on the same day for Spain. At noon, on October 18, the American flag was raised over all the government buildings at San Juan, and at different posts throughout the island of which San Juan is the capital, the sovereignty of the island thereupon passing to the United States.