News and Notes

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 28, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 30.

International.— Five French war ships have been ordered to Tangier to safeguard French interests in case of a bombardment by American war ships......The Belgian Government has offered a prize of 50,000 francs for the invention of a match paste containing no phosphorus......Russia has begun a trade war on German imports, because of Germany’s failure to fulfil the terms of a commercial treaty which was to have allowed exceptionally favorable rates on Russian grain. The action is taken on orders from the Russian minister of finance......The authorities of Dawson and the Klondike mining regions are enforcing a Sunday law, by the terms of which work and business of all kinds except restaurants, is suspended on Sunday. For each violation of the law a fine of $15 is imposed......A wealthy Japanese sulphur mine owner left twenty-six of his workmen on an uninhabited island, where one of his mines was located, making no provision for their sustenance. There being no chance for them to make their escape, the whole company perished of starvation......M. Emil Zola, the French novelist who was imprisoned last year for his connection with the Dreyfus trial, has been again sentenced to imprisonment and to pay a heavy fine. He has fled to Switzerland to avoid serving his sentence......The Bundesrath of Switzerland has prohibited the importation of fresh and unpealed American fruit, with the view of keeping out what is known as the San Jose scale. This government has also filed a protest with the government of the United States against the advantages given to France by the reciprocity treaty with the United States, and demands that these advantages be accorded Switzerland......Australian farmers are losing thousands of their cattle by what is known as the “tick” plague. This plague is spreading alarmingly, and is said to be more widespread and ruinous than will ever be known to the outside world. The report from there states that all the cattle attacked by the plague die. No meat can be sold from the districts where the plague is raging, which is bringing much hardship to the ranchers......In view of the fact that Japanese capitalists are contemplating purchasing large tracts of land in Australia to be settled by Japanese immigrants, the law-making bodies of that continent are preparing legislation which will be prohibitive of Japanese immigration to Australia......The financial crisis in Chile is continuing to grow more acute. Congress has passed a law authorizing the president of Chile to issue paper money to the extent of $50,000,000, and to borrow money to the extent of $20,000,000 more......A French gunboat attempted to enter the harbor of Guantanamo, Cuba, on July 14, without securing permission from the Americans blockading that bay. The cruiser Marblehead was compelled to fire two shots across the bow of the French boat before the latter would yield to the rules of the blockade......The rebellion in Woo Chow, China, is still progressing. It is reported that 1,500 of the Chinese imperial troops were killed recently in an engagement with the rebels near the city of Woo Chow. The uprising is a protest against the introduction of certain reforms, and is fostered by anti-foreign emissaries......The Italian fleet has now reached the waters of Colombia, whither it had been ordered to enforce the payment of the claim which Italy holds against the government of Colombia, amounting to $250,000; but it is reported that the demand will not be enforced until the election of the new president of Colombia.

Progress of the War.— The fourth Manila expedition left San Francisco on July 15, carrying 1,700 regular troops. The vessels comprising the expedition were the Peru and City of Puebla. On July 18 the U. S. transport Pennsylvania sailed for the same destination, with 1,300 volunteers......The steamer Culgoa, which has been plying between London and Australia, has been purchased by the United States, and will be fitted up as an auxiliary cruiser. The English and Australian crew on board the steamer refused to be sent home at the expense of the company, preferring to come to America with the vessel and enlist with her......The U. S. cruiser New Orleans sunk the Spanish gunboat Antonio Lopez, on July 16. She had previously been run aground while attempting to run the blockade......It has been decided to raise and repair the sunken Spanish cruiser Cristobal Colon, and add her to the American navy......The Spanish fleet under Admiral Camara has returned to Spain, having turned about after passing through the Suez Canal...... The U. S. cruiser Harvard, having on board 1,008 Spanish prisoners, arrived at Portsmouth, N. H., on July 15. Before the Harvard left Cuba the prisoners revolted, and eight were shot down by the guards on the vessel......On Sunday, July 17, the American flag was raised over the city of Santiago, Cuba, and the forts about the harbor. The number of troops surrendered to General Shafter is nearly 23,000. Already over 10,000 Mauser rifles have been turned over to the Americans, with 10,000,000 rounds of ammunition, and the government has entered into contracts for the manufacture of Mauser bullets to fit these arms. The city of Caimanera, Cuba, was surrendered to the Americans on July 18. The garrison at that place had not learned of the surrender of Santiago, but were included in the terms of capitulation made by General Toral......A corrected report of the American losses in Cuba places the total number of casualties thus far in the campaign at 1,914 killed and wounded......The second expedition to Manila arrived there on the 16th and 17th of July. The expedition comprises the steamers China, Zealandia, Colon, and Senator. Four deaths occurred during the voyage......There have been many rumors of peace proposals on the part of the Spanish Government during the week; but officials at Washington affirm that no peace negotiations between Spain and the United States are in progress. Plans for the invasion of Porto Rico are going forward with more or less celerity, and a part of the transports are already on their way to that island. Commodore Watson is reported to be still preparing his squadron for the contemplated raid on the Spanish coast, and a squadron is being selected from Sampson’s fleet to convoy the expedition to Porto Rico. In Manila the general situation still remains unchanged. The presence and attitude of the German war ships there cause considerable irritation, altho the German Government has disclaimed responsibility for anything which Admiral Von Diedrichs has done either in Manila or Subig Bay, stating that if he has interfered with American affairs there, he will be held to strict personal account.

Domestic Miscellany.— The State presidents of the W. C. T. U. in session at Chicago, have decided to give up the task of paying for the Frances E. Willard Temple in that city. The temple was erected at a cost of $1,265,000, and the various State organizations have labored earnestly to clear the building of debt......The President has appointed a commission, to meet a similar commission on the part of England and Canada, for the purpose of adjusting the relations between Canada and the United States, and settling all questions now in dispute between the two countries......Before the close of the Hawaiian Congress, President Dole signed a contract with the Scrymser Company for a cable between Hawaii and San Diego, Cal......The cutting in overland rates has so disturbed passenger traffic that the Interstate Commerce Commission has called a meeting of representatives of railroads interested to settle the difficulty and establish permanent rates......The United States Government has chartered the British ship Lucelina to carry water to Cuba. The Lucelina is built of iron and steel, and has a capacity of 1,000,000 gallons......A violent windstorm passed over Wisconsin and Iowa on July 19, doing much damage to property and grain......The Baptist Young People’s Union Convention is now in session at Buffalo, N. Y., with about ten thousand delegates and visitors in attendance. The executive committee has decided to hold the next annual convention at Richmond, Va., and that of 1,900 at Cincinnati, Ohio......“Soapy” Smith, the notorious gambler and gun-fighter, was killed recently at Skaguay, Alaska, where for months his gang had been terrorizing the town. Vigilantes are now in control there, and all of Smith’s followers have either been arrested or forced to leave the place......The President has signed the war tariff for Santiago, and it went into effect on July 19. It adopts in general the privileged rates now given Spain, and makes it uniform for all countries, including the United States......Several steamers have arrived at Pacific Coast ports during the week from Alaska, bringing many returning miners from the Klondike regions. According to closest estimates available, these vessels brought down about $5,650,000 in nuggets, dust, and drafts. Many of the miners returned with scarcely enough gold to pay their expenses, and all bring terrible tales of hardship......A telegram from the captain of the U. S. revenue cutter Bear states that the party which started overland through northern Alaska to the relief of the ice-imprisoned whalers reached its destination in safety on March 29, with the herd of reindeer in good condition. The expedition has provisions enough to last the whalers till August......The Treasury Department has issued a ruling by the provisions of which all Chinese except officials, teachers, students, merchants, or travelers for curiosity or pleasure, are to be excluded from the United States.

Casualties and Calamities.— The Chinese cruiser Fu-ching was wrecked on the shore near Port Arthur on June 9, and all but four of her crew of 130 men were drowned. Rockets carrying life-lines were fired over the ship, but the Chinese sailors were unable to comprehend the use of the lines......The Australian bark Fido was wrecked off the Australian coast in a recent storm, and it is believed that her entire crew of twelve men have perished......Four young women were drowned on July 19, while bathing in Utah Lake, Utah......An official despatch from Porto Rico states that 150 cases of ammunition exploded there on July 17, killing fourteen persons and wounding many others......A despatch from Gleiwitz, Prussian Silesia, says that twenty-four persons have been killed by a cage accident at the Paulus Colliery, near Morgorna......On July 19 the powder magazine and factory of the Western Fuse Company, near Oakland, Cal., was blown up by a Chinese murderer who had sought refuge there from the officers who were trying to capture him. Every building in the vicinity of the factory was completely demolished, and five officers, one woman, and the Chinaman were killed. Residents in the vicinity had been warned away by the officers on account of the threats of the murderer. About two tons of explosive were set off, and the shock was felt within a radius of fifty miles.

Conditions in Cuba.— Considerable anxiety has been occasioned by the prevalence of yellow fever among the American troops in Cuba. As many as 300 have been suffering with this disease at one time, but late reports state that the number of cases is on the decrease. The malady has not assumed its more virulent forms. The city of Santiago is reported to be ripe for an epidemic. The town lacks every sanitary feature, and is especially dirty and repellant now, owing to the siege. Admiral Sampson’s last bombardment of the city wrecked fifty-seven houses. Refugees are returning to Santiago in great numbers. The Red Cross steamer State of Texas, with two other vessels loaded with provisions, arrived in the harbor on July 18, and began at once dispensing food to the hungry inhabitants......The large iron mines near Santiago will be opened immediately, furnishing employment to many of the Cubans, and other industries stopped by the war will also be resumed as speedily as possible.