News and Notes

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 1, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 13.

FOREIGN.

—The czar of Russia has sent a gift of 50,000 rubles to the Cretan refugees in Athens.

—The Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State have concluded an offensive and defensive treaty.

—The Cuban insurgents have captured the important town of Holguin, Santiago de Cuba. The city has a population of 30,000.

—The English Government is considering a proposition to fortify more strongly the Bermuda Islands, off the east coast of the United States.

—The rebels of Uruguay have decided to unite their forces in one desperate attempt to capture Montevideo, the capital of the State.

—Another fierce battle is reported from the Philippines, in which it is stated that 300 of the rebels were killed. The Spanish loss is not given.

—On March 18 the Austrian gunboat Zebenico fired upon and sunk a Greek vessel loaded with supplies and munitions intended for the Greek forces in Crete.

—Many Chinese are declaring their intentions of becoming Canadian subjects, in order that they may escape the provisions of two laws aimed against alien laborers.

—On March 21 the Turks at Tokat attacked the Armenians in a church. Fifteen of the Armenians were killed, and it is feared that a renewal of the massacres will follow.

—The officers of the German navy have been ordered to dismiss from the navy all socialist employees and all persons who seek to stir up employees against employers.

—While the British cruiser Theseus was practising with torpedoes near Malta on March 23, one exploded at the ship’s side, severely injuring and maiming thirty of the crew.

—The Chinese Government has notified the Government of the United States that it will be represented at the Universal Postal Congress to be held in Washington, D. C., in May.

—The largest nugget of platinum ever found was recently discovered by an Indian in Colombia, South America. It weighed a little less than two pounds, and its intrinsic value is $350.

—It is reported that General Martinez Campos will be appointed governor of Cuba, and General Sabas Marin will be commander-in-chief of the Spanish forces, following the recall of General Weyler.

—The admirals engaged in the blockade of Crete have given notice to the Greek and insurgent troops that in case an attack is made upon Turkish fortifications, the war ships will use force in carrying out their directions.

—Germany united on March 22 in celebrating the centenary of William I. The ceremonies were conducted in an imposing manner. A part of the program was the unveiling of a statue of the Kaiser William I., who was born on March 22, 1797.

—Grave fears are entertained of a riot in Bombay on account of the enforcement of the rule that persons affected with the plague shall be isolated. The Mohammedans have petitioned the officials for a suspension of the rules in their case, but the petition was denied.

—A battle between the federal troops of Uruguay and the insurgents took place on March 17 near Paysandu. The report states that upward of a thousand were killed and wounded in the engagement. It has not been reported which army was victorious.

—The British ship Androsa, bound from San Francisco for Liverpool, and carrying a cargo worth $345,707, foundered at sea on March 7, when near her destination. Her crew of 27 men were rescued by another vessel. The ship and cargo were insured for $320,000.

—There has recently been discovered in the Kongo basin, Africa, a people that, so far as can be ascertained, have no religion whatever, and no idea of a Supreme Being. They are regarded as one of the most hospitable races of Africa, and are free from superstition.

—On March 24 the sultan of Turkey called out forty-four battalions of the reserve army corps and summoned to the colors the whole contingent of 1897. The Turkish embassies in Europe have also been instructed to purchase three iron-clads, at a cost of £1,500,000.

—The Cretans have rejected the offer of autonomy under Turkish suzerainty, and declare that there are but two issues possible, annexation to Greece, or war until death. Fighting between the insurgents and Mussulmans on the island still continues, and is occasionally participated in by the Turkish gunboats off the shore. The recent massacre of Armenian Christians is adding fresh complications to the present situation, and has brought fresh threats of intervention from the “powers.” In the meantime both Turkey and Greece are rushing troops to the frontier, and preparations for war are going forward rapidly.

—An English traveler has discovered two tribes of people in the far east, one in Thibet and the other in Bengal, who worship Queen Victoria as a goddess. An image of the queen is set in this Thibetan temple above the images of all their other gods, and receives their highest reverence.

—Reports from Cuba seem to indicate that the advantage of the rebels is steadily growing, and the Spanish army is being placed more on the defensive than at any previous time during the war. The Spanish officials admit that the rebellion is now stronger than at any time since its beginning, and every day brings reports of insurgent victories.

—In an article entitled “Made in Japan,” the Pall Mall Gazette describes how manufacturing nations have always encroached upon each other’s domains. The Dutch, importing English clay, made good profit out of imitations of Chinese porcelain, and after awhile the Dutch product became firmly established in the markets of the world as Delft ware. English potters copied the Dutch pattern, sold it a good deal cheaper, and the north of England became the headquarters for Delft china. Lately the Japanese, having acquainted themselves with the patterns best liked in England, encroach upon the domain long monopolized by the English potter. The Japanese product is much finer and stronger, and above all much cheaper, than the best English ware, and thus Japan is providing the markets with goods which were originally regarded as a Chinese monopoly.

DOMESTIC.

—William T. Adams (Oliver Optic) is reported dangerously ill at his residence in Boston.

—A disastrous fire occurred at Ottumwa, Iowa, on March 21, resulting in a loss of $180,000.

—Two professional pugilists were killed in Philadelphia on March 20 by their opponents in the ring.

—Ten persons were fatally hurt by jumping from the upper stories of a burning hotel at Lawrence, Mass., on March 22.

—All but eight of the American prisoners in prison in Cuba have now been released. Those still held include the Competitor’s crew.

—By mistake the date of the President’s message to the extra session of Congress was given in a note last week as February 15, instead of March 15.

—It is now believed that sixteen survivors of the ill-fated Ville de St. Nazaire were picked up by a tramp steamer and are now on their way to Glasgow.

—Two German army officers who are to make a tour of the world on horseback in two years have arrived in California, having accomplished one-half the distance.

—It is reported that the widow of the late Baron de Hirsch has signified her intention of bestowing the sum of $1,800,000 upon benevolent enterprises in the United States.

—The tomb of General Grant will be dedicated on April 27. On that date the North Atlantic squadron will anchor in the Hudson River opposite the tomb and fire a salute.

—The American Consul-General at Paris makes a report to the State Department that the consulate during the last three years has been swindled out of $30,000 by its deputy consul.

—A company has purchased a large farm in Illinois which will be used entirely for the raising of cats for the fur which they will produce. The skins will sell for from ten to fifteen cents each.

—The Tariff Bill, for the consideration of which the extra session of Congress was principally called, was read in the House on the morning of March 22, and the long debate was formally opened.

—There is prospect that the legislators of Canada will take measures toward instituting retaliatory tariff laws in view of the expected passage of the Dingley Tariff Bill now being discussed in Congress.

—On account of being deserted by his wife, William Fee, a citizen of Wamego, Kansas, fatally shot his wife’s father and mother, his sister-in-law, and his wife, and then killed himself, on the morning of March 18.

—On the night of March 19 a large expedition cleared from Punta Gorda, Florida, and sailed for Cuba. About 55 men were in the expedition, and also a large supply of arms, ammunition, medicine, and dynamite.

—On March 24 Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, introduced in the United States Senate a bill prohibiting the shipment of kinetoscope pictures of prize-fights in the mails or through the channels of interstate commerce.

—Joseph E. Blanther, the San Francisco murderer, who has so long eluded the officers of the law, was apprehended in Texas on March 15. While being held for identification he committed suicide, and was buried on March 24.

—During the past week disastrous floods have been reported all along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and their tributaries. It is estimated that a section of the country with an area as great as the State of Missouri, is now under water. Many lives have been lost, and much stock has perished, while the damage to property is almost incalculable.

—The recent floods in Indiana have disclosed the fact that the town of Rushville is situated directly over a rushing subterranean river, which is about fifty feet below the surface. This is believed to be the “lost river of Indiana.”

—A wonderful and beautiful phenomenon occurred at Bethany, Cal., on the night of March 18. It was a rainbow at night, produced by the moon, but showed all the gorgeous colorings of the rainbows produced by Old Sol himself.

—George and Calvin Holmes, of Greensburg, Indiana, twin brothers, aged twenty-two, fought a duel to the death on March 24, over the affections of a young woman. One of the brothers was killed, and the other probably fatally wounded.

—At Orrick, Mo., on the night of March 20, a jealous husband shot to death his wife, her daughter by a former husband, her aged mother, and her brother, and then shot himself. The aged father and a young girl alone of all the family were spared.

—President McKinley has given a ten days’ reprieve to the Borrego murderers, of Santa Fe, N. M., in order that he may personally investigate the circumstances and evidence. The prisoners were on their way to the gallows when the notice of reprieve was handed to the sheriff.

—Five children of Frank Penrod, of Laddsdale, Iowa, were burned to death on the night of March 23, while the parents were attending church. On the same night, at Paradise Ridge, Tennessee, a whole family, consisting of five members, were cremated in their burning home.

—On March 22 the police of San Francisco made another raid on Chinatown, this time for the purpose of capturing and deporting Chinese slave girls illegally imported into the United States for immoral purposes. Sixty suspects were arrested, many of whom will be sent out of the country.

—On the morning of March 22 a terrible cyclone visited the valley of the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, leaving death and desolation in its path. The town of Blakely was almost lifted out of existence. A large school building in the town of Arlington, in which school was in session, was completely wrecked. Both of the instructors were so badly injured that they can not live. Eight children were killed outright, a number fatally hurt, and many more severely injured. The storm continued its destructive course for many miles, and in many places the devastation it began was completed by a disastrous flood which followed.