p. 14 | News and Notes

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 4, 1897

News and Notes

FOREIGN.

—Field Marshal Count Yamagata has been appointed by the mikado to represent the Japanese nation at Queen Victoria’s jubilee.

—Baron Edmond de Rothschild is establishing another colony in Palestine, not far from Damascus. The district selected covers 3,000 acres.

—Advices from Jamaica report a serious railroad accident in the Barbadoes, in which a train plunged over a precipice, killing a large number of passengers.

—Sir Isaac Pitman, the inventor of the Pitman system of shorthand writing, died in London on January 22, at the age of 84. He was knighted by the queen in 1894.

—China has ordered in all eleven armored cruisers and torpedo destroyers, and intends to order four more large cruisers next spring. These will be built by a German firm.

—Plans are being laid this year for six polar expeditions, three to the north and three to the south pole. Herr Andree will again attempt a balloon voyage across the north pole.

—The island of Kishma, in the Persian Gulf, was recently visited by an earthquake, which destroyed the lives of more than one-third of the entire population. So far 1,400 bodies of victims have been recovered.

—Prof. Mara Glaino, of Genoa, Italy, claims to have discovered a serum which, when injected into the system, will cure all but the most advanced cases of consumption, and will arrest the progress of the disease even in cases of long standing.

—The Italian Government has decided to abandon the entire territory of Erythrea, in Abyssinia, except Massowa; and it is reported that the question of continuing the occupation of any part of King Menelik’s domain will be made an issue of the coming elections.

—Reports from Madrid state that harrowing distress prevails in Andalusia province, Spain. The people are plundering bread shops and thousands are begging in the streets. The recent storms in Spain threaten floods in various parts of the country.

—The steamer Gaelic, which reached San Francisco, January 23, reports a shocking calamity in a Chinese theater at Kwangtow, in which 300 persons, including men, women, and children, were caught in the burning building and trampled and burned to death.

—The continued seismic disturbances in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico, are causing much excitement and alarm. Scientific men think that a volcano is forming in the hills, while on the coast submarine explosions are continually sending huge waves upon the shore.

—Mr. Akiyama, second secretary of the Japanese Legation at St. Petersburg, while visiting New York picked up a Bible in his room at the Sturtevant House, read it, became converted to Christianity, was baptized, and is now on his way to Japan to tell what he has found.

—A Cape Town despatch of January 23 reports that Rhodesia, South Africa, is suffering a famine. Natives have been exhuming and devouring the bodies of cattle which died several months ago from the rinderpest. As a consequence a terrible mortality prevails among them.

—The new armored cruiser, Terrible, which has recently been added to the English navy, is said to be the most formidable vessel of her class in the world. The vessel is 500 feet long, is well protected, and carries a heavy armament. The cost of this floating fortress was $4,000,000.

—Funds for famine-stricken and plague-stricken India are being collected in nearly every country in the world; but the donations in general are small. The Empress of India, Queen Victoria, sent from her immense store of wealth but £500. William Waldorf Astor quadrupled this amount.

—It is reported that Russia has finally consented to allow force to be brought to bear upon the sultan, if necessary, to secure the introduction of reforms in Turkey, but that this consent was not obtained until the part which Russia was to play in the operation had been fully conceded by Great Britain.

—A despatch from Odessa states that Russia is making extensive and rapid preparations for war. Her activity in this direction is said to have been equaled only during the periods immediately preceding the last two great wars. This is significant in view of her recent agreement to assist in forcing reforms in Turkey.

—Emperor William, regretting the course he took in 1889 in endeavoring to reconcile the individual workingmen, is going back to a policy of restriction and repression of liberal ideas, especially socialism; and laws will be enacted touching political organizations, rights of meeting, and the criticisms of the press, which it is claimed will be severer than those obtaining during the period of the Bismarck regime. And hence we will see a revival of the Socialistic and Nihilistic propagandas.

—Major Fondevielle, frequently referred to as “Weyler’s assistant butcher,” narrowly escaped capture and consequent retribution, at the hands of Captain Welche’s Texan band, on January 20. He was knocked from his horse, and was being tied to a Cuban saddle-horse when reenforcements arrived. Ten of Fondevielle’s body-guard and five of Welche’s band were killed.

—Prof. Otto Burke, an aeronaut of long experience, has completed negotiations with the Cuban Junta for conducting the aeronautic operations of the insurgent army. His two predecessors in this risky service were captured by the Spaniards and shot, their balloons having been pierced by rifle-balls. Prof. Burke’s balloon will be bullet-proof and will be surrounded by a number of flounces which will act as parachutes when the aeronaut descends.

—The Indian plague shows no signs of abating. The Russian minister of the interior has declared the whole of India infected with the dread disease. Fresh outbreaks are reported from various provinces. Dr. Yersin has discovered a serum which it is claimed will do effective work in fighting the bubonic scourge. Twenty-three out of twenty-seven inoculated with the serum were saved. The London relief fund has now reached the sum of $750,000.

—From Cuba during the past week we have the following: A Cuban hospital in the Siguanea Mountains was captured by the Spaniards, and nurses, members of the Red Cross, and sick and wounded soldiers, were all put to the bayonet, and the hospital was then burned down over the dying inmates. A bold but unsuccessful attempt was made by the Cubans to capture General Weyler, in which a score of his body-guards were killed and wounded. Spanish soldiers poisoned a well in a Cuban village, expecting to put an end to a Cuban regiment. Another company of Spaniards entered the village, drank the water, and a large number died. The enraged survivors shot the principal residents, and burned the town, afterwards learning that their comrades were responsible for the deed. A Spanish gunboat anchored near the shore was attacked by the Cubans at night and captured, together with a large quantity of ammunition, rifles, and two quick-firing cannon. A Spanish fort in Santa Clara province was captured by the Cubans, with a loss to the Spanish of 75 killed and 30 taken prisoners. Smallpox is epidemic at Havana, with a death rate of 35 per cent. Gen. Calixto Garcia captured the town of El Caney, near Havana. The fight lasted two days and the Spanish loss was 200 men. Soon after the same general met and routed a Spanish column of 2,000. Two expeditions have landed in Cuba with arms and ammunition. General Weyler reports two engagements with the insurgents in which the latter were completely beaten. He also reports the almost complete pacification of the western division of Cuba. Colonel Rotger, one of Spain’s most cruel guerrilla leaders, was led into ambush by the Cubans on January 22, and lost 130 of his men. The leader himself was wounded.

DOMESTIC.

—Sandusky, Ohio, had a $100,000 fire on January 23.

—New York was visited by a $70,000 fire on January 26.

—The whole business portion of Pacific Junction, Iowa, was destroyed by fire on January 26. The amount of loss is unknown.

—A withdrawal of $30,000 from the First National Bank of Tacoma, Wash., caused that institution to close its doors on January 26.

—Fire destroyed the factory of the Northwestern Stove Repair Company at Chicago on January 24. The estimated loss is over $400,000.

—The Burlington and Missouri River coach shop at Plattsmouth, Neb., was burned on the night of January 25. The loss is placed at $150,000.

—The New York Assembly has appointed a committee to investigate the subject of trusts, and report remedial legislation before March 1, 1897.

—On January 23 the Government of the United States entered suit in the Federal Court of Omaha for the foreclosure of its lien on the Union Pacific Railway.

—A young Cuban aeronaut, who was practising with his balloon near Key West, Fla., fell with the balloon into the ocean on January 24, and was drowned.

—The three-masted schooner Nahum Chapin went aground at Quogue, L. I., on January 21, and her entire crew of seven, with the captain’s wife and child, were lost.

—On January 22 Congress passed a bill to pension the survivors, or widows of survivors, of Grant’s battalion of Arkansas volunteers who served in the Mexican War.

—The Watsonville beet sugar factory, near Santa Cruz, Cal., produced during the present season 18,881 tons of sugar, the largest output for one season from any factory in the world.

—Sixteen acres of land in the city of Los Angeles, Cal., have been deeded to seven trustees for the establishment of a Christian home for indigent women, homeless children, and worn-out Christian workers. The institution will be known as the Carlisle Christian Home, in honor of the founder, S. B. Carlisle.

—Melville W. Fuller and Justice Brewer have been named as commissioners to serve on the arbitration tribunal to determine the boundary line between British Guiana and Venezuela.

—Another attempt is soon to be made to effect a union between the two factions of the Salvation Army. General Booth is planning another visit to this country with that object in view.

—By a recent decision of the Supreme Court of Maryland the Congregational Church Building Society will receive $300,000, which will be used chiefly to develop the work in large cities.

—The Senate Committee on Post-offices held a second hearing on the Loud Postal Bill on January 23, and listened to earnest protests against its passage from representatives of a number of publishing firms.

—The people of Colorado are rejoicing over the reported termination of the great Leadville strike. Part of the members of the labor union have cut loose from the dictation of their leaders, and will resume work.

—Three masked men held up a train on the Southern Railway, near Birmingham, Alabama, on the night of January 21, uncoupled the baggage car, broke it open, and robbed it. The train was delayed but twelve minutes by the occurrence.

—Dairy and Dryman, two young Kentuckians, rivals for the affections of the same young lady, fought a duel over the matter on January 21, the object of their affections being an unwilling witness to the scene. Both fell at the first fire and died soon after.

—The American gunboat Mechias arrived at Bangkok, Siam, on January 23, having been ordered there on account of an attack made by the Siamese soldiers on Vice-Consul General Barrett. An apology has been demanded, and Siam may be asked to salute the American flag.

—On January 22 Mr. Olney transmitted to Congress a list of the claims filed by United States citizens against the Spanish Government, on account of personal injuries received, arrest and imprisonment, and property losses, in the island of Cuba. These claims amount to $8,943,408.

—On the morning of January 26 the city of Philadelphia was visited by one of the most destructive conflagrations of recent years. The buildings occupied by a number of large manufacturing firms were completely destroyed, together with their contents. The loss is estimated at $2,500,000.

—Dr. Thomas Powell, of Los Angeles, Cal., claims to have discovered a preparation by which he can render himself proof against the most virulent diseases. He has demonstrated his claim in regard to tuberculosis, and now proposes to submit to inoculation with the germs of all contagious diseases, not even excluding leprosy.

—As a result of the Harbor and Coast Defense Convention recently held at Tampa, Florida, a National Defense Association has been organized. This association will work for improvements in the army, an increase in the militia of the several States and in the naval reserve, and a general extension of the naval and coast defenses of the nation.

—Sixteen American sailors who were engaged in killing seals on the Siberian coast were captured in January, 1896, thrown into a dungeon, and sentenced to five months’ imprisonment. At the close of their term they were tried over again and sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment. They expect to be sentenced again when their present term expires.

—At the Transmississippi Exposition to be held at Omaha from June to November, 1898, there will be a “silver palace” 400 feet square, surmounted by mammoth ornamental towers, and the entire structure will be covered with rolled silver. There will be over 300,000 square feet to be plated in this manner. This and much more is told us by the Omaha Daily Bee of January 16.

—During the week ending January 22 there were 429 business failures in the United States, or 49 less than during the previous week. Dunn’s Weekly Review states that there is more business being done, although prices do not increase, than during the past few weeks. The demand from manufacturers for wool is increasing, and hopes are entertained that prices will soon advance.

—During the past week the northern, middle, and eastern States have been experiencing a spell of very cold weather, which in most of the States was rendered more biting by a high wind. In the large cities much suffering was reported among the poorer class who were unable to protect themselves against the rigor of the blast. Railway travel was impeded on a number of lines, and great numbers of cattle on the plains died from the effects of the cold.

—As a result of the continued jealousy and war between the two factions of Chinese highbinders in San Francisco, Fong Ching, familiarly known as “Little Pete,” the leader of the Sam Yup faction, was murdered on the night of January 23. Fong Ching was a wealthy Chinese, and the power which he exercised in “Chinatown” was recognized and feared by all his enemies. Other prominent Chinese are marked for death by the “hatchet men,” and the Mongolian element of the whole Pacific Coast is in consequent feverish excitement.