NEWS AND NOTES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 23, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 17.

FOREIGN

—It is stated that a congress of leading Mohammedans will be assembled some time during the present year, to discuss means for reuniting Islam, and how to guard against the encroachments of Christianity and the advance of Christian nations on the lands of Islam.

—Information says that the Japanese are going to commemorate their victory in the late Chinese war by erecting a statue to Buddha 120 feet high. The metal is to be supplied from ordnance captured in battle, and the whole monument will cost about 1,000,000 yen. It will be erected at Kioto.

—England’s advance on the Soudan has not developed materially in reliable information during the week. The determination seems to be unaltered to push the Dervishes as rapidly as possible. It is announced that troops have been ordered from India to assist in the campaign, which progresses slowly, owing to difficulties to be overcome in transportation.

—The uprising of the Matabeles in South Africa is a live topic for Great Britain, coupled with the hostile attitude of the Boers. The whites in the vicinity of Bulawayo, the capital city of Matabeleland, have rushed to that place for protection, and from all accounts the situation is critical, as the garrison is less than a thousand strong, while the place is surrounded by Matabeles numbering, according to estimate, from 15,000 to 18,000, and all well armed. The natives are said to be led by a son of the noted Lobengula, who was killed about two years ago.

—Another great victory has been won by the Cubans under Maceo. Just how many were killed on either side is not known definitely, but the fact that dispatches announcing a Spanish defeat were permitted to pass the censor, is evidence of a serious loss. The battle occurred near L’eh uza, in northwestern Cuba, between the Alfonso XIII. battalion, under Colonel Debos, and the Cubans under Maceo, as stated, and was of about nine hours’ duration, during which time the Spaniards were driven to the coast, where they received assistance from the Spanish gunboat Alerta. The interested are now waiting to see how effective General Weyler’s latest move will be, which consists of a “trocha,” or continuous fortified line across the island. This “dead line” is defended by over 20,000 men, and is designed to keep separate Gomez’ and Maceo’s forces. From past events, no one outside the island looks for any check to the insurgents in this direction.

DOMESTIC

—A third mine accident in Montana within ten days occurred near Anaconda, April 18. A powder explosion in the Broadwater mine killed six men and wounded sixteen.

—The Bering Sea arbitration treaty has been approved by the Senate. It remains now for England to consent to a few amendments, when commissioners will be appointed to settle the fisheries disputes.

—Two professors of Bennett College, Chicago, claim to have made the discovery, by actual tests, that the Roentgen rays kill the bacilli of cholera, diphtheria, typhoid fever, and one or two other diseases. If this proves to be substantiated by further tests, a revolution in the practice of medicine is certainly in sight.

—Rev. W. N. Cleveland, pastor of the Chaumont Presbyterian Church, at Watertown, N. Y., and brother of President Cleveland, has been removed from his charge. The charges brought against him are that his political tendencies show unpleasantly in his discourses. He is the same gentleman whose accusations against certain public officials brought him into trouble some months ago.

—The government has let a contract for carrying mail from Juneau to Circle City, Alaska. The distance between the two places is 900 miles, and six round trips a year will be made, for which the contractor receives $500 a trip. As it is estimated that only about five hundred letters will be carried, and only two cents postage will be charged, the Postal Department will lose ninety-eight cents on each letter. This will be the northernmost post office on the continent.

—Skepticism grows apace, and shows itself in high places. The congregation of Plymouth Church, New York, is somewhat amazed at the words of its pastor, Dr. Lyman Abbott, who openly disavowed his belief in the miracles of the Bible, on April 12. Even that central point, the death and resurrection of Christ, is treated as a case of suspended animation. In that event, according to the doctor’s theology, or philosophy, he is yet in his sins,—mankind has had no Redeemer. What is to become of the flock, led into such byways and wastes as this!

—Reports from Alaska state that already there is much suffering among those who have rushed into the country expecting to make quick fortunes in the gold regions. This was to be expected by any one who has noted the makeup of various expeditions that have hurriedly fitted out for the gold fields. Gold fields and routes look entirely different when studied in a pleasant home than do barren stretches of mountain and week after week of tramping in cold and heat when seen in the bleak reality. Then, with funds gone, homesickness has a golden harvest. It seems to be the old story that accompanies the gold fever over again.

—A peculiar experiment was recently made with the phonograph by the manager of a western pumping works. The pumps were out of order, and it was believed that it would be necessary to call an expert from the east, at great expense, to locate the difficulty. But an idea came to the manager, and a phonograph was procured, and what seemed to be the trouble with the pump was talked into it, then the receiver was placed near the machinery, and all the sounds of its working recorded. The roll was forwarded, the experts heard the description, listened to the action of the diseased pump, and were readily enabled to suggest the proper remedy.

—An important decision has just been rendered by Judge Payne, of Harvey, Ill. It seems that a proviso accompanies all title deeds in the place that no liquor shall be sold forever on the property. But a saloon was opened, only to be closed by an injunction gotten out by the lady editor of the Harvey Citizen. The suit that followed lasted over a year, resulting in the granting of a permanent injunction in the city. The saloon men will carry the case to the Supreme Court, and, in the meantime, it is stated their plans include the defeat of any temperance men who may be nominated for judges of that body, a scheme that has been successfully worked in the past.