NEWS AND NOTES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 16, 1896

FOREIGN.

—A Russian paper states that Japan has offered free and unlimited anchorage in her harbors to Russian vessels. It is added that this move is believed to be made to divert Russia’s attention from Korea.

—Advices from Persia state that two severe earthquakes have recently visited that country with disastrous effects. In the Khalkhal district several villages were destroyed on January 2, entailing a loss of life of 300. On January 5 the larger town of Goi was destroyed, besides several other villages. It is stated that 800 persons perished in Goi.

—Brazil, it seems, refuses to arbitrate the trouble between herself and Great Britain over Trinidad Island, possession of which was taken some months since by the latter country for a coaling and cable station. The refusal of Brazil is because she knows the island belongs to her, consequently there is nothing to arbitrate. This argument is the same one used by England regarding the Schomburgk line in the Venezuela dispute.

—A balloon fitted with automatic instruments was sent up recently in Paris, and came down safely, says an exchange. The instrument showed that it had risen to 56,000 feet, or over ten and a half miles. At that height the temperature outside the balloon was 102 degrees below zero, while inside it was 12 degrees above. The apparatus for taking in a sample of the air seems to have worked satisfactorily, but the result will not be known until the analysis of its contents is made in M. Berthelot’s laboratory.

—With her other troubles, Venezuela has been threatened with a revolution to overthrow President Crespo. A despatch from New York states, however, that General Monagas, head of the revolutionist party, has returned to that city with the announcement that his men are not only willing, after learning that President Cleveland had taken up the boundary matter, to postpone their efforts against the present Venezuelan Government, but to take up arms with their countrymen against England. In the meantime, forces are being prepared by President Crespo to repel any further demonstration of England on the frontier.

—If reports from Costa Rica are correct, General Antonio Ezeta, of San Salvador fame, has been arrested at that place with his band of filibusters. The general has been in exile since the revolution in which he played a prominent part, making San Francisco his stopping place. It will be remembered that efforts to extradite him failed a few months ago. A short time ago his threats to invade San Salvador took shape by his departure, and it is said that he has with him about one hundred and sixty Mexicans and cowboys. He possibly has sympathizers, but all the governments of Central America are against him, and promise to stand by San Salvador in capturing him.

—The Cuban situation remains practically unchanged. One or two heavy engagements are reported, with Spanish victories. The wholesale slaughter claimed by the Spanish troops must be taken, however, with a grain of moderation, when the strict censorship of press and cable is called to mind. In fact, it is quite evident that the great victories claimed by Campo’s forces, with heavy losses of the enemy, have in effect utterly failed thus far to quell the insurrection. A published letter from a private citizen discloses the probable true facts, that where hundreds of the enemy were reported slain by the Spanish, only a half dozen were killed.

—The absorbing topic during the week has been the trouble between England and the South African Republic, or Transvaal, and the various complications growing out of that affair. News of the most meager sort have come from South Africa, due to the fact that the cables are in the hands of Great Britain. The situation is admitted to be critical, but still it is too early to prophesy war. Cecil Rhodes, premier of Cape Colony, has resigned, and Sir Gordon Sprigg has been appointed in his place. As to Jameson, the most reliable news to date is that the governor of Natal has proceeded to Pretoria to confer with Sir Hercules Robinson concerning the proposition to pass Jameson and his followers through that state en route for England, where he will receive trial. Several war ships have been despatched by England to Delagoa Bay via Suez, and a surprising naval demonstration is being made by that power. Germany still maintains her stand as sympathizer with President Krueger, and France and Russia look approvingly on. Portugal has been warned by Great Britain to keep troops and vessels away from Delagoa Bay, but one war ship has already been ordered there by that small power. In fact, it now looks as though England, with her various woes, must stand alone, or come into an alliance of the powers on their own terms. Such an understanding would doubtless affect the situation in Turkey, where England now is really the power in the way.

DOMESTIC.

—On January 4 an express train ran into an open switch at Chillicothe, O., and collided with a freight train on the side track. Five persons were killed in the wreck.

—A decision just rendered by Judge Shiras, of Iowa, in the Federal Court at Omaha, states in effect that Indians admitted to full citizenship can not lease reservation lands, but that treaty stipulations with the government over such lands still hold good so far as the government is concerned.

—Bartholomew Shea, condemned to suffer death by electrocution, at Dannemora Prison, N. Y., for the murder of Robert Ross in an election row, has been saved from the chair of death by the confession of a prison mate by the name of McGough. The latter was in the same fight, and was serving a long term for assault on the brother of the murdered man. His confession of the murder came two days before Shea was to die.

—A call has been made by Secretary Carlisle for popular bids on a government issue of $100,000,000 of four per cent. thirty-year bonds, bids to be in sums of $50 or multiples thereof, and all to be in by February 5. The issue is proposed for February 1. This call puts a new feature on the talk that the loan must go to a syndicate again. It is generally believed that bonds to any amount can be placed in this country among the people, instead of going to a syndicate that will ask say ten million dollars for its services.

—A “mind reader” of more or less fame at Los Angeles, Cal., announced that he would die, be buried, and come to life in thirty days. The day arrived, a committee of his followers was on hand, and the professor died, that is, he threw himself into a trance. But, strange to say, his pulse remained about normal, and the committee had less faith in him than in a bill for manslaughter, consequently he was slapped to life again after a comfortable sleep of two days. If there is anything at once most common and most wonderful, it is the apparent relish with which multitudes relinquish themselves to humbugs.

—On January 6 the inaugural exercises of the state of Utah were held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle. In his address Governor Wells stated that old animosities were forgotten, and as illustrating the point referred to the fact that on the same platform were the first governor of the state, a Mormon born and bred, and Chief Justice Zane, of the Supreme Court of Utah, who had as a United States Judge in the past sentenced hundreds of Mormons to the penitentiary. Balloting for U. S. senators will take place January 21. Considerable interest attaches to these additions to the Senate, as they will undoubtedly be silver men, and consequently add to the strength of the bimetallists in Congress.

—The government has accepted three more coast defense dynamite guns. These are located at San Francisco, and were recently tested, and, as a report stated, successfully threw projectiles containing 500 pounds of explosive a distance of 5,000 yards, “producing a terrific effect in the water” at the point aimed at. The point in the water, by the way, is a space about three hundred feet square, marked off on a chart of the gate, and the range is determined by operators with instruments at different points. Naval men, however, are inclined to believe that the guns may not be so effective in actual warfare as in practice, as war vessels with long-range cannon can easily lie out of range of the dynamite guns, and still do severe work. It is also claimed that swift torpedo destroyers can dodge the shot from the coast defenses, as the ball moves in a high curve, comparatively slow. However, it is stated that several other cities will now be defended by these huge guns, as they have proved satisfactory (in target practice) in New York and San Francisco.