NEWS AND NOTES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 10, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 40.

SINCE OUR LAST ISSUE.

FOREIGN.

—Prof. Louis Pasteur, the eminent bacteriologist, scientist, etc., died September 28, at Paris.

—A despatch says that an understanding has been reached in Guatemala to oppose any efforts at coercing a union with Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras.

—A letter addressed by Emperor William of Germany to the czar is causing considerable comment in diplomatic circles. It was presented by Chancellor Hohenlohe, and is said to relate to affairs in the east.

—The speculation craze in England and France has now for its object the South African Company, whose stock has been boomed fabulously. It is believed to be a second East India bubble, and conservative men are looking for it to burst soon.

—Following closely on the news of the sinking of the Spanish gunboat, Barcastegui, noted a few weeks since, comes the report that another cruiser, the Cristobal Colon, was driven on the reefs by a tornado, off the western extremity of Cuba, and became a total wreck.

—A telephone newspaper has been in operation in Pesth, Hungary, for two years. The “paper” has 6,000 subscribers, who receive the carefully edited news and various articles by telephone. During intervals when no news is coming in, subscribers are entertained by music, operas, instrumental concerts, etc. The enterprise is pronounced a success.

—A despatch from Cuba states that the Cuban provincial delegates have met and formally declared their independence from Spain. A permanent government has been formed, with Salvador Cisneros, president. Other officials were also elected. Maximo Gomez is general-in-chief, and Antonio Maceo, lieutenant general. Letters from the island state that the plantations present a desolate scene of ruin, and that famine is before the island at the present rate of devastation.

—Within the last few days serious riots have taken place in Constantinople, the alleged offenders being the Armenians. The conflicts occurred between the police and the latter class, who attempted to present a petition to the grand vizier asking for the prompt enforcement of promised reforms in Armenia. Reports vary, but it is believed that nearly two hundred persons were killed, a few of them police. U. S. Minister Terrell has sided with the Porte, stating that the uprising was instigated by Armenian fanatics. This attitude of the Minister is of course deplored by Armenian sympathizers in this country. From various reports, it is evident that the Armenian cause has not profited any in European countries by this present affair in Constantinople.

DOMESTIC.

—One of the three torpedo boats for the U. S. Navy will be built by a Seattle, Wash., firm.

—On October 3 a fire in Warren, R. I., destroyed three large cotton mills, at a loss of $1,000,000.

—Six men were killed in a quarry near Independence, Mo., September 30, by the premature discharge of a blast.

—The thirty-sixth triennial convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States is in session at Minneapolis.

—The University of Chicago has just received a gift of $250,000 from Mrs. Mary Reynolds, a resident of Chicago, lately deceased.

—The U. S. armored cruiser Brooklyn was launched at Philadelphia, October 2. This vessel is 460 feet long, 20 feet longer than the New York.

—The ocean steamship St. Paul developed an average speed of twenty and one-half knots in a trial October 4. This places her in the auxiliary cruiser class.

—Hjalmar Hjorth Boyeson, professor of Germanic languages at Columbia College, and widely known as a popular writer, died suddenly in New York, October 4.

—On October 5, 18,824 pounds of salted fur sealskins in casks were shipped from Seattle to London. The lowest figure at which they were released was fifty cents per pound.

—In view of the numerous lynchings that have recently taken place in this state, and the apparent public sympathy in certain localities with the lynchers, Governor Budd has determined to make an effort to stop such lawlessness. As a starter, a reward of $500 in each of the cases has been offered for the apprehension and conviction of the lynchers.

—The engines of the new San Joaquin Valley Railroad, of this state, were fired up and moved, with cars, for the first time on October 2, at Stockton, amid a great demonstration by the residents.

—A despatch says that many orchard trees in North Coloma, Mich., have been forced into blossom by the heat from the forest fires that have been burning in that vicinity during the past few weeks.

—A large opium joint has just been discovered in Toledo, O., run by a well-known Chinaman. It is said that the place was patronized by young business men, politicians, and even by daughters of many leading families of the city.

—Gen. Nelson A. Miles, senior ranking officer of the U. S. A., has been detailed by Secretary Lamont as Commanding General of the army, vice General Schofield, who has retired. General Miles is not a graduate of West Point, but won his spurs in active service, from the ranks up.

—The Legislature of Texas on October 2 rushed through a law making prize fighting within the limits of that state a felony. This action causes consternation among the sporting element, who had arranged a match to take place at Dallas. Great rejoicing, however, pervades among the better class of citizens.

—The United States Tobacco Journal bemoans the fact that the increased demand for the bicycle has caused a decrease of 700,000,000 cigars from the regular consumption, the reason being that few wheelmen smoke while riding. It may be the increased demand for cigarettes has made inroads on its trade, as well.

—A report to the Department of State from U. S. Consul Bigelow, at Rouen, is to the effect that the world’s product of wool has diminished during the last year. Not only has the quantity decreased, but quality as well, owing to the fact that the high prices for meat have resulted in raising sheep for that purpose rather than for wool.

—A “Wild West” show that exhibited at Liverpool, O., recently, inspired several small boys to deeds of terror. Accordingly they tied one of their number to a tree and built a fire around him. They became frightened and left him to the flames. The lad was rescued by neighbors, but he was so terribly burned it is thought he can not live. The devil is abroad right merrily.

—The mayor of Argentine, Kans., has discharged every officer of the town except the city marshal, closed the Fire Department, arranged to sell the horses and equipage, and it is announced that the electric-light plant will also die soon. All this because of the closing down of thirty saloons by the prohibition law of the state. From these saloons the city derived a revenue of $750 per month, and its lifeblood ceased to flow when the income was cut off. The city should try again, on a healthy basis.