THE RECORD OF 1873 by G. W. A.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 27, 1874

THE RECORD OF 1873.

By G. W. A.

In opening a new year, it seems fitting that a daily journal, which has laid before its readers events as they have occurred during the year that is gone, should give a brief summary of the most important of these events, so that those who watch the signs of the times may see when real progress has been made, or when there has been a retrograde movement, and thus note the tendency of the age, and learn by what means the interests of humanity may be advanced, and the evil that impends may be averted.

POLITICAL EVENTS.

When the year 1873 began, the 42d Congress was holding its last session. The principal topic of interest was the investigation of the Credit Mobilier scandal, which was instituted on a motion of Speaker Blaine. The extortion of railway managers, and the growing importance of cheap and abundant means of carriage from the West to the sea-board, have made the question of transportation of national importance. In view of this fact, the Senate appointed a Special Committee, with Senator Windom of Minnesota as Chairman, to visit various parts of the country and take testimony as to the needs of the country and the most judicious remedy to be applied. Several transportation societies have been organized, in connection with which the wonderful growth of an organization called the Patrons of Husbandry, may be noticed.

During the past year, a very satisfactory state of quietude has prevailed in the South. The results of the election of 1872 seemed to settle the questions growing out of the war.

In the Dominion of Canada there has been a complete overturn in political parties. During the year, the Province of Prince Edward Island has been joined to the Dominion.

The Gladstone Ministry in Great Britain still retains its ascendency, though its majority has been diminished by death and new elections. The Ministry carried through the Geneva Award, and, in August, paid over to the United States $15,500,000 on account of the Alabama claims. Early in the year, a feeling of temporary bitterness existed between England and Germany and Russia, growing out of the eastern question; but it soon subsided. Aside from a war with the Ashantees on the gold coast, Great Britain is at peace. During the year, her agents effected a treaty with Zanzibar to prevent the slave trade. The East India Company, after an existence of 273 years, was dissolved by Parliament.

In France, there has been a continual conflict between the several factions of the Monarchists and the Republicans. The Assembly still contains a majority of Monarchists. Some changes in the cabinet of President Thiers aroused the suspicions of the Monarchists, and accordingly, the assembly demanded to know the policy of the Ministry. Thiers met his questioners half way, and declared himself in favor of the definite establishment of the Republic. Thereupon, an order was adopted declaring that the present form of government was not under discussion, and expressing a virtual want of confidence in Thiers and his ministers by a vote of 360 to 344. Thiers and his cabinet at once resigned, and Marshal MacMahon was elected and formed an anti-Republican cabinet. Since that time, the Monarchists have been plotting to overthrow the Republic, declare a Monarchy, and enthrone the Bourbon Count de Chambord. The Orleanists do not warmly favor, and the Bonapartists oppose the Chambord movement, so that it has proved a failure. Meanwhile, the Republicans have carried nearly every election since the overthrow of Thiers.

On February 11, King Amadeus of Spain announced his abdication of the throne to the Cortes, and a Republic succeeded without tumult. Since that time, the situation of the new Republic has been critical, on account of divided counsels and the opposition of the church and Monarchist party.

Germany has been securing the results of her victory over France, and altogether appears to feel its importance as the first power of Europe. The principal subject of general importance is the conflict between the pope and the emperor William respecting the rights of each in the State.

The Italian government has not only maintained its hostile attitude toward the claims of the pope for temporal power, but has asserted its authority by abolishing a large number of religious corporations which were inimical to the State in that they did not recognize its authority over them in any way. There seems to be a disposition on the part of Germany and Austria to support Italy in the exercise of its rights as a government, and to resist the intervention of any power in behalf of the restoration of the temporal authority of the successor of St. Peter. Switzerland has been engaged in a conflict with the authority of the pope, which has resulted in the expulsion of the ultramontane bishops from that country.

Russia has begun a war with Khiva during the year, subdued that country, and extorted from its rulers pledges that they will not again trouble the dependencies of Russia in Asia. The movement of Russia in the East attracted the jealous eye of England, and, early in the summer, ill-omened prophets announced a war cloud; but after some correspondence, the British government retired from the field of diplomacy.

Mexico has enjoyed a tranquil year, and its Congress has declared for religious liberty and the legality of civil marriages. The government has issued a decree banishing the Jesuits from its soil.

The republics of Central America and the West Indies have continued in their normal condition of revolts and revolutions.

South America has been, in general, tranquil.

NOTABLE EVENTS.

Having briefly sketched the principal political events which mark the progress of nations in a general way, we next proceed to notice the most notable events of the year.

In New York, it appears that there is such a thing as justice. Foster, the car hook murderer, has been hanged, and one jury found Stokes guilty of murder, but a new trial being granted, under the new law of that State, he was found guilty of manslaughter, and sentenced to State Prison. Tweed, who so long defied courts of justice, is now clad in the convict’s stripes at Blackwell’s Island.

The International Exposition at Vienna, was opened May 1. The season was unfavorable, and a monetary crisis occurring in Vienna at the same time on account of the vitiated currency of Austria and the ruinous spirit of speculation, the exhibition was not a financial success, and closed after a run of three months, leaving a heavy debt for the Austrian government to pay.

The centennial commission has, during the year, perfected its plans for an industrial exhibition at Philadelphia, on our national centennial in 1876. The plans announced indicate that the exhibition will be of magnificent proportions.

In our own country, we have had the Modoc war, which resulted in the capture and hanging of Capt. Jack and was the conclusion of that trouble.

On Sept. 19, the suspension of Jay Cooke & Co., the well-known bankers, was announced. Within a day or two, this suspension was followed by several others in New York, largely dealers in railroad bonds. The country became alarmed, and a financial panic followed that promised to prostrate business throughout the country.

Early in November, the steamer Virginius

sailing on the high seas under the flag of the United States, near Santiago de Cuba, was seized by a Spanish man-of-war, taken to that port, the crew and passengers tried and condemned as pirates and a number of them shot. Our Government demanded and received the surrender of the vessel to the United States. The surviving prisoners were also surrendered.

May 10, Capt. Tyson with eighteen of the survivors of Capt. Hall’s Arctic Expedition arrived at New Foundland. The party had been landed from the Polaris, which left them in a storm, Oct. 15, 1872. They brought the intelligence of the death of Capt. Hall of paralysis, Nov. 8, 1871. Capt. Tyson’s party drifted 1500 miles on an ice floe, from which they were taken by the Tigress. The Polaris reached the latitude of 82 degrees and 16 minutes. The balance of the Polaris crew was rescued by a whaling ship, July 20, 1872, near Cape York, and taken to Scotland. This party were in boats made of the remnants of the Polaris.

After twenty years effort, the Hoosac Tunnel pierced the mountain, Nov. 27.

The growth of our manufactures, and the wonderful change that has taken place during the past year in the trade between this country and England, is important enough to be called a notable event. Our imports from that country have fallen off nearly fifty per cent, while our exports to the same have increased in a greater ratio, thus entirely changing the balance of trade.

A session of the World’s Evangelical Alliance was held in New York during the month of October. The assembly embraced many of the leading so-called Evangelical clergymen in the world, and its meetings were of great interest.

During the year, the Supreme Court of the State of New York has declared that municipal loans to railroads are unconstitutional.

The appearance of Asiatic cholera in the South-west created wide-spread alarm. It did not, however, spread beyond a town where it made its first appearance, and was in no case epidemic.

The yellow fever scourged several towns along the Mississippi river and in Texas, during the months of August and September. In Memphis and Shreveport, the suffering and panic have hardly been paralleled in this country.

OBITUARY.

The year 1873 has witnessed the death of an unusual number of illustrious men and women. Death has visited all walks of life, and from every one the spoiler has taken some of their foremost names.

Of royal personages, we note first and foremost the ex-Emperor Napoleon, whose death occurred the 9th of January. Charles, ex-Duke of Brunswick, died in August, the Emperor of Morocco in September, and King John of Saxony in October.

In Europe, the mortuary list embraces a few names of note in the diplomatic world like Signor Urbano Rattazzi of Italy, Count Bernstorff, German Ambassador to Great Britain, Lord Ossington, for fifteen years speaker of the British House of Commons, Sir Geo. E. Cartier, for many years a prominent Canadian political leader, and Gov. Howe of Nova Scotia.

In the ranks of science, the ravages of death would be great indeed if the mortuary list contained no other than the name of Louis Agassiz. To this illustrious name must be added those of Liebig, the great chemist, Professor Adam Sedgwick of England, Professor M. T. Maury and M. Jean Coste, the well-known French naturalist.

The Christian church mourn many eminent prelates and clergymen. The Rev. Dr. R. S. Storrs, senior, the Rev. Dr. Joel Parker of New York, the Rev. Dr. Gardiner Spring of New York, the Rev. Dr. Ferris, chancellor of the University of New Jersey, Bishop George M. Randall of Colorado, Bishop William E. Armitage of Wisconsin, and Vicar General Starrs, Roman Catholic, of New York, are the most notable losses of American churches.

The English church has lost Bishop Wilberforce and Ewing, and the Scottish church, Rev. Dr. Candlish. The Old Catholics have lost Dr. Munziger of Berne University. The highest Catholic prelate that has died within the year was the Cardinal Archbishop of Chambéry.

Among the leading authors who have died the past year, are John Stuart Mill, Lord Lytton, M. M. St. Marc Girardin, Amadee Thierny, Prof. Friedrich van Raumer, Charles Collins, John R. Thompson, and Caroline Cherebro’.

Art has lost Hiram Powers, Sir Edwin Landseer, Gustave Ricard, and a few others. The stage has lost William Charles Macready and Laura Keene.

CASUALTIES AND DISASTERS.

The year has been one that will long be remembered for the number of its marine accidents and the frightful loss of human life. The record of casualties growing out of carelessness in the use of steam, the working of mines and explosive materials, is a long one, and indicates that however otherwise the age is improving, it has made no progress in caring for human life. In noticing this part of the record of the year, it will be possible to give only a few of the more important occurrences:

During the night of January 22, the emigrant ship, Northfleet, bound for Australia, was run down by a Spanish steamer in the British channel, and over 400 persons drowned.

January 9, the U. S. steamer, Tuscarora, sunk in a storm, and the captain and 14 men were lost.

January 13, a terrible earthquake visited parts of India. In the city of Soonghur alone, 1500 perished.

February 1, 100 persons were frozen to death in England.

February 3, an earthquake began in the island of Samos and continued four days with great loss of life and property.

February 3, 20 persons were killed, and 40 injured, by boiler explosions in iron works in Pennsylvania.

February 15, by the burning of the steamer, Henry A. Jones, in Galveston Bay, 21 lives were lost.

February 27, at a fire in Hanover St., Boston, several persons were killed, and 17 seriously injured.

March 4, the Alaska mail steamer, George S. Wright, was lost with 23 persons on board.

Gov. Austin of Minnesota reports to the Legislature that 70 persons lost their lives by the snow storm of January 7, 8, and 9.

Four-fifths of the town of Lawrenceburg, Ky., was destroyed by fire, March 17.

March 22, forty-four acres of houses were destroyed in Hong Kong, China.

March 19, the city of San Salvador was absolutely destroyed by an earthquake, only one large building being left. The loss of life is estimated at about 500, and of property from $12,000,000 to $20,000,000.

April 1, the steamship Atlantic, of the White Star Line from Liverpool to New York, while attempting to put into Halifax, N. S., for a supply of coal, struck, while running at full speed, near Meagher’s Island, and in a few minutes became a total wreck. Of 957 persons on board, 535 were drowned.

April 8, the wall of a new building, at Rochester, N. Y., gave way and precipitated a crowd of persons into the Genesee river, 30 of whom were drowned.

May 2, three cars of the Portland Express on the Grand Trunk Railway jumped the track at Soinante, Canada, and 32 persons were injured.

May 4, at Dixon, Ill., an iron bridge, crowded with 300 persons witnessing a baptism, broke down, and nearly 100 lives were lost.

May 13, fifty-nine miners lost their lives by a mine explosion at the Drummond colliery, Westville, N. S.

May 30, a destructive fire occurred in Boston, burning over an area of five acres, incurring a loss of $1,291,000, on which there was an insurance of $763,000. Among the buildings destroyed were the Globe Theater, Chickering’s building, the International Hotel, and the Boston Library. Five lives were lost.

July 4, a severe storm prevailed in Ohio, Indiana, etc., doing immense damage to crops.

The steamship, City of Washington, from Liverpool to New York, struck on Gull Rock, N. S., and became a total loss. All the passengers were saved.

July 25, ten acres of the poorer portion of Baltimore were burned over. Loss, $1,800,000.

July 26, a disastrous fire occurred in Norfolk, Va. Loss, $275,000.

August 2, twenty-three blocks were burned at Portland, Oregon. Two hundred and fifty dwellings were burned, and the loss computed at $1,500,000.

August 8, the steamer, Wawassett, of Washington, burned near Acquia Creek. In the panic which occurred, seventy-five lives were lost.

August 15, a collision occurred on the Chicago and Alton Railroad near Lemont, Ill. Fourteen passengers were killed and thirty-two injured.

August 25, a train of the Southside Railroad, Long Island, ran off the track, injuring fifty passengers.

August 24, a very destructive gale took place off the coast of British North America. Two or three hundred vessels were badly injured, or wrecked, and at least three hundred lives lost. On the land, the destruction was prodigious; crops, barns, and houses were swept away. The loss must have been several million dollars.

Sept. 6, the Plaza Vapor, Havana, Cuba, and the entire square of buildings adjacent, were burned. Twenty lives were lost, and the loss of property was estimated at $8,000,000.

Thirty-seven villages were destroyed by floods in China, with many lives.

Sept. 20, the ship Indus, loaded with coolies, was lost near Calcutta, and four hundred and eighteen of them drowned.

Sept. 27, the town of Lampasas was flooded by the sudden rise of a creek, and 21 buildings swept away, and six persons drowned.

A terrible prairie fire swept over Salmie and Jefferson Counties, Nebraska, destroying many houses and much grain. Several persons were burned to death.

Oct. 6, a most destructive cyclone passed over the Gulf of Mexico, doing great damage to shipping and coast property.

Nov. 16, a fire at Haverhill, Mass., destroyed sixteen buildings, valued at $175,000. Two lives were lost.

Nov. 23, the steamship, Ville du Havre, collided with the ship Loch Earn at sea, and sunk in a few minutes. By the casualty, two hundred and twenty-six lives were lost.

The steamship, Ismailia, which sailed from New York in September, has not been heard from, and is probably lost.

[The foregoing record of the year 1873 is condensed from an elaborate article in the Maine State Press of Jan. 8, 1874. To those who note the “signs of the times,” it will be a useful compilation.

[G. W. A.]