SECULAR | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Nov 24, 1887

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 13, No. 45.

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SECULAR.

—Commissioner Sparks, of the General Land Office, has resigned.

—Little Rock, Ark., had a $350,000 fire on the morning of the 19th inst.

—On the 16th inst. fourteen men lost their lives by a colliery explosion at Creisenan, Germany.

—A railroad collision at Averill, Minn., a few days since, resulted in the death of five men.

—One or two small bands of Apache Indians are again committing depredations in the Sabinal Mountains.

—Judge Alfred Cowles died at San Diego, Cal., a few days since, at the age of 100 years, 3 months, and 14 days.

—One day last week Tompkinsville, the county seat of Monroe County, Ky., was almost entirely destroyed by fire.

—Orders have been issued by the War Department for the abandonment of Fort Canby at the mouth of the Columbia River.

—The British members of the Fisheries’ Commission have arrived in Washington, and were presented to the President on the 19th inst.

—A man with dynamite bombs in his possession was arrested at Greenock, Scotland, one day last week. He claimed to be a miner.

—The empress of Germany is suffering from paralysis of the lower jaw, and has been much affected by the condition of the Crown Prince.

—It is now claimed that the Atlanta, one of the recently-constructed cruisers, is practically worthless, being poorly arranged and unseaworthy.

—Fourteen men were seriously, and, it is feared, some of them fatally, burned by the explosion of gasoline in Philadelphia one day last week.

—It is announced that Rev. Dr. Francis L. Patten, professor of geology at Princeton College, will succeed Dr. McCosh as president of that institution.

—An amendment to the constitution of Rhode Island, abolishing the suffrage property qualification in that State, is to be submitted to the people next April.

—One day last week a steamer was burned on the Canton River, China, and about 400 lives were lost.

—A man died in New York on the 15th inst., from hydrophobia. He was bitten October 8 by a Newfoundland dog. The dog bit several other people and was finally shot.

—At Kansas City, Mo., on the 17th inst., two dynamite bombs were found under the steps of the city hall. When tested by the police, they both exploded with great force.

—A few days since, two Mormon missionaries were tarred and feathered by a mob near Calera, Alabama. They were ordered to leave the country, and threatened with death if they returned.

—Smoking within the bounds of the College Department of the University of Pennsylvania has been forbidden, and for the third offense a student so indicted will be reported to the provost.

—It is stated that the recent election in New York City cost the city and the candidates and their friends not less than $1,000,000. There were 333 candidates in the field for seventy-six offices.

—The second trial of John Arensdorf for the murder of Rev. Geo. C. Haddock is now in progress at Sioux City, Iowa. It is to be hoped that there will be no failure of justice in this important case.

—Five colored laborers were killed near Nashville, Tenn., one day last week by being buried under a mass of rocks and earth, loosened by an explosion of charges of dynamite in a side-cut on the road-bed.

—A special train of twenty cars loaded with raisins left Fresno, Cal., on the 16th inst., consigned to Rossiter & Co., New York. This is the first full train load of raisins ever shipped from the Pacific Coast.

—The important announcement has been made in Germany that, owing to the illness of the Crown Prince, Prince William will, by command of the emperor, represent his father in all future state ceremonials.

—San Diego, Cal., which has always suffered from a poor and insufficient water supply, is rejoicing because of the discovery there of an abundant supply of pure, soft, artesian water. One well has just been bored which flows 40,000 gallons per day.

—The most disastrous fire that ever visited Memphis, Tenn., occurred on the night of the 17th inst., and resulted in the complete destruction of 13,200 bales of cotton. Forty freight cars were also destroyed, besides considerable other property.

—It is feared that Editor O’Brien, the Irish agitator who made such a lively sensation in Canada some months ago, by speaking against Lord Lansdowne, and who was imprisoned some weeks since under the Crimes Act, will not survive his term of imprisonment.

—General Ferron, the French Minister of War, has decided that the existing forts in the Alps Maritims are insufficient, and he proposes that several million francs be expended in strengthening the fortifications. Thus it appears that France distrusts Italy as well as Germany.

—Herr Most, the blatant Anarchist and professional blatherskite, was arrested in New York City on the 17th inst. charged with making an incendiary speech a few days previous. The best interests of society would certainly be subserved by keeping Most behind prison bars.

—Some portions of the South are suffering severely from forest fires. Thus far the principal damage has been done in Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas. In some places along the Mississippi River the heat and smoke from the burning cane-brakes greatly interfere with navigation.

—The house of an officer of the law in Orangeville, Ont., was wrecked by dynamite on the 15th inst. A note was tacked to the fence warning the inspector to desist from efforts to enforce the prohibition law. Intense excitement prevails. This is the sixth dynamite explosion in Orangeville in two years.

—France is passing through a political crisis. The recently-formed Rouvier ministry has resigned, and in Paris there is a strong feeling that President Grevy ought to do likewise. Such a result is however very unlikely. It is thought by many that the Parisians are growing tired of the republic, and desire a re-establishment of the monarchy.

—Sunday, November 13, the police of London, assisted by several regiments of troops, suppressed what at one time threatened to be a very serious riot in Trafalgar Square. Nearly 100 persons in the mob were injured, some of them fatally. The weapons used by the mob were sticks, stones, and syringes charged with oil of vitriol. About 20 policemen are in the hospitals, and 120 of the mob are under arrest.

—It is stated that the United States wheat and flour exports for the first quarter of the cereal year ending September 30, aggregate 46,500,000 bushels, or at the rate of 186,000,000 bushels yearly—a total which was reached only in 1880-81, and which is at least 40 per cent. greater than the probable surplus or the probable demand this season.

—The Austrian archdukes are sending the Pope a joint present on the occasion of his jubilee, consisting of an ancient casket filled with relics of saints. It is doubtful if the Pope, who is a man of intelligence, will appreciate such a gift very highly, as he undoubtedly knows that such so-called “relics” are worthless frauds. “Relics of saints” are of value only to such people as are to be benefited by bread pills and sweetened water.

—A box-shaped bomb charged with black powder, dynamite, sulphur, saltpeter, small pieces of glass, and poisonous stuff which would cause blood poisoning, was found one day last week on top of a fire hydrant in Sacramento, Cal. The bomb was small and did not contain enough dynamite to demolish a building, but sufficient to do great damage if thrown into a crowd. The police can give no idea of where the bomb came from nor for what purpose it was intended.

—It is asserted that the Pope entirely disapproves of the lawlessness and political fanaticism of the people in Ireland. “Lawlessness” and “fanaticism” should always be discountenanced, not only in Ireland but in every other country as well; the trouble with the Pope, however, is that while he is undoubtedly in sympathy with the people of Ireland, he is afraid to say so for fear of offending the English Government, with which he is very anxious to establish diplomatic relations.