p. 718 | SECULAR | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 26, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 45.

SECULAR.

—The latest official census of China makes the population of that empire 880,000,000.

—Small-pox has broken out in Halifax, N. S. Thirty deaths occurred during the week ending November 18.

—General Sheridan’s annual report gives the number of men in the United States army as 24,705, with 2,154 officers.

—Louis Riel, the leader of the Indian and half-breed rebellion in Manitoba last winter, was hanged at Regina, N. W. T., November 16.

—It is stated that India will this year export 50,000,000 bushels of wheat, a fact that will greatly affect the wheat-growers of the Northwestern States.

—November 20, the Philippine Islands were visited by a terrible cyclone. Eight thousand buildings were destroyed, and twenty-two persons were killed.

—The entire adult population of St. Martha, a Canadian village of two thousand inhabitants, have pledged themselves to abstain from alcoholic beverages for a year.

—The coroner’s inquest fixes the responsibility of the fatal silver-mine disaster at Silver Cliff, Col., on the superintendent, who is pronounced guilty of criminal negligence.

—A dispatch dated November 16 states that Vesuvius is again in a state of eruption. Fears are entertained that the eruption will prove more serious than it is at present.

—General McClellan died of neuralgia of the heart, a disease which, according to the testimony of his physician, was aggravated, if not induced, by “too much smoking.”

—From the study of the drink question in Switzerland, it appears that the use of alcoholic beverages is largest in those cantons where wages are lowest and the people are poorest.

—There is great distress among the sufferers from the recent extensive fire in Galveston, Texas. It is believed that five thousand people have been rendered homeless, four thousand of whom must receive help.

—The total debt of the United States is now $1,848,340,333.74. The reduction during the month of October was $13,276,774. The public debt of France is $6,000,000,000, and that of Great Britain about half as much.

—Over 4,500,000 letters were sent to the dead-letter office at Washington last year. Of these 18,000 contained money, amounting to over $33,000; 20,000 contained drafts, checks, or money orders, and 84,000 contained stamps.

—Six men of the St. Louis street-car strikers are under arrest for blowing up two cars with dynamite, killing one woman and injuring other persons. They confess that they did the work, and that the plot was concocted in an assembly of the Knights of Labor.

—The British steamship Iberian is reported ashore in Dunmanus Bay, on the southwestern coast of Ireland, and likely to prove a total wreck. She has a crew of fifty men, and a cargo valued at £300,000.

—Lorenzo Snow, one of the twelve apostles of the Mormon Church, has been arrested for polygamy, and is held under $1800 bonds to appear before the grand jury. This is the most prominent arrest yet made, and causes a profound sensation among the Mormons.

—The British are likely to make short work of bringing Burmah to terms. The most strongly fortified position has been captured, and the road to Mandalay is now practically cleared, as the intervening fortifications are comparatively slight structures.

—Mr. George Edgar of New York has invented a gun which is warranted not to burst. It is four feet long, and is made of corrugated plates of Russian iron. It has been thoroughly tested at West Point, being loaded nearly up to the muzzle with powder and wad and then spiked; but the result was entirely satisfactory.

—In his speech at the opening of the Reichstag, November 19, Emperor William expressed the hope that the war in the Balkan States will not be permitted to disturb the peace of Europe. But in the same speech he points out the necessity of increasing the grants to the army and navy of Germany.

—Dispatches dated November 20 state that travel over the Southern Pacific and California Southern Railroads is suspended on account of washouts and land-slides, the result of the heavy rains that have been falling throughout the State for the last few days. At Merced, Cal., three hundred passengers were storm-bound.

—Dispatches up to November 22 show that Servia's declaration of war against Bulgaria, made about a week before, was followed by prompt and energetic fighting. The Servian army, which is much stronger, numerically than that of Bulgaria, invaded the latter State at three different points, and for a few days was victorious in every engagement. Then the tide turned, and the Bulgarians were victorious. Both nations are tired of war, and there are rumors of peace negotiations. At the very latest there comes a rumor from Belgrade that the Servians have attained their supreme object in the capture of Sophia, the capital of Bulgaria.