FOREIGN by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 30, 1895

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

FOREIGN.

By Editor

—On May 24 the British world celebrated the seventy-sixth birthday of Queen Victoria.

—The son of Li Hung Chang has been appointed a committee of one by the Chinese Government to hand over Formosa to Japan.

—The trial of Oscar Wilde is ended, resulting in a verdict of guilty, and a sentence of two years' imprisonment at hard labor. The trial judge expressed his regret that the law permitted no severer penalty.

—A despatch states that a conflagration in the town of Konbeden, Russia, May 21, destroyed 200 houses, and resulted in 300 deaths. At nearly the same time 250 houses were burned in the village of Rushanay, and 200 people were burned to death or killed by falling walls.

—Advices from Chefoo inform us that Dr. Randle, an American missionary at Pingtu, was recently attacked by a mob of soldiers who passed through the place, and severely injured. The military authorities paid little attention to the affair. At other places placards posted in public places threaten missionaries if chapels are built. It would seem that the interior of China is an unsafe place at present, during the return of the troops to their homes.

—A severe earthquake occurred on May 18, in Italy, the center of the disturbance being Florence. It is said to be the heaviest in that vicinity since 1445, although seismic disturbances have been very frequent in Italy. Several persons were killed. It is stated that the earth's surface is never at rest from shakings of this kind, and authorities tell us that on an average every year from twelve to fifteen specially violent shocks are recorded as doing considerable damage. The loss of life and property from these convulsions of nature has been immense, though occasionally millions of dollars worth of property has been destroyed without the loss of a life. Estimates have been made, which seem almost beyond belief, that as many as 13,000,000 of the human race have perished in this manner. From a long list of noted earthquakes and eruptions, the following are a few samples of the frightful effects in loss of life alone. In the year 1137 in Sicily 15,000 perished, and 100,000 in 1693; 20,000 in Syria in 1158; Cilicia, 60,000 in 1268; Naples, 40,000 in 1456, and 70,000 in 1626; Yeddo, Japan, 190,000 in 1703; Pekin, 95,000 in 1731; Peru, 18,000 in 1746; and 25,000 in 1868; Persia, 40,000 in 1755; Lisbon, 55,000 in 1755; Guatemala, 33,000 in 1773. Of late years disturbances have been of more frequent occurrence than formerly. A few of these are: Island of Ischia, 4,000 in 1883; Greece, 1,000 in 1886; Charleston, S. C., 96 in 1886; Italy, 3,000 in 1887; Japan, 7,524 in 1891. The direct calamities of late years have occurred in the East Indies. In 1883, more than 50,000 perished in Java; in 1893, by the terrific eruption of Mt. Krakatoa, the same volcano causing the calamity of 1883 in the same locality, it is estimated that 200,000 persons lost their lives. These figures enable one to reasonably assent to the total estimate referred to above.

DOMESTIC.

—The New York police force is receiving another shaking up, at the instance of Commissioner Roosevelt. Inspector Williams has resigned, and it is stated an attempt will be made to remove Inspector Byrnes.

—Wheat has been taking a rise in the markets during the past week. On May 23 the price approached the dollar mark, and about 287,000,000 bushels were bought and sold in the Chicago Board of Trade, on that day.

—Despatches state that at least 25,000 men and women made a rush for claims in the Kickapoo reservation on its opening, at noon, May 23. As there were only about 450 claims all told, there were of course numbers of contestants on each one.

—A new rule has just been adopted by the Navy Department excluding officers of foreign navies and armies from viewing tests of armor and guns. Heretofore these tests have been open to such officials, although the action just adopted is the rule of other nations.

—The president of the Bank of Commerce, St. Louis, Mo., has issued an order forbidding all employees of the bank attending horse races, under penalty of dismissal. The reasons given are that the tendency and opportunity of the races cause men to lose money and eventually to become defaulters. The president therefore believes it is dangerous for young men to attend them and submit themselves to such temptations.

—Conflicting press reports concerning the fate of the income tax or its rehearing before the U. S. Supreme Court, have given way to certainty, and the decision of that court, as announced by Chief Justice Fuller, is that the law is unconstitutional. The decision is based upon the opinion that the tax is direct, and therefore must be appointed according to representation. There were four dissenting opinions, the criticisms being to the effect that the decision ties the hands of the general government and limits and cripples its power to raise funds in a sudden emergency.

—Tuesday forenoon, May 21, 40,000 pounds of nitro-glycerine and powder exploded at the works of the California Powder Company, near Oakland, Cal. Fourteen workmen, all who were in the two buildings demolished, were blown to pieces, five whites and nine Chinese. It is regarded fortunate that no more of the 100 men employed on the ground were injured. These works have blown up every two or three years for years past, with similar loss of life. In the manufacture of high explosives extreme care is necessary, and as novices are never permitted to meddle with the mixtures, accidents are almost invariably due to carelessness. Familiarity with danger breeds a sort of indifference, but so long as demand for such things continues, men will risk their lives in supplying them.