p. 183 | News and Miscellany by Editor

California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists · Oakland, Cal. · Apr 15, 1875

News and Miscellany.

By Editor

ACCIDENTS AND STORMS.

The past six months seem to have been a period of unusual severity of storms, floods, cyclones, and severe cold in the East. In almost every paper we have read of the terrible effects of the cold upon the Atlantic coast, resulting in the imprisonment of whole fleets in the ice. A number of fishing vessels were carried to sea by the floating ice in which they were caught, resulting in loss of life to many, and terrible suffering to the survivers. One vessel was found surrounded by ice, deserted by part of its crew, the remainder—fifteen—frozen to death.

A correspondent of the San Francisco Chronicle, from Sardis, Miss., March 27, says:

"It is becoming a question whether the rain will cease long enough for the farmers to get in their spring crops. I have heard a good deal about your wet winter, and particularly in Oregon, but I feel quite certain that more rain has fallen in this State since the first of December than has ever fallen in Oregon or California in any two winters, and still it rains—nay, pours. Besides all this, we had, a week ago, one of the heaviest thunder and wind storms of the season, which culminated in this place, where, at the little town of Rienzi, six or eight persons were killed outright, many more wounded and property destroyed to the value, as reported, of $200,000."

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 9.—The storm of last evening prostrated the telegraph wires in all directions. A number of houses were blown down and five persons killed and several others wounded. About the same hour the storm struck Texarkana, unroofing the public school buildings and injuring several persons.

OMAHA, April 7.—A terrible whirlwind, traveling in a northeast direction, passed through the town of Schuyler, Neb., at five this afternoon, completely demolishing the bridge on the Platte River, valued at $20,000, and blowing several houses from their foundations. No loss of life as yet reported.

The following account of the cyclone in Georgia we clip from the San Francisco Call:-

AUGUSTA, Ga., March, 24.—The recent cyclone which passed over this region was the most awful ever heard of in the United States. It crossed the Chattahoochee River from Lee County, Alabama, and entered Harris County, Georgia. From thence it passed through nine counties. It crossed the Savannah River 15 miles above Augusta, entered Edgefield County, South Carolina, passed through six counties of that State, and finally ran into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Carolina.

A second cyclone, precisely at the same time, seemed to have formed this side of Milledgeville, crossed the Ogeechee River, 15 miles below the village of Mayfield, and ran due east into the Atlantic.

As I was along the northern line of these cyclones I will more particularly describe that. The two were exactly alike in size, shape, color and devastation. The cloud was, in color, inky black, half a mile high, half a mile wide, was cylindrical in shape, and traveled very much like a revolving barrel coming end foremost. It was illuminated with phosphorescent light, and momentarily would glitter as if one million of matches had been ignited by it. It was accompanied by a continuous roaring sound, as of cannon in the decisive moments of a pitched battle. It traveled from west to a little north of due east; going as straight as a crane or a cannon ball would fly. It passed over the entire State of Georgia in exactly three hours, traveling at the rate of fifty-three miles per hour.

The whole number of killed in Georgia will not fall below 300, and the wounded reach 1,500.

Through Carolina the devastation and death were equally as great. The southern cyclone crossed the Savannah at Fury's Ferry, sunk the boat, tore the plantation of Mr. Fore-man, tore it to pieces, and killed and wounded a great many on it. From thence forward to the ocean the accounts are as terrible and as appalling.

—A terrific explosion of giant powder occurred in San Francisco on the afternoon of April 8, resulting in the demolition of several buildings, the immediate death of eight, and the wounding of twelve persons. The S. F. Chronicle describes it as "One of the most appalling catastrophies ever known in San Francisco." Loss of property between $125,000 to $200,000.

—Nearly every paper has accounts of strikes in different parts of the country. In the coal mining district of Pennsylvania the condition is bad. Several regiments of troop were called out to quell disturbances.

LONDON, April 7.—The Welsh miners' strike continues, and the men are still determined to hold out, though in many districts their means has been exhausted and hundreds of families are dependent on the public for support. The iron masters in South Wales and Monmouthshire threaten to continue the strike until 1876 rather than submit.

EMIGRATION TO CALIFORNIA.

OMAHA, April 9.—The rush of emigration to Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, and the Pacific Coast this Spring is enormous, and continues without abatement. Two and sometimes three emigrant trains are dispatched daily. Thirty-five thousand emigrants were carried from here during the first seven days of this month. Eight hundred emigrants are here to-day, and will leave by a special train to-night. During the month of March California alone received over 10,000 of these new settlers. Freight is also accumulating here so fast that the Union Pacific road find it almost impossible to keep it clear. The earnings at this time show an increase of sixty-five per cent. over last Spring.

SACRAMENTO, April 9.—By yesterday's Eastern emigrant train there arrived sixteen cars loaded with emigrants. All but sixty went to San Francisco, though not one appeared to have any idea of city life or any occupation fitted for it.

—During the month of March the passenger arrivals at San Francisco numbered about 8,600, of whom over 6,000 came by overland railroad, the remainder by sea. The departures in the same period were less than 2,600 showing a gain of about 6,000. For the first quarter of the present year the arrivals by sea and rail aggregate 17,700, and the departures 6,200, the gain to our population being 11,500.