News and Miscellany by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · May 27, 1875

News and Miscellany.

By Editor

PENNSYLVANIA DISTURBANCES.

The labor disturbances in Pennsylvania are proving more widespread in their consequences than was at first anticipated. The disaffected miners now exercise complete domination in the coal regions, and the long suspension of work has resulted in a scarcity of coal that is injuriously affecting manufacturing, shipping, and other industrial interests. For several weeks the stocks in the hands of the extensive dealers have been rapidly dwindling, until now they are nearly exhausted. Even if the difficulties between the mine owners and the men were to be soon adjusted, it would be too late to prevent serious damage to many important interests. There has never been a strike in the United States bringing in its train so much and such varied mischief as this is likely to cause, aside from the suffering of the miners and their families. The longshoremen's strike in New York last year was but a bagatelle to it.

TYRONE (Penn.), May 19.—Xingo Parks, the agitator, was arrested to-day at Osceola. Twenty-five Italians have arrived from New York for the Philadelphia mines. The strikers' meetings at various points last night were poorly attended. The strikers are demoralized, and many men have gone to work.

FIRES.

The papers report everything drying up in the East, and predict that from present indications the coming summer will be a remarkably dry one in all parts of the United States.

Following this are accounts of terrible fires, especially in the forests of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Such disasters are becoming so common that they scarcely occasion comment. Had they occurred fifty, or even twenty-five years ago, general terror and apprehension would have been occasioned by such extensive and quickly-following calamities.

THE EASTERN FOREST FIRES.

TYRONE, May 22.—Reports were received here last night that the fire was approaching Phillipsburg, and in order to save the town Mayor Burgess ordered the brush around the place set on fire. About 250 men were sent out to fight the flames at points from which the most danger is to be feared. All that is now left of the thriving town of Osceola is about thirty houses. Soon after the commencement of the fire the turnpike roads in every direction were a mass of flame, and there seemed no way of escape until Daniel Wood, of the Pennsylvania Railroad, brought a train of cars, with which it was found necessary to pack the men, women and children as close as possible, and even then it was found necessary to make four trips. It is estimated that one thousand people were saved in this manner. The sight was terrible to witness. A gentleman who was obliged to take this means of escape says it was past description. The flames leaped up from the trees hundreds of feet high. The crackling of the flames was something awful, cinders and branches falling on the riders, and the men were kept busy putting out the fires on the women's and their own clothing.

NEW YORK, May 22.—Dispatches from Milford, Pa., says the forest fires are sweeping over ten or eleven townships in Pike county, and unless rain comes soon there will be great suffering and loss of life.

NEW BRUNSWICK (N. J.), May 20.—A large fire has been raging since midnight of the 18th in the woods near Milltown, N. J., four miles from this city.

SCRANTON (Pa.), May 20.—This afternoon the forests around Lobihanna, some twenty-five miles distant, on the Delaware, Lackawana and Western Railroad, took fire and much excitement prevailed among the citizens who feared the destruction of the town. The fire is still raging and gangs of men are fighting it at many points.

Thirty million feet of lumber are destroyed. The total loss so far is about $2,000,000. The insurance generally is very light. No lives were lost. The people are in very destitute circumstances.

PORT JERVIS (N. Y.), May 20.—The mountains near this city are again being devastated by fire and the air is thick with smoke. No further damage than the destruction of young growths of timber has been caused in this section, but all the timber along the Delaware for twenty or thirty miles has been destroyed.

LACKAWANA (Pa.), May 19.—Destructive fires are raging in the mountains about this place. Great damage is being done to timber land, and several buildings have been destroyed. About 200 men, women and children are engaged in fighting the fire surrounding this place. Large quantities of bark and cordwood have been destroyed.

POTTSVILLE (Pa.), May 20.—An attempt was made to burn the town of Shenandoah this morning. At Riles' Hotel it was discovered that coal oil and lighted matches had been thrown in the windows.

LONDON, May 19.—A dispatch from Lancaster, Cornwall (England), says that a terrible conflagration is raging in that town.

THE INDIANS.

The delegation of Sioux Chiefs now at Washington, preparing for interview with the "Great Father" make bitter complaint of the cruel frauds practiced upon their tribes by the government agents. Plenty of supplies are promised but they never come. Red Cloud in conversing with Mr Rosewater of the Omaha Bee said: "When Dr. Daniels was agent we recieved rations four times a month. Since Dr. Saville is there we get them only once in a while. We ought to have them at least every ten days, but we are often without rations for thirty days and even longer." Mr. Rosewater asked "How much longer." Red Cloud produced a paper on which were six long pencil marks saying "This is a record which I am going to send to the Great Father. It shows that we have been without rations for sixty days at one time. My people have been suffering awfully. Last winter they had to eat their dogs and live on horse meat to keep from starving. Many children are dying off. I am going to see my Great Father with tears in my eyes to implore him to relieve us."

The other chiefs report similar dishonesty in their agents.

MEXICAN OUTRAGES ON THE TEXAS BORDER.

WASHINGTON, May 22.—Official information has been received here showing that the Mexican outlaws who have been raiding on the Texas border have been aided and abetted by Mexican residents on the Texas side of the Rio Grande. The Governor of Texas has failed so far to take any measures for the proper vindication of the State laws.