Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-31


key was not decided The battle of Pley-
ma, which had been recently fought. fore
Swallowed the complete defeat of Turkey,
but the combatants still kept the field. and
it was not until July last that the treaty of
Berlin was signed and peace assured In
enforcing some of the conditions of the
treaty military force was subsequently en-
ploved, but the Russo Turkish war, which
threatened to result in general European
war, closed in fact with the signing of the
treaty at Berlin in July. Turkey was
humbled, but the Russians though triumph
ant did not obtain possession of CONSTANT
pie and the maritime control which she so
much desired.
Since the close of that war Afghanistan
has been invaded by British armies, the
Ameer has fled from his capital and the
forces of the invaders appear to be sue
cessfn at all points. These wars and our
never-ending war with the Indians, which
still drags its slow length along, are the
principal wars of the year.
the year have not been without interest
An earthquake in Venezuela destroyed
the town of Qua. This we believe was
the most destructive earthquake we have
had, but there have been rumbings of the
earth and slight shocks in different parts
of our own country. Mount Vesu-
vius has condescended to be more
lively than usual entertaining travel
ers with exhibitions of the power
which it contains. Tornadoes have been
frequent and quite destructive. One was
reported at Canton, China, by which it was
estimated that 10, 900 lives were lost The
loss of vessels and lives by raging tempests
and waves have been large, especially
during the fall months.
From pestilence the world has not been
exempt. The cholera has prevailed in
the East to some extent, while in this
country the yellow fever has swept
portions of the South with fearful
destruction. 1t is estimated that in Louis
lana, Tennessee and Mississippi alone,
there were 1000 deaths and 10000
cases. The suffering and destitu-
ton caused by it called for re-
lief from the whole country which was
most generously given. Recently we have
reports of the ravages of smallpox in
Brazil, which are terrible if true, equaling
at least the mortality caused by the yellow
fever here
OF accidents and disasters at sea involv-
ing large loss of life there have been
many in the last twelve months. The col
lision of two German iron clads in the
British channel caused a loss of $50 lives
TIE steamer Metropolis. bound from Phil
adelpha to Brazil, with laborers, was
wrecked and 100 lives lost BY the wreck
of the steamer Sphinx 500 lives were lost
The British training ship Eurydice sank in
gale off the Isle of Wight carrying
down to watery grave 800 persons. BY
the running down of the steamer Princess
Alice by another vessel 600 lives were lost
These are some of the greatest disasters
but by no means all. OF accidents upon rail-
roads the number has been less than usual
we think there have however been enough
and some of them of a distressing character
Among the calamities by fire, India and
China take the precedence; 400 houses
were destroyed at the capital of Burmah
by fire, while at Tien-tsin the burning of
an asylum for women and children caused
4
the Washburn Mills in Minnesota, was
singular as well as disastrous affair, the
loss being 81 100000.
Among the deaths of distinguished and
notable persons we mention first William
Cullen Bryant, one of our greatest Ameri-
can poets and Bayard Taylor, poet, jour
nalist, author, traveller, who died at Berlin
while performing the duties of Minister to
Germany. Other Americans who have
died are, Prof. Henry of the Smithsonian
Institution; Catharine Beecher, author;
Samuel Bowles editor; Gideon Welles, ex-
Secretary of the Navy; Rev. Nehemiah
Adams, ID. D.; Admiral Paulding. To
these as among the notables may be added,
Minnie Warren, wife of Com Mutt the
dwarf; John Morrissey, and VIM. NJ.
Tweed, the Tammany chief who died in
Ludlow Street Jail. In foreign lands have
died Pope Plus TX; Cardinal Cullen,
Archbishop of Dublin; Queen Mercedes of
Spain; Princess Alice, daughter of Queen
Victoria Earl Russell one of England
foremost statesmen; l.. A. GARNER Pages,
French statesman and historian.
The holding Of the Worlds Exposition
at Paris, the International Monetary Con-
ference at Geneva, and the Prison Con-
gress at Stockholm are the leading events
of international Importance.
In foreign political events the Berlin
Congress. the attempted assassination of
several Of the crowned heads of Europe
the steady growth Of republican strength
I'm the government Of France, also the /