National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-01
Record of the Year.

Record of the Year.
The year which closed yesterday has been
characterized by peace and prosperity in our
own land. There have been no great civil con- |
WILSON'S in Europe France is the only civil |
lied and enlightened nation that has boon |
at war, and she has been fighting antagonists
in Asia and Africa. Her victories over the
undisciplined armies Of the Black Flags and
Hovas have brought her no great renown.
Egypt, PROSTATE and almost helpless from the
revolt of last year, is now feebly struggling
with rebellion which has already destroyed
her main army. The rest Of the world is at
pence aud, unless China becomes involved
with France in the Tonquin affair, 1t would
seem as if the year 1884 might be even more
peaceful than the year 1883
But while the loss of human life by the
small during tho past twelve months, the
number of those who persisted in various dis
asters on land and sea has been almost unpre-
cedented. On Jan. 10 the Newhall house at
Milwaukee, Wis, was burned, and more than
100 persons were either burned to death or
killed in their efforts to escape. Three days
later PCS persons persisted in u burning circus
tent at Berdicher, Russian Poland. On Jan.
10 the steamship Cimbria, Of the Hamburg
American line, was sunk by collision in
the North sea and over 400 persons went
down with her. A few days later the Italian
steamer Ansonia was wrecked OH the coast of
Tripoli, and many lives were lost There
were q number of other marine disasters OF
less magnitude early in the year, among them
the wrecking of the English steamer Ker-
more Castle in the bay of Biscay.
At various times during the year frightful
disasters were caused by the abnormal action
of the natural elements Many persons were
drowned and much property destroyed in
Germany and Austria by floods in the Rhine
and Danube and their tributaries More
than a hundred fishermen were lost in gale
off the British coast and $50 persons were
killed by an avalanche from Mount Ararat.
In the month of April there were tornadoes
in tho Western and Southern States, In which
300 lives were lost, and on the thirteenth Of
May cyclone swept over q portion OF the
state of Missouri, leaving ruin and desolation
in its path. The city of Rochester, Mimi,
was almost entirely destroyed by a cyclone
on the twenty first of August In the follow
ing week there were volcanic eruptions in
the Island of Java, which destroyed 10000
lives In the latter part Of July the Island
of Ischia was convulsed by an earthquake
and 1000 of the inhabitants persisted. Sew
enty miners were shut in by the flooding and
caving of shaft in coal mine near Braid
wood, ILL.,, and none escaped alive.
OF disasters caused by human misadven-
ture and human negligence there have boon
| not few. A panic in hall at Sunderland,
| England on June 16 caused tho death Of 1877
children, and few days later AZ lives were
lost by the burning of a show hall at Derric,
on Lake Como. Sixty-nve persons were
drowned by the collapse of rotten pier at
Tivoli, a summer resort on the Chesapeake,
some ten miles from Baltimore, on July %.
To enumerate all the disasters of the year
which were attended with great loss of life
| would unduly extend this record.
Among the most important domestic events
of the year may be mentioned the completion
of the Northern Pacific railroad. golden
spike was driven when the eastern and
western divisions were united at Mullen tun-
mel, Montana, on Sept. s. The great bridge
uniting the cities of New York and Brooklyn
was opened to travel on May2i.
NJ. Gambetta, the illustrious French states
man. heads the list of great men who passed
away during the year. He died Jan. l, ged
A years. Prince GortchakoA, ex-chancellor
of the Russian empire, died March 4, aged 80.
The Comte de Chambord, who, if the
bourbon dynasty had been restored,
would have been king Of France, died Aug.
10, aged 63. Among the distinguished dead,
in our own country, were number who
wero intimately connected with social and
political life at the national capital. Tho list
includes Postmaster General Howe; eN'
Senator Lot NJ. Morrill,; Hon. Alexander II
stephens; Surgeon General Joseph *
Barnes ex-Gov. Swami Gen. Charles Ewing
Hon. Montgomery Blair; Senior Barca, Span
ish minister Judge Jeremiah s. Black Hon
ID. c. Haskell, and Gen. Humphreys The
ecclesiastical world lost Archbishop Purcell
of Cincinnati; Bishop Wood, of Philadelphia
Bishop Piuknoy, of this city, and Bishop Peck
of the Methodist Episcopal church; Peter
Cooper died April A, aged "a; Mrs. Gran
Gen. Grants mother), died May II, aged 81
Among tho best known journalists who died
during the year were Charles C. Fulton, pro
prietor of the Baltimore american, and Hugl
j. Hastings proprietor of the New York Com
merciaI AdvcrtiSer
Goh