Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-29
The Closing Year.

hHS GiOstuS hCai'
The year now drawing toa close has not
been marked by any very extraordinary
events II has brought about the usual
share Of blessings and misfortunes for the
human family. There have been no start
ling phenomena in the heavens, no dis
turbances in the earth so appalling as
some at former periods.
In this country earthquake shocks were
felt in thirteen States, extending from
Virginia to Maine and from the Atlantic
TO Ohio. An earthquake on the island OF
Kishur, near the mouth of the Persian
Gulf. destroyed twelve villages and killed
two hundred persons. The cable brought
Saturday morning the intelligence OF an
earthquake in Spain which extended over
that country.
The destruction by sea and by land, by
storms. foods. hurricanes and other
agencies has been quite large. Many
vessels have been destroyed. many lives
lost by disasters at sea. Among these
was the steamer Huai Tuen. on the pass
age from Shanghai to Hong Kong, carry
ing down with her two hundred persons;
the steamer City of Columbus in Vine
yard Sound. with loss of one hundred
lives; tho steamer Daniel Stenmann, off
Sambro Island. Nova Scotia, one hundred
and twenty lives lost collision between
steamer State OF Florida and bark Ponema
in mid ocean. resulting IN loss of
one hundred and thirty-five per-
sons; the sinking of the Span
ish steamer Gijon and British
steamer Laxham, with loss Of one hun
dred and thirty lives. These are among
the most notable disasters at sea, but TO
enumerate all the shipwrecks Of the year
would swell the record to large size. On
the shores of Europe hurricanes have sent
down many goodly ships, and the fisher
men of our own country have suffered
heavily. 1t is a pleasure to remember
among maritime events the rescue Of the
survivors of the Inflated Greedy expedi-
ton, which pierced farther into the icy re-
gons surrounding the North Pole than
any other, the surviving members Of
which were only saved almost as by a
miracle.
On land, foods and tornadoes have been
violent and destructive. The Ohio river
floods were the largest ever known. A
province of China was almost entirely
inundated, and seventy thousand persons
persisted in the floods and by starvation
and exposure caused by them. Hurri-
canes appear to have ragged more violent
" in Europe than upon this side of the
Atlantic.
From pestilence America has been ex-
empt this year. but in France and Italy
Asiatic cholera has moved down its vic
Tins by tens OF thousands. and still con-
tnues its ravages. How to prevent its
march in Europe. and its passage to this
country. are questions which have already
exercised the rulers in the several nations
threatened. Only the strictest measures
can prevent II invading this country in the
coming yesr.
Among those who have passed beyond
this life there is the usual number of noted
nawes. In America death has removed
Wendell Phillips and Bishop Matthew
Simpson, peerless rs orators; Senator
Anthony of r. l.. Charles J Folger, late
Secretary of the Treasury; ex-Gov. Wall
ter Hartman. of n. II, Charles 0'Conor,
. the famous legal advocate James Watson
Webb; Noah II. Swayne, exjustice of the
u. S. Supreme Court; Allan Pinkerton,
head of the detective agency; these are
some of the names OF public men among
our dead. In Europe. among the deceased
are Charles Reade, the novelist; General
Francis Todleben. the Russian engineer,
famous in the Crimean war: Maria Tag
loni. the once noted dancer; Judah p.
Benjamin. of Confederate notoriety, Ar
thur Richard Wellesley. I'd Duke of
Wellington.
The leading political event of the year
was the Presidential election in the United
States, resulting in the choice of Grover
Cleveland President for four years from
the 4th of March next. The defeat of the
MORRISON tariff bill was the most impor-
tant act of Congress. The commencement
in the building of a navy was step Of
much importance. The new treaties now
before Congress are important measures.
that pass into the new year for final &C