The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-08-22
A HORRIBLE TALE FROM THE EAST.
Thousands of Japanese the Victims
of a Cholera Epidemic.
Poverty and Disease Combined Mako
Their Life Indeed Miserable.
Fishermen Robbed of Their LIveII-
hood by a Turkish Burial.

NEW YORK, August 21.-Mail advices
| from Toxic, Japan, to July Goth, give the
| following account Of the cholera ravages
The black cholera is spreading from Naga-
saki. For only a single month the deadly
plague has had the southern metropolis Of
Japan in its relentless grasp, yet the number
of victims who daily suceumb to the pesti-
lence has steadily crept up until 1t crowds
the century mark. Widely scattered cases
of the disease all over the empire and in the
crowded districts Of over-populated Toxic,
not less than in the sparsely inhabited in
terror, have been called sporadic by the
authorities, and foreigners have endeavored
to believe them so. The truth is that the
whole country, from Satsuma to Hakodate.
| Is in an imp0verish he'd condition, and that the
dread epidemic has leaped upon the backs of
the poor people. the coolies, the small
| farmers and the hundreds Of thousands of
wretched paupers In the great cities at
time when they were finding 1t difficult to
withstand a beated visitation of the in
fluenza Epidemic. The people are poor at
best but the straits to which they are put
for livelihood in such a season as this,
when they have actually sold thu utensils in
which they prepared their rice in order not
to- starve, cannot be realized in country
where the price Of day laborer's food for
Japanese artisan for two weeks. In Naga-
sakt the number of new cases per day is
about 100, and of deaths 40. In Toxic
the number Of cases thus far is tri-
fling, but from its geographical position, be-
ing farthest away from the points first in
fected from China, the capital is always one
of the last cities attacked. II never has been
in worse condition for reception Of the
cholera epidemic than just now, when the
people are starving in every district. There
Is case or two day in Yokohama, and in
Yokohoma harbor, which is thick with YES
sells from every corner In the earth, cholera
has appeared in its most virulent from and
has driven one man-of-war out OF the bay to
the quarantine station at Nas uara. The
Turkish frigate Ertougral was lying at
anchor not far from the United States flag
ship Omaha with the American Admiral
Belknap and his staff on board, and mall
steamers and men-of-war were anchored at
every side. Two of the Turkish ships sea-
men had been ashore one day and immedi.
ately upon returning aboard were taken
violently sick and died IN few hours. For
some time It was kept quiet that they were
after their burial, when the disease had be-
come epidemic ON the ship. She was hurried
of to quarantine, where she lies with badly
infected crew and staff. lit is against theMus-
sulman faith to bury their dead on foreign
soil, and so the seamen who died in the har-
Dor were taken outside the bay and sunk at
sea, near one Of the richest fishing grounds
off the coast The news got into the Toxic
papers and led to many cases Of acute suffer-
ing on the part Of the Toxic fishermen,
whose business is ruined.
Eight Persons Drowned.
LONDON, August 21.-At Conway, Wales
boat containing eight persons was swamp,
ed in the river and all the occupants were
drowned.
Eight Thousand Struck.
BRUSSELS, August 21.-Advices from Mons
state that 5000 miners in the Borinage dis
trict have struck. Socialist leaders are for
menting discomfort among the men. It's
expected the movement will spread.
Bark Assaye Lost.
LONDON, August 21.-The British bark
Assaye left London February 10th for Well
ington, New Zealand, and is supposed to
have foundered. She was spoken March
10th on the equator and has not since been
heard OF. She carried crew Of 25 men.
ShIpowners and Their Men,
MELBOURNE, Aug ust 21-A meeting of
four hundred employers today resolved TO
support the shipowners against the strikers.
LONDON, August 21.-The Pail Mall Gazette
says conference Of British shipowners re-
presenting capital Of ESQ. .00O, 900 has decided
to unite in fight against the labor unions.
From Three oxonians.
LONDON. August 21.-"Thee Oxonians"
write to the Times concerning the alleged
feat of Davis Dalton, the American swimmer
who claims to have swum across the English
channel on his back. They assert that they
watched the life boat which was to pilot Dali
ton for four hours from Boulogue and never
saw Dalton in the water Moreover they
declare that the dingey which was supposed
to attend the swimmer was t0wed unoccu-
pied behind the life boat
Foreign Notes.
A City of Guatemala despatch says Bar