The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-10
BAD SIDE OF 1895.

The year 1895 Is one that VIII haruiy De
looked back upon with pleasure. There
are some bright spots. but the year as
whole was MOI what people expected IL
would he. After the struggles OF 1894 TO
settle up the difficulties which the panic
OF 1898 had brought. II was confidently
hoped, although perhaps without reason.
that 1885 would. bring relief and possibly
a slight return OF the prosperity for
which every body was looking. Expecta-
tons were not realized. however, and
upon looking over the record of the year
II appears that the aggregate OF disasters
OF one sort and another was really above
the average.
Fortunately 1898 was not as prolific in
disasters as 1894. The record of losses OF
life by shipwreck. for instance. aggre-
gated only 4.25O as compared with 6.sSl in
1891. The railroads OF this country killed
$500 persons, as compared with s.64S in
1854. In the general record of fatalities.
such as those by drowning, fire, mines,
explosions. cyclones. lightning. etc. both
at home and abroad. the aggregate was
2s.o94. as compared with 2s.7l9 in 1894. The
loss by fires in the United States for 1895
was s13l. SIS, 200, as compared with $1l5.-
go si2 in isss. The loss of life by cpl
denies fell of nearly one-half. the total
being 79.a6t. as compared with l19,si0 In
1894. the most OF this loss having been
occasioned by the cholera in Russia,
Japan. China and India on the other
hand. the loss OF life in battle has been
nearly twice that of 1894. being 1886. as
compared with $3.50. The increase is
mainly accounted for by the fatalities in
the closing weeks OF the war between
Japan and China, the uprising of the
Cuban patriots, tho numerous revolutions
In South America. and tho horrible afro
cities practieed upon the helpless Arme-
mans by the Turks. for which no indem-
nifty has yet been made. owing TO the
selfshness and jealousles OF the European
treaty powers. However IL seems prob
able that Minister Terrin will demand
reparation for the outrages on American
missionaries. and. as there are several
good American ships in Turkish waters
70 back up the demand. IL is not inprob-
be made.
one unpromlsing feature OF the year
Was the alarming Increase Of suicides
and murders-an Increase out Of all pro
portion 20 the natural increase Of popu-
lation. In 1924 there were 4.gi2 reported
cases Of suicide In the United States: IN
ISss there were 5.75s. and Increase OF s47.
creased al an average rate Of nearly 100
a year. Murder Is increasing M q SIN
more rapid and alarming rate. In issA
there were s.soo murders reported and
ia 20 in 1886. ar Increase OF 30. Il is an
unusual coincidence that the same num-
Der OF criminals were hanged In 1885 ana
lSg4. 81 ln each year. The lynchlngs. or
the other hand. show a gratifying de-
crease there having been III IN lSg5. as
compared with ia IN lss4 The great ma
ortty Of victims ot lynch law were ne
groes IN the Southern states Iut under
the Influences of "A healthier condition OF
public sentiment and the repressivs &C.
ton OF several ~ The Southern governors
and legislatures there IS uuQucstionahly a
determination In mary parts Of tire South
% set the wheels o. Justice IN better run
ning order and 70 minimize the dreadful
evils OF mob violence Emhe lerneuts
ant violations q financial trusts may he
CHASED in this general category OF crime.
Il is gratifying - observe. however that
tnis forrn of rsascalty is diminishing. the
stealinss 81 Iss5 being less than half OF
those ~ 1884 The record q IS5 shows a
loss from this source cg s.. -. SIS as com
pared with s. "a 80 Ia lisa