Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-19
BORN IN An EyENTFUL YEAR
Principal Happenings During the Twelve
Months Of 1871.
BLOODY WAR wAGED IN FOREIGN LANDS
In the United States Occurred tho
Great Chicago Fire, While
Storms Caused Great
Loss of Life.

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1t was during this year that the Franco
Prussian war was being waged. During
this year a commission was appointed to
inquire into the condition OF the republic
Of San Domingo and learn II 1t was the
desire OF the people to be annexed to the
United states. During this year the Indian
council of ocmulgee convened for the pur-
pose Of organizing a territorial govern
mcnt. adopting the preamble Of a con-
stitution and a bill Of rights.
In the United States congress. in 1871, the
senate passed a bill abolishing the income
tax. 1t was during this year that President
Grant appointed a commission to confer
with a like commission appointed by Queen
Victoria to arbitrate questions e~ffecting the
people Of British America. There was the
Impeachment Of Governor Holden Of North
Carolina and the outrages of the Ku-Kl
Later in the year st. Joseph was visited by
a hurricane and FIVE persons killed.
During the fall OF 1871 the republicans
made important gains in about all Of the
southern states. In October occurred the
great Chicago fire, by which $500, 900, 900 Of
property was destroyed and thousands Of
people left homeless.
The principal events Of the year are given
in chronological order and are classified as
domestic and foreign:
DOMESTIC.
President Grant appointed Andrew D..
White of Cornell university, Senator Wade
and DR.. Samuel C. Howe Of Boston as the
San Domingo commission. They were author
tzed to inquire into and report on the
political state and condition Of the republic
of Domingo, also the desire Of the people
to become annexed to the United States.
The commission was accompanied by several
scientific men.
The Indian council at Ocmulgee.
I. t, convened for the organization of
q territorial government of Oklahoma,
adopted the preamble of a constitution and
a bill of rights.
January 1.-THE steamer T. L. McGill,
from st. Louis to New Orleans, was burned
in the Mississippi on shoo-Fly bar. AT
least forty-eight lives were lost.
January 26-A bill for the abolition of the
income tax was passed by the senate by a
vote OF &c to %, the repeal to take effect
from December 81, 1863. The house, on
February I, referred a bill for the repeal
of the tax to the committee of the whole.
January 2S-Steamer H. r. Arthur burned
near Memphis. The boiler exploded and the
boat took fire. Nearly ninety lives were
lost.
February "A bill to organize Alaska into
q county. with the county seat at Sitka, and
with the public laws and the Jurisdiction Of
Washington then a territory extended TO
It, passed the house.
February 6-Hudson river night express
ran into an oil train near New Hamburg.
n. Y. An explosion followed, and the loco
motive and one sleeper went through a
draw bridge. Twenty persons, including
George Benedict, editor Of the Cleveland
Herald, were killed.
February president Grant appointed
the following to represent the United States
in a joint high commission, suggested by
Queen Victoria, for the adjustment of ques-
lions materially affecting the relations be-
tween the United States and the territories
and the people Of British North America
Hamilton Fish, secretary of state; General
Schenck, Justice Nelson, ex-Attorney Gen
eral Hoar and Senator Williams.
February 12-Alice Cary, the we'll known
poetess, died, aged 80 years.
February house of Arkansas
legislature passed articles of impeachment
of Governor Clayton. The senate could not
meet for want Of a quorum.
February 20 and 2l-The great event of
the season at Washington was the grand
carnival to celebrate the completion of the
wooden paVement on Pennsylvania avenue.
The prominent features were a masquerade
procession, a ball and a magnificent pyro-
teehaIc display.
February 2l-The house. by a vote of
nearly two to one, passed the Southern
Pacific railroad bill. The bill provided for
the construction Of a trunk road from
Marshall. Tex, to San Diego, Cal.
March 4-HOuse OF representatives or
ganized by electing James G. Blaine speaker.
The first important act Of the senate was the
displacement Of Senator Sumner from his
position as head of the on for
eign relations. The outrages of the Ku-
klux in North CaroliHa. especially. where
lie and property were rendered insecure,
were followed by the appointment of a con-
gressional committee for the purpose of in
vestigating southern affairs.
March 22-lmpeachment trial OF Governor
Holden OF North Carolina concluded. He was
Convicted on six charges.
March 23-President Grant sent IN con-
gress a special message leg
tslation for the suppression of Iawless out
RACES in the south. A bill to more fully
enforce the provisions OF the fourteenth
amendment was passed by the house, April
D, and by the senate, April "a.
March 29-rown of Truekee, Cal. was
almost totally destroyed by fire.
April -Four fishing sehooners OF Glou-
cester. Mass, we're lost in a gale and all
on board persisted.
April Report Of San Domingo commits
sion submitted to senate.
April IA serious riot occurred at Scran-
ton, Pa, among the miners. Two coal
breakers we're burned and state troops
called out.
April S-s-A heavy gale swept over Iowa,
Kansas and Missouri, doing great damage
anu lnFoiFlAS some loss OF life.
An Indian war of considerable propor-
tons was waged in Arizona during the
early part of May. Two soldiers and eighty
fye Apaches were killed.
May IA fire AZ Alexandria, Va. de-
stroyed a number OF buildings famous be-
cause OF their historical associations.
May 24-Senate ratified the Washington
treaty framed by the Joint high commits
sion appointed by the British and the
United States governments.
May 27-The shaft OF a coal mine al
West Pittston, Pa, caught hre. There
was no other egress for the miners at work
and sixteen lost their lives.
During the first few days in June 100
squares OF New Orleans. including $500
houses, we're inundated.
June IA hurricane struck Galveston
and did great damage during the eight
hours il continued.
A schooner OF st. Johns. Newfoundland
was driven ashore and dashed To pieces.
lives we're lost.
The United States army was, during June,
finally reduced to a peace footing, in ac-
cordancs with the act Of congress OF July
10. 1870.
June 2i-Corner-stone OF the capitol at
Albany was laid with impressive ceremo-
nies. There was a procession more than
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