The herald., 1897-09-15
News Brought by Steamer
Tacoma
SERIOUS FLOODS PREVAIL
THousANDS OF HOUSES ARE
WASHED AWAY
Japan Still Struggling With the Sill
yer Question, While China
Skirmishes for Money
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
TACOMA, Wash. Sept. 14-The North
with a full cargo, the greater part of
which is tea. The other freight is gen.
0ral merchandise, including $50 bales
Of raw silk, valued approximately at
$17o000 Her transpacific passenger list
numbered sixty-three Chinese. sixteen
Japanese and sixteen cabin passengers.
Among the cabin passenger was Leon
n. Ford, from Japan for Klondike.
The Tacoma brings oriental advices
up to August 27th
Count Mutsu died of consumption Aug
ust oath. On the Sunday previous ne
was promoted by the imperial favor to
the first -ciass of the second grade in
court rank and it was then known that
the end was at hand. 1t came at quar-
ter OF four o'clock.
Heavy floods are reported from Ia
kata, Naoyetsem and several other
places. At Naoyetsem iMne persons
were carried out to sea on the roofs Of
houses. They were picked up by the
steamer Taiwan Maru.
The Maiaichi learns from the finance
department that 40,000,000 yen in gold
will be mirted during August. 1t was
previously announced that yen 70,000,-
600 gold was to be placed in circulation
during the current yean but the author
tiles pow think thai yen 100000 will
suflice for the present needs.
The Nichi Nichi says that Count Matsu
Gaia has definitely decided to increase
the Sake and land taxes next year, but
will retrench in every department as
much as possible and make up the de-
fcit as regards Formosa from the war
Indemnity.
The Chuwo says the government is
to raise another loan of yen $4,000, 600 to
meet the deficiency budget The inter
est is to be per cent and bonds are to
be issued at par.
The drought at Matsuye is reported 10
be so serious that persons along the
coast there are usrg salt water for
cooking purposes.
The Russian telegraph lines are re-
ported to be interrupted by extensive
floods in the Shilka district, beyond
Blagovenschsk.
The railway in course of construction
between Fukui and Kanazawa will be
opened for travel during October next.
BY the recent floods in Ni.gata pre-
lecture over one Numbered houses have
been destroyed and five or six lives lost
In the Nishima district of this prefect-
ure. The cmbankment along the Shin
ojo river has been destroyed for dis
tance of $50 miles in the Minima KIM
bara district.
All the bridges in the Oshima line in
Kubiki district have been broken down
by the floods. and the roads have also
been damaged in many places. Over for
ty houses and twenty godowns were
swept away by the water and twenty
four lives were lost in the village of Mat
sugaski, Sado district. By the swelling
of the Agano river 1900 houses in Sanjo
Machi and 700 houses in the village of
1chinokido were submerged At Izu-
mozaki one shrine. two godowns four
temples and half score of dwellings
have been crushed by landslides from
the mountains. Five lives have been
lost and ten persons seriously wounded
A royal edict was issued at Seoul on
July 31st to the following effect:
we are told the envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary to Great
Britain, Germany, Russia, Italy, Greece
and Austria, Min Yungwhan, is return
ing home from completing his mission
without orders from the government
We consider his action as insolent in
the extreme. We hereby dismiss him
from the office which he now holds"
Certain native papers state that the
premier has sent in his resignation.
A large house-bat, containing over a
score of Foo Chow and Shanghai girls,
pound Tor Nangking, capsized. Includ-
ing the crew, orchestra and servants of
the girls, thirty-nine persons lost their
lives.
1t is reported in Peking that the Bel
gian business is still at a deadlock; the
final contract has not been ratified, and
there was strong probability of its
being Cancelled.
according to the new currency regu-
lations. silver yens must be exchanged
Tor gold within five years from October
next. This will cause numerous troubles
and 1t is suggested that they all be ex-
changed in one or two years at most
1t is stated that resolution to that ef-
tect is to be placed before the diet
Chi-Hin Sung Hun, the war minister of
Korea. has rendered his resignation ana
retired to his villa.
Frince kitashirakwa has been taken
to Toxic for medical treatment. He Is
suffering from bad rupture.
The recent floods in Formosa were un-
precedented in the history of that ISL
and. Subscriptions for the relief of the
sufferers have been opened among the
cabinet ministers and the colonial de-
partment
Amnesty has been granted to all pris-
oners in Korea who were incarcerated d
upon civil charges and minor offerses.
tremendous explosion occurred at
the camp close by the Chinese arsenal
OF kiangnan, near Shanghai Forty
bodies have been dug out of the debris.
Two fine Krupp guns, single fire and
magazine rifles. with 12O, 1000 rife cart
ridges were destroyed
1t IL reported that the trial of a loco
motive recently brought from America.
which consumes slack" and all kinds
or Inferior coal, has proved SO success
ful that the Japanese Railway com
pany has resolved to order a number at
once.
Reports from various parts Of the
country indicate that the rice crop will
be far above the average, although in
come districts damage has been done by