The herald., 1897-10-04
WHOLE CITIES LAID WASTE
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
HOMELESS
Chaos Rules in the Philippines-The
Emperor of China Scared by
the Eclipse
Associated Press Special Wire.

er Victoria of the Northern Pacific line
arrived from China and Japan this
afternoon with ten European, ITO Chi
nese and 43 Japanese passengers and
5000 tons of freight, consisting principal
ly of tea, silks and curios
1t is reported that 600 tons of freight
intended for America was Withheld pe-
cause of the fear that the 10 per cent
duty would be discharged.
Passengers report that an earthquake
occurred at Yokohama the day previous
to the ships departure.
The Victoria brings news Of severe
storm that prevailed over Japan last
month and at sea, taking the form of
a typhoon. The principal damage, so far
as noted in the late papers, was a Toxic,
where 376 houses were totally destroyed
and 3772 partly damaged and 14.O3O
houses submerged.
In Shidyuoka there were 1860 houses
demolished and 1000 rendered practi-
cally worthless. In this district SS per-
sons were killed and Al injured. In the
Gifu province bridges were washed
away, the rice crop destroyed and other
damage done.
Yejir is practically in ruins. In
Koishakawa 1900 houses were sub
merged and in Ushigome 1855 collapsed
Hardly a house in the concession es-
capped damage, the Presbyterian mission
and Baptist schools suffering the worst.
At Toyama rs houses were flooded. The
telegraph wires were prostrated and up
to the sailing OF the Victoria it had been
impossible to learn the extent Of the
damage in the outlying districts.
AFFAIRS AT MANILA
Late Manila advices report f1ghting g
still going on in the Philippines. A party
OF liberators attacked convent al
Paombong, which was bombarded by
a detachment of Spanish. and after a
hot fight captured the place, leaving
twenty Spaniards dead on the field.
At San Rafael party Of rebels under
General Natividad met a regiment of
Spanish and a desperate battle ensued
which lasted several hours, until the
royalists were oliged to flee. and throw
away their arms to save their lives. The
Spanish loss was 400 dead and wounded
In the Pampanga province there is a
general revolt of the towns, owing to
the cruelties of Colonel Zeralde, who
was recently promoted and made gov
ernor Of the center of Luzern.
1t Is reported that when the municipa
officers of the towns went to offer theil
homage he ordered his troops to shoot
them down and none escaped. The dele
cations in the rear fled and Joined the
rebels.
1t is reported that the province OF
Camarines has risen on account of the
executions of prominent citizens.
YOK DIANA ADvICES
The Victoria brings Yokohama ad-
vices up to September 18th as follows:
Colonel DENLY, minister for the United
States, who has been seriously i'll, is
slowly recovering.
The emperor of China has forbidden
all sorts of banquets and junke ting, be-
cause an eclipse will occur on June %
1898. An eclipse of the sun IS said by
the Chinese to be a proof of the wrath
of heaven at the lack of virtue in ruler
Owing to the recent advance in the
price OF grain at Shanghai the Yorodszu
correspondent reports the Chinese au-
thorities have prohibited all exports oil
any cereals abroad
The Iwate country is said to have beer
visited by the tidal waves ushered ir
by several earthquake shocks. No dam
age is reported, however
The Nichi Nichi correspondent says
Mr.. Speyer is trying to further the
spread of Roman Catholicism in Korea
and to cause the expulsion from the
country of American Protestant mis-
eonaries.
The rice crops in Toyama prefecture
have been so much damaged by the in
sect pest as to be one-half below the av-
erage.
1t is reported that 5000 Chinese have
started a riot at Swatowa, China op-
posing the proposed founding of a Chris
tian church there. Braves to the num-
Der of 1000 have been dispatched from
Canton to pacify matters.
Mount Kirishima is reported to be
sending forth roaring sounds, but up tc
the present no real eruption has oc-
CURED.
Japan will enter into the international
copyright alliance.
A case of cholera is reported at Ishik
ava Shickome. The rice exchanges at
Toyama, Taoaka and Fushik have been
ordered to suspend transactions.
It is stated that the government has
decided to rescind It's recently made reg
ulations for the payment of bounty to
native exporters of silks.
Sufferers from dysentery throughout
Japan numbered 50,121 up to September
14th. In Toxic 22 per cent of the cases
have proved fatal
Col. John F. Convoy, the new United
States consul general, has received his
exequatur and assumed office.
The government has included the ex-
pense Of new legations to be opened at
Brussels, Madrid and Constantinople in
the next years budget
Mr. Fujita, director Of the sea products
bureau, and Prof. Midzukuri will be or
dered to Washington shortly to repre-
cent the government in the fishery con-
ference.
The Chinese coloniald apartment has
been abolished by imperial ordinance
Min Yam Up has been appointed min
lister for Korea to the six treaty mowers
Of Europe.
The Chinese financial minister pro-
poees the following increases of taxa
tlon: That the land tax be increa sed by
per cent; that the value of lands be
reassessed d:-that the sake tax be in
creased, the brewing of sake for house
hold use being prohibited; that the tax
on land for residential purposes in cities
and towns be increased. 1t is reported