The Dickinson press., 1898-12-31
A YEAR Of
GREAT EVENTS.
The Record of 1898 a
Memorable One.
WARS And DISASTERS.
Diary Of the Conflict
With Spain.
DEATHS HEAVY ROLL.
DEATHS HEAVY ROLL.

Fatal Explosions and Shipwrecks.
Fierce Storms and Destructive Con-
tiagrations-Many Noted Names In
tho Obituary List-Personal, Mis-
cellaneous and Sporting Events-A
Chronological Summary From Jam
uary to December.
Tho powerful young republic of the
western world torn by what some Of her
leading men regard as the relentless
grasp Of destiny from her policy Of inter
national isolation, TIE political relapse of
one Of tho ancient Kingdoms of the orient
and the dismemhern.ent by force of q
monarchy dating from the middle ages
arc three events of 1898 the results of
which upon tho progress of civilization
cannot bo SO much as eoIjeetNred. OF
minor importance, yet of farreaching and
still unknown significance, came the
Dreyfus agitation in Franco and the An.
glo-Frcnch imbroglio in west Africa. All
of these movements were accelerated by
the developments of the opening months
of tho year.
In January tho Maine was ordered to
Havana, step followed by the infamous
Do Lone letter and the explosion in Ha-
vana harbor, two incidents arousing tho
American people to degree which carried
the nation beyond the control Of her oon-
servative statesmen. In January, also, the
prosecution of Zola for libel in the defense
of Dreyfus opened an endless chain Of
startling denouements, which bid fair to
unsettle the domestic peace of France
The year ushered in sensational rumors
of the Partition Of China, and in the first
weeks the powers seized each fragment
Great Britain declaring that her interests
would be defended as against Russia,
France and Germany ''at the cost Of
war if NJ cssary.
In February the French crossed tho Nj
ger, the Maine was blown up while resting
under tho safeguard Of "Spanish honor"
and Russia Sas found secretly plotting
for the lions share in China. April, the
historic month in American annals, saw
the Spanish war an established fact. the
Cuban ports blnnkaded and both the Span
ish and American fleets actise.
May day was crowned with a new sig
niflcance by Dewey victory at Manila, q
blow so surprisingly novel and audacious
verso have not yet ceased to marvel at 1t.
During this month Cervera's squadron
reached the Caribbean sea unmolested,
taking, as some thought, the second trick
in tho game of naval strategy, but the ad-
vantage was lost by his speedy retreat in
to Santiago harbor.
! In May, also, Italy WAS copyulsed with
bread riots, the Carlists threatened to
overthrow the monarchy In Spain, peace
was barely preserved among Germans and
Slavs in Austria Hungary, and tho pros
pect Of an Anglo-American alliance set
the whole world to figuring upon the fu-
ture arbiter of the destinies of the nations.
During June and July all interest is CEN
tered in tho invasion Of Cuba and the mil
itary occupation of Manila harbor From
the hoisting Of the flag at Guantanamo,
on Juno 10, until 1t replaced the standard
of Spain above the governors palace at
Santiago, July II, there were skirmishes
daily, and tho three desperate battles of
July /, 2, and 8 resulted in bringing the
dconed city under Shafter's guns, with
the luckloss Cape Verde squadron, Spain's
last hope in the west, lying wrecked upon
the Cuban shore.
In August Porto Rico fell under Amer
ican sway, the city of Manila also, and
the peace protocol was signed. The last
question IN dispute was settled by Spain's
acceptance on Nov. es of Americas de-
mand regarding the Philippines. Mean
while military occupation of distant lands
. has given the American people sterner
sense OF the problems involved in the new
national departure.
During the months of greatest interna-
Sional excitement, May and August, two
of the world s most influential men, Bis
marck and Gladstone, passed away. To
crown all, in tho passes Of the ancient val
ley Of the Milo was settled at stroke tho
greet problem of modern warfare by the
Apuihilation Of an army of 10000 der
lerists whose machine guns literally "pilea
the ground with Moslem slain." This
unparalleled military achievements fol.
lowed close upon the heels of the czar's
manifesto urging general disarmament in
tho interests of peace, and may have has
tened thp approval given by the powers to
the farsighted sut0rat's we'll timed ap-
peal -. ~
Then, az sort of an anticlimax to the
cumulative series of startling events, came
tho royal tragedy enacted In the peaceful
environs OF free city of Switzerland,
when the dagger Of q wapdaEing anarchist
put an end to the troubled life Of AustrtA'i
venerable and most estimable empresa
Man knoweth not indeed "what day
may bring forth, much less q year Of 866
days.
JANUARY.
/. Fire: acres of factory buildings burn
ed at Winooski, VT: loss. 100000. 1t
Obituary.; Richard Curzon Poultney,
noted American artist in London. in
xl,nk
z Accident; rs people killed and many In
jurel by the collapse Of floor at Lon
don. Ont. ~
3 Obituary: Ex-Gov. L. 8. Ross. noted
Confederate veteran, at College Sta
tion. Tex; aged 60.
Personal: Ii Hung Chang recalled to
power In Peking.
4 Fire: Grain warehouses of the Farm
ers' Union Milling Co. burned at Stock
ton, Cal; loss. $500.000
& Obituary: Gen. johnson Hagood. q
cepfeasssts veteran Of aots. at Barn