The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-14
NEWS FROM THE ORIENT,
Fiendish Deeds Of Crews Of Japa,.
nese Sailors.
MISSIONARIES OBJECT TO THE
PARTITION OF CHINA.

yicissitudes of the Cotton Trade-BiG
Crop of Unso1d. Goods and Stringency
in Money Market Cause widespread
Disaster.
San Francisco, February 13.-The
Oriental and Occidental steamship Co. 6
steamer Gaelic arrived today from Hong
Kong, Yokohama and Honolulu, bring
ing the following advicss:
The Hong Kong Telegraph says that
continual trouble is being reported from
vessels manned by Japanese crews, the
Japanese resenting any instructions or
surveillance from European officers and
are reserving an especial grudge for
European passengers. Several cases nave
been reported where officers were marked
for attack by the Japanese and warned to
withdraw from the service the retention of
their positions being invariably followed
| by a murderous atteck from ambushed
Japanese enemies. A case in point is re-
ported from the Nyk liner Hakate Maru
from Japan viaEHong Kong forssEngland.
There were thirty eight passengers on
board the liner many of whom were re-
peatedly attacked by the japanese crew,
whenever they left their own staterooms
after night fall. On New Years day tho
Telegraph says all the Japanese sailors
and walters "mad drunk" and clad only
in breech cloths made an organized at
tack on the English officers and pas
sengers ofsthe Hakah Maru. The Japanese
oil wi I, l. nd ho
laying pins, brutally beat the chief engi-
| mills in operation. Inasmuch, however,
as the meeting WAS the outcome of Presi-
dent Gompers's suggestion and as he
admonished the members of the Fedora
ton Of Labor to join hands and assist the
New Bedford strikers, it seems probable
that nearly every union will carry out the
| recommendatio ms and that one of the
greatest strikes even seen in this country
is impending.
The Recorder calls upon Great Britain
to interfere and say that China shall not
be divided, but that she shall be reformed
ana saved, predicting that in such inter
ference England would have the support
of Japans and the active acquiescence of
the United States.
Three Chinese were hanged simultane-
ously in the Victoria Jail at Hong Kong
on January IL, the drop being made to
accommodate three, and the trio falling
together. The executed members were
members Of an armed, gang of shop
thieves, and in raiding store killed a
Chinese employe. The criminals were
disLanded soldiers.
The annual cotton report from Shang
Hal states that the year of 1897 was one
of extraordinary vicissitudes to those in
this trade. The year began with an
enormous stock of unsold goods on hand.
Prices declined steadily until tho end of
August. Then came stringency in the
Chinese money market, the result being
widespread disaster among the cotton
dealers, very few importers escaping
heavy losses The turning point is be-
lieved to have been reached, however, the
year 1898 opening with an improved de-
mand and an increased number of tran
sactions, although Shang Hal jobbers can
hardly congratulate themselves on the
prices obtained. The chartered transport
Jelunga from Hong Kong arrived at
Singapore on January 6, bringing the
first battalion of Prince of Wales Own.
and taking away the same day the de-
parting rifle brigade.
Royasu Shen, founder of the Yomiuri
Shimunda, one of the Oldest papers in
Japan in 1874, died on January Is, aged
Jo x,oc forp,orIv inn caorntarv Of
the foreign Office He started the first
mutual life insurance association in
Japan and among other achievements,
edited the best English japanese
dictionary Of its day, 1898.
Konichito Ottero, who is under arrest
in San Francisco for the embezzlement of
81, 900 yen from Savro Brandt of Osaka,
is also suspected of forgery and the
foreign office has communicated with
Minister Hoshi with regard to his extra
dition.
AS soon as the ratification treaty with
France has been exchanged, the date of
the standard and conventional tariff will
be notified to the foreign powers and
tariffs themselves put into operation. The
receipts from the coming fiscal year COM
mencing April !, are therefore estimated
to be an increase Of 6,000 yen.
The Hochi Shimbun says that COM
munication was originally made by the
japanese government to the foreign
powers with the object of placing For
mosa beyond the pale of the new treaty,
but as only Great Britain and one other
power consented thereto, Japan decided
to carry out the new treaties in Formosa.
The celebration of coming of age as a
crown prince Haruho Myia, which was
postponed last year owing to the court
mourning for the late Empress Dowager,
will be held in Marceh.
Japan's trade during the month OF De-
cember last was as follows: Exports,
1885, 675 yen; imports 11,170,, JOB yen.
The exports of gold and silver bullion
amounted to $3.50, 1862 yen and the imports
to 676, 1872 yen.
THAW AND ICE CROP.