The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-01-05
| YEAR Of
GREAT EVENTS.
The Record of 1898 a
Memorable One.
WARS AND DISASTERS.
Diary Of the Conflict
With Spain.
HEAVY ROLL.
AND DISASTERS.
DEATHS HEAVY ROLL.

HEAVY ROLL.
Fatal Explosions and Shipwrecks.
Fierce Storms and Destructive Con-
fagrations-ManyN Noted Names In
the Obituary List-Personal, Mis-
cellancous and Sporting Events-A
Chronological Summary From jan
uary to December.
The 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 the ancient kingdoms of the orient
and the dismemberment by force OF a
monarchy dating from the middle ages
are three events of 1898 the results of
which upon the progress of civilization
cannot be so much as conjectured. OF
minor Importance, yet OF farreaching and
4 still unknown significance, came the
Dreyfus agitation in France and tho An
glo-French imbroglio in west Africa. All
of these movements were accelerated by
the developments Of the opening months
of the year.
In January the Maine was ordered to
| Havana, a step followed by the Infamous
| Do Lome lettor and the explosion in Ha-
| vana harbor, two Incidents arousing the
American people to degree which carried
| the nation beyond the control of her con-
servative statesmen. In January, also, the
prosecution of lola for libel in the defense
a of ad an Chafn NJ
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 sat the cost OF
war; If necessary.
In February the French crossed the Nj
ger, the Maine was blown up while resting
under the safeguard of "Spauish honor"
and Russia was 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 blookaded and both the Span
ish and American fleets active.
May day was crowned with new Sig
niflcanoe by Deweys victory at Manila, a
that the brightest statesmen Of the uni
verse have not yet ceased to marvel at It,
During this month Cervera's squadron
reached the Caribbean sea unmolested,
! taking, as some thought the second trick
in the game Of naval strategy, but the ad-
vantage was lost by his speedy retreat in
Il to Santiago harbor.
In May, also, Italy was convulsed with
bread riots, the Carlists threatened to
overthrow the monarchy in Spain, peace
4 was barely preserved among Germans and
4 Slavs In Austria Hungary, and the pros
u pect of an Anglo-American alliance set
n the whole world TO figuring upon the fu-
81 ture arbiter of the destinies of the nations.
81 During juno and July all interest is cen
q tered In the invasion of Cuba and the mil
4 itary occupation of Manila harbor. From
the hoisting of the flag at Guantanamo,
" on June 10, until 1t replaced the standard
+ of Spain above the governors palace at
A Santiago, July II, there were skirmishes
4 daily and the three desperate battles OF
July l, 3, and resulted in bringing the
doomed city under Skaters guns, with
S the luckless Cape Verde squadron, Spain
3 last hope in the west, lying wrecked upon
q the Cuban shore.
u In August Porto Rico fell under Amer
lean sway, the city Of Manila also, ant
the peace protocol was signed. The LAS
question in dispute was settled by Spain
acceptance on Nov. 90 of Americas de
mand regarding the Philippines Mean
while military occupation of distant land
has given the American people sternel
sense OF the problems involved In the new
national departure.
During the months of greatest interna
tional excitement, May and August, tw'
\ of the worlds most influential men, Bis
Y marck and Gladstone, passed away. II
X crown all, in the passes of the ancient val
ley of the Nile was settled at stroke tn
4 great problem Of modern warfare by tn
4 annihilation of an army of $4,000 der
wishes at the hands of few skillful artil
lerists whose machine guns literally 'pile,
the ground with Moslem slain" Thi
unparalleled military achievement fol
a lowed close upon the heels Of the czar'
manifesto urging general disarmament Il
the interests of peace, and may have has
tened the approval given by the powers t
the farsighted autoorats we'll timed ap
peal.
Then, as a sort of an anticlimax to tn
cumulative series of startling events, cam
the royal tragedy enacted In the peacefu
environs of a free city OF Switzerland
when tho dagger of a wandering anarchis
put an end to the troubled life Of Austria
venerable and most estimable empress
Man knoweth not indeed what da
may bring forth, much less year of 36
days.
JANUARY.
]. Fire: acres OF factory buildings burr
ed at Winooski. VT; loss. sl00.000-
Obituary: Richard Curzon Poultne,
noted American artist in London.
that city, aged 49,
e. Accident: rs people killed and many II
jured by the collapse OF floor at Loi
don. Ont.
I Obituary: Ex-Gov. L. 8. Ross note
Confederate veteran, at College st,
ton, Tex; aged 60.
Personal: Ii Hung Chang recalled
power in Picking.
T. Fire: Grain warehouses OF the Farm
ers' Union Milling Co. burned at Stool
ton. CAL; loss. s500.000.
5. Obituary: Gen. Johnson Hagood
Confederate veteran OF note. at Bar.