Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-24
CLOSING Years Disasters.

Closing Years Disasters.
The year 1910 is closing its record
with a list Of disasters which recalls
those most fatal in the nations his
tory. A series of great fires (Which we
hope is now completely occurred with
in three days, taking a toll of human
life aggregating nearly half a hundred,
and with a property loss in theA mil
lions. It started at Cincinnati with a
100000 fire, in which two 1iremen
lost their lives and several others were
injured. At Philadelphia, Wednesday
night, in a fire in which the property
loss was barely more than $4,000, 10
firemen and one policeman were killed,
and so persons injured. At Chicago
stockyards Thursday, 50 firemen were
crushed by a falling wall, and half a
hundred others seriously injured. The
property loss is placed at s1,500,0oO
AS such catastrophies usually come
in cycles, it is hoped the country will
suffer no further in this series, which
follows several disasters reported from
abroad. At Bolton, Eng, more than
$50 men We're killed by an explosion in
a colliery a few days ago. Up to the
present time only $50 bodies have been
recovered, but not the slightest hope of
finding any Of the others alive is enter
tanned From the Far East come re-
ports of flood and famine. In one
province Of China, it is said that 2,000.-
600 persons are on the verge of starva-
ton.
1t is a gruesome list to close out the
record Of the year. and few years have
had grouped in a single month so
many disasters in which a heavy loss
dies Of peace are usually more startling
than those of war, because we arc I'M
prepared for them. No one could have
predicted either of the three fires
which occurred in three of this coun-
try's largest cities, where it was sup
posed that the best of precautions had
been taken against such occurrences,
yet the total casualties of these three
fires is more than one -eighth of the
number killed in the four months of the
war of 1898. In connection with the
other fires of the month which have
hanr1 70 ha al M
cember, 1910, must figure very nearly
as unprecedented in the list Of fatal
conflagrations. There have been more
terrible results in such as the Iroquois
Theatre fire and the burning of the
steamer General Slocum ut New York,
but in these cases panic and mans in
horcnt tendency to gamble with death,
multiplied by ten the consequences of
natural disaster.
In the case of China, the impending
horror may be largely mitigated by
prompt attention Of other nations, and
the rushing of relief supplies and 9TH
er assistance to the stricken Cclcstials.
The recent floods there caused great
loss Of life. and famine has followed.
T. is said that so desperate are the
people that in some cases thousands
are banded together and rob any and
all who have food supplies. 1t is said
that for weeks scarcely a night was
passed without many murders. 4 re-
turning missionary says:
THE floods caused great loss of life
Tho rapid rise of water swept away
scores Of villages, thousands of persons
being drowned. A railroad engineer
reported that one Of the bridges near
there had been choked up with bodies
The situation during the winter will
be terrible-far worse than during the
famine three years ago. The starving
can be reckoned by hundreds of thou
sands, and relief committees should be
organized at once"