[A] Pronounced _voulee_.
* * * * *
It was just as well that we did not put too much faith in the story
that the war on the Indian frontier would be ended with the defeat of
the Haddah Mullah.
News has reached us that the British forces have once again been checked
by the tribesmen.
This time it was the Mohmads who were the victors. These men, if you
remember, professed themselves ready to submit to English rule, and when
the troops arrived in their neighborhood, offered their allegiance to
the British officers.
They were, however, told that to prove their good faith they must, one
and all, give up their rifles. Upon hearing this they became sulky, and
refused to do anything of the sort.
The British waited the two days they had promised, and then began to
destroy the villages of the rebellious tribesmen. On one of these
expeditions they were in turn attacked by the Afridis, and defeated.
In the meanwhile the Ameer of Afghanistan is uneasy over the advance of
the British into the hills that form his frontier. He is afraid that the
British will not be satisfied with punishing the tribesmen, but will
endeavor to take possession of lands belonging to him. He has therefore
sought the aid of Russia, and has obtained the Czar's promise to help
him in case the British attempt to encroach on Afghanistan.
He is at the same time keeping faith with the English. He has issued a
proclamation, forbidding his subjects to leave the country under penalty
of a heavy fine, so that it will not be possible for them to go and join
the tribesmen. He is doing all in his power to keep faith with England,
but it is said that he is much pleased that he has secured the aid of
Russia to protect him in case of need.
* * * * *
In the Soudan, the English are steadily advancing on Khartoum.
The Mahdists are making a strong stand there, and it is expected that
the decisive battle will be fought in the near neighborhood of that
city.
A newspaper correspondent who is with the Soudan expedition writes a
most interesting account of the rapid way the soldiers are building a
railroad across the desert. The road is being finished at the rate of
nearly two miles a day, and when completed will enable the army to bring
men and supplies from Cairo in a few days instead of the many weary
weeks which are now required.
The building of the railway through the desert has been entrusted to the
engineer corps. These engineers are soldiers whose duty it is to build
fortifications, railroads, bridges, or any works which the commander of
the force may think necessary.
In building a railroad the first thing to be done is to prepare the
road-bed, so that it will not give way under the weight of the trains
that are to pass over it. This is done by digging out or banking up the
earth so that the bed shall be level. When the earth-bank has been made
as high and as solid as necessary, huge wooden beams, called sleepers,
are placed across it at regular intervals, and on these sleepers the
rails are laid.
The correspondent describes the laying of the rails as follows:
"A great sight was the actual work of laying the line. We went out in a
car drawn by a spare engine, to see this at the place where the work was
in progress. The second construction train had reached the scene of
active operations just before we arrived, and the desert fairly hummed
with busy turmoil. It has been given but to few to see a railway line
made and used while you wait. Yet we had that experience on this
afternoon. Everything was done at once. The long train moves slowly
toward the end of the rails, getting as near to the bare bank as is
possible. So soon as she stops, an eager army of workers attack her,
with, of course, much wild noise of strange rhythmic chant. To the
uninitiated this onslaught of the workers on the train bears all the
appearance of a raid, yet, should one watch awhile, it gradually dawns
upon one that marvellous orderliness and most studied method underlie
every seemingly wild movement. The engine stops--say, ten rail lengths
from the end of the track--and the game begins. The rail-cars are in
front, just behind the tender, with the rails neatly ranged on racks. At
once to either side of each rail-car rushes a party of, if Egyptians,
eight men, if blacks, ten, upon whose padded shoulders the ton of
sun-heated metal is placed by the car party. Then they run--they do
literally run--away with the unwieldy thing to its destined place,
where, once it is placed on the sleepers, the gaugers and strikers get
at it, and it is put in position and pinned (to each alternate sleeper,
the operation being completed after the heavy train has passed over the
newly laid rails) in an incredibly short time, at the end of which a
bugle sounds, the steam whistle blows, the engine moves slowly forward
over the rails that less than five minutes ago were stacked on the cars
behind her, and the whole operation is repeated."
* * * * *
Hawaiian affairs continue to progress peacefully, notwithstanding the
fact that the story of Japanese soldiers being introduced in Hawaii
disguised as laborers has been confirmed by so many people that our
Government has no longer any doubt of its truth.
Orders have therefore been sent to the commander of the fleet at
Honolulu to be on the alert, and in case Japan should attempt any
hostile movement to land a company of marines and sailors, run up the
American flag, and take possession of the island in the name of the
United States.
The gunboats _Wheeling_ and _Concord_ have been sent to the Sandwich
Islands, and a cruiser and several gunboats will be kept at Honolulu
until all fear of trouble is over.
The Japanese ship, the _Naniwa_, has gone back to her own country to be
cleaned and repaired, but will return to Hawaii as soon as this has been
done.
During her absence our Government is taking advantage of the opportunity
to make some necessary changes in the ships stationed at Honolulu, and
when the Japanese cruiser returns she will find quite a fleet of
American ships waiting to receive her.
A statement has been made that the Japanese Government is willing to
settle the immigration dispute with Hawaii for $100,000.
Hawaii is not anxious to make any such arrangement. She is a little
afraid that if she consents to do so, Japan will declare that she is
bound in future to let in as many Japanese immigrants as the Mikado
chooses to send. She is anxious to reserve the right of declaring what
citizens she will allow within her boundaries.
[Illustration]
The annexation of the islands is by some people regarded as assured.
The Senators and Congressmen who have visited the islands declare that
there is no opposition to the idea. Some few followers of the Queen
Liliuokalani would prefer to have her once more on the throne rather
than to be under the government of a foreign president, but there is no
serious opposition to the treaty.
With this news comes the information that Mr. Spreckels, the Sugar King
of Hawaii, has offered to withdraw his opposition to the treaty when he
is convinced that his rights in the island are not to be interfered
with.
Mr. Spreckels is a millionaire who has made most of his money through
his vast sugar interests in the Sandwich Islands. He was so afraid that
his business would be hurt by annexation, that he threatened to spend
half his fortune to prevent it.
Besides his sugar interests, he owns a line of steamers between Hawaii
and San Francisco, and he controlled so many votes in Hawaii that he was
a dangerous enemy to the project.
President Dole of the Sandwich Islands has been endeavoring to break Mr.
Spreckels' power, but has made very little progress until the other day,
when he granted permission to one of the Pacific mail steamers to enter
into competition with Mr. Spreckels' boats for the carrying trade of the
islands. The permission stated that the President would allow the
Pacific Mail Company to increase the number of vessels on the line if
they desired to do so.
This was a dreadful blow to Mr. Spreckels.
The carrying trade with Hawaii is hardly large enough for several
companies to make money at it, and as the new line will endeavor by
reduced rates and increased accommodations to get the trade away from
Mr. Spreckels, the chances are that he will lose a good deal of money
through it.
It is in consequence of this that he is reported to have promised not to
oppose the annexation of Hawaii if his interests are not interfered
with.
It is said that President Dole is so anxious that nothing shall
interfere with the annexation treaty that he is willing to promise Mr.
Spreckels anything he asks in return for his assistance.
* * * * *
Central America is in a very disturbed condition once more.
Revolutions are in progress, or have just been suppressed in Guatemala,
Costa Rica, and Nicaragua; and Honduras is again in an unsettled state.
In addition to this, there is bad feeling between Costa Rica and
Nicaragua, which may break out into war at any moment.
As this last quarrel concerns the Nicaraguan Canal, in which our country
is so much interested, it is perhaps better to tell you about it before
we speak of the more serious troubles in Guatemala.
The cause of the unpleasantness between Nicaragua and Costa Rica is the
boundary line which divides them.
This boundary question involves the mouth of the Nicaragua Canal.
In 1858 it was agreed between the two countries that the channel of the
Rio San Juan del Norte at its exit into the ocean should be the dividing
line between them.
Owing to changes of current and other causes, the course of this river
has changed, until it is now several miles farther south than it was in
1858.
Costa Rica claimed that the boundary should be the spot where the old
channel was; Nicaragua, that the treaty called for the channel of the
river where it emptied itself into the sea, and that therefore the new
mouth of the river is the boundary.
It is a serious matter for Nicaragua, for the opening to the Nicaragua
Canal on the Atlantic Ocean side is through the Rio San Juan del Norte.
If Costa Rica were to own the mouth of the canal while Nicaragua owns
its body, there would be no end to the complications and troubles which
would arise.
The matter was therefore submitted to arbitration, President Cleveland
appointing the arbitrator.
The decision has just been rendered, and is against Costa Rica. The
arbitrator decides that the old treaty holds good, and that the boundary
line of Nicaragua is the channel of the river as it flows into the
ocean, and that no matter how far the Rio San Juan del Norte creeps down
into Costa Rican territory, Nicaragua will always own to the channel
where it flows into the sea.
Costa Rica is of course angry that the decision was against her, and she
may try to secure her lost territory by force of arms.
This is the Nicaraguan and Costa Rican trouble. The disturbance in
Guatemala is in the shape of a revolution, which, if the accounts we
hear are true, is of a serious nature.
We have told you before of the many revolutions that are constantly
taking place in South America, and that the people have become so
accustomed to them that they take very little notice of such things, and
no one regards a Central American revolution as a serious affair.
Now while it is amusing to make fun of these toy revolutions, some of
the best people of the country suffer severely through them, and to
these people they are very real and terrible. Those who suffer most are
the merchants. During the disturbances caused by constant changes of
government, trade cannot properly flourish, and many of the merchants of
Central America wish heartily that a means may be found to restore order
and give them a government which will be likely to last.
Some time ago a plan was made to form the five republics of Guatemala,
Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica into one republic, under
one government.
At this time Mexico objected to the plan. She was afraid that a strong
republic at her doors might give her more trouble than she was likely to
have from the five weak little countries.
Attempts were made to carry the plan through, but it was finally
abandoned.
It was not, however, forgotten, and in January of this year the first
step was taken toward such an arrangement, by the union of Nicaragua,
Honduras, and Salvador, forming together the Greater Republic of Central
America. It was hoped that Guatemala and Costa Rica would also join in,
and in June of this year Guatemala did join the other republics.
Mexico still disapproved of the plan, and was not at all pleased that
the Greater Republic of Central America had been formed.
The level-headed men of Central America then suggested that Mexico
should be asked to join the union, and one vast Central American
Republic be formed.
To this President Barrios of Guatemala objected. He is perhaps the most
ambitious man in Central America, and undoubtedly aims to be the
president of the Central American Republic. Were Mexico to become a
part of this great federation, Barrios would have a strong rival in the
beloved President Diaz of Mexico, and so he steadfastly set his face
against union with Mexico.
The friends of solid government were much disappointed at this, and it
is stated on good authority that they then formed a plot, which has
resulted in the present disturbances throughout Central America.
It was decided that as Barrios of Guatemala and Diaz of Mexico were
opposed to the plan, they must both be removed from office as soon as it
could be managed.
According to this story, Barrios was the first to give his enemies the
opportunity they sought.
We have told you that he is a very ambitious man. In Guatemala
presidents are elected for six years, and are not allowed to be
re-elected.
President Barrios is very near the end of his term, and he could not
bear to think that in a few months he would go out of office, and lose
all chance of rising to the heights he wished to attain. He therefore
had himself proclaimed dictator of Guatemala, and announced that he
intended to have a law passed which would allow a president to be
elected for a second term.
This meant of course that he intended to be elected again, and that it
would be another six years before there was any hope of forming the
federation.
The people of Guatemala strongly disapproved of Barrios' action in
making himself a dictator instead of a president. A president is guided
by the wishes of the legislature, and though he has the power to veto,
or forbid the passing of, a law made by congress, that body has also
power to overrule his veto, and pass the laws in spite of him. So you
see the power is pretty equally balanced. Then, too, a president can be
impeached, or called to account, if he neglects the duties which he has
agreed to fulfil.
With a dictator it is very different. He has absolute power in the
government of the state. His word is law, and he is not accountable to
the legislature for his actions.
A dictator is sometimes appointed in times of war or great trouble, but
he should always be a man whom the people love and honor, and to whom
they can entrust this great power.
The reason for appointing a dictator is, that not being accountable to
the legislature for his actions, he is able to do as he thinks best,
without waiting for the long delays that must follow the submission of
plans to congress.
While the people were so opposed to the idea of giving these great
powers to Barrios, it was thought to be a good opportunity to overthrow
him, and so a revolution was begun, with Gen. Prosper Morales at its
head.
This revolution has steadily grown stronger. Most of the important men
in Guatemala have joined it, and success has attended the rebel arms.
They have captured one of the most important towns of the country, and
it seems as if the overthrow of Barrios was assured.
If the rumors of this great plot are true, the revolution in Guatemala
is but the commencement of the great rising which is to end in the
formation of the new republic.
That there is some truth in these rumors is shown by the fact that a
cowardly attempt which was made to kill President Diaz of Mexico, a
short time ago, was found to be connected with the present disturbance
in Guatemala.
It was found that the man who had attempted to do this wicked deed was
the agent of some persons in Guatemala; and thinking that there was
something strange in this, the Mexican authorities handed the prisoner
over to one of the highest police officials, with orders to keep him
under close guard until further inquiries could be made.
The man to whom the criminal was given in charge was General Velasquez,
one of the most trusted officials of the Government.
In the middle of the night after this arrest, pistol shots were heard
coming from the place where the prisoner was confined, and when the
soldiers ran out from their barracks, they were informed by General
Velasquez that a mob had broken into the prison and killed the prisoner.
A crowd had meanwhile gathered round the prison, so the soldiers
arrested every one in sight; but when these people came to be examined
they were found to be only citizens who had been attracted by the sound
of the firing, just as the soldiers had been. The men who had broken
into the jail and killed the prisoner had disappeared.
The matter had by this assumed such a suspicious character that the
authorities decided to arrest General Velasquez, and hold him until
something could be found out.
A few inquiries showed that the General and the man who had tried to
kill President Diaz were both connected with Guatemala, and members of
some society there.
This suspicion was considerably strengthened when the General was found
dead in his prison, the morning after his arrest. People then said that
both men were concerned in the great plot, and that both had died rather
than be forced to confess.
All Mexico is very much puzzled and troubled over this mysterious
occurrence.
* * * * *
The meteorite has been safely landed, and is now on the dock at the
Brooklyn Navy-Yard, where it is to remain until Lieutenant Peary decides
what he will do with it.
In appearance it is a smooth, mud-colored rock, that looks like a great
boulder. The meteorite is ten feet long, eight feet wide, and six feet
thick. It weighs over ninety tons.
It was no easy matter to get this great stone on board the _Hope_. It
lay a short distance from the shore, and the sailors had to drag it to
the water's edge.
As soon as the _Hope_ arrived in Melville Bay, where the meteorite was
found, the whole crew, armed with shovels and picks, went ashore and
began digging around it.
The job of digging it out of the frozen ground was enough to have
discouraged these men at the outset. It was half covered with snow, and
frozen solidly to the surrounding earth. The sailors had to dig through
seven feet of frozen ground before they finally reached the lower
surface of the meteorite, then more digging followed, and at last,
after five days of this hard work, it was free and ready to be moved.
By means of some strong derricks which they had brought for the purpose,
the monster was finally lifted and dragged to the shore.
Here another kind of derrick, made like those that are used for lifting
heavy guns on board ship, was brought into service, and the mass of
metal was slowly lifted and lowered into the hold.
The ship had been lightened as much as possible to make room for this
enormous weight, but for all that the vessel was sunk much too deep in
the water for safety when she finally started on her homeward journey.
Scientists say that the meteorite is a mass of metal, and is practically
composed of material similar to the steel armor used for armor-plates.
All are agreed that it is the largest meteorite ever discovered.
Lieutenant Peary also brought back with him a party of Esquimaux, who
are to spend the winter building an Arctic exhibit for the Natural
History Museum. The materials they will use have all been brought back
by Mr. Peary. They are to build a little scene which will show the
Esquimaux in their national costume, occupied in some of the typical
Arctic employments. The figures that will illustrate these pictures will
be modelled after the Esquimaux themselves.
There are six Esquimaux in the party brought back on the _Hope_--three
men, a woman, a boy, and a girl. They, men and women alike, wear
trousers of polar-bear skins, sealskin coats, moccasins made from tanned
sealskins, and fur hoods.
To make them more comfortable, Lieutenant Peary had allowed them to
pitch a tent for themselves on the deck, and here the family was
established, in company with their four favorite dogs, from whom they
could not bear to be parted. These dogs are very useful in the polar
regions. They can draw sledges over the ice, and are used by the natives
much as the people of warmer climates use horses.
Lieutenant Peary also brought back with him some relics of the
unfortunate Greely expedition which went to the Arctic regions in 1881,
to establish an observation station for our Government. Owing to the
non-arrival of expected supplies, the Greely party suffered the most
terrible hardships, and was eventually rescued at Cape Sabine in Grinnel
Land in 1883, after eighteen of the party had perished from cold and
hunger.
Greely established the station, and, after his rescue, was raised to the
rank of general, and was given a special government appointment for his
services.
When Lieutenant Peary arrived in New York, he was asked whether he
thought that Andrée had been able to reach the Pole in his balloon.
He said that he feared it had not been possible for him to do so.
According to all he could hear, the winds had been unfavorable all
summer, and the chances were that the adventurer had been carried in an
opposite direction to the one he had intended to take.
In regard to his being rescued and ever reaching the land of the living
again, Lieutenant Peary said he feared the chances were very slight. It
all depended on the place where the balloon had descended.
If it had fallen north of Spitzbergen, it seemed unlikely that he would
ever be heard of again; if, however, the winds had carried it southward,
he might have taken refuge on an ice-pack, and would be floated
southward with it, and eventually rescued.
Dr. Nansen, in his recent famous voyage, proved that there is a strong
current flowing across the Polar Sea. By following this, a ship could be
carried from one side of the Arctic Ocean to the other.
When Dr. Nansen went north it was his hope to get his ship, the _Fram_,
into the pack, or rough ice that was being carried along in this
current, and drift with it across the Pole.
He did not succeed in reaching the Pole, but his ship did drift across
the Polar Sea exactly as he had supposed it would do.
It is Mr. Peary's belief that if Andrée gets on to the pack-ice, he may
drift southward as Nansen did. Mr. Peary does not believe that any of
the pigeons carried by Andrée could live in the Arctic cold, and be able
to fly southward with a message.
* * * * *
The fastest ocean voyage on record has just been made by the magnificent
North German Lloyd steamer, _Kaiser Wilhelm the Great_.
The speed record has hitherto been held by the _Lucania_, which made the
trip from Queenstown to Sandy Hook in five days and seven hours, but
that great record has now been beaten. At the rate at which the new
German steamer travels, she can make the trip in four days and
twenty-one hours.
The _Kaiser Wilhelm_ does not, however, travel over the shorter route
from Queenstown, but comes the longer way, from Southampton. She made
this trip in five days and twenty hours, beating the _St. Paul_ by two
hours all but five minutes, and on her return trip beat her own record
by thirteen hours.
Boat-builders are very enthusiastic over the speed of the new steamer,
and declare that it is only a matter of time when boats will be built
which will make the trip across the ocean in four days.
The _Kaiser Wilhelm_, besides being such a fleet vessel, is beautifully
arranged for the comfort of passengers, and is considered a model ship
in every respect.
The New York agents were so proud of their fine ship, that on her
arrival here after her first trip, they issued numbers of invitations to
people to visit her at her dock in Hoboken. The people responded in such
vast numbers that the docks were thronged, and the assistance of the
police had to be called in to prevent accidents.
At the time of the great naval review at Spithead, in celebration of the
Queen's jubilee, the _Teutonic_, of the White Star line, was called on
to take part in the review as one of the naval reserve. We told you
about it on page 1,086.
Our country is also taking active steps to secure a good naval reserve.
At the present time there are forty-two vessels on the navy list which
could be used for war purposes in time of need. To make the number yet
larger, the Government has called upon all owners of large steamers and
steam yachts to give information of the size and strength of their
vessels, so that they can be added to the reserve list.
There should be a good many available vessels among the many fine yachts
that sail our waters. We are as a nation extremely fond of yachting, and
almost every wealthy man we have possesses a craft of some kind. Many of
these yachts are models of build and speed, and should make excellent
gunboats.
Some people have supposed that this inquiry into the ships available for
war service must mean that we are about to fight Spain, but they are
entirely mistaken. The Navy Department has realized that our navy is our
weakest point, and is doing its best to get it into such a fine
condition that we need not fear any foe either on land or sea.
There is an old proverb which says, "In times of peace prepare for war,"
and a very excellent proverb it is.
The Navy Department is also most anxious to secure more seamen to man
its vessels, and to that end is opening recruiting offices in Chicago
and throughout the West. We need more sailors and more officers to
properly fit out our navy, and the department is making earnest efforts
to secure them.
We are so short-handed at present that the cruiser _Philadelphia_,
returning from Hawaii, was obliged to transfer part of her officers and
crew to the _Baltimore_, which was to take her place at Honolulu. There
were not enough sailors available to man the _Baltimore_ without this
exchange.
* * * * *
It is said that the health of good old Oom Paul is failing, and that he
is not likely to live very long.
In spite of this, the rugged old President of the Transvaal is so
anxious to be re-elected that he is going round the country making
speeches and trying to secure votes, as if he were still a young man.
Oom Paul has three times been made President of the Transvaal. The
presidents of the South African Republic hold office for five years, so
the reins of government have been in this one man's hands for fifteen
years.
He is opposed by General Joubert, the man who beat the English at the
battle of Majuba Hill.
General Joubert is also much beloved by the people, and has twice before
opposed Oom Paul for the office of President, but there is little chance
of any other candidate being elected, so long as Paul Kruger is willing
to run for office.
The Boers have a reverence and love for this great leader of theirs
which is touching. They regard him as the father of their country, and
feel it their duty to support him.
One old man who was asked at the last election whether he meant to vote
for Kruger or Joubert, replied indignantly:
"Paul Kruger is as my father; I am as his son. Do you think I would
disobey him?"
As the majority of the voters in the Transvaal seem to feel in the same
way, there is little doubt that Oom Paul will be re-elected.
* * * * *
There were grave murmurs against the city government the other day.
One morning the papers appeared, telling in indignant words the story
of how the aldermen of the city of New York were about to give away the
right to build a railroad on the Kingsbridge Road.
Now the people who know most about city government think that the
companies who desire the franchise which gives them the right to lay
tracks and run cars through certain streets, should be made to pay a
yearly sum to the city for the privilege.
There has been a good deal of trouble over this Kingsbridge Road
franchise. Two companies have been anxious to secure it, but neither has
offered to pay its real value for it.
The granting of the franchise is done by the vote of the Board of
Aldermen, who pass the resolution much in the same way that Congress
passes a bill, and send their resolution to the Mayor for his signature,
in the same manner that bills are sent to the President.
In the matter of the Kingsbridge Road franchise neither of the companies
made much headway.
Both companies were extremely anxious to get possession of the line, but
the aldermen were equally divided in their favor.
At last a rumor got abroad that in their desire to get a decision the
companies were trying to influence the aldermen.
A few days after this report was spread abroad, people were startled to
learn that the aldermen had reached a decision, and that the franchise
was to be given to the Third Avenue road, for a sum that was nothing
like its real value.
There was a great outcry at once.
The memory of the "Broadway Steal" in 1886 was too fresh in people's
minds for them to be willing that it should be repeated.
The newspapers started the cry, the law was invoked, and the aldermen
were forbidden to pass the franchise for the Kingsbridge Road until the
matter had been looked into.
The aldermen were a good deal startled when these papers were served on
them. They remembered the Broadway trouble, and how three of a former
board of aldermen had been sent to prison, six had had to leave the
country, and four had only saved themselves from punishment by telling
the story of their crimes, and helping the authorities to punish their
fellow-sinners.
The recollection of this worried the aldermen, but they determined to
meet the accusations against them, and asked their lawyer, Mr. Scott, to
go to court, and ask the judge to allow them to grant the franchise.
Mr. Scott, however, refused. He told them that in his opinion they had
not the slightest right to pass that franchise, and he would not go into
court and plead for a thing which he knew to be wrong.
The aldermen, much disturbed at this, decided to let the matter of the
franchise alone, and though there is some talk of looking more closely
into the matter, and finding if any bribery has been attempted by the
railroads, the chances are that now the danger is past the matter will
be allowed to rest.