PART II. CHRONICLE OF EVENTS IN 1894. JANUARY. 1. The Manchester Ship Canal, which had been ten years in course of construction and had cost 15,000,000l., formally opened by a long procession of boats and steamers, which traversed the entire length of the canal in four and a half hours. In the House of Commons Mr. Gladstone announced that an understanding had been arrived at with the Opposition, by which, in view of mutual concessions, the business of the session might be promptly closed. Domiciliary visits paid to prominent Anarchists in various parts of France, and upwards of 2,000 arrests made in Paris, Rouen, Lyons, Havre, Lille and other centres, under the new law of public safety. 2. The Globe Theatre at Boston, Mass., totally gutted by a fire which raged unchecked for several hours, causing damage estimated at a million dollars. The forces acting under Colonel Ellis in Sierra Leone defeated a large force of Sofas at Bagwema and set free 400 slaves. The Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath conferred upon the Ameer of Afghanistan. The Spanish police arrested at Saragossa a prominent Anarchist named Franch, supposed to have been the author of the bomb explosion in the Liceo Theatre at Barcelona. When arrested Franch made a determined attempt to commit suicide, first by shooting and then by poison. 3. Dr. Gregg, the newly elected Primate of Ireland, enthroned at Armagh Cathedral in presence of a large gathering of clergy and laity. - Mr. Rhodes reached Cape Town on his return from Matabeleland and was received with great enthusiasm by the population and with much ceremony by the leading officials. He said, in reply to an address, that he knew his duty, and would defend constitutionally the cause of the people of South Africa against any unfair treatment from England. After a long continuance of mild weather, a sharp frost accompanied by a strong north-east wind set in, prevailing over the greater part of Europe. At Vienna the thermometer suddenly fell to 12 degrees below freezing point (Réaumur), and in England as many degrees (Fahrenheit) were marked, with A severe snowstorms amounting to blizzards throughout the country, especially on the South coast, where the mail service with the Continent was interrupted and many wrecks occurred. The highest temperature in Europe was telegraphed from Alvö, a station within the Arctic circle. 4. A royal decree issued at Rome proclaiming a state of siege over the Island of Sicily, and placing full powers in the hands of the new Prefect of Palermo, General Morra di Lavriano. Conflicts with the authorities, often attended with loss of life, took place at various spots, in consequence of the establishment of octroi duties on a number of small towns, hitherto free. In the House of Commons the whole of the remaining clauses, 45-71, of the Parish Councils Bill, excepting those postponed, disposed of in committee. At Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A., a fire broke out, and before it could be extinguished destroyed the Chamber of Commerce and many other public buildings valued at a million dollars. 5. The fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of the literary career of Moritz Jokai celebrated throughout Hungary, the national festival lasting three days. A fire broke out in one of the dormitories of the Victoria Hospital for Chest Diseases on the north side of London and speedily spread to the main building. There were about 160 patients in the hospital, of whom upwards of thirty were in the rooms attacked, but all were removed safely to other parts of the building. On the following day a fire, unattended by serious results, broke out at the Royal Free Hospital, Gray's Inn Road. The Pope addressed a letter to the Bishop of Autun, reiterating his admonition to French Catholics to accept the Republic. 6. A storehouse in the Rue Richer, used for the scenery of the Paris Opera, caught fire, and in consequence of the frost great delay occurred before a supply of water could be obtained. The scenery of twenty operas, valued at 800,000 francs, was totally destroyed. The democratic caucus of the Washington Congress, in view of the difficulty in obtaining a quorum in the House, passed a resolution calling upon the Serjeant-at-Arms to take into custody and produce before the House of Representatives all members absent without leave. - A grand banquet given at Cape Town to the Premier, Mr. Cecil Rhodes, on his return. All the leading members of the Opposition as well as of the Government party attended. Mr. Rhodes in his speech said that he had always held that the Hinterland was a reversion to the Cape. The traditional prayer recited in all Russian churches on Christmas day since 1812, anathematising the French, omitted by direction of the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg. 7. The French Senatorial elections for one-third of the body showed a slight increase in the Radical element. M. Floquet, who had failed to secure a seat as a Deputy, was elected a Senator, and M. Waddington, who had for ten years been Ambassador to England, was defeated at Laon. The Senate was made up of 225 Republicans, 43 Reactionaries, 23 Radicals, and 4 "Rallied." 8. At a final meeting of the Volunteer Patriotic Fund at the Mansion House, Alderman Sir J. Whitehead, ex-lord mayor, stated that 41,8971. had been raised to provide what was deficient in the equipment of the volunteers and pay off the debts incurred for that purpose. All the charges had been met and a balance of 720l. was divided among the corps. 9. A fire broke out in the buildings of the World's Fair, Chicago, by which the Casino and Music Hall were completely destroyed. The manufacturers' building was next attacked and some damage was done to the remaining exhibits, chiefly French. At a general assembly of the Royal Academy Mr. J. Bramley and Mr. J. S. Sargent, painters, and Mr. J. Frampton, sculptor, were elected Associates. A serious collision took place at Prague between the police and a mob who were attempting to disturb the peace and to loot the shops. - In the House of Commons the committee stage of the Parish Councils Bill brought to a close after having occupied nearly forty days. 10. At the Seine Assize Court the Anarchist Vaillant tried and convicted of attempted murder by throwing a bomb into the hall of the Chamber of Deputies on December 9, 1893. After half an hour's deliberation the jury found him guilty and he was sentenced to death. - A gentleman named Lindus followed his wife to the office of her solicitors in the Old Jewry, where he shot her and one of the partners, inflicting dangerous wounds. A fire broke out in one of the principal streets of Patras and was dealt with so leisurely by the inhabitants that a large section of the town was destroyed before the flames were arrested. 11. The polling of the Horncastle division of Lincolnshire, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Hon. E. Stanhope (C.), resulted in the return of Lord Willoughby d'Eresby (C.) by 4,582 votes against 3,744 polled by Mr. Torr (L.). The Belgian Ministry, having failed to obtain from the Right of the Chamber adequate concessions on proportional representations, one of the points of the new constitutional reforms, tendered their resignation. 12. A French expeditionary column under General Bornier, which had been operating in the Western Soudan, whilst approaching Timbuctoo was attacked during the night by a large force of Tuaregs, and completely annihilated. The total loss of the French was eleven officers and seventyfive men, chiefly Senegalese. The Chancellor of the Exchequer in answer to a deputation, headed by Lord Aberdare, promised a grant of 3,000l. to the new university for Wales, established by Royal Charter. A memorial in favour of a "Democratic Budget," signed by ninetyfour Radical members of the House of Commons, presented to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The House of Commons adjourned for a month, during which the House of Lords was to consider the Parish Councils Bill and other matters. 13. Mr. Gladstone, accompanied by Mrs. Gladstone, left town for Biarritz, where they arrived on the following morning. By a serious fire which broke out in the Caledonian Road, King's Cross, the mills, factory, and stores of Thorley's food for cattle were almost wholly destroyed. The customary New Year's Day reception and other ceremonies at the Russian Court were suddenly countermanded in consequence of the indisposition of the Emperor and his son the Archduke George. A 100 mile bicycle race between Arthur Linton, the English champion, and the Frenchman Dubois resulted in the victory of the former by about 420 yards. 15. In the Chamber of Deputies the French Minister of Finance brought in a bill to convert 4 per cent. stock to 3 per cent. The expense of conversion was about 150,000l. and the saving of interest about 2,800,000l. per annum. A serious railway accident occurred on a branch of the Delaware Railway near Jersey City, U.S. A., by which fifteen persons were killed and at least twenty-five seriously injured; the "Orange" express running into the end of the "Dover" express, of which the rear carriages were completely smashed. Serious disturbances occurred in the Cariaco district, and in the conflicts which ensued between the troops and the mob the latter suffered severely. 16. The annual conference of the Miners' Federation, attended by delegates representing 206,000 miners, opened at Leicester by Mr. S. Woods, M.P., and cordially welcomed by the mayor and corporation. At a general assembly of the Royal Academy Mr. John M. Swan and Mr. Arthur Hacker, painters, elected Associates. The session of the Prussian Diet opened by the German Emperor, who, referring to the deficiencies in the Estimates, urged the necessity of a reorganisation of the financial system of the empire. A Catholic congress largely attended by delegates from many places outside the empire met at Buda-Pesth under the presidency of Cardinal Vaszary, the Hungarian Primate. Resolutions were carried condemnatory of the ecclesiastical measures of the Government. 17. The funeral of M. Waddington at Père Lachaise was preceded by a service at the Protestant Church, at which M. Spuller the Minister of Education, M. Léon Say and others delivered speeches. A state of siege proclaimed in the province of Massa-Carrara and General Hensch appointed to administer the district. The Banca Generale of Rome with branches at Milan and Genoa compelled to apply for a moratorium in consequence of the continuous withdrawal of current accounts. 18. The Czarina, accompanied by the Czarevitch, in the absence of the Czar, and attended by the whole Court, was present at the ceremony of blessing the waters of the Neva. 18. In the Prussian Landtag, Dr. Miquel produced the Budget for 189394 and the Estimates for 1894-95, the former showing a deficit of 2,840,000l. and the latter an excess of proposed expenditure over anticipated income of 3,510,000l. Mr. Jabez S. Balfour, managing director of the Liberator Building and other societies, who had absconded a year previously, arrested at Salta in the province of Jujuy, Buenos Ayres, by the British Consul. 19. The French Senate by 132 to 84 votes agreed to give the franchise at elections of the Tribunal of Commerce to women engaged in business. The Miners' Federation Conference before closing its proceedings passed a resolution in favour of the nationalisation of miners of all descriptions throughout the country. A run on the State Savings Bank, lasting over two hours, occurred at Rome, but the depositors finding themselves repaid without delay ceased to make withdrawals. The Banca Popolare at Alessandria, however, with liabilities exceeding 2,000,000 lire applied for a moratorium of six months. The Government of India notified that they would not maintain the limit of 1s. 3 d. for bills of exchange which had been laid down, but would accept tenders at the market price. 20. In the German Reichstag the representatives from Würtemberg protested against the imposition of a wine tax, proposed by the Government, as being a violation of promises given in 1870. A conference of representatives of the coal and iron industries in the West of England was held at the invitation and under the presidency of the Bishop of Durham, with the view to establishing a provisional Board of Conciliation. He was warmly supported by representatives of both employers and miners. 21. The ex-King Milan of Servia suddenly arrived at Belgrade notwithstanding the decree of his banishment having not been repealed. The Ministry under General Gruitch at once resigned, and two members of the previous Cabinet, although under impeachment, were summoned to confer with the King. 22. The Secretary of State at Washington informed the British and Belgian Governments that the United States Government would not take the initiative in reconvening the International Monetary Conference. In consequence of the criticism passed on the Egyptian frontier force by the Khedive, General Kitchener, the Sirdar, tendered his resignation, which, however, he subsequently withdrew at the Khedive's request. - One of the German Emperor's aides-de-camp, Count von Moltke, visited Prince Bismarck at Friedrichsruhe with an autograph letter from the Emperor and a present of old wine from the imperial cellars. 23. A Royal decree issued authorising an increase of the note circulation of the Banks of Italy, Naples and Sicily to the extent of 5,000,000l. to be covered by a metallic reserve of one-third at the time of issue, and of twofifths later. Sir Henry Roscoe, M.P., appointed to the the vacancy in the Senate of the London University caused by the death of Sir Wm. Smith. |