Events of the Month

EVENTS OF THE MONTH. BY THOMAS HULL, SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL BOARD OF Y. M. M. I. A. July 15th: Salt Lake City, by vote of the people, decided to bond the city for $250,000 for water facilities. * * * JqI^ Thomas, Smithfield, died in Pocatello, aged eighty-five years. 16th: The allied forces were defeated at Tien Tsin on the 13th with heavy losses. Col. E. H. Liscum, of the 7th U. S. Infantry, is among the dead. Admiral Seymour was compelled to kill his wounded to save them from torture. Three thousand Chinese who petitioned to spare foreigners were reported massacred by order of Prince Tuan. 17th: The soldiers at Fort Douglas receive orders to leave for China. * * * The allied forces capture Tien Tsin suffering a loss of about eight hundred men. * * * It is reported China has declared war against Russia. 20th: Washington received the following message from Minister Conger: "In British Legation. Under continued shot and shell from Chinese troops. Quick relief only can prevent general massacre." The message is not dated, but it is understood was sent from Peking on the 18th. * * * It is reported that thousands of Chinamen were incinerated in the burning of the Walled City, Tien Tsin. * * * Bishop William John Lewis, Provo, born Swansea, Wales, September 10, 1831, died. * * * The Christian Endeavor Convention of the world closed its sessions, held since the 13th. Attendance at the various meetings in the Alexandra Palace, London, ranged from twenty to fifty thousand. Representatives were present from societies in all parts of the world. 22nd: The corner stone of the Catholic Cathedral was laid in Salt Lake City, by Bishop Scanlan, the sermon being delivered by Archbishop Riordan. * * * President McKinley has received what purports to be a direct appeal from the Chinese imperial government to use his good offices to extricate that government from the position in

EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 877 which it has been placed as a result of the Boxer uprisings. It is an adroitly worded document. 23rd: There is a rebellion in Colombia: Colon has fallen into the hands of the rebels, and been retaken by government troops. Panama is also in the hands of the rebels. 24th: The exercises in the final unveiling of the Brigham Young Monument was attended by over three thousand people. Addresses were given by President Geo. Q. Cannon, Secretary of State Jas. T. Hammond, and Sculptor C. E. Dallin. The unveiling of the added figures was by Miss Margaret Young, a great-granddaughter of Prest. B. Young. * * * The United States has answered the Chinese appeal for mediation, and is awaiting the Chinese answer to terms — which must convey tidings of the welfare of the legations and the state of affairs at Pekin. * * * The Powers decide that there will be no partition of China. 25th: Several thousand men will be employed in railroad work; in straightening curves, raising track, and cutting grades on the east end of the Southern Pacific Railway. * * * ]^j.g_ g^rah Hanks, aged eighty-four, an old resident of Bountiful, died from the effects of burns accidentally received. * * * It is reported that Neeley, chief of the bureau of finance of postal supplies, Cuba, and his collusionists, Rathbone and Reeves, have managed to steal over $150,- 000. * * * Admiral Kerapff's report on why he did not take part in the Battle of Taku, is made public. 26th: Smelters of Salt Lake Valley are reducing about twenty thousand tons of ore monthly; there are eight thousand men and three thousand teams engaged in the improvement of railways in this region. * * * There were serious race riots in Louisiana; the state militia was ordered out. * * * Ex-Director of Posts Rathbone, Havana, has been ordered arrested, by Secretary Root. 27th: Emperor William made a fierce speech to his troops for China, telling them to spare nobody, and make no prisoners of Chinese. * * * American Missionaries are reported massacred at Pao-Ting-Fu. 28th: Prof. J.S. Linford was elected President of B.Y. College, Logan. * * * The Republican State Central Committee decided to hold the State Convention at Provo, September 4, consisting' of four hundred and ninety-eight delegates. W. K. Walton resigned as chairman and E. H. Callister was chosen as successor. * * -x QgQ_ Cornwallis West and Lady Churchill were married. * * * It is now conceded that the foreign ministers, except Ketteler, were safe July 24, but the Powers have decided to move on Pekin, notwithstanding the telegram from Li Hung Chang, that such action is unnecessary.

878 IMPROVEMENT ERA. . 29th: Geo. H. Burgett, paying teller of the Ogden State Bank, fell three hundred feet from a cliff in Pine Canyon, and was killed. * * * King Humbert of Italy was assisinated at Manza,, near Milan, by an anarchist, Angello Bresci, a former resident of Patterson, N. J. * * * Prinslos, a Boer general, with five thousand men surrender to the British. 30th: Italy mourns the death of her beloved monarch. 31st: The Utah mine dividends amounted to $237,500. * * * John Clark Ridpath, the historian, died in New York. * * * Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, second son of Queen Victoria, and duke of Saxe-Coburg Gotha, and duke of Edinburg, died at Coburg. He was born August, 6, 1844. August 1st: A light earthquake tremor was felt at Provo and points thereabout. * * * Haworth was sentenced by Judge Rolapp to be shot on September 14, for the murder of Thomas Sandall at Layton. * * * fpjjg Chinese government is doing all in its power to have the advance of the allied troops on Pekin stopped, and to this end is practicing infamous duplicity. The force, 20,000 strong, with 170 guns advanced from Shaghai on Pekin. 2nd: The war in South Africa has cost about four hundred million dollars. * * * An attempt was made to assassinate the Shah of Persia in Paris. * * * fjjg Chinese troops marching from Pekin to intercept tne allied forces, destroy a town and massacre thousands of native Christians. * * * Nathan Young, 73 years of age, a nephew of Brigham Young, after fifty years absence, returns to Utah. 3rd: The ministers are held as hostages by the Chinese government, the allied forces are 35 miles on the way to Pekin from Tien Tsin; all messages to and from ministers are refused by Chinese authorities on account of the advance. 4th: Mrs. May Brown Spencer, County Recorder, Utah Co., died in Provo. * * * ^j.g^ Harry B. Windsor of Salt Lake was accidentally shot and killed while on an outing trip near Coalville. * * * Sixteen American soldiers were ambushed and killed by Filipinos, near San Isidro, Luzon. 5th: Mrs. Anna Wintsch, born in Switzerland, 1819, died in Manti, Sanpete County. * * * ^ belated message from Minister Conger dated July 21, reports legations well, with enough provisions, and no fighting since July 16. * * * W. J. Fay of California was shot dead by robbers who looted two sleeping cars on the U. P. Railroad, near Hugo, Colorado.

EVENTS OF THE MONTH. 879 6th: Jabez Taylor, born in England, October 8, 1833, came to Salt Lake City, in 1853, died. * * * Yxa^^k B. LeFevre, Orton, Garfield County, was killed by lightning yesterday. * * * About 16,000 allies heavily engaged Chinese at daylight yesterday at Pei Tsang, twelve miles from Tsin Tein, with loss to the former 1200, chiefly Russian and Japanese, while the Chinese casualties are estimated at about 7000. American troops were also engaged with the allies. Chinese were routed and the city taken. 7th: Alfred Nilson the musician and singer, born in Lund, Sweden, 1852, died at his home in Bonneville, Davis County. * * * ^he Brigham Young Academy exploring expedition is in camp across the Mexican border awaiting settlement with government custom agents before proceeding. * * * Hon. Charles A. Towne declined the Populist nomination for Vice President. * * * ^he following was received from Conger: Tsi Nan Yamen, August 7. Secretary of State, Washington: Still besieged. Position more precarious. Chinese Goverment insisting on our leaving Pekin, which would be certain death. Rifle-firing upon us daily by imperial troops. Have abundant courage but little ammunition or provisions. Two progressive yamen ministers beheaded. All connected with legation of United States well at the present moment. Conger. 8th: Bryan and Stevenson were officially notified of their nomination by the Kansas City Convention for President and Vice-President; the ceremony at Indianapolis, Indiana, being an occasion of popular demonstration, and the inauguration of the Democratic campaign. 9th: The Black Hawk war veterans held a reunion at Lake Shore, Utah County. * * * The Brigham Young Academy Expedition s to be made smaller and to be reorganized to consist of about ten; this is owing to the expenses. Congressman King is trying to obtain concessions for the expedition through Secretary of State Hay. 10th: Hon. William Creer, born Preston,England,February 18,1836 a prominent citizen of Spanish Fork, died; also Alma Harris age 68, one of the oldest residents of Logan, died. He was born in Ohio, June 6 1832. * * * The 5th annual reunion of the Pacific Island misi sionaries was held at Saltair, a leading feature of the program being an address by President George Q. Cannon. ♦ * * The annual report of the commissioners of pensions, ending June 30, shows 836 pensioners

880 IMPROVEMENT ERA. in Utah who were paid for the year $138,251; there were 796 last year who received $188,778. * * * ^n Imperial edict appoints Li Hung Chang 'minister plenipotentiary to sue for peace. '^ * * The Hugo train robbers were both killed near Goadland, Kansas. 11th: Martha Geddes, a pioneer of Plain City, Weber County, died, aged 64 years. * * * The United States will pay no attention to the appeal of the viceroys of Southern China to have this country use its influence against landing troops at Shanghai. * * * General Chaffee notifies Admiral Reymey that the intense heat about Yang Tsung along the Pei Ho is killing many soldiers. * * * The Czar is reported to have accepted the offer of China to escort the Russian legation from Pekin to Tien Tsin. * * * King Victor Emanuel HI took the formal oath of office before the Italian parliament, as successor to King Humbert. 12th: Heavy mountain and brush fires are burning in various parts of the state. * * * The Valley Electric Railway from Salt Lake to Ogden forfeited its franchise. , 13th: The Utah Bedding and Manufacturing Plant, Salt Lake City, burned, loss about $18,000. * * * The appropriations of the first session of the 56th Congress aggregate $710,150,862.88, of which the largest bill is for pensions, $145,245,230: over one hundred and fourteen millions are for the army, and sixty-five millions for the navy. 14th: Collis P. Huntington, the President of the Southern Pacific Railway, born October 22, 1821, in Harrington, Connecticut, died suddenly at his camp. Pine Knot, in the Adirondacks. * * * The allied forces are within a short distance of Pekin. * * * The steamer Deutsehland made a new record for ocean liners between New York and Plymouth, by three hours and twenty-one minutes: time 5 days, 11 hours, 45 minutes, 16th: The 13th annual session of the Methodists was opened. The annual sermon was delivered by Rev. E. G. Hunt. * * * L. D. Bunce, a pioneer of Manti, died at Price, age seventy-four. * * * Ex-Senator John J. Ingalls, of Kansas, died in Las Vegas, New Mexico.