| 986 Another and still more important part of the drama, is the great loss of human life in many if not all of these great fires. As we have not the list at hand we have to omit the particulars.
We will conclude this hasty article with a few foreign items:
Awful Loss of Life at Yarmouth-Never, since the devastating plague of 1759, has Yarmouth witnessed any calamity like the present. The total number of bodies found, on the last report, was 78, though it is supposed that some thirty or forty more may yet be found. Every one feels as though it were some special judgment, and every countenance is expressive of woe at the lamentable event, and the horrid details that have been narrated at the inquests held upon the bodies.
Snow Storm in Russia.-In the southwest province of Russia, a violent snow storm occurred about the middle of March, which continued for six days. It extended over the governments of Volhynia, Podolia, and the province of Bessarbia, and caused the greatest destruction to life and property. Seventy-six persons are reported to have perished.
Fire and Dreadful loss of life in Spain.-An accident, which produced a most lamentable catastrophe, happened on the 3d ultimo, at Valencia, in Spain. A fire broke out in the premises of a confectioner, but was readily extinguished without any serious consequences; but at a manufactory [manufacturer] of cigars, nearly adjoining, several hundred of young women were employed at the time. A report got among them that the gas pipes had burst, and that they were likely all to be burnt alive. Under the terror of this impression, they all rushed to the doors and staircases, and in the confusion, eighteen were killed, and fifty so seriously injured that they were obliged to be carried to the hospital.
SPIRIT OF THE LAST DAYS.
We give below a frightful sketch from an English paper, to show that the spirit of the last days, like the atmosphere, presses upon the whole globe. The Savior's words are forcible; They will kill one another:
Frightful Fanaticism-There are several Austrian Steamboats which carry passengers from various places to and from Constantinople; particularly Pilgrims, Dervishes and other religious travellers [travelers]. A terrible event lately occurred on board the Austrian Steamer Express, from Trebizond to Constantinople, which exhibits the fanaticism prevailing in that country. She took in passengers at Sinops, and among others, two Dervishes from Candabar, in Affghanistan [Afghanistan], who had been expelled from Trebizond and Samsone. A few hours after the ship had put to sea, the two Dervishes, having first repeated devoutly their prayers before the whole ship's company, rose up with sudden fury. One drew out a pistol, and the other a double-edged dagger or dirk from his girdle, and they both then fell upon the passengers with the most determined purpose of murder. The pistol was fired at a young Greek, who died of the wound he received.-The murderer then drawing his large knife, attacked an Armenian with it, and actually ripped up his belly, killing him on the spot. The next victims were the restaurateur of the vessel and his waiter, who received several severe wounds from the dagger of the other assassin. The agent of the steamboat, hearing some scuffle, went forward to inquire the meaning of it, when he and a sailor who accompanied him were assailed by the furious ruffians, and dangerously wounded-the agent without hope of recovery. All this passed in a few seconds of time. Nobody aboard was armed, and the scene of terror and confusion among the crew and the passengers surpassed all description.-The captain was writing in his cabin when the alarm reached him. He showed great presence of mind. He recollected that on one of he paddle-boxes there was a musket with a bayonet. He sprang at once upon the paddle-box, detached the bayonet from the gun, and with his weapon fell upon the most furious of the Dervishes. He pierced him through the neck and fell dead upon the deck. At the same time, one of the ship's engineers dashed out the brains of the other by beating him about the head with a bucket. The struggle for a few minutes between the two fiends and their assailants was terrible. Five, including the Dervishes, in this frantic assault of fanaticism, were killed, and four others wounded. The Dervishes were supposed to be mad with opium; and considered the murder of Gleours as a high-religious act of self-devotion, for they must have known that they were thereby rushing to inevitable death themselves.
SPEECH OF ELDER H. C. KIMBALL,
DELIVERED JUNE 1ST 1845.
REPORTED BY G. D. WATT.
I would wish the congregation to get seats as much as possible, and be perfectly still, for it will be with great difficulty that I can speak to be heard by this vast congregation without perfect order. Those that are on the outside cannot hear without perfect order, for no man, who has to speak to such a large congregation from this stand, but needs the prayers and faith of
(page 986) |
