Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/473

 1899.] CHEONICLE. 49

7. The revision of the Dreyfus trial commenced at Rennes, when the prisoner was subjected to public examination. Complete order prevailed.

— A terrific cyclone swept over Dominica, Puerto Rico, and Guade- loupe, doing great damage to property, but the shipping, having been warned, escaped ; but at Montserrat, St. Kitts and Antigua the loss of life and the destruction of property were very serious.

— A trestle bridge accident occurred near Stratford, Connecticut, a car falling into a pond, causing the death of over twenty persons, and serious injuries to as many more.

— H.M. battleship Scum Pcvreil, in the Channel, returning from the manoeuvres came, in to collision with a schooner, which sank at once, but the crew with the exception of one man was saved.

8. The amateur swimming championship decided at Leicester in favour of J. A. Jarvis, who swam a mile in 25 min. 13f sec. — the fastest time on record.

— The Legislative Assembly and Council of Victoria, the Leg- islative Council of South Australia, and the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, adopted the proposal praying for the adoption of the Australian Commonwealth Bill as an Imperial Act of Parlia- ment.

— At Valparaiso a tidal wave burst into the bay, carrying away a great part of the railway depdt and embankment, and causing damage estimated at several millions of dollars.

9. The Canada-Atlantic fast express bound from Montreal to Ottawa jumped the track when running at full speed. Three cars were wrecked, seven persons being killed and ten injured.

— Serious disturbances occurred in various parts of Bessarabia, in consequence of the distress of the peasants, due to the prevailing drought. Collisions with the troops took place at several places, en- tailing much loss of life.

— After a period of inactivity the American troops under General McArthur attacked a large force of Filippinos, near San Fernando, and drove them back with great loss.

— Parliament prorogued at 2 p.m. by royal commission, the Appropriation Bill having been read a third time in the House of Commons at a morning sitting, and passed through the Lords without delay.

10. The Queen at Osborne inspected the Portsmouth Volunteers in camp at Ashley.

~ The Transvaal Raad passed an amendment of the Grondvet, reorganising the Executive, but refused to remove religious disabilities without an appeal to the burghers.

-— The gas-stokers and lamp-lighters of Paris, to the number of about 1,200, struck work for an increase of pay, but the lighting of the capital was not seriously affected thereby. Q {