21 August - 26 August 1865
This week in the London Times
Monday 21 August
Brasilian forces make a stand at the little village of San Borja on the 10th of June. They were overwhelmed by the superior forces from Paraguay. A force of 8,000 men descended upon the tiny 130 Brasilian resistance. The small force suffered severe losses and the rich countryside was burned. On the 26th of June, Colonel Fernandez skirmished with the Paraguayan vanguard. He was reinforced by Colonel Mesquita's brigade, resulting in a total victory.
It has been reported that the Confederate ship Shenandoah has stopped seizing American ships in the Pacific.
DISASTER
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FAILURE OF THE TRANSATLANTIC TELEGRAPH CABLE
The third attempt to lay a telegraph cable across the Atlantic has resulted in failure. Engineers believe, however, that the failure can be accounted for this time, though the Great Cable experiment may still still require some time to fix. Much of the experiment relies upon humanity's knowledge of the ocean itself, "...the Atlantic Ocean itself has been despoiled of all its mysteries. Hitherto the Ocean had been among the infinities; now we seem to know all about it. We can sound its depth; we can dredge its oozy bed; we can recover the wreck heretofore supposed to be engulfed there forever... Nay, it has now been demonstrated that our electricians can indicate almost to the mile the very point where an inch of wire perforates a cable lying under the mid-Atlantic." This immense project - one that secures English genius - continues!
A number of disease cattle was transported upon a South-Western railway train last Friday. Many fear that this spread of disease demonstrates a failure in the preventative measures taken against such an occurrence. Foreign cattle remain a danger to English herds. Contagion is expected.
The cholera epidemic in Spain has subsided.
The Suez Canal has been opened. Emperor Napoleon has sent a letter of congratulations regarding this great event.
Despite the great prevalence of diseased cattle in English ports, Liverpool seems to have escaped contagion so far. This success in protocol has been attributed to excellent adherence to policies by both officials and private individuals.
The United States of America has begun the next stage of post-war reorganization. The Southern States must elect convention members to revisit their state constitutions. While many Southern leaders encourage the citizens to follow the laws which they must obey, pride seems to keep many Southerners from being able to move forward. As an act of humility and unity, General Lee has petitioned the United States Government for a pardon since many of the soldiers under him would never do so unless he had done so first.
While little is known of cholera, treatment can be effective if taken in time. Diarrhoea is the most common first symptom, but is so slight as to rarely warrant a trip to the chymist's shop or the hospital. If treatment was made readily available for all people, cholera outbreak might be very preventable.
Tuesday 22 August
Fenians, members of the Irish independence movement, have been accused of overusing intimidation tactics. One woman in Dangan was modded and ill-treated by a group last week. She has finally recovered enough to report the incident to the police last Friday.
The French War-Office has shown great interest in the improvement of firearms. It requests and rewards the private invention for the advancement of military science.
A story of the dignity and carriage of the English abroad follows. The English are not required to show passports while in France. This is easy to do because the English - even those foreign born, but fully naturalised - can be easily picked out of a crowd or line-up.
THE VISIT OF THE FRENCH FLEET TO PORTSMOUTH
The two great maritime powers, the French and the English, are visiting different ports in a demonstration of civility and good-feeling.
Many worry about the current cotton supply from America. One correspondent writes:
The question of the supply of cotton in the South still agitates American circles, and there is a general belief expressed that the free receipts of cotton as witnessed for a few weeks past at New York and New Orleans will soon fall off.
The price of cotton has not yet dropped, despite the influx of supply. It is felt that much of the commodity is being held back by want to good transportation into markets.
Cholera has hit Smyrna and Constantinople. The local bank is soliciting subscriptions for relief for the outbreak.
LEAD POISONING
Metal contamination has been discovered in drinking water. Wells have been relatively unaffected. However, water drawn by lead pipes and pumps is suspected. A recent outbreak in a rural area has traced the poisoning to "tinned kettles" when they are used to boil water for tea. A test for lead in water is readily available for those with any chemical background.
THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH COMPANY
The several boards of the companies interested in the Atlantic Telegraph Cable held meetings yesterday to consider their position under the temporary disappointment which has occurred. Of course, at so short a notice no specific course has been definitely settled, but we are at liberty to state that a spirit of the utmost confidence in the realization of a great success during the spring of next year prevailed in every quarter.
The West London Industrial Exhibition closed its proceeding with a song yesterday evening.
Wednesday 23 August
The British Archaeological Association has begun its 22nd meeting in Durham yesterday afternoon.
The cholera epidemic shows few resemblances to ancient plagues which have spread from India into Europe. It appears to be mainly a Mediterranean disease, mostly, and there is some hope for immunity in England.
A story of the lawlessness of the Irish follows. It compares the recent Irish/Fenian conflicts with having that reckless relative that one simply cannot stand to be around.
There is a deepening sense that Americans harbor resentment towards the English for their treatment during the recent war. Thoughts of conflict are simmering, especially in relation to the aristocratic classes of the British Isles.
The Government of India has sent a dispatch to the Rajah of Bootan. However, it is feared that the ultimatum was written too civilly for the "savages of the hills," and therefore did not convey the threat appropriately.
Suggestions for laying the next telegraph cable follow.
Thursday 24 August
It appears that the canal opened, reported earlier by the Times, was not the Suez Canal.
Current Southern opinions, thoughts, and conditions of living are of great concern to the American people right now. North and South are beginning to intermingle again. However, some believe that the North is acting too harshly upon the Southerners in their victory.
A discourse on the technical aspects of slack in the Atlantic telegraph cable follows.
Yesterday, while gathering gravel, a number of men discovered an entire human skeleton. It was buried face down only two feet underground. The man seems to have been of middle age and set there a number of years ago. It is assumed that the man was related to the Shoort's-Hill tragedy.
MURDER OF THREE CHILDREN
A woman killed her three children yesterday morning. The act occurred at Skin-market-place alley, Bankside, Southwark. The husband came back home after work in the early morning to find his wife and three children in bed. After leaving and returning, he heard his wife call out "I have killed them at last!" All three children were found with their throats cut. The woman has confessed to the crime.
Friday 25 August
More discussion of the methods for recovering the Transatlantic Telegraph Cable follows.
One person connects the recent activity in Ireland to the introduction of diseased cattle, " the alarm raised here is enough to justify an absolute panic there."
The complaint of animosity towards England from the Americans is further examined. It seems as though many different classes of Americans do hold ill-feelings towards the English, even those of high rank and of moderate leanings. This is a serious situation. However, there seem to be no solid grounds for the grievances and, when pressed, they can give no adequate justification for retribution or war. What could be the cause of this sentiment, then?
The Americans, we are told, are keenly and almost morbidly sensitive to the opinions of foreigners, and especially of Englishmen. They wince under criticism, and pine for sympathy and encouragement. They have had neither, but have, on the contrary, been incessantly subjected to ridicule and sarcasm. Tourists have crossed the Atlantic only to laugh at them, and have actually impeded by their scoffing the work of a rising nation. We Englishmen have been the greatest sinners.
THE MURDER OF MAJOR F H DE VERE, ROYAL ENGINEERS
Major De Vere was mortally wounded while on duty by one of his own officers.
The cholera epidemic in Constantinople has been slowly decreasing.
ACCIDENTS IN COAL MINES - Reports indicate that 864 lives were lost last year from coal mining accidents. That means one out of every 354 men working in the industry have died from labor tragedy. Tunnel collapse is the major source of death.
Saturday 26 August
Three more letters as to the technical recovery and repair of the telegraph cable follow.
The English Government has yielded to public opinion in Ireland and forbidden any import of English cattle into any Irish port. While very few numbers of cattle are imported into Ireland from England, the measure is seen as doing little harm overall, while possibly averting a large - though unlikely - disaster.
News from China seems inconsistent. One source reports that the rebellion has been ended while another reports that the rebels have taken Pekin. This is natural as China seems to be in constant rebellion nowadays. All of the sources could, in fact, be true as once one rebellion ends, another begins.
The political relationship between England and Canada seem to be on the path to slow avoidance. As described in the article, "...there are several untrodden regions of astronomical science that an Englishman is more likely to enter upon than an inquiry of the connexion between England and Canada."
Ships coming from Constantinople are now subject to three days quarantine by the Moldo-Wallachian Government due to cholera.
A report follows regarding the relationship between atmospheric ozone and cholera. It might have been confirmed that ozone reacts with a proto-chemical that carries the agent that causes cholera. Recent levels of ozone have been very low. While ozone may be produced chemically, it is capable of killing animals, so careful administration is required.
Details of the Bankside murders follow.
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