EVENTS OF 1883

French Fleet Bombards Hova Forts-French Seize Tamatave-Annamites Defeat and Kill Rivère-Troops and Ironclads are Despatched to Tonquin - Death of Wagner, the Composer - Haitian Rebels Seize Jacmel-Brooklyn Bridge is Opened-Work is Pushed on Panama Canal-Anarchy Prevails in Armenia-Coronation of Alexander III is Followed by Riots in St. Petersburg-Death of Henri V, Bourbon Pretender-Haitian Rebels Sack Port-au-Prince and Loot Foreign Stores-French Consul Asks France to Interfere Death of Rebel Leader-William I Unveils Germania Statue-Police Prevent Plot to Assassinate Him-Fire Destroys Belgian Parliament Houses-Peru Sues Chile for Peace-She Cedes ProvincesDeath of Turgényev, Russian Novelist-Klebs and Loeffler Discover Diphtheria Bacillus Volcanic Eruption Devastates Krakatoa.

T

HE friendly offices of England as mediator between France and Madagascar were declined in January. Soon after this the French man-of-war "Flore," carrying the flag of Admiral Pierre, arrived off Tamatave. An ultimatum, demanding the recognition of all rights claimed by the French, was forwarded to the Prime Minister at Antananarivo. On June 10, after a negative reply, the French fleet of six vessels opened fire on the forts. Soon afterward the Hovas withdrew, and on June 14 the French hoisted their flag and declared martial law.

During several months the Tonquin question was left in abeyance. Despite the protests of the Chinese, desultory fighting between the Black Flags and the French troops was resumed. In May Commandant Rivère made a sortie from Hanoi with but 150 men. He met the enemy on ground covered with bamboo, from which the Annamites shot down Rivère and his troops. After this disaster three ironclads were despatched from Quiberon, Brest, and Corfu, to be followed by other vessels. Reenforcements were sent to Tonquin by the Governor of Cochin-China, and troops were also despatched from New Caledonia.

1883

DEATH OF WAGNER

On February 13 Richard Wagner, the most original dramatic composer of the nineteenth century, died at Venice. His first opera to be performed was "Rienzi," at Dresden, in 1842. Its success was so great that the management was induced to bring out the "Flying Dutchman" early next year. The originality of this opera raised a storm of opposition, which raged from then on throughout the civilized world, as one after another of Wagner's new works appeared. Among these may be mentioned "Tannhäuser," "Tristan und Isolde," "Lohengrin," "Die Meistersinger," and the cycle of "The Ring of Niebelungs." The turning-point of Wagner's career came in 1864, when the young King Louis II of Bavaria invited him to Munich with promises of royal aid for all his projects. In 1870, having divorced his first wife, he married Cosima, the daughter of Liszt, after her divorce from Hans von Bülow. In the meanwhile the King of Bavaria built for him the famous opera house at Bayreuth. Wagner's last years were spent in the completion of his last dramatic composition, "Parsifal." In novelty of effect, rhythmic variety and thematic treatment, Wagner's music stands unexampled in the history of music up to his time.

During the latter part of March an insurrection broke out in Haiti, and the outskirts of the town of Miragoane were seized by the rebels. They in turn were attacked by the Government troops, but the latter were defeated. The place was subsequently bombarded, but again the regular troops were repulsed with the loss of two vessels and many men. The rebels then seized Jacmel and held nearly the whole of the

western coast.

In the United States, during this interval, popular rejoicings were held over the opening of the great suspension bridge spanning the East River between New York and Brooklyn. The cost of the bridge had been $15,500,000. Measuring 5,989 feet, it exceeded the length of all other sus

CORONATION OF ALEXANDER III

1883

pension bridges then in existence. When the bridge was thrown open to the public, such crowds attempted to cross it that a number of persons were killed in the crush. Peter Cooper, the great philanthropist, died in New York, where he had served as Mayor. His fame is commemorated in the great mechanic institute of New York bearing his name. The year was otherwise notable for the successful labor strikes of American telegraph operators and glass blowers.

The construction of the Panama Canal went on so steadily this year that De Lesseps and others of its promoters predicted the completion of the Canal within five years. Prior to this the engineers had been chiefly occupied with preliminary labors. Now more than 10,000 laborers were engaged, and this number was soon increased to 15,000.

Complete anarchy prevailed in Armenia. The Turkish authorities lost all control over the province. Trade caravans were persistently pillaged and foreign consuls were insulted. The tribe of Malisson, numbering 60,000, made a raid on Scutari, but were repulsed by the Turkish troops. In Russia the long-delayed coronation of Emperor Alexander III was celebrated in May at Moscow. All the sovereigns and Governments of Europe were represented at this magnificent display, which lasted from May 27 to June 2. The event called forth manifestations of loyalty from all parts of the Empire. In liberal circles keen disappointment was felt at the new Czar's silence on the subject of liberal reforms. On the day after the coronation, riots broke out at St. Petersburg.

In the meantime the Comte de Chambord (Henri V) died, on August 24, at Frohsdorf. As the son of the Duc de Berri, and grandson of Charles X, he was the head of the elder branch of the Bourbons. No princes of the House of Orleans attended his funeral, owing to the refusal of the Comtesse de Chambord to recognize the Comte de Paris as head of the reunited Houses of Bourbon and Orleans.

1883

THE GERMANIA STATUE

During the summer the excesses of the revolutionists in Haiti had reached such serious proportions that a French squadron was despatched to West Indian waters. In August a severe battle had been fought before Jacmel, the rebels claiming the victory. On September 13 an attempt was made to assassinate the President. By the end of September riots broke out. The rebellious negroes attacked the foreign warehouses at Port-au-Prince, and sacked the town. It was then that the French Consul asked his Government to interfere. At this juncture the death of Bazelais, the leader of the rebels, was hailed as opportune by the supporters of the weak Government.

Late in the year the colossal bronze figure of Germania, erected as a national monument on the site of Arminius's early victory over the Romans near Rüdesheim, was unveiled by Emperor William in the presence of 8,000 spectators. The monument, rising to a total height of eighty feet, had cost nearly 2,000,000 marks, part of which was raised by public subscriptions. Immediately after the ceremony, it was made known that the police had barely prevented a dynamite plot to blow up Emperor William and his companions, as they were about to unveil the great statue.

On December 6 the Parliament Houses of Belgium at Brussels burnt down. The Parliamentary library, with all the archives, was destroyed in the flames.

In South America the war of Chile against Peru and Bolivia, which had been waged since 1879, was brought to a close. It was essentially a naval war. Though Peru and Bolivia had armies of 88,000 men in the field, a Chilean expedition of 30,000, with the aid of their navy, could strike at the enemy's detachments and destroy them in detail. In the end Peru had to sue for peace. The province of Tara Paca was ceded to Chile. The Department of Tacna was likewise occupied by Chile. It was agreed that, at the expiration of

ERUPTION OF KRAKATOA

1883

ten years, the inhabitants of Tacna could decide by vote whether they would remain under Chilean rule.

Russia lost one of her leading writers by the death of Ivan Turgényev on September 3—or August 22, according to the Russian calendar. Born at Orel, in 1818, Turgényev was educated for the civil service and received an appointment in the Ministry of the Interior in 1843. Soon after this he published "The Diary of the Hunter," a book in which he first revealed his high talent for vivid descriptions and incisive grasp of character. In 1852 Emperor Nicholas banished him from Russia for sentiments expressed in an essay on Gogol. Much of his time was spent in Paris and at Baden Baden. There he brought out most of those telling stories and novels founded on Russian life, which placed him among the foremost novelists of the age.

This year is memorable to physicians for the discovery of the diphtheria bacillus by Klebs and Loeffler. To all scientists it will be noted for the great volcanic explosion which on August 26 blew the island peak of Krakatoa in the East Indies to powder. A cubic mile of rock was thrown into the air in the form of dust by a series of explosions which were heard over 150 miles away. This dust ascended into the upper currents of the air, and it was carried around the globe, causing, it is believed by scientists, the brilliant sunrises and sunsets for which the year is distinguished. Violent storms were also generated by the eruption, and a series of sea waves that swept away villages on nearby islands, and were noticeable on the other side of the earth. In all 35,000 lives were lost.