Ichang, Oct. 28.
The Right Rev. Bishop Everaerts, Roman Catholic Bishop of Western Hupeh, died at his residence here yesterday. He was quite well until a day or two ago, when he was found in a faint in his room. He rallied somewhat later, but his heart eventually gave way, and he passed away at about 7 o'clock last evening. Yhe funeral is to take place on Tuesday, October 31.
Bishop Everaerts was born in Belgium in 1845, and was ordained priest in 1869. He left for China about the end of 1872, so that he has almost completed a period of 50 years service in this land. He was appointed Bishop of this district in 1905, and has been here ever since, being held in great respect by all classes of the community in this port.
In a former letter reference. was made to the difficult conditions under which the salt business was being. carried on, as so many difficulties are placed in the way of the junks bringing the cargo down here. Now another flees of about 80 junks is on the way down, and they"are reported to be heid up about Chungchow, no dovbs because the bandits have made excessive demands on the junk masters for.money.
The Alice Dollar arrived here late at night on the 25t2 instant, vand it was suspected that she nad opium on board. It took a long time to find, but eventually it was found concealed in a bulkhead. There was @ total seizure that I night of about 12 piculs, some of which was taken from the Alice Dollar, and some was found sampans.
The town of Tangyang is situat- area.—Reuter. ed about 140 li to the east of this city and a recent visit there disclosed, the fact that there is a very considerable trade in Shinan opium being carried on in that district. While shops are not openly proclaiming that they are opiunr divans, the officials all the same collect a "lamp fee' from them, and the amount varies with the number of smokers the place can accommodate. Your correspondent waq told that just a few nights ago a great gang of men had passed a certain place, and they were transporting a cargo of no less that 80 coolies' loads of opium, Given that each coolie was only carrying 60 catties, there must have been about three tons of opium in this consignment. And the officials connive at its transport and sale. It is commonly known in the Tangyang district that the magistrate is enriching himself by these means, for he gets so much per thousand cash on all that is sold, and the sum that goes to him has been set as high as $400 per month, Recently he*was from home, and his bodyguard heard that a consignment of opium was on the way, so they took their arms, and waylaid the carriers, capturing from them about 74 piculs, which was taken to the magistrate's yamen. The merchants and innkeepers made representations to him that he could not have his cake and eat it too, and as they paid him *his squeeze, he had no right to allow his men to take the the opium, so a compromise had to be effected, The Commissioner of Customs, Mr. Talbot-Bowring, is retiring, and his place has been taken by Mr. Lyons, The river is now falling very rapidly, and there is only the prospect of another run or two for the Chungking steamers. The mer. chants are now glad to pay even as high as Tls. 22 per bale for cotton yarn to Chungking as against is. 1.60 a few months ago.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.