The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-09-06 00:00:00

Misterlantsaus gnitiligente.

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

SHIP BURNT AT SEA.—A telegram from Lloyd's agent
at Valparaiso, dated August 28, states that the Earl
Beaconsfield had been burnt at sea. The crew took to
the boats, and were pi med up and landed at Valparaiso.
The Earl Beaconsfield, a British ship, left the Clyde on
May 16 bound for San Francisco.
TORNADO AND Loss OF LlFE.—Tornadoes passed One
day last week over Manitoba and Dakota. Several
blocks of buildings in Winnipeg were unroofed, and
many other buildings were demolished, great damage
being done to the houses and crops at other points in
the vicinity. In Dakota, some of the buildings near
Sioux Falls and Huron were demolished, and several
lives are reported to have been lost. A tornado has
also visited Evansville, Indiana, blowing down the
houses, and damaging other property. The loss occa-
sioned is estimated at 250,000 dols. The ferry-boat
Belmont, running between Evansville and Henderson,
sank, and 30 lives were lost.
A SINGULAR WEED.—At the meeting of the British
Association in Montreal, on Thursday, Professor
Moseley, in Section D, made observations on a common
water weed, Utricularia vulguaris, which trapped
young fish. This plant, two or three feet high, grows in
ditches and stagnant pools near Oxford. It has a num-
ber of small bladders, the size of a pear, hitherto
supposed toile for the purpose of containing air to float
weed at certain seasons of the year. These hladders
were really traps, in which very small fishes were caught
and killed. He found this to be correct by experiment,
it having never been believed that carnivorous plants
preyed upon vertebrates. The bladder had an opening
secured by an elastic door, which yielded to the pres-
sure of the fish, immediately rebounding with sufficient
force to securely fasten the intruder. If the fish are
very small they got completely inside, but generally
they were caught either by the tail or the head, being
held till dead. No bait seemed to attract them. It has
not been proved that the weed digested the fish, but
the belief was that the hairs on the inner surface
sucked the proctoclasm formed from decomposing
bodies.

LITMINATING AGENTS FOR LIGHTHOUSES.—The Trinity
House officials have decided to continue two or three
months longer the practical inquiry at the South Fore-
land lighthouses into the relative value of gas, paraffin
oil, and electricity as luminating agents for lighthouses.
Some very important results have already been
obtained, but during the autumn, when the csndition
of the atmosphere will be more variable, the crucial
tests will be made.

A RIPON GENTLEMAN SHOT IN MINNESOTA.—
Accounts have been received respecting the death of
Mr. Richard Wells, aged 25 years, eldest son of Mr.
Richard Wells, of York Gate, Melmerby, near Ripon,
farmer, who was accidentally shot while out duck
shooting, near Fairmont, Minnesota, U.S.A., on Aug. 10.
The deceased gentleman was out hunting with a friend
and companion named Frostbie. They had started for
home when they observed some ducks in a "slough."
Both set off in the direction of the game at a quick
pace, crouching, Mr. Wells being a few feet in advance.
Mr. Frostbie fell, his gun at the same time being acci-
dentally discharged, the entire volley taking effect in
his companion's head, killing him almost instantly.
The deceased had been in America between two and
three years, and was about to enter into partnership
with Mr. Frostbie. He was well known in Ripon.
FIRE AT FARNBOROUGH HALL.—A serious fire oc-
curred on Tuesday morning on that portion of Sir Wil-
liam Hart Dyke's estate known as Farnborough Hall.
The fire, which is supposed to have been originated by
some tramps getting into the outbuilding and smoking,
destroyed some live stock, including four horses. A,
very large quantity of agricultural produce was con-
sumed, and on the arrival of the Crays Volunteer Fire
Brigade the flames were spreading with such rapidity
that the firemen had to direct all their efforts to pre-
vent the hall, which possesses many historical associa-
tions, from being destroyed. The damage, which is
partially covered by insurance, amounts to about £l5OO.
THE FLOODED COLLIERY IN WALES.—The Mostyn
Colliery, near Rhyl, North Wales which has been
flooded for upwards of a month, continues deluged with
water. Extensive pumping operations have been
carried on, but still water increases, and the works are
now almost abandoned, as it is now certain that water
has broken in from the River Dee, and not from an old
shaft as was at first supposed. The body of Williams,
who was drowned whilst examining the pumps in the
shafts, has not been recovered. Great distress prevails
in the district of Mostyn owing to some hundreds of
hands having been thrown out of employment.
THE POST OFFICE AND THE TELEPHONE COMPANIES.—
The Postmaster-General has notified to the various
telephone companies that he is now prepared to issue
licenses in conformity with the concessions announced
in the House of Commons on the 7th ult. In addition
to these important concessions he has also conceded to
the telephone companies the privilege of conneqing
the various telephone systems with the postal telegraph
offices, thus enabling subscribers to the telephones to
transmit telegrams directly from their own offices to any
part of the United Kingdom or abroad free of any
extra charge. Further, the Postmaster-General has
abandoned his claims for a royalty of 10 per cent, to
the State on all private wires.
JEwiriu EMIGRATION TO CANADA.—It is announced
from Montreal that steps are about to be taken to
encourage the emigration of agriculturists of the Jewish
faith from the rural districts of Russia to Canada. Some
leading Jewish gentlemen are, it is said, in negotiation
with the Dominion Government for the setting apart of
extensive areas of agricultural and pasture land in
the Canadian North-West for the settlement of these
Russian Jews. It is anticipated that the emigration
of such a class' thoroughly conversant with agriculture,
would be most beneficial, and that the example would
be followed by many of their co-religionists in Germany
and Austria.
A TRICYCLE RIDE FROM LONDON TO EDINBURGH.....
Mr. Alfred Nixon' captain of the London Tricycle Club,
who rode from Land's-end to John o' Groats, has just
succeeded in riding from London to Edinburgh
under three days. Mr. Nixon left Holborn Viaduct at
2.15 p.m on the 28th of August, and reached Milne's"
Hotel, Edinburgh, at 1.15 p.m. on the 31st of August.
The distance is 396 miles, giving a daily average of
132 miles. The machine used was a Central-geared
Imperial Club.
SALMON DISEASE.—At the annual meeting of the
Tweed Commissioners on Monday a committee was
appointed to make a comprehensive and, exhaustive 1
scientific inquiry into the origin, nature, development,
and treatment of salmon disease, and £2OO was placed
at their disposal. The number of dead and diseased
hoafndwhfriochm
salmon, grilse and trout, taken from the TWeed in the
last five years was stated to be 37,969,
tfororym ntahteure sum is
m to
it
RAILWAY BUILDING IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN
west-
ward canadian Pacific Railway is now being pushed e-
NRoewcksyolloaunstaatiinsfsae,
ward to the Pacific% i
The engineers have, It s officially
reported, foupd'S; line which will obviate many of the
difficulties anti*ated and effect a considerable saving
in the constru4fion of the section. It is in surmounting
the Gold Range, the most westerly of the three ranges,
that the improved alignment is said to have been chiefly
found. The work on the Kicking Horse Pass seems
the most difficult portion of the whole, though it is
anticipated that, despite all obstacles, the large force of
men employed this season carry the line 60 miles west-
ward of the present end D' the track.

,s;A.TURDAY SEPT. 6, iBB4

- - -
ACCIDENT TO A GERMAN PRlNCE.—Prince Joseph of
Saxe-Coburg, a youth of fiteen, while staying at Aussee,
in Styria, with Prince Henry, son of the Due de
Chartres, has been seriously hurt through falling over a
precipice.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING AND FIRES.—The idea that the
electric light affords absolute immunity from danger
by fire does not appear to be altogether well founded.
A fire was on August 18 discovered at the Star Theatre,
New York. Its alleged cause is thus describethe "The
niece, of scenery that had taken fire was a set tree used
in the first act of the new play. Just as the curtain
falls on that act Sieba is seen sitting in a bower in the
set tree. The bower isllluminated by two Edison incan-
descent electric light bulbs. In the last act or trans-
formation scene the stage is brilliantly lighted by
electricity. It is supposed that after the first act the
circuit connecting the two lights in the cellar with the
generator was not shut off, and during the last act the
bulbs were broken and the electricity ignited the
scenery."
IMPORTANT CORPORATE PROPERTY.—OR Monday the
City of Rristol entered into possession of the Avon-
mouth and Portishead Dock undertakings, which have
been purchased for £BOO,OOO. They will be amalga-
mated with the Bristol Docks, already the property of
the citizens. The purchase money is to be paid in Cor-
poration bonds bearing interest at 31. per cent. There-
was no public ceremony, the fact being simply indicated
by the hoisting of a flag bearing the city arms at the-
Avonmouth and Portishead Dock.

SUICIDE OF AN ACTO R.—OR Saturday a case of suicide
by poisoning occurred at the Palatinate, New Kent-
road, London. Mr. A.lVyke, an actor, for some time past
has been suffering from an affection of the brain, which.
caused him to behave very strangely at times. While.
out for a walk on Friday night he began raving and
Shouting wildly, and this continued through part of the
night. On Saturday he was equally strange, and sud-
denly made his way to the kitchen, and, seizing a bottle
Containing oxalic acid, used for cleaning purposes, he
poured some into a glass and drank it. Dr. Phelan was
summoned, but death shortly after ensued. Wyke
leaves a widow and family.
THE SALMON FISHERIES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.--
There is an unprecedentedly large run of salmon in the
British Columbia Rivers this year. Salmon-canning is
one of the most valuable industries in the province,.
and there appears to be no limit to the extension. In,
1876 there were only three canning establishments,.
which put out 8300 cases, each case containing four
dozen one-pound cans. In 1881 12 canneries were in)
fall blast with a yield of 177,500 cases, and this year
there are 23 with an output af probably 320,000 cases of
15,360,000 pounds. The deep-sea fisheries of the pro-
vince are of great value, halibut and cod abounding;
but they have not yet been developed owing to lack or
capital and a market, both of which will doubtless be
supplied on the approaching completion of the Oana.dian,
Railway