The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-10-06 00:00:00

FATAL TRAMWAY ACCIDENT IN
ITALY.

A terrible steam tramway accident has occurred at
Naples. It appears that a fate-day was being cele-
brated on Sunday at the village of S.:condigliano, near
Naples, and a considerable number of excursionists
proceeded from that city by the steam tramway t
take part in the festivities. In the evening, about
half-past seven, several cars homily laden with re-
turning pleasure seekers set out for Naples. All
went well until the train arrived at Arenaccia
Bridge, where the line descends with a sharp gra.
dient, rendering the utmobt caution neceesary on the
part of the driver. At the bottom of the incline um
fortunately stood on the hoe another locomotive.
Into this oil-tattle the tramcars dashed with frightini
force and with most disaatrous results. It was found
that thr e persons had been killed outright and twenty
men and four women, the mejority of whom belonged
to the working class, sverely ihjured. In addition to
these no fewer than thirty paseelo4.ers were injured
more or leas severely. Between thirty and forty of the
sufferers were conveyed to the Naples Hospital by
tram, and of these three died from the terrible injuries
received.

Why la a Maharajah nl?re likely to he a poor than
a rich man ?—Because he is as Indi-gent.--Punch.

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

According to the last number of the British lee
Journal, during the month of August of the prreent
%ear o lees than £6,282 worth of honey was imported
into England from foreign countries.

Ou Saturday morning, as the nin. o'clock pa.senger
train from Musselburgh to Edinburgh was bntering
the Waverley Station, it ran into the hydraulic lift of
the Parcels Post. Ten persons were injured, but none
seriously. The engine was wrecked and the rails torn
up.

The Canadian surplus for the prPkent year amounts
to over seven millions of dollen+, ad is the largest yet
experienced.

Three persons have been killed tv,d six injured at
Osceola, Minnesota, by the bursting of a boiler work-
ing a thrashing machine.
The latest Italian statistics show that there are living
in Italy 59,956 foreigners, being 32,554 of the main
culine, and 27,402 of the feminine sex.
The Rev. Dr. Begg, of Edinburgh, the well-known
leader of the Free Church of Scotland, died on Satur-
day afternoon, after a short limeys, at the age of
seventy-ti ye.
The reports from the pheasant coverts unanimously
state that the birds are exippt!onally plentiful and in
good condition. The day opened brightly on Monday,
hut shooting parties were not numerous, many sports.
men not having yet returned from holiday trips.
Mrs. Ramsbotham has taken the greatest interest in
the reports of the British Association meetings. She
wants to know if Bacteria is the scientific name for
lumbago, as, if so, she's got it. —Punch,
Mr. Gladstone attended prayers at Hawarden
Parish Church on Tuesday morning, although the
weather was very unfavourable. In the afternoon the
right hon. gentleman engaged in his favourite exercise
of felling a tree in the park,

Two Salvationists having held a meeting at Chain-
biiry, in France, which was broken up by a mob, who
sang pc pular songs, the Prefect applied to the Minister
of the Interior for instructions. He has been diracted,
in the interist of public order, to forbid tiny Salva-
tionist meetings, disobedience of which injunction will
nvolve expulsion from FraPce.

An inquest has been held as to the death of Eliza
Cook, whose body was found on Sunday on the road.
side near Peterborough, under circumstances which
led to a suspicion that there bad been foul play. A.
verdict of death from drink and exposure was re-
turned. The bo*band of the woman stated that she
had not been sober for fifteen years.

During last week ten steamers conveying live stock
and fresh meat from the United States and Canada
arrived at Liverpool, brinwing a collective supply of
3,797 cattle, 3,511 sheep, 7,736 quarters of beef, and
455 caresses of mutton, showing, when compared with
the former week's arrivals, a very large increase in live
stock, but a slight decrease in fresh meat.

The total imports of foreign stock into London limit
week amounted to 13,012 head. In the c,wre..ponding
period of kst year we received 24628; in 1881, 13,724;
in 188, 12 885; in 1879, 15,483 ; in 1878, 21,1( 6 ; and
in 1877, 20,106 head.
Tl.e performing elephants, 'Jock " and "Jenny,"
recently exhibited in London, were performing at the
Court Theatre, Liverpool, the other evening, when
"Jock " seized Mr. La.ckhart, their proprietor and
trainer, pushed him ayainst a wall, and dealt bun
several severe blows abut the Lead and body. Mr.
Lockhait was so injured that the performance could
not be proceeded with.
A farmer named Jacab Rooney, while driving from
Westport to his home, about two miles distant, on
Saturday evening came Into collision with ac ,w and
his horse and cart were overturned into a ditch by the
side of the road. Rooney was immediately attended
to, but it was found that be had been suffocated.
On Tuesday night Michael Buchanan, aged forty,
and John Getty, aged forty•tve, were apprehended by
the Glasgow police charged with being concerned with
Henry M'Cann and others already in custody in the
destruction of the Glasgow gasometer by the use of
dynamite or some other explosive material in January
last.

In London last week 2,399 births and 1,257 deaths
were registered. Allowing tor increase of population,'
the births were 211, an' the deaths 137, below the
avera. e numbers in the corresp >nding weeks of the
tact t. u 3 ears. The annual rate of mortality from all
catn•es, which had been equal to 16 6 and 170 in the
two ptec.-ding weeks, declined again to 16.6.

The Leicester Town Council reports a profit of
£15,878 from the manufacture of gas during its last
financial year. It is proposed to reduce the price of
Ras to consumers in the rural districts from 3s. 4d. to
is. 10d. per 1,000 cubic feet.
Mr. Gibson, M. P., addressed a meeting of Conser-
vatives at Glasgo! 3n Tuesday evening, the Duke of
Montrose presiding. He strongly urged that Conser-
vatism was truly a subject for the working man, and
proceeded t ) show that under the present Government
the amount of taxation had been on the increase. He
criticised the policy of the Cabinet, and urged his
hearers to be ready to make their voices heard on the
day of reckoning, which was rapidly approaching.
The total number of actual shipwrecks reported for
the IJ:resent year to date is now 1,412, 25 having
occurred during last week. Of the latter number 15
were British owned, and 13 were wrecked off the
British coasts, against 3 at the coz responding week of
last year. The increase in the total wrecks against
last year is 383. Fifteen lives were lost.

Paris.has taken the lead In a most important use of
electric accumulators. The tramways running
between the French capital and Versailles have all
been fitted with Taure's apparatus, and trial trips
have proved a great success. The journey is now ac•
corn plished in an hour and a quarter instead of in two
hours.

In London, on Monday even4.g at the! L •Itibsth
Bathe, the Two Hundred and fweoty Yards Atn.kteo.
Swimming Championship was liecided. There were
seven starters, end a (h. es l`. Cairns, Easton S.A.,
Liverpool, won by half a yard from Blew Jones, Otter
S.C., the winner's time being 2min. fifisse., the beet
on record.

On Tuesday morning a shocking accident, resulting
In the death of six persons, occurred at a colliery at
Tyldesley, belonging to Mr. William Ramsden. As
the cage, containing five men and a boy, was descend-
ing, it broke away from the winding rope, and was
instantly precipitated to the bolt )m of the shaft. All
its occupants were killed on the spot.

The Mayor of Hartlepool, at the Borough police.
court on Monday, presented gold medals which had
been awarded by the French Government to James
Webbar, first officer, and Tom Austin, second officer,
of the steamship Brooklande, in acknowledgment of
the Eer v ices rendered by them in December last in
rescuing the crew of the Sate/lite, of St. Maio, which
foundered at sea.

Sir Saul Samuel, K.C.M.G., Agent• General for
New South Wales, has been informed by telegram of
the arrival in Sydney of the ship Smyrna, which
sailed from Plymouth with emigrants in June last,
and of the Dharwar, which sailed in July last.
The number of failures in England and Wales
gazetted during the week ending Saturchy, Sept. 29,
was 14f. The number In the corresponding week of
last year was 177, showing a decrease of 30, being a net
decrease in 1883, to date, of 280.
There was a great gathering of Conservatives at the
Aston Lower Grounds, Birmingham, on Monday after.
noon and evening, on the occasion of the annual meet-
ing of the National Union of Conservative Associa-
tions. A banquet took place, under the presidency of
the Earl of Dartmouth, and in the evening four public
meetings were held simultaneously, the principal one
being that in the Great Hall, at which Viscount Cran-
brook acknowledged a vote of confidence in 6tie
leaders of the Conservative party in both Houses of
Parliament.

David Jenkins, an inmate of St. Pancras Work-
house, London, attained the age of 101 years on Satur-
day. Jenkins was born in Swansea on September 29,
1782, and at the present time is in the enjoyment of
good health, his hearing and eyesight being remark-
ably good. He was not able to leave the house on
Saturday to dine with his "boy," aged 70, owing to
the half-yearly census of the house being taken.
Thslate Sir William Taylour Thomson has boqueathed
£30,000 to the St. Andrew's University to found bur.
series for students of both sexes in equal numbers, and,
in ease of females, to assist them as far as practicable
in qualifying themselves to enter the medical profes-
sion. Sir William was a native of Fife. He was for
many years her Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary in Persia.

A shocking tram accident occurred at Burslem on
Monday to a boy named Schofield, of Hanley, who
was proceeding to the Endowed Schools at Longport,
on one of the cars of the Potteries Steam Tramways
Company. When the car arrived at the Market-place,
Burslem, the unfortunate boy alighted whilst it was
in motion, and, falling down, he was instantaneously
killed, his body being frightfully mangled.
Mr. Joseph Cowan, M.P., addressing the students
of the College of Medicine at Newcastle on. Biotiday,
retnirked that the tendency of thel present day was
ore or less in the direction of sameness and uni-
formity, which lay at the root of sterility and Intel-
lectual weakness. Medical students who were called
upon to make difficult diagnoses should be able to
think for themselves. The hon. member spoke highly
of tbc medical profession, which, he said, was con.
cerned with the dearest interests of mankind.
Lloyd's agent at Buffalo telegraphs thal the
Colorado, United States steamer, has blown up,
several persons being killed and wounded. Her
cargo consisting of general goods, is, like the hpll,
partly damaged.
A Times' telegram dated ROtne,. Sept. 30, says :—On
Fri-lay night a violent teniit burst over the Island
of Ischia, especially over the towns of Ischia Lacco
Ameno, and Forio. The torrent calied the Rito over-
flowed its banks and inundated the provincial high.
way, covering it with a stratum of mud 20 centimetres
in depth and rendering it impassable. Tbe waters
carried down masses of earth and toc.:k with thrin an t
overturned two carrisgeo, hut ti a riix, -Pets.ago them
were raved by a patrol of Crstabineer.s., -.
On Saturday evening a meeting of delegates, repre-
senting 15 000 South Wales and Monmouthshire iron
iron and steel workers, was held on tbe mountain ride
near l'redegar, at which resolutions were passed pro,
testing against the proposed reduction of 10 Per cent.
in wages, and it was decided not to work on Monday.
A general strike in the trade is thought to.: be immi-
nent.
- - - - - -

Whilst the Ameeican ship St. Marx was on her
voyage from Liverpool to New York, on Monday
evening a seaman fell overboard, AI the Irish c ,ast.
and was drowned. A boat was 1 4unched and mannec
by six..tatessi and,abaxing. beemlust....eigl4 of,..waa be
lieved to have capsized, but it appears that whilst un-
successfully endeavouring to rescue their comrade they
drifted away from their ship, and therefore determined
to make for land, reaching Colwyn Point safely on
Tuesday. The vessel had to put into Cork Harbour
to ship extra hands, but the men rejoined their vessel
at Queenstown.

A subscript:on has been opened at St. Petersburg
for the building of two Munn'man churches in Bt.
Petersburg.
rho Saratofski Listok says that new symptoms of
,attle plaitne have lately again appeared at Saratoff.
Iu consequence of this, only the town.herds are driven
unt into the fields, while the other cattle are nrit
allowed to appear in the street and pohl c square&

One of the most historic buildengA in Paris has dis-
appeared for ever. The last stone of the Tuileries has
been removed, leaving an uninterrupted view from the
Place du Carrousel to the Arc de Triomphe.
On Monday all the weavers on strike at Ashton,
with the exception of those at one mill ro,urned to
work pending the a,rangement of the new was list.
A Renter's telegram from Sydney states that the
New South Wales Government have isamed a procla-
mation prohihiting the importation of dogs except
from the Australian colonies.

The University of Zurich has now thirty•one women
student, of whom on!), seven are German. Twenty
of these ladies are studying medicine, ten philosophy,
and one chemistry.

An explosion has occurred at tne powder works at
Sieges Station, in C*litornia, tty which forsy China-
men were killed and horribly mangled.
Cattle plague has broken out in Bes,,arahia,, andi 8
spreading to some distrints of Bnkovina. The Austrian
Governnsent has taken stringent measures to counteract
It.

A quantity of grapes has been Bent to the Victoria
spital fir Clildren, Chelsea, from Kensington
P..l4nP. at tho reque,t of the Princess
Marchioneee of Lorne.

The boiler of a steamboat exploded at a wharf at
Alhay, New York, the other morning, killing two
persons and wounding fire. The steamboat was de-
stroyed, as WAR al.° another lying alovicside. Two
others were badly damaged.

A valuable herd of Jersey cattle intended for
breeding purposes has just been despatched from New-
port, Monts tithshire, in the steamer dcafen, con-
signed to Senator Palmer, of New York.
A Reuter's telegram from Madrid stets that a
barrel of gunpowder exploded the nther evening in a
wine bhop at Villena, in tl e province of Alicante.
Three houses were destroyed, and fifteen persons
were killed and six injured. It is rot known how
the powder, which was kept for sale, became ignited.

The number of visitors at the Fisheries Exhibiticn
last Satordav was 25,486, making a total for .lAat week
of 91,502. The total number from the openittg of the
Exhibition has been 1.985,050.
The To vo Council of Leeds have pa.sed a resolu-
tion for transmission to the Jockey Club expressing
the eonvicti,n that the e4taiiiiebruent of a racecourse
in tie horomb would be very prejudicial to the in-
terests of the town.

From statietics jnet pnbliehed it appears that the
consumption of iron and steel in shiohniloing which in
the United States only reached 26.960 tons in 18711, in-
creased to 40,097 last year, and this year, it is said,
will show a much greater increase.

A telegram from Scutari says that an attempt has
been made on the life of Mr. Greer, the British
Consul, who was tired at while out shooting near that
place by a man armed with a rifle. Mr. Green, how-
ever, remained unhurt. The man made his escape.
The Medical Schools in connection with the Metro.
po!ican Ho4pital4 were opeved on Monday with the
custemary addresses, medical legislation and the social
position of the medical profession being among the
subjects touched upon by the lecturers.
Logan, the man accused of killing a Chinaman in a
fray at Canton, has been tried on a charge of man-
slaughter, found guilty, and sentenced to seven years'
penal servitude.
The Queensland Line steamer Dorunda, Captain Hay,
embarked the following emigrants at Plymouth for
Queensland Porte :-128 single men, 89 single women,
and 26i families, making tot lof 391 Souls, eval
to 339 i eta site adults.

Ttle let Lie Gua.rda propoae, it is understood, to
erect a chancel aide at lioly Trinity, the garrison
church of Winder, aa a tnerrvirial of their cornradea
who died in the Egyptian war.

The railway station at Vetova, near Rustchuk has
been attacked, and everything of portable nature
stolen from it by Bulgarian robbers.
On Tu-,sday an inquest wa brid at Liversedge on
the remains of a woman unknoa.h. The deceased had
been put into an vld steam boiler, and the jury were
of opinion she had been murdered. She had a fine
head of hair, but most of it had been torn from the
scalp and placed under the armpits. The top of the
skull had been cleft off, and other brutalities practised.
Who the deceased was is a mystery, but the clothing
shows she was in good ercnmstances.

At Preston on Saturday evening an inquest was held
respecting the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Alston, who
was found dead in her }longs on the previous Thursday
night. Tke evidence of Mr. Garner, surgeon, showed
that the woman had been attacked and dreadfully in-
jured. The jury found a verdfct of wilful murder
against some persons unknown.

A New York telegram says that the visible supply
of wheat, 26.200,000 bushels, as against 24,600,009
bushels the previous week. Visible supply of Indian
corn, 15,700,000 bushels, as against 14,400,000 bushels
the previous week. The export clearances of wheat
for Europe during last week amounted to 1,260,000
bushels. The export clearances of Indian corn for
Europe during last week amounted to 903,000 bushels.

Last week's receipts of cotton at all United States
ports were 125,000 bales; since Ist September, 31E000
bales. Week's exports to Great Britain, 11.000 hales ;
week's exports to the Continent, 28,000 bales; total
since let September, 114,000 bales. Stock at all ports,
341,000 bales.
The Aberdeen Town Council have resolved to ()canter
the freedom of the city on Sir Richard Cross on the
occasion of his visit to Aberdeen on the 2nd of Novera.
her, and at the same time to confer the like honour
upon the Earl of Aberdeen.
A Philadelphia telegram says that the West Shore
and Buffalo Railroad opened traffic on Monday be.
tween New York and Syracuse. Unfortunately, a
collision occurred—two excursion trains, when forty
miles west ~f Albany, coming together on a single
track. Both locomotives were smashed, and the two
drivers were killed. One passenger was killed and
twenty were seriously injured.
During the past year many of the children attend.
log the schools in South Lon3on have been taught the
Swedish system of drill, and since the evolutions
were gone through in public a short time SRO, flume.
routs applications have been made for permission to
introduce it in Board schools. No apparatus what,
ever is needed, and therefore the Swedish drill is
within reach of the most struggling voluntary school.
On Tuesday evening Earl Cairns presided over a
meeting held in Liverpool to celebrate the opening
of a Young Women's Christian Institute. He said
that 23 or 30 years ago such institutions were un-
known. He regarded them as one of the most hopeful
signs of the day.

The director of the Paris Observatory has prepared
an account of the stars observed at that establishment
between 1837 and 1881. The number of obgervations
amount to 350,000, of which ene third, or about 120,000,
have been made during the last five years of the period
indicated. All these stars are entered under distinct
names.

The traffic receipts of railsva) s n the United King-
dom for the week ending September 22 (the latest
published) amounted on 17,191 i miles to £1,396,828,
and f .r the corresponding week in 1882 on 16,977 i miles
to 21.372.183, showing an increase of 2146 miles, and
of £24,645. The receipts averaged £Bl 4s. 110. per
mile, against £BO 16s. 6d. in the corresponding week
lakt year.
The coalmasters in the district of Fife and Clack-
mannon have refused to grant the demand of the
miners in their employment for an advance of wages
to the extent of 63. per day. They attribute their in •
abi'ity to do otherwise to English competition.

On Tuesday the Halesowen county magistrates were
asked to allow an old custom to be revived in the
town, namely, the holding of a statute fair, and per.
mitting oxen to be roasted in public streets. It was
stated that the majority of toe inhabitants were
anxious that the custom should be revived, as it would
be for the benefit of the town. The magistrates
granted the application, on the understanding that
swing boats and steam horses were not used,
Lord Derby on Saturday distributed the prizes to
the successful studenteof the medical faculty of the
Liverpool University College. He congratulated the
institution on being amalgamated with the Royal In-
firmary School of Medicine, and said it would soon be
incorporated with the Victoria University. Allusion
having been made by one of the speakeri to Darwin,
his lordship maid he was one of the half•dozen men of
the present century who would be remembered a
thousand years hence.

Speaking on Monday night at the anniveraary of
the Portsmouth Beneficial Society, Sir Henry Drum-
mond Wolff said there had no doubt been a block of
business in the House of Oommons, for some of which
he was afraid he must plead guilty. But he thought
that the difficulties had arisen from the increasing
demands of the country more than from anything else.
The only way to prevent the present block of Bills in
Parliament was that there shonld be a ballot amongst
the members as to which day their measures should be
brought forward, and that Bills having no political
significance should be referred to Grand Wmmittees.