The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-09 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

The Duchess of Edinburgh, with the Grand Duke and
Duchess Sergius of Russia, arrived at Peterhof cm
Saturday from Moscow.
•

A shocking gun accident occurred on the Thames at
Caversham, near Reading, on Saturday. Three men
were out shooting moorhens from a boat, when one of
them, named Jones, was shot in the back of the head,
and instantly killed. Nearly half his head NVELS taken
completely off and blown into the water.
Twenty-one actual shipwrecks were reported during
last week, making a total of 893 for the presen t year,
against 1091 for the corresponding period of las t year.
British vessels numbered nine (of which four were
steamers, of a total tonnage of 5621 tons). Foreign
steamers numbered three, with a tonnage of 1981 tons.
Number of lives reported lost for week, 32.
It appears from recent reports that the total tonnage
arriving in the port of Montreal from sea this season up
to the Ist July amounts to 198,220, or an increase of
15,549 tons over 1883, and of 49,051 over 1882. The in-
crease is in the tonnage of both steam and sailing ves-
sels, though the increase in the tonnage of steam ves-
sels is the more marked.

The International Commission charged to examine
the claims for indemnity of Swiss subjects who suffered
by the bombardment of Alexandria have just finished
their sittings at Berne, aud have awarded 1,062,032
francs. Seventeen claims were rejected.
On Saturday at Steyr, in Upper Austria, an exhibi-
tion was opened by the Archduke Charles Louis, which
is said to be of very great interest. At this exhibition,
for the first time in Austria, water power is employed
for working the electric lighting machines.
The city of Rouen is preparing to celebrate on the
11th and 12th of October next the bi-centenary of the
death of Pierre Corneille. M. Victor Hugo, it is
announced, has consented to preside over the festivities.
On Sunday the Rev. Richard Moore, J.P., vicar or
Lund-in-the-Fylde, completed his ninety-fourth year.
He is the oldest clergyman in the Church of England,
having been ordained in 1815. He is the senior Justice
in Lancashire, and was appointed by the Crown in 1820.
He is in good health.
The French Ministry of Public Instruction has
issued a report on the school savings banks in France.
The institution seems to have fallen on a fruitful soil
in that country, where the banks were organised by
M. de Malarce some ten years ago. In 1879, five years
after their foundation, there were 10,440 schools pro-
vided with such banks, and 224,200 depositors. The
numbers have now risen to 21,484 schools, and 442,021
depositors.
At a meeting of the Committee of the Birmingham
General Hospital a letter was read from Mr. Jaffray,
offering to devote, for the purpose of the Jaffray
Suburban Hospital, four acres of land in addition to the
site already given by him. The gift was accepted with
thanks.
The widow of Captain Matthew Webb has just had
placed in Oakwood Cemetery, Niagara Falls, a hand-
some granite monument over the remains of her hus-
band, who perished in the rapids on July 24th, 1883.
The monument, which stands eight feet high, is of
Gothic design. The cap bears the masonic emblem
"G," and on the die is the following inscription : "Cap-
tain Matthew Webb, born January 19th, 1848, died
July 24th, 1883."
A telegram from St. Petersburg states that Governor-
General Drentsch, repressing agrarian disorders at
Tchernigoff, ordered three hundred peasants to be
flogged. .
Never have too much to say. A sailor just arrived
from China offered a boxful of carved ivory and ebony
articles for sale to a curiosity dealer. " Yes, they will
do; I'll give you a louis for the lot," says the latter.
"A louis," exclaims the overjoyed tar," why then I'm
a rich man! I've got 6000 of them !" "Oh, oh that's
a different affair, then," adds the dealer. "If you've
bought 6000 of them, I'll give you two sous for them."
Exit disappointed tar.
According to statistics just published the British
imports into Russia during the first four months of this
year reached a value of 22,065,000 roubles. During the
same period the Russian exports to the United King-
dom are valued at 30,709,000 roubles.
. _ _

The "harvest of the sea," so far as it is gathered in
Scottish waters, has just been made the subject of
an official valuation by the officers of the FisherY
Board, by whom it is estimated as amounting in money
to a total sum of £3286,242. The larger portion, a little
over two millions sterling, is derived from the herring
fishery. The haddock is taken in vast quantities by the
Scotch fishing boats; 543,563 at. were caught during
the last twelve months, the estimated value of the catch
being £340,693.
The locomotives of the German Railroad Union in•
1882 consumed, among other fuels, 49,827 tons of peat.
The Austro-Hungarian roads in the Union burned con-
siderable wood-209,918 cubic metres, against 974,31,6
tons of lignite and 655,708 tons of coal. fin the German
roads 97 per cent. of the fuel used—reckoned by heat-
ing capacity—was coal; on Austro-Hungarian roads,
only 50g per cent. The total consumed on all the Union
roads was equivalent to 4,560,628 tons of coaL
Making gas from city refuse has been tried success-
fully in New York. A pound of rubbish was picked up
at random in the street—old rags, leather, vegetable
stumps, bones, crusts, egg-shells, and cigar ends—and
when placed in a retort produced a clear, steady flame,
quite as good as that generally used for illuminating
purposes. This quantity gave light for half-an-hour,
and yielded 22 feet of gas.

For these AO" are' stung by wasps, or bees, or any
other pain-inflicting insects, the following remedy may
be useful: Bruise a raw onion and apply it, and the
pain will be instantly allayed. The old woodsmen of
Australia used to treat serpent bites in this fashion, and
if soon applied the bruised onion was effectual in the
cases of all bites except that of the death-adder whose
pciison acts so quickly that there is no remedy for it.
The Committee of Council on Education, in their
recent report, note as a satisfactory sign that a special
class for lace-designing has been organised at the Cork
School of Art, and that the school has opened direct
relations with two or three of the convents in the neigh-
bourhood, with the view of giving instruction in draw-
ing and of supplying designs to be worked.
There are 1547 theatres in Europe. Of these 348 are
in Italy, 337 in France, 194 in Germany, 160 in Spain,
and 150 in Great Britain. In all Russia thew are but
44 theatres; Sweden and Norway have 18 between
them; and as for the Grand Turk who wants to see a
play, he can see one in four theatres only. There are
four theatres in Greece, three in Roumania, and one in
Servia.
A distinguished service reward of £5O per annum has
been bestowed upon Major John Simpson, of the Royal
Highlanders (Black Watch), who gained the Victoria
Cross by conspicuous gallantry during the Indian
Mutiny campaign.
On Saturday morning a rather serious accident hap-
pened to a goods train from College-street Station,
Glasgow. When near Combernauld the coupling of a
truck snapped, and the train, consisting of 47 wagons,
ran into a siding. Four of the trucks, along with the
guard's van, were completely smashed. Fortunately
no one was hurt. The guard just managed to leap
from his van before being carried into the crash of the
wagons.
In Paris a manufactory of explosive bombs has been
discovered in the Rue St. Jacques. A workman named
Rozieres his mother, and brother, have been arrested.
The other morning a murderous attack was made in
the Civil Tribunal at Perpignan upon M. Puy, Judge of
the Civil Tribunal of Ceret, who prosecuted M. Bach,
his brother-in-law, for defamation. While M. Puy was
giving his evidence Bach fired at him with a revolver,
wounding him in the arm and seriously in the chest.
Bach was at once arrested.
The first congress of Gernaan velocipede riders will
take place at Leipzic on August 16th to 18th, when it is
proposed to form a union embracing all the Geman
and Austrian societies of velocipedists. The Leipzig
Bicycle Club has arranged for those days a round of
festivities, including bicycle and tricycle races.
Two murderers were executed at Monterey, near
Mexico, on July 18th. They were fastened to crosses
and shot.
American papers state that five bodies hare been
stolen from a cemetery at Abingdon. One body was
left exposed beside the grave. It is supposed the mis-
creants were after the bodies of two of Virginia's dis-
tinguished governors, who are buried near here.
After a hailstorm that passed over Cornish, New
Hampshire, on the 16th ult., hailstones, some of them
as large as hen's eggs, were piled up five feet against
a stone wall.
A New York telegram states that on Friday, at
Providence, the gelding Jay-Eye-See trotted one mile
in two minutes and ten seconds. On Saturday, at
Cleveland, Mr. Vanderbilt's mare Maud S. trotted the
same distance in two minutes and nine and three-
quarters seconds. This is the fastest time on record.
and the interest in the event has temporarily eclipsed
all other topics.
A New York telegram states that the visible supply of
wheat on Aug. 1 was 12,800,000 bushels, as against
11 ,700,000 bushels the previous week. Visible supply
of Indian corn, 4,700,000 bushels, as against 5,400p00
bushels the previous week. The export clearances of
wheat for Europe during last week amounted tq
1,950,000 bushels; the export clearances of ledian corft
for Europe during tbar week an sited ta WACO
bushels.
An accident occurred on AlJnday to an excursion
train from Sheffield to Cleethorpes. On reaching Great
Coates, near Grimsby, the axle of one of the carriages
broke. The carriage left the metals, and ploughed up
the road for about a quarter of a mile, when the train
was brought up. The passengers escaped with slight
contusions but traffic was impeded for two hours.
While an elderly gentleman was promenading the
West Pier at Brighton on Monday afternoon his watch
was snatched away by a young man, who made off with
it. The piermaster secured the thief, and at the same
moment the gentleman who had been robbed, and was
in pursuit, fell exhausted. Medical aid was procured,
but death, attributed to heart disease, had taken
place.
Last week's receipts of cotton at all United States
ports were 4000 bales; since Ist September, 4,799,000
bales. Week's exports to Great Britain, 17,000 bales;
ditto to Continent, 4000. Total since Ist September,
3,782,000 bales; stock at all ports, 218,000 bales;
stock at interior towns, 17,000 bales.
At Lord's Cricket Ground on Saturday an eleven of
the M.C.O. beat the Rugby School team by three
wickets. The scores were: Rugby, 220 and 138;
M.C.C., 163 and 197. The match between Cheshire and
Lancashire at Stockport resulted in a draw.
LNO young men attached to the Ordnance Depot,
now stationed at Totnes, were drowned on Saturday
whilst bathing in the River Dart. One of them, named
Fisher, got out of his depth. He called for help, and
one of his companions, called Dymond, swam to his
assistance. In the struggle both sank, and were
drowned. The bodies were recovered within twenty
minutes. At Saltash the same evening a lad, named
Shepherd, was seized with the cramp while bathing and
drowned.
A communication from the Home Office to the
Governor of Stra.ngeways Goal, Manchester, intimates
the respite during her Majesty's pleasure of Joseph
James Donnelly, sentenced to death at the recent
assizes for inflicting fatal wounds on his sister with
raww was subject to epileptic fits
The Baldwin locomotive works, at Philadelphia,
were struck by lightning, and partly burnt down, on
Monday night, the loss sustained being upwards of
200,000 dols.
It is estimated that the losses in America from fires,
in July, amounted to nearly 9,000,000 dols. ; this sum
exceeding the return for any previous July.
The Dutch North Pole Exploration Committee has
received a letter from the commander of the Willem
Barentz, dated the 16th of July, stating that the vessel
had cast anchor on the 15th at Vardo, and would be
ready to continue the voyage northwards on the fol-
lowing Friday.
Mr. G. Manville Fenn is engaged in writing a new
serial story, entitled" Double Cunning," for " Cassell's
• Saturday Journal," the first portion of which will appear

this week. .
A telegram from Rangoon reports a case of at-
tempted murder on a large scale. A cook attempted to
poison the family in whose employment he was, by
putting arsenic in the soup. Nine persons who partook
of the soup were taken violently ill, but medical aid
was quickly procured and fatal consequences 'were
averted.
A large fire has occurred at Jersey City, destroying a
quantity of depot property, including the ferry houses
and docks of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The main
depot was, however, only slightly damaged by the con-
flagration.
In London on Tuesday, at the Mansion House
Police-court, three women, who were severally charged
on remand with attempting to commit suicide by throw-
ing themselves into the Thames, were each ordered to
find one surety for their good behaviour for six months,
or in default fourteen days' imprisonment.
A deputation of British workmen are about to pro-
ceed to Germany, Austria, Holland, and France, to
inquire into the condition of the beet sugar industry,
and the effects of the bounty system. The delegates
will address a meeting of workmen on their return.
Mr. Wilfrid Blunt, accompanied by an Arab sheikh,
occupied a seat in the Distinguished Strangers' Gallery
of the House of Commons on Monday night, during
the discussion personal to himself; and Sir Evelyn
Baring was also present under the gallery of the House
of Commons during the same debate.
Mr. John Edward Bingham, head of the firm of
Messrs. Walker and Hall, silversmiths, was on Tuesday
elected Master Cutler at Sheffield. Mr. Bingham filled
the same position a few years ago. It is probable that
the Cutlers' feast will not take place till late in the
autumn.
The July return of the Cleveland Ironmasters' Asso-
ciation shows the following as the monthly makes of
pig iron, namely, 128,000 tons of Cleveland iron, and
73,000 tons of other kinds, a total of 201,000, or 3000
tons more than in June. There are 99 furnaces blow-
ing, 66 of which are making Cleveland pig iron. Stocks
increased 7600 tons in July.
The number of Bills of Sale published in England
and Wales for the week ending August 2 was 214. The
number in the corresponding week of last year was 216,
showing a decrease of 2, being a net decrease in 1884,
to date, of 491. The number published in Ireland for
the same week was 9. The number in the correspond-
ing 'meek of the last year was 26, showing a decrease of
17, being a net decrease, in 1884, to date, of 563.
Another secret printing-press has been discovered at
Saratow. It was managed by a fugitive from Siberia,
named Bogdanow, who shot himself dead while the
police were searching the cellar where he was hiding.
They seized papers relating to a vast conspiracy for the
release of exiles in Siberia. The plot extended to
Saratow, Kasai), Torsk, and Simbiorok, in which towns
numerous arrests have been made.
Henry Stanton, who had pretended to be a clergy-
man, was, at the Middlesex Sessions on Wednesday,
found guilty of stealing a number of sealskin jackets;
Previous convictions were adduced against him, and he
was sentenced to five years' penal servitude, to be
followed by a similar term of police supervision.
A fever epidemic is prevailing at Newross. Twenty
cases are in the hospital. All the patients had partaken
of fresh herrings, part of a large shoal caught off the
coast of Arklow, and sold at the quay for a penny per
dozen, and exposed under the sun for several days.
A Paris telegram says that a fire broke out on Mon-
day evening in Sarah Bernhardt's bedroom, in the Rue
Fortuny, which was understood to have been locked up,
but which it appears her domestics make use of. The
carpets, curtains, and some choice upholstered furni-
ture were spoiled by the flames and the water employed
in putting them out.
From the Ist of April to the 2nd inst. the Exchequer
receipts amounted to £26,654,632, as compared with
£28,003,047 in the corresponding period of last year.
The expenditure has been £28,851,655. On Saturday
last the balance in the Bank of England was
£1,530,263, and in the Bank of Ireland £923,163.
A circular has been issued by the Royal College of
Physicians of London containing a series of instruc-
tions in the event of the occurrence of epidemic cholera
in England. The College above all things earnestl
impress upon every person the extreme value p
E r of
his Royal Highness Alfred
nmvpaosri
ot annae
ne d of
limiting s nit atrhye msperaeastdiroesf
the
e u
diopfrseetvhaese th and
the
Wednesday was the 40th anniverssa
Edinburgh, K.G., second son of h tMAlajebsetryt,thDeuQkueeeonf
r
Duke having been
trpeee
and the late Prince Consort, h
born on Aug' 6, 1844.
The mining
village of Brymbo,Wrexhatn, was en faa
on Tuesday o to the return of Mr. John Henry,
Darby, of the Bry
owing Iron Works, after his marriage.
accident
busily
occurredengaged tillu
firingrin the
cannonsaft afternoon.
nf or
eo.mn.
old pit bank when one of the cannons burst owing
sAemsheocmkienngwe
t"-o—being overchar,,, ed, the pieces of metal flying in all
ifthellthaegaeiffnesett
work-
man named aor nsseatgy directions. jAehhnugepanpeiesc,we
sever-
ing one leg from his body. . .