The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-26 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS. misajjaneaus yntellignut.
BRITISH AND FOREIGN. HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL

bn Thursday night in last week a miner named
James Brockley, living at Red-hill, in the parish of
Arnold, near Nottingham, during a quarrel with his
wife, threw a poker at her, which struck her on the left
temple and penetrated to the brain. She died ou
Sunday from the effects of the injury, never having
recovered consciousness. She was 32 years of age, and
leaves four children. The man is in custody.
A New York telegram states that the visible supply of
wheat son July 19 was 12,500,000 bushels, as against
13,400,000 bushels the previous' week. Visible supply
of Indian corn, 6,700,000 bushels, as against 7,600,000
bushels the previous week. The export clearances of
wheat for Europe during last week amounted to
950,000 bushels; the export clearances of indian corn
for Europe during the week amounted to 740.000
bushels.

A military train, consisting of eight baggage waggons,
has been attacked near Elwach, on the Baku Railway,
by Persian robbers, who killed the Cossacks escorting
the train and wounded their commander.

Heavy rain has caused floods in Upper Austria and
the destruction of property is very great. At Halfstadt
several houses were destroyed. The roads are impas-
sable and several bridges have been carried away.
A private of the Ayr Militia, named Charles Coffey
Heckler, of Belfast, was knocked down and severely
kicked during a quarrel at Ayr on Saturday night, and
died on Sunday in hospital. Another private, named
Johnston, of Glasgow, has been apprehended on a
charge of having inflicted the fatal injuries.
An alarming railway accident occurred at the Great
Northern Railway Station, Nottingham, on Saturday.
A market train from Newark ran into a stopblock in
front of a wall dividing the terminus from a canal 20
feet below. A part of the wall was knocked down, but
the engine did not go over. Several passengers were
severely ehaken, but none seriously hurt. The accident
is attributed to the steam-brake failing to act in time.
Nineteen actual shipwrecks (14 British owned, one
Norwegian one Spanish, two German, and one French)
were reported last week, making the total for the
present year 853, against 14 for the corresponding
week, and 1049 the total at the corresponding period
of last year. One Norwegian vessel was reported lost
with all hands, a Scotch vessel sank with nine persons,
and a Spanish war steamer went down with eight men.
By fire two vessels were destroyed.
An excursion train on the Connoton Valley Railway
left the rails on Saturday evening near Canton, Ohio,
and was precipitated down an embankment 6ft. in
height into 3ft. of water. Twenty-five persons were
injured and twelve others are missing.
The town of Dukia in Galicia has been half de-
stroyed by a fire which originated in a naphtha manu-
factory. _ _

During Saturday night an earthquake was felt at
Agram. It lasted four seconds, and was accompanied
by subterranean rumblings. No damage was done.
Intelligenca has been received at Portsmouth of the
murder at Macao of Mrs. Wood, formerly of Ports-
mouth, and the wife of the chief engineer of a Portu-
guese man-of-war. Plunder was the object of the
crime. The lady appears to have been first gagged and
suffocated, her throat being afterwards cut in three
places.
The Cunard steamer Oregon, which arrived at New
York at three o'clock on Sunday morning, made the
passage in six days sixteen hours.
Last year a gentleman gave the sum of £lO,OOO for
the en ovrment of a National Portrait Gallery for Scot-
land, and he has now offered £20,000 towards erecting a
building for the joint accommodation of the gallery and
a museum of antiquities. The matter has been brought
under the notice of the Treasury, who have intimated
their intention of asking Parlisznent to vote a sum to
assist in the purchase of a site.
A Lisbon telegram says that a terrific storm has
passed o er Almeida. The damage done to the crops is
estimated at five hundred thousand francs.

There are twenty-five thousand canary birds owned
by families in Brooklyn, N.Y. It costs about seven
cents a week to feed each bird. The capital invested in
these birds in that city is estimated at 500,000 dols.
The telephone is extensively used in the mining
regions of Silesia. Several mines and factories are con-
nected up to a central office at Benthuen. There are
112 subscribers, and the length of lines is 1180 kilome-
tres. The number of calls per day is over 322.
Paris advices state that quotations for wheat have
shown no change upon the French provincial markets.
During the week the amount of business doing has been
very limited. At Paris and Marseilles also quotations
have not varied. _ .

A Wick telegram reports that the ship Vicksburg, of
Leith, has gone ashore on the Pentland Skerries and
become a total wreck. Nine of the crew were lost;
Captain Watson and eleven of the men were saved.
A party of Hungarians, living near Centralia, in
Montana, finished up a three days' carouse on Inde-
pendence Day by a friendly shoot all round. One man,
John Herglon, was killed, and two others fatally in-
jured.
Petroleum has been found of such a limpid quality
near Tereara-Friddi, Palermo, that it is used in lamps
without any previous refining. Works on a large scale
are about to be commenced.

The educational statistics of Japan for the past year
show that the number of common schools throughout
the country is 29,081, being an increase of 339 as corn-
pared with the preceding year, while the number of
scholars is 3,004,137, an increase of 396,960, and the
number of teachers is 84,765, being an increase of 8147.
A respectably-dressed man made an attempt the
other morning to commit suicide by jumping into the
Thames from the Embankment, between Charing-cross
and Waterloo Piers. A steam launch happening to be
passing at the time, the crew managed to rescue the
man, and it was found that his hands were tied
together.
Prince Victor Bonaparte, the eldest son of Prince
Napoleon, and the acknowledged head of the Bona-
partists in France, completed his 22nd year on Friday
in last week, having been born on July 18, 1862; while
Prince Louis Jerome' the younger son of Prince
Napoleon, was born on July 16, 1864, and has therefore
just entered upon his 21st year.
Dr. Lyons, M.P., has prepared a précis of the forestry
reports issued by the United States Department of
Agriculture. From this it appears that there are
380,000,000 of acres in America covered with wood.
The forest area of Europe amounts to 861,000,000, of
which Russia alone possesses 469,500,000 acres, and
Sweden and Norway 75,000,000.
The arrivals of live stock and fresh meat at
Liverpool during last week from American and Canadian
ports amounted to 2915 cattle, 6235 quarters of beef,
and 500 carcases of mutton, there being no arrivals of
sheep, and the total figures in comparison with those of
the preceding week show an increase in the import of
cattle, but a slight falling off in that of fresh meat.
The Cyclists' Touring Club has 11,000 members, 800
district consuls, who render local information to mem-
bers, and 1000 hotel headquarters and recommended
inns. The National Cyclists' Union, which was founded
in 1878, has has nearly 7000 members, and is the legis-
lative body in all branches of cyling throughout the
United Kingdom.
At a special Court of the Corporation of Trinity
House, the Duke of Cambridge was unanimously elected
an Elder Brsther, a vacancy having been occasioned by
the death of the Duke of Albany.
Relief works, the Melbourne " Argus " reports, are to
be commenced in the capital of New South Wales, to
provide work for the unemployed there.
In America, the Rev. H. V. Plumer, a negro, has just
been appointed chaplain to a regiment of cavalry. He
is the only coloured officer in the United States Army,
and the first coloured chaplain.
A courier has arrived at Fort Davis, Texas, and re-
ported that" Mexicacs disguised as Indians raided the
Abbott and Dukes ranche, fifty miles south of that
place, killing two herders," and that" the men in charge
of the camp deserted, leaving everything in the hands
of the robbers."

An explanation of the phenomenon of "the White
Lady of Hohenzollern," whose supposed reappearance
in Berlin at the time of the German Emperor's
recent illness caused such alarm, is to be given by
Mr. Karl Blind in the August number of " Cassell's
Magazine."
During one week only, at the commencement of this
month, the public baths in Philadelphia were used
by 7767 men, 311 women, 59,076 boys, and 1855
girls.
The Worshipful Company of Turners, according to
their custom, propose to give this year their silver
medal, the freedom of the company, and (subject to
the consent of the Court of Aldermen) will also obtain
the freedom of the City of London for any workman,
whether master, journeyman, or apprentice, in the
trade in the United Kingdom who may send in the best
specimen of hand turning in wood, pottery, and pre-
cious stones.
On the application of the Court of Quarter Sesion of
Northumberland, the Home Secretary has, under the
provisions of the Wild Birds Protection Acts, 1880,
made the following order:—" The time during which
the killing, wounding, and taking of wild birds is pro-
hibited shall be varied in the county of Northumber-
land, so as to be from the Ist day of March to the 11th
day of August, in each year."
A despatch from Fort Smith, Arkansas, says the
Choctaw troubles have become serious. Milo Hoyt, a
prominent Choctaw leader, has been outlawed and
driven into the Cherokee Nation, where he has a gang
of about thirty men, mostly desperate characters, who
have rallied to his support.
According to the last census, the amount of power
used in manufacturing in the United States was
3,410,837-horse power, of which 1,225,379 was water
power, and 2,185,458 was steam power. The portion
used in grist and saw mills was 1,593,129-horse power.
Pennsylvania stands in the lead, with 354,774-horse
power.
The excitement over the recent discovery of a £2OOO
diamond at Eagle, inWisconsin, has been revived by the
discovery of three more gems, making seven found thus
far.

Last week's receipts of cotton at all United States
ports were 4000 bales; since Ist September, 4,792,000
bales. Week's exports to Great Britain, 53,000 bales;
ditto to Continent, 4000. Total since Ist September,
3,743,000 bales; stock at all ports, 256,000 bales;
ditto interior ports, 22,000 bales.
Seventy-seven horses bought for the English army in
Egypt left Odessa on Saturday; 100 more will be Wren
by the next steamer.
The 11713,15t51a.
Exhibition
number of otfheviweek
rs
e:dtinhge Ijuulteyrnla9tiwoansal
Total since the opening, 1,336,952.
The additions to the ZoologicalstwSeoeck neietiy'sluGdead twrdens,
Regent's-park, London, during la 0
pre
presented
ba3, :Alr
N.
esbteachimfieairdnr
atspfrraoimn.eNwoertlfh
NorthAfrmemerica,
pre-
sented by Mr. Payze; three smicates from South
Africa, presented by Mr. W. R. Dobbin; two red-
beaked weaver birds from West Africa, presented by
Mrs. Nettleship ; two swift parrakeets from Tasmania,
presented by Mr. J. Abrahams; four common vipers
(British), presented by Mr. Walter E. Bla.ker ; two
smooth snakes (British), presented by the Rev. Charles
Harris; two red kangaroos, a greater sulphur-crested
cockatoo from Australia, deposited ; four beautiful
finches from Australia, a Lanner falcon, captured at
sea, purchased; a hybrid Luhdorf's deer, a hybrid Me.
sopotamian deer, a red deer, four Australian wild duclis.
and a Mandarin duck bred in VI- gardens -

ALPINE ASCEN7l.—According to a telegram from
Zermattcthe fn-sta seen t of-Alonts Rosa has been made-this
year by four caravans. At the head of the first one was
an Eng ishman; rianied•Seeveh rthe-itAceni OecaPied
sixteen hours, and was accomplished without 'any acci-
dent. It is said that an Englishman will ascend Mont
Cervin shortly, w ich will be exceptionally dangerous
this year on account of the looseness of the snow.
A Row ACROSS THE AmArric. A remarkable
attempt to cross the Atlantic in a small boat with oars-
is now being made by a 'Captain John Traynpr, who
left New Haven, United States, itt five o'clock in the
afternoon of the 7th inst., and was • towed out into the
Sound by a yaclit. The small craft is what is called a.
dory, used by fishermen on the banks of Newfound-
land. It is named the Harold J. Bilber, and is, only
seventeen feet long. Traynor calculates that he will
be able to row across the Atlantic in about 100 days,
and has provisioned his little vessel for a six months'
voyage. The sole companion of the adventurer is a dog
called Jumbo.
SEAL AND WHALE FISHING.—The steam whaler Hopei.
of Peterhead, Captain John Gray,has arrived at Ler-
wick from Greenland seal and whale fishing, with 75001
seals and one whale, yielding 113 tuns of oiL The cap-
tain reports the catches of the Peterhead fleet as fol-
lows: Eclipse, four whales, 7000 seals, yielding 150'
tuns; Erik, one whale, 5500 seals and 10 bottlenoses,
yielding 120 tuns; Windward, 16 bottlenoses, 16 tuns..
(lost two large whales) ; Catherine, 22 bottlenoses, 22
tuns; Germania, 14 bottlenoses, 14 tuns. The Star,.
brig, of Dundee, is reported with 44 bottlenoses. Cap-
tain Gray reports that the weather in Greenland since-
the middle of July has been continuously foggy.
DEATHS BY DRowNING.—OR Friday hi last week,
through the capsizing of a boat on the Clyde near Dum-
barton, a boy named Hetherton, son of Councillor
Hetherton, Dumbarton, was drowned, and his com-
panion, named Paxton, was picked up almost lifeless.
The lads were out for pleasure.—Two sons of General;
Platt, the United States Consul at Queenstown, were
out in a boat off White Point, near that port, when the.
craft capsized. One of the occupants, Louis Platt, was
drowned, and his brother, though rescued, is not ex-
pected to recover.
PROPAGATING HARDY SHRUBS FOR FORCING.
"Land and Water" says: There are various hardy
flowering shrubs that are of great value for forcing
into bloom in early spring, among them lilac, syringa,.
azalea, rhododendron, guclder rose, &-c. But a moderate-
amount of forcing is really required, and when once the
amateur cultivator knows how to secure nice neat
plants adapted for the purpose, small enough, if need
be, to be admitted into the smallest of glass structures,.
and yet, when properly managed, loaded with flowers,.
the work of preparation should be commenced at once,.
and by means of a little watering and mulching good
plants may be rooted in time to properly ripen their
flower buds in autumn, and the same be unfolded in due
course. Let the amateur gardener proceed to the shrub-
bery and select such shoots of the above-named shrubs.
as can be bent to the ground, and such as have well
ripened short-jointed wood at their extremities, and
having provided himself with a few good strong hooked
pegs and a barrow load of fresh soil, he should dig out a
slight trench where the branches touch the ground,.
put in a little of the fresh soil, and having given.
the shoots a slight twist so that he can
just hear them crack, but without breaking them,
asunder, peg them tightly down so that the twisted
part is buried in the new soil. This done, the operator
should bury the covered part with more soil, and cover
that with a few half-rotted leaves or dung, as mulching,.
and clear any branches that may shade the layer, for if
the sun cannot have full power upon the layer, the buds
will not become fully matured, and disappointment may
ensue. The shoots may be struck so near the end of the
parent shoot as not to be more than nine or 12 inches
when taken off. In October or November the most
prominent of the plants can be potted, and for a few
days after kept in a cool frame or shaded situation
necessary, or under the north side of a wall, and
sprinkled once a day with a syringe if the weather.
should be dry. -When the plants are well rooted into-
the soil they need to be placed in a sunny position close
to the wall to mature the flower-buds. flue they may
remain until taken into the house for forcing, which
may commence any time after Christmas if the buds
are well matured, and attention must be given to their
wants in the way of watering, &c. After the plants
have bloomed they should be plunged out of doors in
an open position for the summer, and not be neglecteil
in the matter of watering.—" Land and Water."

PRESENTATION TO GENERAL GRAHAM.—On Saturday
afternoon Sir Gerald Graham, K.C.8., was presented.
by the officers and men of the Ist Newcastle and Dur-
ham Engineer Volunteers with a gold sword, in recogni-
tion of his services in the Soudan. About 1000 members
of the corps mustered at the drill -ground at Jarrow,
and the General, who was accompanied by Lady
Graham, was received with very great enthusiasm. The
Mayor of Jarrow, on behalf of the corporation of the
borough, presented General Graham with an address._
Col. C M. Palmer M.P., then presented the sword, and
in doing so referred at length to the services of General
Graham in the Crimea, at Pekin, at Kassassin, and Tel-
el-Kebir, and subsequently at El Teb and Tamasi.
General Graham, who was loudly cheered, said her
accepted the honour done him in that presentation as a,
compliment paid to the gallant men who served under
him in the Soudan, to whom belonged the real credit of
the victories there gained. General Graham was sub-
sequently entertained to a mess banquet in the
assembly rooms at Newcastle.
RAILWAY EARNINGS IN AUSTRALIA.—West Australia,
with but 30,766 inhabitants—but an area of 1,009,00
square miles, which is more than that of the whole
United States east of the Mississippi—has 92fr miles or
railroad, or one mile to 333 people. But it does not
support its railroads. South Australia extends entirely
across the continent from the south to the north coast,
with an enormous area of 935,000 square miles, most of
which has scarcely ever been trod by the foot of man.
Its population was 310,650 at the close of 1883, which:
was 311 per mile of railroad. The expenditure on rail-
roads per inhabitant was only 125., the average cost
per mile of the 915 ii miles at the end of 1852 having
been but £6520. The net earnings were but 2.56 per-
cent. on this capital, and the balance Las to be made up.
by taxation. Several of the roads did not earn their
working expenses.
BULL-FIGHTING IN AMERlCA.—lndependence Day was.
celebrated at Dodge City, Kansas, by the first Mexican
bull-fight on American soil. Five hundred cow-boys
were present. The first bull made only a fair fight„
furnishing half an hour's amusement. The second.
showed no spirit and was withdrawn. The third
pranced into the ring throwing up clouds of dust. After
being angered by several spear thrusts he made matters
very lively, and after being exhausted was lassoed and
dragged from the ring. The fourth bull proved a.
failure, and the crowd demanded the first bull, which
was returned. After a brisk fight and much charging a.
picadore gave him the fatal thrust. One of the mata-
dores was severely injured.
SUNDAY Dranangs IN BurFazo.—A Buffalo trades-
man says: "Many mechanics come in with blackened
faces and with their shop clothing on but I tell you
their tastes are just as good as those of more wealthy
people; and they pay the price which is asked without
complaint. Many of this class of customers are from
England. These people have educated the Americans
up to a certain point; hence the demand which is made
on the market man for such a large variety of eatables.
There are cauliflowers, watercresses,kolrabbi, artichokes,.
and egg plants. These goods are nearly all imported.
A few years ago people in Buffalo did not think of
eating such things, but now the demand is great, some-
times greater than the supply.
" MOONLIGHT " OUTRAGE.—Another daring MOM-
light outrage has been perpetrated in the Castleisland
district. On Friday night in last week, about ten
o'clock, a party of three men knocked at the door of a
small farmer named Peter Breen, who resides at a place
called Croughmore, and demanded admittance. Breen's.
wife opened the door and the man entered. She was
about to light a candle, but it was struck from her
hands, so that all was In darkness. Breen was then
called on and came down. He was asked by one
of the party why he had sent his white heifer to graze
on M'Mahon's evicted farm. He replied that he did not
do so, but that he had sold it to Mr. Hilliard, the agent
of the estate, and he supposed he sent it there. With-
out any further parley one of the men called out "No.
21," and a shot was immediately discharged, which tore
away the inside portion of the muscles of Breen's left
thigh. The men then decamped.