biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-23

[44 TIMES" TELEGRAM.[

CANTON (via Colombo), A.ugust 6.

I arrived at Cauturn on the I.st instant in
order to have an interview with the Viceroy,
and to await events there, the situation being
universally declared critical. The Viceroy,
however, had left on the day of my arrival
for thb river forts, and was engaged in laying
torpedoes and preparing stone junks to be
sunk as a barrier in the channel. He de-
puted Fantai to see me. Fantai, a strong
advocate of war, believes that the French
fleet is unable to effect more than a bomb-
ardment of the coast. China, he says, is
willing to compensate the French victims of
the Lang Son road affair, though he main-
tains that it was the result of French
treachery ; but he scouts the idea of an in-
demnity. He displayed an extensive know-
ledge of the topography of Tonkin. He said
that the claim of the French to have the
southern provinces opened only to them was
against the spirit. of Chinese concessions to
foreigners. He thought that railways would
for the present be only allowed in the north,
but he inquired the probabilities of the rais-
ing of a cheap loan tor railway construction.

'The Vicero-y, Chung Chi-Ting, having re-
mained in the forts for some days, returned
here to-clay. He has ordered twelve tons of
dynamite and quantities of gun-cotton. He
is reported to be rabid in his hatred of for-
eigners, but his hatred. has not yet been
shown. He has, indeed, issued a proclama-
tion forbidding foreigner-baiting under the
penalty of flogging. The head men, officials,
and common people are warlike, but the
merchants are pacific.
The Daring, English corvette, and some
German and American gunboats are lying
here.

FOOCHOW, Wednesday.
The sitnation here is unchanged, both in
the city and on the rivez.

HONG KONG, Wednesday.

I have seen the Viceroy of Canton. He
confirmed the news that an edict had been
sent into the provinces ordering the authori-
ties to prepare for war. In case hostilities
break out the Chinese willresume the offen-
sive iii Tonkin with energy. Bold plans for
the operations have been formulated. New
and extensive river fortifications have been
completed, forming barriers, with an opening
of 150 feet between them, which can be
closed within two hours. '.L'he to tvn is quiet.
The Sham,ien claims have been amicably
settled.

PEKIN, Thursd9y.

The tricolour flag was lowered at the
French Consixlate at one o'clock to-day. The
interests of French subjects are entrusted to
the Russian Minister. The Tsung-li-Yamen
absolutely refuse to admit the French claims,
professing themselves to be completely pre-
pared for war a outrance, but secretly hoping
to involve neutrals in tho quarrel in respect
of the Treaty ports.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-23

A RIVER POISONEb.

Some indignation has been aroused at Guildford by
the fouling of the River Wey and the poisoning of the
fish for miles along its course. The mischief is sup-
posed to have been caused by the refuse from some
manufactories on the banks of the river having been
allowed to enter the stream. The water for days past
has been of the colour of black ink with a white froth
floating on the surface. The fish have perished
literally by the ton, and having become putrid in the
water, the stench emitted has been sickening. The
Guildford Town Council has discussed the matter, but
is not aware how far it can exercise its powers to stop
the pollution of the stream. In the meantime the
inhabitants are arousing themselves, and a petition to
the Local Government Board is in course of signature,
asking that authority to remedy the existing disgrace-
ful and dangerous state of things.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-23

HOSPITAL SATURDAY FUND.

In anticipation of the recurrence of Hospital
Saturday on the 6th of September next, the board of
delegates have appealed to the employers of labour in
London asking them to remind their workmen of the
claims of the metropolitan medical charities upon
their liberality, and pointing out that the London
hospitals alone contain over 5000 beds, many of
whom are unoccupied for want of funds, while more
than 1,000,000 of the labouring classes of the metro-
polis annually receive the gratuitous relief afforded by
these institutions. One hundred and forty hospitals,
dispensaries, and other medical charities have
already applied to participate in the next Hospital
Saturday Fund, to promote the success of which
1500 ladies have volunteered to preside at collecting
stations in judiciously divided districts of this vast
city; and to further aid in this good work of raising
from London workmen the utmost sum they are
prepared to subscribe for the benefit of the medical
charities by which they mostly and mainly gain,
several clergymen and Nonconformist ministers have
undertaken to preach sermons on behalf of the fund
on Sunday, the 7th of next month—the day following
that of the street collection. The board of delegates,
. representing an industrial constituency in London of
300,000 members, dwell upon the fact that the
medical charities of London can no longer depend
upon the donations of the few. Nor should, it is
added, the workmen and workwomen of London,
"continue to rely for relief in time of accident and
disease upon the good offices of their employers or
charitable neighbours." By the development of
the existing system pursued by the board, of
having a collector in each workshop and business
establishment of the metropolis ready to undertake
the responsible duty of receiving the workfolks' pence
periodically and pay it into the central office of the
fund, 41, Fleet-street, it is sugge-sted that at feast a
million of L6-iiaos ".4-o-rifie-Ople can afford a half-penny
weekly each towards the support of the hospitals and
dispensaries of London, and in this way it is estimated
that over £lOO,OOO could be raised. Last year the
combined contributions from the industrial establish-
ments of the metropolis and river steamers, together
with the pounds, shillings, and pence collected on Hos-
pital Saturday in the streets, did not exceed £lO,OOO.
Q.yer 3000 firms, however, contributed to last year's
alislll2„,is 9411 P-4.11 C.'iltady increase upon the
number of preceding years. Mr. yorley,
_ISP'., as
president, Mr. if. N. Hamilton-Hoan, hono7ary
treasurer, and the Executive Committee generally,
earnestly and confidently appeal to the work-folk of
the metropolis to more largely respond than they
have yet done to the appeal which is yearly made
to them in behalf of the medical charities of London
with the recurrence of every first Saturday in
September.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-23

DROITWICIi.

STOCIC "SALE. Messrs. Oa te', Perrens, and
Wooldridge held their fortnig,htly tale on Tuesday,
law:. The entries comprised 33 he,td of cattle, Eome
fat sheep aid laib9 cud pigs. Ti.e.o vcas a oid
atendance of buyers and Eatid .ctovy prices were
realised. Fat cows made as high as £22 53 Od,
sheep 67s 6d, lambs 408
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-08-23

The SUPPOSED MURDERS near LAGOS.

A short time since the African mail steamer arriv-
ing at Liverpool brought particulars of a remarkable
discovery of human remains in a bush near the town
of Lagos, vi Web led to the belief that the victims had
been decoyed there and butchered, as all of the skele-
tons found appeared to be those of women. The last
steamer which reached Liverpool from West Africa
has brought some further particulars, from which it
appears that the native Adeoshun, who is under ar-
rest charged with the murders, has for some time past
been regarded as a Ju Ju medicine man and had great
influence over the females of Lagos, owing to his deal-
ing in "charms" and "fetish." When the last
advice left Lagos Adeoshun was undergoing a police
examination, and so great was the excitement in
the place, and particularly amongst the female por-
tion of the inhabitants, that a force of Houssas had
to be specially in attendance at the Police-court to
protect the accused from the violence of the mob
which numbered some three thousand people. The
first charge against Adeoshun is that for the murder
of Mrs. Selina Cole. This lady disappeared very
mysteriously some time since, and it was thought
she had been decoyed outside the protectorate and
sold into slavery, a circumstance which is stated
in the despatch to be not of a very unfrequent
occurrence. Subsequently the husband of the
missing woman became aware that certain property
which formerly belonged to his wife was in posses-
sion of the accused. A search-warrant being obtained
goods to the value of some hundred and fifty pounds
were found on the premises of Adeoshun, all of which
were said to belong to Mrs. Cole. The matter
having been taken up by Inspector Willoughby, of
the loussa police, a house near the town was
searched resulting in the discovery of first four
skeletons, and'subsequently eight more—twelve in all.
The remains Of Mrs. Cole were amongst the number.
It is said that the accused, by the aid of his charms,
was believed by the females of the colony to be able
to bring them wealth. From Mrs. Cole alone, it is
asserted, that Adeoshun obtained some £5OO prior to
her disappearance. It is stated that the prisoner
induced his victims to meet him in a lonely part of
Ikoyi (near where the bodies were found), and there
compelled them to kneel down with their eyes blind-
folded. A live fowl was then put into each hand of
the victims, and while in this position it is believed
they were despatched by the aid of 801110 heavy
weapon. •