biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-12-22

THE ROSS PRIMARY BATTERY.

Inventors are turning their attention to the pro-
duction of electric light and energy in a direct
manrer from primary batteries. The latest example
of this class of generators is that of Mr. 0. C. D.
Ross, in which the special merits claimed are
economy and constancy. We were present at a re-
cent demonstration of its capabilities, which was
given at No. 21, Austiufriars, London. In this
battery zinc plates are used, electrolytes are stated
to be of an inexpensive character, and the consump-
tion of zinc so small that it only represents a cost of
2d per hour for the electrical unit. By a simple ar-
rangement the cells can all be simultaneously
charged with the liquid, and subsequently dis-
charged by merely raising or lowering a frame-
work of tubes, and turning on and off a tap. The
zinc which is consumed in the battery is recovered
in a solid form and in augmented quantity as oxy-
chloride of zinc. This product, it is stated forms
the principal ingredient of a new insulating
material for covering electric conductors. It is
found that with a single charge of toe chemical
liquid a substantially constant current can be ob-
tained for upwards of twelve consecutive hours.
This point is verified by the report of a professional
tester, who carried out a series of experiments
a few cells forming a portion of this battery. -Upon
the occasion of the receat demonstration. a Swat in-
candesceace lamp, stated to be of 100 candle-power,
was first sho n, after which thirty-nine Swan
lamps of 10 and 7 candle power were lighted.
Twenty Woodhouse and Rawson incandescence
lamps, each of 20 candle-power. were subsequently
shown, and during the tine they were running the
current was switched on to a motor which drove a
16-in Blackman ventilating fan with but slight
detriment to the light of the twenty incandescence
lamps. A powerful arc lamp was also brought into
action, all the other sources of consumption of elec-
tricity being of course switched off. In all cases
the light was c f good quallity and very steady, and
in these respects the demonsti ation was very satis-
factory.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-12-22

THE SKlN.—The Glory of Wo.nan, the Pride o
Man.—lt contains the delicate Duca of beauty, and con-
titu tus all that we ttrai “Lcvelincss," yet how may
hve their shins blemished by irritant soaps, Carbolic
Coal Tar, Gllcerine, made of putrid la's. .•rif-m
AL B lON MILK AND SULPHUR SOAP" is the purest
the vibitcst, and most purifyirg cf all soaps It re-
moves all pimples, blotches, and rouglineka. By all
krulkto,in tablkt- 6. and is.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-12-22

Railway Trains, mechanical, is 111 d, to lOs 6d each.
Arks, large sizes, 41-d, nd, Is Old, is 41-d to 3s 6d
each.

Horses and Carts, Rocking Horses, Perambulators,
Animals, Skittles' Games, 3,5 c., &c..
Dolls, Dolls, Pretty Dolls, 2.1 d, 4d, 61d, 91d, Is
is 6d, is 11.. d to 5s 6d each.
Very handsome Dolls from 6s Gd to 8 guineas each.

EARTHENWARE AND CHINA
The great success of this Department shows that it
supplies a long-felt want, -viz., a Market where the
Public can obtain Medium and High-Class Goods
of this description at MODERATE PRICES. I
have made Special Arrangements for the Display of
CHINA and EARTHENWARE. The Stock in
this Department is very Varied and Extensive,
selected from the BEST MAKERS in the POT-
TERIES, and comprises
TEA SERVICES from ss. 11d., the Set of 40 pieces.
BREAKFAST DITTO, from Os. 11d. the Set of 40
Pieces.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-12-22

BAKER PASHA'S EXPEDITION.

Baker Pasha left Suez on Tuesday night for
Suaklm. He has complete civil and military autho•
rity as far as he can penetrate, and power of life and
death. A letter addressed by the Khedive to Baker
Pasha declares that the object of the expedition is to
pacify the country between Suakim and Berber, and
if possible to maintain communications between
those places. His Highness's letter concludes as fol.
lows :

The number of troops under your command being at
present insufficient, great prudence will be necessary.
All conciliatory means should be employed before
having recourse to force in order to come to an under-
standing with the chiefs of the various tribes. It would
be hazardous to commence military operations before
the 2,000 gendarmery now at Suakim are reinforced by
tbe black troops under the command of Zebehr Pacha.
If you after wards think military action necessary,
I rely upon your great prudenca only to engage the
enemy under the most favourable circumstances.

The Correspondent of The Times writes :—An
enormous crowd, comprising apparently every Euro-
pean in Cairo and numerous natives, assembled at the
station to bid farewell to Baker Pasha cn his leaving
by special train for Suez, thence proceeding to
Suakim. Among thogs present were Sir Evelyn and
lAdy Wood, Mr. Vincent. Mr. Clifford Lloyd,
Generals Dormer and Grenfell, and Zsbehr Pasha.
Baker Pasha was accompanied by Captain Harvey,
formerly of the Black Watch, and Consul Baker, of
Khartoum. B3ker Pasha's great popularity and a
feeling of the hopel, ssness of his mission procured
him an ovation unequalled upon any similar occasion,
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-12-22

DEATH OF A TRAMWAY PIONEER.

Mr. W. Sheldon, who more than half a century ago
had a large share in instituting regularity of communi-
cation between England and Scotland by means of stage
coaehes, has just died at the age of 80. He was a native
of Kendal, in Cumberland, and after a long connection
with the coaching traffic, during which he personally
took charge of the coaches from Birmingham to
Carlisle, &c., he removed to London, and upon the
advent of railways devoted his energies to the develop-
ment of urban passenger traffic. In connection with the
London Omnibus Company, he soon established an
excellent and cheap omnibus service. He also joined
George Francis Train in building and working the
first tramway in London. He disapproved, however,
of the raised rail, and this eventually wrecked Train's
experiment. Subsequently, Mr. Sheldon went abroai,
and, with the assistance of his son, built and set in
working order tramways in Brussels, Copenhagen,
Madrid, Geneva, Bucharest, and Bremen. These
were very successful, and the tramway question again
came up in England. The deceased was associated
with the companies which built the Glasgow, Aber-
deen, and other tramways. He was an advocate of
the system of light steam tramways for the develop-
ment. of country districts. Mr. Sheldon was a member
of the Society of Friends, and was known privately
for his practical benevolence.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-12-22

SUICIDE ON THE THAMES
EMBANKMENT.

In London, on Saturday, Mr. St. Clare Bedford
held an inquest at St. Martin's Vestry Hall on the
body of Richard D'Arcy Biddle, aged 33 years, who
committed suicide in the gardens of the Victoria
Embankment by shooting himself in the head on the
13th inst. Mr. Tyrell Biddle identified the deceased,
who was a clerk in the goods department of the Great
Western Railway, as his nephew. The deceased had
recently _left his employment at Reading owing to
appeared very dull and depressed, and was afraid
that the company would transfer him to Bilston, in
Warwickshire, a place for which he felt a great dis-
like. On Thursday in last week he left witness's house,
saying that he was going to see his father in Walworth-
road. The witness never saw him alive again.—Pulice
constable Manning, 317 E, stated that shortly before
two o'clock on Thursday afternoon he was on duty on
the Victoria Embankment. He was walking in the
direction of Waterloo Bridge, when he saw the de-
ceased, who was about 100 yards in advance of him, sit
down on a seat. Almost immediately afterwards the
witness heard the report of a pistol, and upon going to the
spot he found the deceased lying back on the seat with
a revolver in his right hand. A doctor was sent for,
and he pronounced life extinct. Four chambers of the
revolver were still loaded. Evidence was given showing
that the deceased was subjeat to extreme nervous de-
pression, and that he was under a delusion that he was
being followed from place to place. A verdict of
"Temporary insanity" was returned.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-12-22

124 THE MIDLAND COUNTIES

GEORGE ill ORRIS, PROPRIETOR,

NAG'S HEAD INN,

KING STREET (Late cf Stone Stieet), AND BAIT AND LIVERY STABLES, DUDLEY ABIKS.

DUDLEY.

.{ DANES. St. Thomas-atreet,Netherton.
GOULD, Undertaker, Cradley Heath.
MOORE and FERRER, Undertakera,Kingswinford
AGANTII: G. VVOODALL. Market-atreet, do.
WHITFIELD,I do. Brierley Hl
DORREL, do. do
EMERY do. do

A Large and Well-selected Stock or

MEERSCHAUM PIPESI