The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-06-08 00:00:00

t

PRICE ONE PENNY.

PUBLIC NOTICES.

S TOURBRID GE UNION.

OTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, tbsi
Guardians of the Stourbridge Union will. et Asir
Meeting on FRIVAT, the 21st Juse hiss., at tate
Workhouse, at Xingswinford, receive Ld..DhKa fres
persons willing to contract for supplying tlo. orkkoese
with the undermentioned, Articles for a pm iod of Id
weeks,, from the 21st JuNn met, to the 3rd day
Ocrroexii next, who are releested to send Tatters
addressed "To the Clerk of the tieviiiins of the Stow
bridge Union, at the Workhouse, Kingswinfori,"
properly sealed, Free of Expense, and endorsed," TIN.
DER," on or before the 20th_

PROVISIONS, he.
Zatinated gustily
required about.
Flour (seconds) per buhel 20 seeks.
Bread (best seconds) per 4tb lod 4150 per week
Tea, per lb .. .. • • .. .. 190 lbs.
Coffee Berries, per lb. 10 lbs.
Sugar, per lb. .. 1000 lbs.
Loaf Sugar, per lb. . • ..
Best Salt Butter, per lb. .. 11CO
Fresh Butter, per lb. .. nibs.
Cheese, per lb. .. 100 lbs.
Rice, per lb. .. .. • • .. 354 lbs.
Treacle, per 1b... 200 lbs.
Mustard (D. 8. per lb. . • .. SO lbs.
Vinegar, per gallon 6 galls.
Pepper Corns, per lb. .. lbs.
Tobacco, black, per lb. IS lbs.
Salt, per cwt. .. 10 .wt.
Soda, per lb. .. .• .. • • .. .. 4 cut.
Dark Blue, per lb. .. 10 lbs.
Best Starch, per lb. .. 20 lbs.
Beat White Soap, per lb. .. 600 lbs.
Pale Yellow Soap, per lb. .. 600 lbs.
Soft Soap, per lb. .. . • .. 200 lbs.
Caffdles, per lb. .. . lio
Linseed Meal, per lb. .. 60 lbs.
Oatmeal (best), per lb. .. .. • • .. sacks.
Peas,—Split, and (trey, I
SO bushels.
per imperial bushel
Bacon, English, in sides with I
1000 lbs.
the hams, complete at per lb. f ' • • '
Beef—rounds, crops, and :Rouse'
pieces, per lb. 1 460 lbs.
Mutton—fere quarters, per lb. I per week
Suet, per lb.

Coals---Large, per 2,240 lbs. _
.. .. 120 tons.
Rough- Engine Slack, ditto _ .. 50 tone.
A ticket of the tomtit to be sent with each &Jiver'.
Ala per gallon .. .. • . .. 640 galls.
Port Wine}
Gin at per gallon
Whiskey

CLOTHING.

.. 20 galls.

100 Yards Thin Whits Calico..
200 yards Strong Grey Calico
100 yards Thin Grey Calico • • ditto
100 yards Pinafore Harden, SSW. wide ditto
100 yards Striped Lindsey •• ditto
100 yards Striped Blue Print .. ditto
100 yards Spotted Blue Print .. ditto
11 dozen Counterpanes 71t Sin by 4ft din
If dozen Counterpane. 71t by 51t
.1.1 dozen Pair Blankets 711 Sin by Lit din
11 dozen Pair Blankets 711 by 51t
2 dozen Men's Shoes
3 dozen-Women's Shoes
2 dozen Boys' Shoes
3 dozen Women's Clogs

at per yard
ditto

No Tender or sample, will be resolved saes the
20th day of June instant.

Forms of tender may be obtained on application to
me at Stourbridge, or of the Master of the Workhottao
at Kingswinford, which alone can be received.

The estimated quantity of the several articles u alloys
stated, is about the consumption that may or aqui be
required, but the Guardians do not bind themselves I.
receive those or any other given quantities.
All the Articles to be delivered, free of expanse. et
such times and in such quantities as the Guardians may
direct, at the Union Workhouse, Eingswinford.
The Bread to be delivered baked notless than 24 heirs
and each 25 Loaves to weigh 100111 s.
Each Contractor will be required to enter into • son-
tract, with one or more sureties, as the Guardians may
direct. The contract will contain a proviso that U the
Contractor shall neglect to deliver the Goods when
ordered, or shall send supplies of a quality inferior to
that contracted for, the Guardians shalt be at-liberty*
procure supplies of a proper quality elsewhere, and
charge the difference in price end all coals and charges
incurred thereby to the Contractor.
Payments for Coals will be made monthly, if preferred,
subject to the usual discount.

17he Guardians reserve to themselves the power of n-
je c Ling the lowest or any other Tender.
By order of the Board.
- - GEO. HOLLOWAY, Clerk.

Workhouse, Kingswinford,
June ?h,1878.

BRIERLEY BILL BUILDING BOCIICTY.

IN consequence of Monday Next being Bank Holiday,
Subscription Meeting will be held at Brierley Hill
and Stourbridge this (Saturday) Evening, and there will
be no Subscription Meeting next week.
J. M. GETHING,
Sec.

Holloway End,
Near Stourbridge.
June 6, 1878.

BRIERLEY HILL BUILDING SOCIETY.

mins SOCIETY has been established and
1. enrolled 26 years.
It is managed by a committee of members elected
annually.
The reserve fund amounts to one-tenth of the capital.
The interest charged for money advanced, and
allowed for money paid in is 5 per cent. per annum.
The premium charged for money advAnced is at the
present time £l2 for £l2O share and a proportionate
sum for other amounts.
The repayment for the £l2O share is ten shillings per
fortnight, out of which the interest is taken annualsy at
Christmas and the remainder is applied to the reduction
of the advance.

The profits are divided at an equal rats among all
members.
Balance-sheets and all farther particulars may be
obtained from the secretary,

J. M. GETHING.

Holloway End,

Stourbridge.
Meetings in the Town Hall, Brierley Sill, seven to
nine o'clock on alternate Monday evenings.

SKATING RINK,

STOURBRIDGE

OPEN DAILY.

MORNING: 11 a.m., 'till 1 p.m.
AFTERNOON: 2-30, p.m., till 5 p.m.!
EVENING: 7 „ „10 „

THE STOURBRIDGE BRASS BAND
Will be in attendance Every Evening, and oil
baturday Afternoons.

ADMISSION, SIXPENCE
PLIMPTON'S SKATES, SIXPENCE.

Select day, Wednesday, when the charge for
Admission is One Shilling.

SEASON Tzcs.rrs, admitting at all times, when
the Rink is open for Skating, aro now ready, and
may be had on application at the Newspaper Offices,
of Mr. Broomhall, Stationer, High Street or ot
the Manager, at the Rink.

ASTON LOWER GROUNDS.

GRAND DISPLAY OF SPRING FLOWERS, IN
GREAT PERFECrION.
ME GRANDEST DISPLAY OF TULIPS IN THIS
MIDLAND COUNTIES.

The GROUNDS have been entirely re-arranged, the
Flower beds newly
designed, and filled with Tulips and
blyacintha in full Bloom.
BOATING on the improved and extended Lake, with
freshly painted Boats &c.
• 'I he SKATING RINK. which has been re-laid, made
level, and newly lighted, will be open for Three iLxeraimea
Every Day. Pountney's Band Avery Evening. Synyer
and Gilmer's Band will Play from 3 p.m. to G 9.. ist
the Grounds on Saturday afternoon, and from 7 till 9 in
the Rink, for a Grand Musical Entertainment.
The CONSERYAIORY is replete with a choice Col-
.ection of F.owcring and Exotic Plants.
The new Lrectiona of AQUARIUS/ and ASSMIABLI
itOOSIS are rapidly progressing.
Admission to Grounds. Si. each.
Admission to Rink.. .• 6d. sack
Use of Skates..

Tickets for Skating Rink can be obtained at sash
entrance every day, until farther notice, Ikl. sash.
Season Tickets are now ready, and can be obtained IN
the Offices of the Company, Holte Hotel, Aston, where
:iny other information required will be tarnished.
Iruing gun to N‘ AWL StatiOL, LOutiOla and North.
Nestern Nailway, adjoining the tiruttnds ; awl Wald
buses run constantly.
111. citilibUithillogiOselphydir.

I

i.,,
, „....
I

•

I

eur Isc.o6oit 6orraponhott.

[We deem it right to state that we do not at all times
identify ourselves with our Correspondent's opinions.]

The terrible maritime disaster off the coast of Kent,
in which one German ironclad was sunk by her con-
sort, with a loss of near upon 300 lives, has once more
set naval critics talkiig of the apparent decline of
modern seamanship, as compared with the skill in
navigation accustomed to be displayed before wood
was superseded by iron in the construction of war
vessels. We all remember how, on the morning of

the Ist September, 1875, while our own Rese-rve
Squadron was in a thick fog in the Irish Channel,
the Vanguard al.teredlawammt_rehant
ship, when she was stiiiZEWThe ron I)i-ike, her side
was ripped open, and in an hour a stately' vessel, a
worth half a milli of money, was at the bottom
of the sea. Fortunately she kept afloat 'sufficiently
long that no lives were lost. But the more
recent catastrophe in the English Channel was
^-iurrounded by circumstances far more awful and still
more extraordinary and inexplicable. On a fine
summer morning, about nine o'clock, when the sun is
• shining brightly, there being no fog end ,a bright
breeze, one German battle ship, as in -the cas4,or the
Vanguard, alters her helm to avoid running down a
merchantman, when she, too, is struck by a sister-ship
and so completely shivered to pieces that in a few

minutes he has gone.to the bottom with more than

three hundred
.gallant seamen of the German navy.
". Our own reserve squadron consisted of five ships
; when the Vanguard was destroyed, whereas the Ger.

man squadron consisted of only three. In each case

one is lost because another vessel ports her helm.
If suell are the results in a peaceful cruise in
• Our own waters, what calamities might be ex-
pected in a naval battle where a score of these
monsters were engaged? A the battle :of Tra-
falgar seventy-one ships of war 'Ore 'belching
forth thunder and red flame; but can :kna.gine half
that number of ironcla.ds fighting each other with
safety to themselves cr their friends Te,Ae it is this
fearful + catastrophe has carried gloom • irito many a
home in the vast Fatherland between the Danube and
the Baltic, where in the far inland districts the people
who have never gazed upon the sea in their lives, will
now regard with greater superstition than ever the
mysteries associated with the name of the wilderness
of waters.

Singularly enough this deplorable disaster took place
while the Crown Prince and Princess of Germany
were in London. They do not come often; indeed it
is several years since they were here; but now un-
happily they heard in the British capital of the loss of
one of the finest vessels in the German navy, now lying
fathoms deep in Er_glish waters. Since the great war
with France eight years ago, the Germans have set them-
selves to-the construction of a fleet,and their building yard
at Wilhelmshaven is as active as our own Portsmouth
or Devonport. To a nation like England, whose navy
is equal to that of all others combined, the loss of such
a ship as the Captain or the Vanguard was a heavy
one; but to Prussia, whose vessels may be counted
almost upon the fingers of one hand, the disappearance
of the Great Elector will be severely felt. As to the
CroN;ra Prince and Princess, they have done their best
to render lively the London season. They brought some
of their children with them, to whom the vast metro-
polis must seem like another world, when compared
with Berlin, which is not so large as many of our pro-
vincial town.. In the capital of Prussia there is a little
sluggish stream called the Spree, a remarkable contrast
to our own broad and busy Thames. A great deal
has been said about the animosities borne by the
German people towards those of France, but if there be
such, the Crown Prince and Princess show nothing of
them. In one day they visited the Empress Eugenie
and Prince Louis Napoleon at Chiselhurst ; they then
went to see Prince Waldemar of Denmark, who was
staying with the Prince and Princess of Wales; and
in the evening dined with the Austro-Hungarian Am-
bassador at the Emlifassy in Belgrave-square. Thus

within a few hours they showed their friendship for
three Powers with which Prussia wai at war within

the space of six years—Denmark in 1864, Austria in
01 1866, and France in 1870.
Political
_life in _ England knows nothing of the

rancour so frequently seen abroad, and never has this
Vf •
ai been more exemplified than in the tributes which have
+2 been paid by opponents and associates alike to the
memory of Earl Russell. It seems almost moon.
ceivahle that a man who was a member of the British
Xt.' Parliament within a fewmonths of the burning of Mos-
cow, who was with Lord Wellington at the siege of
Burgos, who could write M.P. after his name when he

talked with Napoleon at Elba sixty-four years ago, who
• was in his place in the House of Commons when the
battle of Waterloo was officially announced to that as-
sembly, who could remember the sensation caused by
Lord Nelson's great naval victory at Trafalgar seventy-
three years aeo,who was a student at Westminster School
when Pitt and Fox were in the House of Commons—
should have ceased to be a legislator only a few days,
since, when he descended into the vale of death, no
more to move about amongst the children of men. In
these placid times, so far as domestic politics are con-
cerned, it is net possible for us to conceive the violence
of the passions let loose in the Reform agitation of
1831, when the cry, "Lord John Russell and the Bill !"
stirred the people of England like to the sound of a
trumpet. It needed all the coolness of the men in
power, of which he was the most prominent, to stem
the rapid tide of revolution to the verge of which the
land was brought. In London the peers who opposed
the Reform Bill were received with roars of execration
which would have drowned the loudest peals of
thunder, the city of Bristol was in flames, and the
people of Birmingham were prepared to march upon
the metropolis unless the Lords gave way. For it
must be remembered that at that time such places as
Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds were totally
• unrepresented in Parliament, while Gatton and Old
Sarum, without the vestige of a house, each sent two
• members. It maddened the populations in our vast
hives of industry thus to be taxed without being repre-
sented; and when the Duke of Wellington declared
against all Reform of any description whatsoever, the
Funds fell 3, and the great towns were driven to the
brink of an insurrection. The Chancellor of the
Exchequer, Lord Althorp, openly told them not to
pay their taxes until the Lords passed the Bill. The
wisdom and the firmness of such men as Lord John
"4- Russell then saved the British Constitution from ruin,
and to this testimony has since been borne by men of
all political parties.
The above mention of the fall in the Funds is a
reminder of the remarkable way in which these reflect
the belief of the people in the stability of our insti-
tutions. In time of war abroad and of political com-
motion at home, the Funds fall; but, as showing the
prevalent opinion that peace will not be broken, it
t may be mentioned that within the month of March
Consols went up 2, and that they now fluctuate
between 97 and 98. Another reason for this rise
is,
.no doubt, to be found in the uncertainty in
• the minds of investors respecting the value of
other securities. "Turks," as Turkish Bonds are
called upon theeSti)ck Exchange, once yielded ten per
cent, which was all very well while it lasted, and that,
as the holders found, did not continue. It was Mr.
Pitt who spoke of "the sweet simplicity of the
Three Per Cents," and of late those who have a little
money that they do not want seem to have been put-
ting it into the Funds, where their 3 per cent is "as
safe as the Bank of England." The best way to invest
- money is with many men a matter of much thought
and difficulty. If a man has £l,OOO and puts it in the
Funds, it produces £3O in twelve months. But if he
buys railway stock, and it goes up 5 in one week, as
has lately been the case with some descriptions, he
'makes £5O in seven days. That is all the difference,
certainly; but then it might as well have gone down,
for as Sam Weller once said these things are "always
a goin' up and down in the City."
ssi • The Parliamentary sitting between the Easter and
Whitsuntide recesses is one of the shortest of modern
15, times. The Commons reassembled on the 6th May,
4," %lend the Lords on the 13th, and the adjournment of
both in the first week of June for another holiday has
not left much time for work in the interval. When
the two Houses meet again. the Lower Howe on the
13th, and the Lords on the 17th, there will be no More
vacations for them before the prorogation. Although
Parliament met unusually early, so much time has
been occupied in debates on the Eastern Question that
the leg,i.lative .results will scarcely correspond with
• the length of the Session. The estimates have seldom
been so much in arrear ; and as, while Paella-
.e- runt is debating, the administrative machinery
of the State must be kept going, the chiefs of the
. departments have to ask for money en „count
• They admit that the system is a viciene one, but
• they ask what they are to do? Soldiers, sailors, and
• civil servants must be paid, and money must be ob-
., tamed for that purpose. The worst of it is that. when
the House of Commons comes to discuss a vote which
- has been taken on account, however much it might be
inolined to object to it, objections are useless. The
money has been spent, and there is an end of the
matter.
Much ha e been said, in recent discussions upon the
possibility of our being involved in war, respecting the
• • necessity, or at all events, the expediency of attaching
our colonies m‘ore closely to Us. Our colonial fellow
subjects are now ten millions in number, and by
' 71. the end of the century they will be thirty or forty
- millions, -in possession of territories larger than
10,4frekfearleiiirleoki , to their -possible
pan "t7ey I`s'' IstOritne independent or
to remain under the British flag? Many of the
original colonists, no doubt carried away with their
feelings, are somewhat resentful towards the mother

exi-i

country. Some of them tell us that the present state
never regards her own children as the equals of those
at home, and treats them as though they existed for
her advantage, hampering their commerce, misusing
their revenues; and quartering upon them inefficient
public servants. Again, the self-governing colonies
are not wholly free internally, for they cannot alter
their Constitution or extend their boundaries without
the consent of the Imperial Parliament, and English
opinion always insists on justice and humanity in the
arrangement and treatment of the coloured races.
Still, with some slight drawbacks the connection with
the mother-land is advantageous on both sides. We
do not wish to decline into a second Holland; and so
far as colonial independence is concerned, it is unques-
tionablo that these are not the days of small states
and

that

larger Or-con.

federating for mutual protection.
The defence of its capital is always a cardinal point
of importance—with a nation, either, barbarian or
civilised—for towards the capital an enemy naturally
directs- his steps. It has always been so, and the
investment of Paris by the Germans and the proximity
of the Russians to Constantinople just now, are ample
illussrations of this truth. In the war with Russia in
1854, when Sir Charles Napier took his fleet to the
Baltic, he found that the redoubtable fortress of Cron-
stadt lay between him and St. Petersburg, and he did
not venture to attack it. But how is London protected?
Not by a vast system of fortifications on the land side;
but so far as a foreign fleet coming up the Thames is
concerned, it would be totally impossible. The forts
at the mouth of the river are armed with the heaviest
ordnance and a system of torpedo defence N ready to
be laid down at any moment. Even supposing our
navy to have been defeated at sea, and a triumphant
enemy entering the Thames, there are forts at Shoe-
burynes.s and at the Nore, at the Isle of Grain, and at
Garrison Point; there are batteries at Thames Haven,
the new Shommeade Fort and Coal House Point; and
there is a further armament at Tilbury Fort in Essex,
and at the New Tavern Fort, on the Thames side.
All these are so placed that they can operate
in unison, and deliver a sweeping cross-fire in which
no ship could live. But such is the draught of water of
a first-class ironclad, that it is doubtful whether
one would float at Blackwall ; while, if all the buoys
and beacons were removed from the waterway, not
even a Thames pilot could navigate a heavy ship
up the river in safety. Londoners may therefore
sleep in peace, for their slumbers are not likely to be
disturbed by the attack of an ironclad fleet upon the
grey battlements of our wrinkled walls of the Tower.

ANOTHER ATTEMPTED ASSASSINA-
TION OF THE GERMAN EMPEROR.

Another attempt has been made in Berlin on the
life of the Emperor William. On Saturday afternoon,
his Majesty was driving in his open caldche as usual,
in Unter den Linden, and when a few paces from the
place at which th 3 recent attempt was made to assassin-
ate him four shots were fired at him from the second
story of one of the houses in that thoroughfare. The
shots took effect in the face, head, arms, and back. His
Majesty was at once conveyed to the PaJac° and placed
under medical treatment. A number of shots were
extracted, and though there was considerable loss of
blood, the wounds did not prove to be of a serious
character. The person who made the attempt is
named Dr. Nobiling. When arrested he wounded an
hotel keeper and then endeavoured to commit suicide,
but was prevented and taken to the hospital. The
exasperation among the people of Berlin is described
as being intense.
The Times of Monf!ny gives the following par-
ticulars :

SIX O'CLOCK.—Toward three o'clock Count Perponcher an-
nounced to an immense crowd assembled in front of the
Palace that His Majesty was wounded on the cheek, fore-
head, and leg, but that none of the wounds were dangerous.
It appeased that some small shot entered His Majesty's cheek,
while a bullet grazed his leg. Tue last of the four shots
fired by the assassin wounded one Herr Busch, a dining-
house keeper, who happened to be passing. The
assassin, whose name is variously given, but who
seems to be a Dr. Nobiling, arrived a few weeks ago
front Halle, and hired a furnished room in the second
story of the house in the Unter den Linden, No. 18 Stand-
ing at a window of his room, he tired the four shots from a
double-barrelled rifle and a revolver. It is said that he ap-
plied for employment in the Ministry of Agriculture, but was
refused. Towards four o'clock he was conveyed in a car-
riage. to the Mittel Strasse police-station. file strong escort
of mounted police harely succeeded in protecting the criminal
from the fury of the public.

HALF PAST SIX O'CLOCK.— A bulletin signed by Dr. von Lauer,
the Emperor's Physician in-Ordinary, announces that some
30 grains of hail shot have entered his Majesty's cheek and
shoulder, that his Majesty suffers great pain, that his life is
not directly endangered, and that he did not lose conscious-
ness for a moment. It is stated that the hail shot has been
promptly removed by medical skill and that the Emperor is
doing well.
SEVEN O'CLOCK. —The assassin has been removed to the
Charite Hospital. After woubding one of those who arrested
him, he shot himself in the head and is supposed to be
dying. He seems to be a vety young man_
When some thirty grains of small shot had been taken
out of the Emperor's wounds, the operation was inter-
rupted, the wounds causing the skin and muscles to
swell. The Emperor, who was very calm and composed
throughout, at this momentary interruption of the opera-
tion, sent a message to the Shah of Persia regretting
his inability to dine with him to-day, as previously
arranged. The pellets, coming from above, were pre-
vented from entering sleep into the flesh, so that a
speedy recovery is still hoped for. Before the assassin shot
himself he addressed the gentlemen breaking into the room,
telling them that he had acted from political motives. It
appeal% he was formerly an employe in the Civil Service of
the Kingdom of Saxony and had recently applied for official
employment at Berlin. He was a regular contributor to
agricultural papers, and seems to have been in easy circum-
stances,

The following announcement has been issued by the Berlin
Prefect of Police :—" As the Emperor was passing through
the street Unter den Linden, at about three o'clock this after-
noon, two shots were fired from the second floor of the house
No. 18, linter den Linden, and his Majesty was struck in
several places. The assassin is Karl Edouard Nobiling,
a Doctor of Philology, and an agriculturist. lie was
born on the 10th of April, 1848, at Kollno, near
Birnbaum; has been living in Berlin during the last
two years, and has resided at No. 18, Unter den
Linden, since the beginning of January last. Immediately
after the deed was committed the would-be assassin
was seized and is now under arrest. The two shots at
the Emperor were fired by him from the window of a
room en the second floor with a double-barrelled gun loaded
with shot On being arrested he inflicted severe wounds
upon himself in the head, after first firing with a ready
loaded revolver upon the persons who forced their way into
his room. Nobiling confesses his crime, but obstinately
refuses to make any statement as to the motives which
induced him to commit it. The Emperor, according to a
bulletin which has been issued, is wounded by about 30 small
shot in the face, head, both arms, and the back.—FREIHERR
VON HERTZBERG, Presidency of Police."

At a judicial examination Nob'ling confessed that be held
Social-Democratic opinions, and had repeatedly attended
meetings of that party. The prisoner further stated that for
the last eight days he had the intention of shooting the
Emperor, as he considered it would promote the welfare of
the btate were its head to be removed.

Owing to the attempt made upon the life of the Emperor,
the Crown Prince and Princess of Germany left London by the
South Eastern Company's mail train from Charing Cross at
8.25 on Sunday evening for Dover, and thence crossed by
special steamer to Calais, en route to Berlin. Their Im-
perial Highnesies were accompanied by Count Mtinster,
Lord Bridport, and their suite. The Prince and Princess of
Wales, the Duke of Connaught. Prince Christian, Lord
Sydney, the Right Hon. W. H. Smith, First Lord of the Ad-
miralty, and some other gentlemen were at the station to
see them off.

Count Schouvaloff left London for St. Petersburg in the
same train with the Crown Prince and Princess of Germany,
and crossed to Calais in the same steamer.
The children of the Crown Prince and Princess, with their
suite, left London, on Saturday afternoon, for Eastbourne,
where they are expected to remain for some little time.

BERLIN, Monday, 11.30 p m.

The Crown Prince and Princess have Just arrived. Their
Imperial llighnesses drove from the railway station in a
closed carriage without outriders, who were not necessary,
for the public, who lined the route in thousands, readily
made way, and vociferously cheered them as the carriage
whirled by. The Crown Prince, who was in ordinary dress,
was evidently much moved.
The Empress and the Grand Duchess of Baden, her
daughter, arrived early this morning from Baden-Baden.
Her Majesty was dressed in deep black, and entered the
palace from the rear entrance. Prince Bi.smarck also ar-
rived this afternoon, having hastened his departure on
account of the attempted assassination, and not, as certain
newspapers say, on account of Count Schouvaloff's arrival.

BERLIN, Tuesday, 1.23 a.m.

The excitement to-night in Unter den Linden has not in
the least abated, but has if any thing increased, says the
Correspondent of the Daily News. A hundred thousand
people are promenading in the vicinity even at this late
hour. In the condition of the Emperor no change has
taken place, which fact s a species of negative consolation.
Nobiling is still alive, but unconscious. Last night he was
delirious, but his ravings were unintelligible. The innkeeper
who was shot while helping to arrest him is somewhat
better this evening, and in spite of two serious operations,
may yet recover.

The Paris Correspondent of The Times says that the inteLU-
gence of the fresh attempt on the Emperor William's life has
created great indignation in Paris. Men of no party can view
without horror these attacks on a man of 82, whose long
career has been even more glorious for his country than for
himself. Telegrams of sympathy have been despatched, and
the German Embassy has been beset by persons anxious for
information. Prince llohealohe, on receiving the telegram,
Immediately repaired to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and
then made inquiries in several quarters for the purpose of
supplementing his own information. The Diplomatic Body
lost no time in ascertaining the particulars and in testifying
their horror.

Urder date Berlin, June 3, the Correspondent of The Times
writes : " The Emperor passed a tolerably quiet night and
is stated to be doing well. The assassin, whose name is now
officially given as Carl Nobiling. Doctor of Philosophy and
Scientific Agriculturist, is the son of a military family and
well connected. His mother, the widow of a major in the
Prussian army, remarried to another officer has identified
him. He is a_Protestant by birth, and the son of a family
in good circumstances. His manners are those of a highly
cultivated gentleman, and he appears to have had ample
resources at his disposal. His brothers are likewise
in the army, and his sister is a Protestant Sister
of Charity in the _Elizabeth Hospital at Berlin. He has
been at Berlin for some time looking for employment in
the Statistical and Agricultural Departments and writing for
agricultural and other journals. When the public broke
into the room of the assassin the latter tired at one Herr
Holtteuer, an innkeeper, who, being wounded, was unfor-
tunately mistaken for the assassin by those rushing in after
him and severely injured by the infuriated crowd. The
assassin fired two rifle shots at the Emperor, two revolver
shots at the people breaking into his room and one revolver
shot at himself. He is severely wounded; and his recovery
Is doubtfuL"

The Thirlin correspondent of the Daily News writes :
" Immediately after the shots were fired a number of persons
forced their way into the room whence they issued and
were, received with additional volleys. One hall, this time
from i revolver, struck an hotel-keeper in the chi& and
passed throuah and out of his neck. He fell at ona, but
was afterwards carried across the street to his home, where
he now is in a very critical state, likely to die at any moment.
In the meantime, others had secured the assassin, though not
until he had put a bullet through his own head, which for the

time made him senseless. Great precautions were necessary
before he could be taken away. The crowd below was in an
ugly temper, anti a strong force of police, both mounted and
foot, was required to protect him from being lynched.
Unfortunately, in this part of the proceedings took place
the only casualty which, up to this time, has proved fatal.
The driver of the police-van drove, according to orders and
as a measure of precaution, through the gateway of the
house and into the courtyard to receive the prisoner, but
in passing through did not bend low enough, and struck
the top with his head He was stooping at the time
in such an attitude that the blow instantly broke his
neck, and he has since died. The prisoner was trans-
ported to the Central Police-station, and at once exa-
mined. flis name is Doctor Nobiling, born in the Polish
province of Nolen, where his father farmed a royal domain.
He himself studied agriculture, and afterwards graduated
at Leipzig as student of law and politics. He has also dabbled
In literature, and some of his contributions to economical
periodicals. were found in his room. in a religious, political,
and even journalistic sense, his relations seem all to have
been with the Ultramontanes ; but his personal feeling; as
W6it as.thi.motivg&-ol the deed, are still a mystery."

Before. losing consciousness Nobiling was examined by the
Public Prosecutor and Judge of Inquiry in presence of his
mother, who had been fetched to identify the prisoner (says
the Correspondent of The Times). He admitted that he
earnestly sympathised with Ultramontanes and Socialists,
that he had accomplices, and that though he had no reason
to spare them, he wouln mention no names jest then. lie
owned that the office of shooting the Emperor had devolved
upon him by drawing lots, and that he believed it would be
to the public interest were the head of the State to be re-
moved. Like HOdel, he had his photograph taken a few
days before committing the crime.

The North German Gazdte of Monday, in furnishing further
details respecting the attempted assassination of the Em-
peror William, says that Nobiling's nb,ther visited him in
prison, and amongst other questions asked him, Did you
receive anything for it?" This lie answered in the negative.
To a furtb6r question, "Did the lot fallupon you?' Nobiling
replied by making an affirmative lima, n with the head, and
the words, " Ach Gott !"—The same paper also says:—
From the authentic reports of the depositions of Nobiting,
this much is certain, that he at first denied all ColllllllllliCA-
tiot with Aocfal Democrats, but subsequently confessed not
only that he was connected with the party, but added that
the execution of the deed fell upon him after a resolution to
that effect had been taken. He partly refused and was
partly unable to indicate his accomplices more nearly. It
has not yet been ascertained whether the crime is to he
traced to an extensive plot or to the infamous and impro-
vised act of a number of criminal persons."

The Berlin Correspondent of The Times says :—"A few
days after tiodeis attempt, Nobiling said to the maidservant
of his landlady that the Emperor was sure to be shot some
day by a practised hand Upon the girl remarking on the
uselessness of assa,ainating the Emperor, even from the
Socialist point of view, Nobiling replied, 'No doubt the
Crown Prince will succeed; but if he is killed too, and the
next ten that may succTed him are promptly disposed of in
like manner, we shall have the Republic in no time.' The
girl looked upon these remarks as a bad joke. The same
girl states that Nobiling was in the habit of burning every
letter directly after receiving it When arrested he had
some £8 sterling in his pocket. On his table was a slip of
paper containing a statement that his landlady and laundress
had to be paid the last month's rent and washing."

The excitement produced by the fearful event does not
abate (55y3 the Berlin Correspondent of The Times, writing
on Tue3cay). The Congress has become a matter of in-
difference, and even the Great Elector calamity is hardly
spoken of. The country literally trembles with the shock,
and the disgrace is deeply felt everywhere. That Socialist
rantings should lead astray a liodel was, after all, intelli-
gible enough; that a Doctor of. Philosophy, however, an
intelligent and highly cultivated individual, and the scion
of a respectable family, could be deceived by the absurd
philosophy of the Commune and stimulated to force his in-
dividual madness upon the common sense of the sane mil-
lions was unexpected. People were not prepared for this
extreme result of the theories rife in their midst

The Pope has sent to the Emperor of Germany the expres-
sion of hid regret at the atrocious attempt upon His Majesty's
life, iccompauied by His Holiness's best wishes for the
Emperor's speedy recovery. It is stated that by order of the
Pope, Cardinal Franchi, the Pontifical Secretary of State,
has despatched urgent instructions to the Catholic clergy in
Germany enjoining them to use every effort to prevent the
spread of Socialism. His Holiness is also stated to have had
a long conferenceon the subject with Cardinal Ledochowski,
in order to obtain exact information respecting the Socialist
party in Germany.

The Berlin Correspondent of the Daily Hews writes:—
'1 had just gone to the Foreign Office to meet a friend of
mine yesterday ufternooon when the attempt occurred; a
mesaenger brought the dramatic news almost at the same
moment. What a scene was that which followed! The
officials, who remember the Sabbath day only by working,
huddled together in a corner, and, with pale faces,
awaited further details ; others flocked in from
their homes, where the- report had already hunted
them out, or from the great garden in the rear,
where they walk up and down like Lessing's Templar under
the trees and compose despatches; and soon a captain of
Hussars came in and told ene the tragical story more com-
pletely. He himself had played a useful role. It was he
who had planted himself in the door of Nohiling's room
after it bad been forced, and with drawn sword held
the infuriated crowd at bay. To him the wretch
probably owes the few hours that he has apps-
rently yet to live. Out in the streets people were
hurrying by converging paths towards the scene of
the attempt, towards the royal palace, towards the
telegraph office; the men with clenched fists and dark
faces, women sobbing. and children swept along helplessly
by a passion and an excitement which they had failed to
understand. I was at the telegraph office half an hour
after the occurrence, and it was so full that I had great
difficulty in writing and Bending the brief despatch which
first brought) ou the tidings. There were hasty messages to
the Empress, to the Crown rrince, to the Grand Duchess of
Baden, to lti ince Bismarck, to all the crowned heads of the
world, to all the Ambassadors of the Empire. . . .
"The appearance and manner of the crowd to-day were
strikingly different from that of May 11. Then the joy at
the escape of his Majesty superseded for the nioment the in-
dignation at the attempt. A holiday air breathed through
and over the scene Flags were run up on the roofs, women
put on their finery, the men had flowers in their button-
neles, the children looked smart and showy; and cheering,
congratulatians, and vigorous handshakings, revealed a feel-
ing of patriotic and loyal exultation rather than any popular
depression. This time all was changed. The mournful
gravity of the occasion seemed to have impressed itself on
every mind. The dense crowd, which toward evening must
have numbered a hundred thousand, even passed the word
around to be quiet for the Emperor's own sake; and no
other admonition was needed. No excitement was shown
except whet an officer or other person came out of the
palace, and the people crowded about to hear the latest
news. Otherwise the populace moved up and down
steadily, quietly, soberly. The piazza and all the approaches
to the palace were occupied by a chosen few—high
officers, Ministers of State, and, by singular contrast, a com-
pany of cadets, little fellows, but serious and determined.
As far as the eye could reach the scene reflected the phy-
siognomy of the space before the palace; and not least im-
pressive was the distant old castle across the river, from the
roof of which the royal standard of Persia, the golden lion,
waved over the apartments where the Shah was lodged as a
guest. . . .
" Nobiling does not pretend, like the silly Rode!, that he
did not aim at the Emperor. Ile frankly and coolly confessed
his intention, and his preparations prove that his plan was
as complete as it was desperate. His room was a perfect
areenal. Besides the double barrelled fowling-piece he had
a revolver and murderous cutlery in great abundance. The
fowling-piece is an exquisite specinieu, not only a breech-
loader, but a breechloader which is fired on the system of the
needle-gun and therefore admirably adapted to the purpose.
His mark manship is unhappily but too well ascertained To
lire out of a second-story window with a shot gun, and hit a
person passing in an open carriage, is indeed no great feat;
but the number of shot in the Emperor's body and clothing
would seem to show that nearly the full Contents of both
barrels were lodged in the target. Poor Lichtfeuer, the
publican across the way, came in range of the same unerring
shot, and a bullet from the reserve revolver carried away his
chin, and grazed one or two other persons who followed
him into the room. If an infantry officer had not cut
Nobiling down with his sword, he might have made terrific
slaughter; but he was so quickly overpowered that he had
only time to put a ball into his own head, and probably into
his brain. At any rate, the immediate cause of Isis weakness
at police headquarters was the fact that the rough handling
which be received from the police had shaken the ball about
in his head, and even dislocated a portion of his brain." . .

"I have just seen a letter from Germany which throws
some light on the motives of the crime of which the Emperor
William has been the victim (says the Paris Correspondent
of The Times). It says :
" ' People must be asking, how is it that a Sovereign like
ours can be on two occasions thus attacked. There is
not a kinder-hearted and more affable man in Europe,
or one more mindful of the sufferings of his subjects.
He is neither haughty, nor hard, nor a despot. He is
accessible to all, and has gone through many trials for
the good of his country. He is now at the end of his
career, and the majesty of his age lends dignity to his
character and position. What reason, moreover, people
ask, is there for killing an aged Emperor, while it is
a young one who will succeed him? When one knows what
Is passing here among the Socialists, the key to the horrible
enigma is to be found. The Socialists have for some time
put themselves forward as the exclusive champions of the
masses, and they fancy they have discovered the remedy for
their sufferings. According to them, all the evil springs from
the sacrifice of industry and- agriculture to an exaggerated
military system. The late wars have created a class of
men of no fixed occupation, who do not like to earn their
bread by labour as formerly, and who by precept
and example spread bad habits among the labouring classes
at the nation. Since the last victories of Germany, industry
and agriculture have been neglected and suffered. Agri-
culture has become less productive, and industry can no
longer make head against foreign competition. This state
of things, they maintain, is to be reformed by collective
labour, by co-operation, by the creation of national fac-
tories, and the employment in them of all the valued and
available arms of Germany. But to put this remedy into
execution the present military situation must be altered.
Germany, as I have often heard Socialists say, must be un-
barracked. When Germany is relieved of this plague, which
carries off her greatest source of wealth, her strong arms,
and her youth, she will return to labour ana will prosper
again. Tht barroks must be converted into manufactories,
aria industrial armies must replace their present tenants,
who consume without producing and are fed by the labour
of others. These doctrines have been diffused, have pro-
duted fanatics; and this done it has not been difficult to
breed ideas of assassination, the fruits of which are now
being reaped. Men who preach these doctrines have
openly denounced the Emperor as being the chief pro-
moter and protector of German militaryism. To him,
they say, it is due that this social scourge has at-
tained its present proportions: and so long as he lives
he will maintain in all its strength the instru-
ment Prince Bismarck makes use of to realise his plans. The
Prince alone could not carry them out. Germany's terrine
army is indispen.able, and it is the Emperor who keeps it up
and developea it. The Emperor gone, the policy of war
would be abandoned, and Prince Bismarck would either
retire from office or would give up his policy of conquest
for one of peaceful and social development These are the
sophistries by the aid of which fanatics are driven into the
path of crime; yet, forsooth, the civilised world will ask
whence come these murderous enterprises, whidi spread con-
sternation everywhere and shake liberty to its foundations.' "

The following is an extract from a leader in The
Times on the attempt to assassinate the Emperor :
. . . "lie is deeply and justly respected and liked by his
subjects. His services will give him a greater place in the
history of his country than that of any Sovereign since
Frederick the Great. TheY would be shamefully ungrateful
If they were to forget what he did to hasten the day of
national unity. It is true, no doubt, that he has had
admirable servants—that Von Boon organised the army
with great skill, that Prince Bismarck has pre-etninent
fitness for the tank of guiding a nation through a time
of terrible peril, and that Count Moltke has ho superior
as a strategist. But the Emperor saw the excellence
of those men, and he stood by them at a time when
the majority of the people would have abandoned the at-
tempt to fashion the army which was afterwards to pierce
France like an iron wedge. He bore popular clam( ur,
threats, and peril rather than forego a source of strength
which he sagaciously saw would soon he absolutely essential
if Prussia intended to become the leader of Germany. He
has subsequently stood by his Ministers in spite of his own
Court. Prince Bismarck it is no secret, would long ago
have been living in retirement if the Emperor had not firmly
resisted the kind of influence whith it is most difficult
to withstand. Apart from his political services, the
old ruler has qualities which endear him to-his sub-
jects, They are proud of the manhood which the
weight of eighty years has not robbed of the power to attend
to the daily duties of sovereignty. They like his frank,
genial, soldier-like ways. They like that simplicity of taste
and habit which the splendours of an Imperial position have
left unchangtd. Had the slots fired 3 esterday been fatal,
there would have been such an outburst of sorrow as Gei many
has not heard Nr many, a tiay, The country has, indeed,
been sorely tried lately. The collision between the two great
ironclad* and the sinking of one with not far from 300 lives,
would form a sufficient cause for national distress, even if
two dastardly attempts had not been made within three
weeks to'aissassinate an aged and respected Sovereign.

"Had the bullets fired yesterday been fatal, such a result
would have been a calamity for Europe as well as for Ger-
many. Throughkut the diplomatic and warlike proceedings
of the last two years the Emperor has, indeed, been a friend
of Russia, partly out of personal regard for the Czar, and
partly out of gratitude for the benevolent neutrality of Rus-
sia during the Franco-German campaign. But he has also
been on the side of peace, and no doubt he has allowed Prince
Bismarck to warn Russia that she must withdraw the
more extravagant pretensions of the Treaty of San
Stefano. Such advi..e deserves to be remembered, for the
Issues of peace and war lay in his hands. Had he cared to
run a comparatively small risk, he could have made war
Inevitable. On the one side he could have tied the hands of

Austria, on the other those of France.; and he could have
given valuable aid to Russia without offering her an alli-
ance. Had he done all this, Europe wauld now, there can
be little doubt, be disturbed by another great contest. Nay,
it was cynically suggested that it was the interest of Ger-
many to weaken both Russia and England, and hence that
the diplomacy of Berlin would not be cast upon the side of
peace. Happily, the Emperor had too true a sense of his
vast responsibilities to pursue such a course, and the in-
fluence of his Country has been loyally used to bring about
a -settlement. .Berlin will, therefore, be. an appropriate
meeting place for the Congress. Had the Emperor fallen
tinder the bullet of an assassin yesterday, there would have
been a sad introduction to what, we trust, will be a means
,of recondlllalini. The whole of Europe will hope, also,
that, in spite of his wounds a valuable life will not be cut
short."

THE LOSS OF A GERMAN IRONCLAD.
The following particulars are given respecting the dreadful
disaster which happened off Folkestone on Friday last, and
which resulted in the loss of the German ironclad, the Grosser
Kurfurst, and the loss of nearly three hundred men of her

crew :
Three German iron clads were going down the Channel
when it appears that a barque standing off shoe on
the port tack with a very light breeze necessitated the
column altering its course, which, according to the
evidence of certain fishermen on the spot at the
time, was done by the Grosser Kurfiirst star.
boarding her helm, with the intention, probably,
of crossing the bows of the sailing ship. The fol-
lowing ship, the Kiinig Wilhelm, then ported,
with the intention of passing ' under the stern of
the barque; but the Grosser Kurfiirst having been
slightly on the port bow of the Kiinig Wil-
helm, and her way being deadened by the sudden
shift of her helm, the following ship miscalcu-
lated the speed of the leader and ran into its port
quarter, striking abaft the mizenmast with her ram.
The Grosser Kurfinst then described a complete
circle, exposing the deck to the view of the spectators
on shore, who could easily see by the aid of glasses the
crew clinging to the bulwarks and throwing them-
selves into the water. Some of her spars were carried
away by the collision and fell on the deck, which must
have terribly hampered any attempt to lower boats.
In a few minutes she was observed to be sinking
rapidly, and in eight minutes after the collision she
entirely disappeared below water' throwing up an im-
mense column of steam which escaped from the
boilers as they burst. The effect on the Wilhelm
was at once apparent, and her bows were considerably
immersed in the apace of a very few minutes from the
rush of water into the fore-compartment. Greatefforts
were immediately made to get a sail over the bows, and
boats were promptly lowered from the Preussen to
assist the Wilhelm. The Folkestone fishing fleet
happened to be providentially on the spot at the
time, and were able to render immediate assistance
in saving life. Eighty-five of the survivors owe their
lives to these fishing boats. The Emily Richard,
May master, succeeded in picking up 27. The
Albert Edward, Captain Jenkins, the South-Eastern
Railway Company's steamer, had just left for
Boulogne, and bore up immediately to render assist-
ance. As soon as steam was up, the Lord Wardela,
with Captain Jones, the Harbour-master, and Mr.
Shaw, the manager of the railway, went out and
offered their services to Admiral Batsch, but who,
while thanking them very much, said he did not re-
quire any assistance. Several of the disabled of the
Konig Wilhelm were transferred to the Preussen, and
about two o'clock the two ships proceeded down
Channel for Portsmouth.

A Correspondent telegraphing from Folkestone to
The Times of Saturday, gave the following details
respecting the accident :
"This morning a terrible disaster, which deprives tie
German navy of a splendid ironclad and 300 of the beat sea-
men of the Fatherland, occurred off Folkestone in broad
daylight, with no wind. The ironclad, which had on board
the Admiral of the Fleet, ran into the ship commanded by
the senior captain, and so damaged her as to cause her to
sink twenty minutes afterwards. The German squadron of
evolution, consisting of the Kiinig Wilhelm, 26 guns, flag-
ship, of Rear-Admiral Batsch ; the Grossser KurfUst, of six
guns, and the Preussen, six guns, left Wilhelmshaven on
Wednesday night, bound for Gibraltar. the orders being to
first call at Plymouth. The fleet, though numerically small,
was a powerful one as regarded armament. The Kfitsig
Wilhelm was built on the Thames, from designs by Mr
C. J Reed, C. 8., who at the time was Chief Constructor
of the English Navy. She was launched in 1868, and was
from the first destined as a flagship. She is plated with
Bi.inch armour, and carries 26 12-ton guns. Her indicated
h•srse-power is 8,000. and her tonnage 9,425. The Grosser
Kurftirst and the Presissen each carried four 26 cud two Ms
ton guns, and the armour plating was Biits., the tonnage
6,663, and the horse-power 5,400. The 26-ton guns were
placed in tne two turrets, which were fitted on board each,
and the two 21-ton guns were placed fore and aft. These
ships were built in German dockyards. Everything seems to
have gone well with the squadron -up to yesterday morning,
and that the crew were being exercised in the special ideas
with which the ships were sent to sea was quite apparent from
the tactics observed. Evolutions of every description were
performed, and at length, about nine o'clock, the signal
was made to steam in line ahead. The Admiral, of course
led, followed bythe Grosser Kurfiirst, the Preussen being the
sternmost ship. It was noticed from the shore that while
the second vessel was only half a cable's length from the
lifirfg Wilhelm, the Preussen was a much longer distance
astern. At about 9.30 this morning the squadron in this
formation was off Folkestone, about three miles from the
shore. At this time a Norwegian barque, name unknown,
was observed going across the Admiral's ship. The barque
was reaching off the land, not giving way sn the slightest
degree. The officer in charge of the Honig Wilhelm, remem-
bering the rule that steamships must give way to sailing
vessels, at once ordered his helm to be put hard a-port.
Whether the signal was made to the Grosser Kuritirst or not
does not yet appear, but certain it is that she continued on her
course, the result being that in a minute the flagship came I
stern foremost into her, striking her a terrific biow amid-
ships with her powerful ram, and cutting her down to the
water's edge. The ships did not remain in collision more
than a minute, and as soon as they wee clear the serious
nature of he damage dune because apparent. The blow
had been struck in a part which rendered the water-
tight bulkheads useless. The water poured in in dense
volumes, the fires were quickly put out, and in a few
minutes the Grosser Kurftirst gave a great lurch over to
starboard and went down. Meanwhile every effort had
been made by the officers of the Konig Wilhelm by means
of boats, lifebuoys, ezc., to save life, and in this they were
energetically seconded by the men of the Folkestone fishing
boats which were returning to port. Six of these were quite
close when the disaster occurred, and after the ship had gone
down, and when there was no fear of injury from the blow-
ing up of the boilers or being caught in the vortex, they
sailed round the spot and rescued 72 men. The boats from
the Honig Wilhelm were very active, but from some unex-
plained cause eye-witnesses say that the Preussen lowered
no boats, her officers contentitig themselves with receiving
the rescued men on board. Half an hour after
.the catas-
trophe there was no further sign of men in the water, and
on a calculation being made it was found that about 200
were rescued, while the remainder of a crew of 500 had
gone down. Observing what had occurred, Mr. Richard, V.C.,
chief officer of Coastguard at Pelter, at once pushed off in his
galley and offered to render any assistance to the Admiral.
Admiral Batsch said nothing more could be done in the way
of saving life, hut he requested Mr. Richard to forward
telegrams to the Emperor of Germany, to the German Ad-
miralty at Berlin, and to the wife of the captain of the
Grosser KurfUrst, who went down with his ship. No in-
formation was vouchsafed as to the cause of the collision,
but the Coastguardmen heard some of the crew of the
Kfinig Wilhelm say that the barque was alone to blame,
and that an officer hailed her captain inquiring why
he did not heave about, instead of pursuing his course
across her bows. To this no reply was vouchsafed, and the
Norwegian proceeded on her course. After the work of
rescuing the drowning had been accomplished, attention
was given to the condition of the flagship, which, as was
shown by the way she was settling down forward, had re-
ceived serious damage. The fore watertight bulkheads were
closed, but this act was not sufficient to prevent its washing
through the doors, and it was at once decided to place a sail
over the bows. As soon as it was four d that no further ser-
vice could be rendered the Admiral decided to proceed to
Portsmouth to repair, and at 2 30 p.m., he started for that
port, accompanied by the Preussen. which naa received all
the men rescued by the fishing boats and a steamer which
had come from Dover to render assistance, Mr Richard,
the. Coastguard officer, not only sent the despatches with
which he was entrusted, but communicated the news of the
dreadful calamity to the Lords of the Admiralty and to
the Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth. Their lordships
replied in a very short time that they had ordered her
Majesty's ship Lord Warden to proceed from Portsmouth to
meet the ships so as to be able to render any assistance
which might be necessary. Their Lordships also ordered a
dock to be in readiness at Portsmouth to receive the Kottig
Wilhelm should it be determined to repair her there. Late
this evening a Government tug has arrived at the scene of the
disaster, and will remain doing duty as a lightship all night
It is expected that divers will go down to the wreck, which is
lying in 15 fathoms of water, to-morrow morning. The
German Consul arrived here from Dover this afternoon, but
returned again as soon as he heard that the ship had gone to
Portsmouth.'

The Times also published the following letter in refer-
ence to this sad catastrophe :--
Sir,—Having been an eye-witness of the appalling catas-
trophe which occurred this morning in the Channel, almost
immediately opposite this house, I venture to write a brief ac-
count of the circumstances as they presented themselves to our
observation on shore. At twenty-five minutes past nine a.m.,
hearing that some ironclads were in sight, I went upon the
cliff to watch them pass. At that moment they were, per-
haps, seven miles distant, almost abreast of Folkestone pier,
steaming westward. Two were leading, and the third was a
little behind them. So close together were the foremost
pair that my wife took them for one ship, and immediately
exclaimed, "Why, it must be the Great Eastern." In
fact, the dangerous proximity of the vessels to one another
was obvious event to a landsman's eye. As they glided with
rapid but stately motion a little to the westward of the spot
where we were standing, and just us a friend with a power-
ful glass had succeeded in making out the German flag,
the vessel nearest the shore— the Grover K urfil, st
seemed to forge slightly ahead. The further one—the
Konig Wilhelm - then appeared to us to be crossing the
stem of her consort. But though this was the fatal
moment, there- was nothing unusual, nothing to strike our
attention in the movement. A minute afterwards my
frlend, still fixing his glas.s on the Koaig Wilhelm, which
slackened speed, exclaimed, "What can she be signalling
for? " At that iestant I observed the other vessel, now
some distance ahead, heeling over, in a strange fashion,
and I at once suspected that some mishap had occurred.
The ladies of our party, however, cried out that she was only
round, usharply.
heeling m Turninge a rsihdemwo raes,
arid that all ships heeled over when turning
turning round
undoubtedly,her deck
wandas p lai n
lshe v
iws
iobrl ee
to us with its low turret, and a black mass of sailors crowd-
ing up to the higher side of it. Even then we hardly ap-
preciated the awful nature of the spectacle we were behold-
ing. The whole scene at our distance was so calm and
smiling. The huge ship was still steaming fast towards
her consort, and the third vessel had turned also, and was
already something like two miles to the eastward. At this
moment a boat was seen to put off from the lurching ship, and
we thought two others followed, while some three or four more
left the Konig Wilhelm. It seemed scarcely credible that
there could be much risk to life, though the injured monster,
still under steam, had its bulwarks on one side at the water's
edge, while the black specks on deck hurry ing in confusion up
to the other side were quite visible. In less than five minutes
from the time she turned the Grosser Kurfurst was almost
alongside of the Honig Wilhelm; to us it almost looked
as if man could have jumped from one to the other.
Then in an instant, with a movement of sickening facility
that made one's heart cease momentarily to beat, the
huge vessel, dipping slightly forward, sank with her living
freight beneath the crisp,
smiling waters. Then followed
a swirling and bubbling of waves; a cloud of white steam
burst up, followed hy a few smaller puffs, and then all was
over. We could see a black patch upon the water, which
the glass showed to be struggling atoms—the few survivors
out of 600 men who had passed us twenty minutes hefore
with as little thought of death as we ourselves had enter-
tained in watching them. It was jest before half-past nine
when we-first began.to watch the vessels, and at ten minutes
to ten nothing was left but a few specks and bubbles
scarcely discernible by the naked eye. Fortunately for
those who escaped . the sinking of the ship, numerous
fishing smacks were at once on the spot, and were soon
eagerly at work in the task of rescuing the drowning and
disabled.

For some hours the Konig Wilhelm was a source of great
anxiety to the lookers on The glass plainly showed that she
too was sinking by the head, though not so rapt ily as her ill-
starred companion. She owes her preservation to the fact
that her watertight compartments were closed at the time
of the accident. Much-crippled, she has at last been able to
Steam slowly to Portsmouth, and nothing is now left to give
the smallest inkling of the awful event of the morning.—l
am, your obedient servant, W. J. JEAFFRESON.
15, Clifton-gardens, Folkestone, May 31.

The correct number of the men who lost their lives is 284.
The complement of the ship was 497, all told ; of these 216
were picked up, but three have since died from exhaustion,
making the total number of the saved 213, considerably less
than one half of the whole. Of those saved 23 were officers
whose names have been already given. S's officers lost their
lives—namely, an engineer, the paymaster, and some junior
officers.

The Times in an article on the subject says :—"On board
the Kbuig Wilhelm, for a moment, the greatest excitement
prevailed, as the sea rushed into the large rent in 11r bows
and immediately tilled the lore compartment. This corn-
partincut is in a line with the armour-plated bulkhead, for-
ward, and extends to the double bottom. The valves were
shut, but probably were a little leaky, as a good deal of water
found its way further att. The ship, by the lossof equilibrium,
gave an unexpected plunge or two, which must have been
extreme!) aLrming. and the highest praise is due to all on
board that discipline was not only maintained, but that
every effort was made to render assistance to their unfortu-
nate consort.

"It is not difficult to understand how easily a panic might
have been originated by any unwise order or moment,ry loss
of self-possession, but the German nation may congratulate
itself that in the most appalling circumstances the crews of
two of their fLet maintained a discipline and steadiness
beyond alt praise. Nor en board the Grosser Kuriiirst was
there the smallest approach to panic, though death stared
them in the face. The effect of the collision was very slightly
felt on board the Konig Wilhelm. The officers describe it as
a kind of gradual crush, accompanied by a visible trembling
of the whole frame of the iron monster. There was 110
sudden shock. Indeed, except against a wall of absolute iron
it is difficult to imagine that there would be a severe shock
felt when a body of 9,000 tons weight comes into another
with force and weight enough to crush it up like wicker
work.

"Four of the side boats, cutters, gigs, and so forth, and
one launch were in the water from the Konig Wilhelm in a
very few minutes, while the Preussen also sent every boat in
the ship to render assistance. As the Konig Wilhelm began
to settle by the head from the water in the fore compart-
ment, the Admiral at first intended to beach her, but after a
short time, seeing that the pumps were able to keep the
wator down to a safe level, he abandoned the idea. The
Preussen, in the meanwhile, anchored, and her boats were
busy picking up any strays and waits they could find, which,
however, were very few."

On Saturday the Konig Wilhelm (with the Preussen)
arrived at Portsmouth. The Konig Wilhelm was at once
docked, and an examination revealed the fact that she had
received injuries that would take nearly six months to repair.
It is expected that the repairs will not be made at Ports_
mouth, but that the vessel will be patched up only sufficiently
to enable her to return to Wilhelmshaven, the port whence
the squadron had sailed.

The Correspondent of the Daily News writing from
Portsmouth, under date June 2, says :

The Konig Wilhelm has been safely docked at Portsmouth.
So exaggerated were some of the rumours as to the condition
of that vessel that many doubts were expressed as to whether
she would arrive at Portsmouth. On Saturday morning,
however, she hove in sight of the Isle of Wight, accom-
panied by the Preussen, and H.M.S. Lord Warden. The
latter vessel had been despatched by the Admiralty to the as-
sistance of the Kiinig Wilhelm, and fell in with her about
sunrise. Long before then the Government tug Camel,
which had left Portsmouth the previous day, had
picked up the litieig Wilhelm. The tug ran along-
side, and got her steam-pumps to work to clear out the
water which was in the ironclad. They steamed slowly along,
the tug pumping the whole way. Hundreds of people
watched tne advance of the ship. The Preussen, with the
survivors on board, remained off the Isle of Wight. At the
mouth of the large dock which had been prepared for the
reception of the Kiinig Wilhelm the vessel was stopped,
whilst a diver descended to ascertain if everything under
the keel was clear for the ship to take the blocks. His
report being favourable, the process of docking was pro-
ceeded with and concluded. Those desirous of ascertaining
the damage which the ship had sustained had then a some-
what tedious time of it in watching the water recede
from the dock. When the dock had been emptied and
the sail which had been placed under the bows had
been removed the exact state of affairs could be seen, and
only on looking at the damage sustained by the ship could
one form anything like an approximate idea of the awful
force of the collision. The huge stem of the ship, which
Is formed of solid iron four inches thick and about a foot
and a half deep, extending from the bowsprit to the ram,
had been completely torn away from the head of the
vessel. This had occasioned the rivets of the plates whi ch
were next to it to be forcibly drawn out, leaving a couple
of gaping fissures on either side of the stem, into which Led
ding, &c., had been plugged to stop the water from flowing
In. From the end of the stem the ram juts out, and the
force of the collision had been such as to completely snap
in two the solid iron at the point where the junction be-
tween the stem and the ram is effected. The heavy tearing
to which the bows were subjected conclusively proves that
the blow dealt by the Kiinig Wilhelm was at ae angle. as the
ram is twisted over to the port side to the extent of 'four or
five feet out of its original position. There is a corres-
ponding twist of the stem, although not to so great an ex-
tent the curvative, of course, being most nearest to the
ram, and lessening in the upward course of the stem.
The plates of the how on either side of the stem had
most of the rivets torn ft-urn them, but none uf the
plates themselves were missing. There was very little in-
dentation of the plates, but every one on the bows had lost
nearly all its rivets from the strain brought to bear upon it.
It was a matter of observation by a number of English
naval officers who inspected the ship that considering the
monster nature of the Kiinig Wilhelm, the whole ram was
altogether too fragile and weak for such a huge ironclad,
and that however useful it might have been to rain a wooden
vessel, it was altogether mint to drive a hole in such an iron
leviathan The concussion had also been sufficient to start
several plates further back towards amidships. This portion
of the injury was not perceptible from the outside until the
dock had been drained, and then the percolation of the
water between the plates from the inside revealed the
damage. Inside the bows there was very little to be seen
beyond the tumal appearances which might he expected to
remit from the concussion.

The Salvage steamer Recovery visited the scene of the
wreck of the Grosser Kuritirst on Sunday. The diver sent
down reports that the vessel is in fifteen fathoms, com-
pletely capsized, and lies bottom up, resting on her turrets,
with head to north west There is no appearance of
wreckage on the surface except a spar, supposed to be a
topgallant yard, visible at low water, but only hanging by
three inches of rope. The diver saw 110 bodies.

The sea bottom where the Grosser Kurfiirst lies is very
solid, so that she will not sink further. About half a mile to
the southward lies the wreck of a large vessel which
foundered about five years ago, and when a strong tide is
flowing the spot is plainly indicated by the rush of water
meeting with the obstruction. The wreck of the North-
fleet lies about nine miles to the west. The Grosser Kur-
Myst lies in the athway of all steamers going down channel,
and it will be necessary to blow her up or raise her; the
latter it is thought can be done. A Trinity steamer on Mon-
day pulled up one id her spars. A notice has been published
in Folkestone offering £2 for every body recovered.

Subsoriptions have been opened at Berlin in various
quarters and by the newspapers of this city on behalf of the
relatives of those drowned on board the German ironclad
Grosser Kurfiirst.

An inqhest was held at Haslar Hospital on Monday after-
noon, before Mr. Edgar Goble, the'county coroner, on the
bodies of the three men belonging to the Grosger kuritirst
who, although rescued from the water, died on being taken
on board the Preussen. The proceedings, which were purely
formal, were considered to be necessary by the Coroner,
although the surgeons were prepared to certify that the
men died from exhaustion and the registrar was willing to
give the necessary permi,sion for their interment. He
thought it was his duty to hold the inquest, in order that an
English jury might ageertaiu whether the men were on board
the ship at the time of the collision and the cause of their
being drowned. The Coroner, in opening the proceedings,
said the business of the jury would not be to inquire whether
there had been any culpable negligence on the part of any-
body.

Gustav Eduard Steinke, a chief petty officer in the Ger-
man Navy, residing at Wilhelmshaven, identified the body of
Tietze, a captain's cook on board the Gr.isser Kurfiirst. He
saw him on deck before the ship sank, and he was picked up
and taken on board the Preussen. lie saw the ship sink
after the collision, hut he could not say how far she was from
the shore at the time. The witness also identified the body
of Otta Krut, a seaman, and a native of Kiel, whom he last
saw alive close to the mainmast, about a quarter past ten in
the morning. He likewise identified the third body its that
of Fritz, a contractor's engineer, whom he last saw alive after
he had been brought on board the Preussen.

The next witness called. was Johannes Klefeker, the chief
surgeon of the German squadron. He objected at first to be
sworn, as, being an officer, he considered he was always under
the obiigation to speak the truth ; but on being assured that
an oath was necessary according to the English law, and that
his evidence could not otherwise be received, he took the
accustomed oath in the ordinary way. The evidence of this
witness and Paul Schotte, the staff surgeon on board the
Preussen, was simply to prove the reception of the bodies of
the deceased on board the latter ship, and that all proper
means were taken to resuscitate them.
Oscar Klanson said he was a navigating lieutenant on
ho trd the Konig Wilhelm, and was present at the time of
the collision. As officer of the watch he was on the bridge.
He was in command of the ship at the lime. His ship struck
the Grosser Kurftirst close by the rnizenmast and she sunk
ten minutes afterwards, about four miles from the shore.
lie saw two sailing vessels ahead, which caused him to alter
the course by porting the helm They were six and a half
metres from the nearest ship when the course was altered ;
that was about 650 yards. This occurred between Dungeness
and Folkestone.

The jury were anxious to put several questions to this
witness, which, however, went beyond the line marked out
by the coroner, inasmuch as they entered into the causes of
the collision, and they were not persisted in.
This was the whole of the evidence called, and after being
shut up for about half an hour, the jury found that the
deceased came by their deaths on the 31st of \lay when
off Folkestone, in consequence of the sinking of the Grosser
Kuritirst.

The bodies were buried at the Naval Cemetery at Haslar
during the afternoon, being dragged by their shipmates to
the grave on a couple of gun carriages, headed by a firing
party of marines from the lithlig Wilhelm. Besides the
sailor band of the ship the band of the 12th Regiment, at
Gosport, took part in the corOge.

On Tuesday afternoon three bodies, one of them a boy, be
longing to the Grocer KurfUrst, were brought by the fisher-
men and deposited with the Coastguard. The names of two
of them are 11. Mtiller and Sirnke. The boy's name was not
ascertained.