The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-07 00:00:00

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„
V ICTOBIA HALL AND SEATING RINIL-011 Satur-
day last this favourite place of amusement was
opened for the season, and on Monday a perform-
ance was given by the 'Amateur Skating Club in
the presence of from three to four hundred spec-
tators. The programme for the evening was gone
through in an exceedingly creditable manner and
the excellent skating of the amateurs showed that
Mr. Pearson (who has been re-appointed as
manager and instructor) had taken a great deal of
trouble to instruct them. The first to appear on
the Rink were two young gentlemen in the
costumes of Negni, and Negroess and as an extra
attraction they accompanied the band with the
tambourine and bones.” Their antics at times
were exceedingly laughable and elicited great
applause. The Quadrille Party (consisting of
three well known amateurs on the Rink and Mr.
Pearson) merited and obtained a good round of
applause for the capital manner and precision in
which they performed. The new event was the
appearance of two young "hopefuls" in the
characters of Mr. and Mrs. Brown which they
sustained with as much skill as they did last
season. Their performance caused a deal of
merriment and the young " hopefuls " themselves
seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. The figure
skating of Mr. Fred. Hainge and Mr. S. Pearson
was, as far as we can judge, of the most brilliant
description. All who 'know Mr. Pearson will con-
cur with us that he is a thorough master of the
milers and never has he performed in better style
than he did on Monday evening, After finishing
their performance they were loudly and greatly
applauded. The last event was the Comic
Carnival in which the following chara,cterse were
represented: Clown, Pantaloon, Policeman,
Sailor, Indian, Soldier, Guard, Cat, Chinese, Turk,
and Nigger. The figure skating by the young
gentlemen, who sustained the characters of Sailor,
Indian, and Soldier was exceedingly good, while
the antics of the Policeman, Clown, and Cat were
deserving of praise.
FocanALL.—A meeting in connection with the
football players was held at Mr. C. Parkes's, the
Risinc, Sun, on Monday evening last for the pur-
pose of electing their officers. There was a good
attendance. Mr. S. Field was in the chair. The
following were elected :—T. Clulee (captain), G.
Trotter (vice-captain), and H. Bird (hon. sec.)
Several home matches have already been arranged
and a number of new zpembers proposed and car-
ried.

---....
APPROACHING MARRIAGE OF LORD LYTTELTON.—
We are informed that a marriage has been
arranged between Lord Lyttelton and the Hon.
Miss hCavendish, one of the daughters of Lord
Chesham, and younger sister of the Countess of
Leicester. The marriage will take place early in
December.
__ _

ELBCTION or COMMISSIONERS. The annual
election of Commissioners was held on Thursday
last. Nine vacancies had to be filled—three for
each of the wards into which the town is divided.
Very little interest was shown in the proceedings,
and in the west, in which there was the most
voting, the highest number polled was 38, by Mr.
It. Kelley, Mr. G. R. Perkin receiving 37, and Mr.
H. Hicklin 32 votes. These were elected, but 10
votes were recorded for Mr. W. North. In the
East Ward Messrs. W. Griffin, T. F. Bland, and
H. Perks were returned, receiving 4 votes each.
Four votes were also given for Mr. E. Stringer
(already a member of the Board), and 2 for the
Rev. D. Maginnis. In the South Ward 5 votes
each were recorded for Messrs. J. Allsop, C. Evers,
and L. H. Packwood, who were returned; and 2 for
Mr. G. Young.
Bolan or GUARDIANC—The usual weekly meet-
ing of this board was held yesterday, Mr. Billing.
ham (chairman), there were also present Messrs.
Raybouid, Robertson, Hingley, Burr, Thompson,
Griffiths, Wood, Mills, Plant, Fiddian, Lavender,
Kelly, Guest, and Brooks. Admitted 16; dis-
charged 33; remaining in the house, 399; corres-
ponding week last year 394. Out-door relief,
Kingswinford district .£27 18s 4d; Stourbridge
district £lB 128 4 ; Balesowen district £l6 is 2d;
non-resident 9s ; total ..£63 is 2d; against .£56
is 1011—The clerk read the estimates required
for the ensuing six months. General expenses
£8577. For Sanitary purposes .t 576.
DRUNK AND RIOTOUS. At the Police Court,
held yesterday, before Col. Fletcher, Col. Barrows,
R. L. Freer, and the Hon. G. W. Spencer Lyttal-
ton, William White of Belbronghton, was charged
with being drunk and disorderly on the 31st ult.
Police-constable Payne proved the case, and de-
fendant was fined 5s and costs.
NON-PAYMENT OF POOR RATES.--4 number of
persons were summoned by Mr. H. Yates, collector,
for non-payment of poor rates. The demand was
proved by Mr. Yates, and the Bench made an
order for them to pay at once.
OBSCENE LANGUAGE.—Mary Plant was charged
with making use of obscene language on the 28th
ult. Police-constable Morgan proved the case, and
defendant was fined 2s 6d, and costs; in default 7
days.
A WIFE BEATER.—Jeremiah Lacy was charged
with assaulting his wife, Fanny Lacy, on the 31st
ult.—From the complainant's evidence she lived
at Belbroughton. Defendant came to the house
and threatened her and then struck her several
times. He blackened her eye and she was very
much afraid of him. When he was sober he was
very quiet but when he was drunk he beat her.
She was afraid of her life and she should wish him
I to be bound over but not sent to prison.—Defend-
ant admitted the assault and in defence said that
when he had drink he did not know what he was
doing, and he had but little brains as they were
knocked out on the Great Western Railway. De-
fendant was bound over, himself in £lO and one
surety of .C 5 for one month.
CAUTION TO CAB DRIVERS.—John Pratt, cab
driver, was summoned for that he being the driver
of a certain cab did on the 26th tilt, drive on his
wrong side. Defendant was further charged with
wilfully and maliciously damaging a carriage, the
property of Arthur Brooks, and he claimed £1 as
compensation.—Henry Barrell, cab driver in the
employ of complainant, said that he passed a cab
in which Mr. C. P. Noel was in when defendant
said "Harry if that is the way you cut your
corners I can cut as well" and deliberately drove
into the cab witness was driving and broke the
wheel.—Mary Hutchingson said she was in com-
plainant's cab when the defendant ran into the
cab.—Thomas Sewell said he was first. He was
driving Mr. Noel, Barrell was next, and Pratt was
' last when defendant deliberately ran into Barrell's
cab.—The defence was that the collision was
caused by the illfeeling of Mr. Brooks's men
against himself. Some time ago he lost a
macintosh and gave information to the police.
Ever since he had been annoyed. Barrell first
ran into his cab and damaged the wheel. He had
never been treated so bad in all the towns he had
driven a cab.—The Bench fined the defendant in
one case 20s and costs; in default one month's
imprisonment.
WoxtENb* QUARRELS. Mary O'Boyle was
dooomrpladienfaenntdan s
chargel with assaulting Maria Gallon on the 31st
own door
taidwaansted to she
stood
dt
her and
abnedr
jumped on her back dan gave her one blow.—
Several witnesses were called on both sides, which
went to prove there was a regular fight.—Michael
O'Boyle and Edward O'Boyle were charged with
assaulting John Gavon, on the 31st ult.—Com-
plainant said he went out of doors to separate the
two women in the above case when Michael
O'Boyle struck him on the head with a poker and
cut his head open. He was struck several times
but he did not see Edward O'Boyle do anything.
Michael O'Connor said that he saw Michael
O'Boyle strike the complaiant with a poker and
Edwaid U'Loyle struck John Graven at ti,e
sg s 4 wit kat' B#l4 "It big beg 4.
_

Ho went to a ftiggeon.--Dr. Eagar was called itz
and described the character of the wound, which
might have been caused by a poker or some blunt
instrument.—Several witnesses were cailed for the
defence, which went to prove there was a general
row. All the parties were bound over to keep the
peace, themselves in £lO and one surety of £5
for six months.

LIFTING APPARATUS FOR MINES AT
CRADLEY.

On Tuesday afternoon last Mr. F. Leonardt, of
Birmingham, submitted his new lifting invention
to a practical test in a series of experiments tried
at the Earl of Dudley's No. 30 Colliery, near
Cradley Station. Amongst those who attended
to witness the experiments were Messrs. H.
Johnson, sen., H. Johnson, jun., W. Coley, J.
Passfield, J. Skidmore, John Skidmore, S. Spruce,
T. Lloyd, C. Chambers, D. Parsons, Foley, sen.,
E. Grimes, J. Inshaw, G. Ingold, R. Latham, R.
Deeley, W. Deeley, W. Cooper, J. Foley, J. Plant,
J. Waterfield, J. Hancooks, A. Baaney, and other
gentlemen interested in mining operations. Most
of those named are members of the South
Staffordshire and East Worcestershire Institute
of Mining Engineers. The principal advantages
which Mr. Leonardt claims for his invention are
simplicity, cheapness, and absolute efficiency.
The first in common with most successful inven-
tions it possesses certainly in an eminent degree,
and that it had the last was fully shown by the
result of the experiments, while the cost is stated
to be but little more than half that of any other
appliance for a similar purpose. In addition to
these points it appears to have the merit of being
readily adaptable to any lifting or hoisting
illaeliinery in which guide-rods or vertical runners
are used. Besides giving immunity from such
accidents as frequently occur caused by the
engineer pulling up the cage too high--..0r over-
winding it, as it is termed—it prevents all danger
arising from the breakage of the winding-rope or
any accident to the raising tackle. If the cage by
any means becomes detached from the rope by
which it isbeing raised or lowered, an automatic
safety lever at the bottom or top immediately
comes into operation, and by gripping firmly the
guiding-rods down which the cage slides arrests
its descent. On the other hand, in the event of
the engineer over-winding the cage without neces-
sarily breaking the rope, unless there is a safety
appliance the cage is pulled bodily over the wind-
ing pulley, and dashed to pieces. To provide
against such a contingency Mr. Leonardt, having
Secured that the cage shall not fall down the pit
shaft, has only to contrive a means to detach it
from the rope before reaching the winding pulley.
This he does in an admirably simple yet effective
way. At the end cf a short chain carrying the
cage is a wedge shaped piece of iron, with the
thick end uppermost; and at the end of the wind-
ing rope is affixed a similarly shaped piece of iron,
with the thick side downwards. The two pieces of
iron fit together, and a tightly fitting locking
collar of iron being slipped over thcm. A small
pin or wire is inserted to keep it in position, and
the juncture is complete. Below the pulley from
which the rope descends is fixed' a strong wooden
"cross head," perforated with a hole for the pas-
sage of the rope. Thus, when the cage is pulled
up above its proper height, the locking collar we
have spoken of comes in contact with this cross
head, and by it is forced down off the iron plates.
The latter being thus disconnected the cage falls.
The safety brake, as is said above, may be affixed
either at the top of or beneath the cage, and it
may be applied to one or both sides of the shaft.
The inventor is sanguine that one is quite suffi-
cient, but of course two would act most power-
fully. In the present experiments there were
two. The principle consists in having a lever of
the first order suspended to the cage, the long
arm being supported by a chain from the winding
rope, while the shorter has an eccentric head,
which when in action grips firmly the guide rope.
To afford a better grip this head is toothed where
there are wooden slides, and grooved where, as in
the present instance, there are guiding ropes, a
strong bracket being carried on the other side the
cage being detached from the winding rope the
long arm of the lever falls, and its weight, assisted
by a coil spring, immediately forces the eccentric
head against the guide rope, which it holds with a
vice like grisp. The stoppage of the cage is in-
stantaneous; during Tuesday's experiments in no
case did it fall more than a few inches after the
connection with the winding rope had been
severed. The experiments included over winding
the cage, as would occur in case of accident, and
the result was perfectly satisfactory. In the first
trial the cage, carrying a weight of about two
tons, fell a few inches on one side, the lever on
that side not acting properly in consequence of the
weight, being unequally placed; on the other side
however, the rope was gripped, and the descent
arrested before the cage had falled six inches.
After this trial the guiding rope was net frayed in
the least. In other experiments the cage was
dropped without being drawn up to the cross
head; and trials were made with the substitution
of smaller weights, the heaviest being about three
times that of the ordinary "tub." The cage was
also drawn up with " dummies " to represent
miners, and all the circumstances of an accident
to the winding tackle were observed. In every-
instance the apparatus stood the test very satis-
factorily, and the general opinion seemed entirely
favourable to the invention. It is to be hoped
that, after this proof of its efficacy and practical
utility, it will be largely adopted by mine owners,
and the proprietors of hotels where lifts are em-
ployed, that accidents from rope breakages or the
remissness of an engineer maybe things of the
past. Mr. Leonardt, we are informed, has ap-
pointed Mr, Thomas Johnson, of Dudley, his
sole agent for the sale of the apparatus, the suc-
cess of which we hope will be such as to reward
the inventor.