The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-03-03 00:00:00

THE LOSS OF THE "KING ARTHUR."

The Constantinople correspondent of the Daily
Telegraph writing on Sunday, says :
The full account of the King Arthur shipwreck teems
with harrowing detail, but also reflects great credit
upon the splendid gallantry of the Turkish Lifeboat
men, and their brave superintendent, Captain Palmer.
As soon as the ship bad struck a terrible panic
set in on board. SJllle jumping into the raging
sea, were instantly dashed to fragments against
the rocks. Others embarked in one of the
boats, but were washed out by a huge wave and
drowned. Some time elapsed before assistance
could arrive from the rocket station, the fury of
the sea rendering the launch of the lifeboat impos-
sible. The only chance of landing the survivors was
by a breeches-buoy, which was conveyed on hoard by
the rocket apparatus. As the ship was lying on a
shelf of rock about a quarter of a mile from the shore,
the sufferings of those who were hauled in that distance
—now suspended in mid-air, now immersed in boiling
surf—were quite indescribable. The first passenger
landed was a Jewish lady travelling with her
husband and three children. She reached the
land in a swoon. Her husband was next placed
in the basket with his youngest child lashed to
him. When the basket, however, reached its starting
point at the masthead the rope by which the child was
fastened gave way, and the unhappy father saw his
little son fall on the deck below, crushed to death.
Utterly unnerved by this horrible sight he could not
retain his hold, and was washed out of the buoy be-
fore he had got halfway to shore, and perished in the
waves. Captain Palmer made a noble effort to save
him by rushing into the sea. The attempt, however,
was unsuccessful, and all but lost him his life,
for he was nearly exhausted by struggling with
the billows when a Turkish sailor dashed in and
dragged him out. All the remaining persons on board,
including the Jewish lady's two surviving children,
were safely landed and tenderly cared for by Captain
Palmer and his wife. The former has received a
gracious message from I
the Palace expressing the
Sultan's high eatisfaction with his magnificent con-
duct.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE CORONATION
OF THE CZAR.
The Berlin correspondent of the Daily News gives
some particulars of the preparations which are in pro-
gress for the approaching coronation of the Czar of
Russia :

When the Imperial manifesto was published,
appointing the month of May for the coronation at
Moscow it was considered strange that no special day
was fixed for the ceremony. That is, however, in
accordance with precedent. At the late Emperor's
coronation the month—August—was announced first,
and the particular day—the 26th—only later. Sunday,
May 15 (old style), is still generally regarded as the
most probable date. On the Bth the Imperial Family
and Court will leave St. Petemburgh for Moscow,
on the 12th the coronation will be proclaimed
by heralds in the streets, and between the
16th and 25th three great Court balls will
take place. The duration of the Court's stay
at Moscow will be three weeks—one week be-
fore and a f ,rtnight after the coronation. The
Embassies of the foreign Powers are taking quarters
for 40 days. The British Ambassador has rented the
Malkii-house, on the Tverskaya, paying 40,000 roubles.
The German Ambassador has taken the Baturlin
Palace. Quarters are already being prepared at
Moscow for the troops of the Imperial Guards, num-
bering 30,000 men, who come from St. Petersburg,
every regiment being represented by one battalion if
infantry, and one squadron if cavalry, &c.
The prepar4tions for the decoration and illumina-
tion of the Muscovite capital are now keeping thou-
sands of hands at work. The Town Council have
ordered 250,000 lanterns for the illumination, for
which 80,000 roubles have been voted. All the
silversmiths of Moscow are overwhelmed with work
to complete the Imperial plate, as it will be neces-
sary to provide for at least 6,000 guests at the great
State banquets. At the old Triumphal Gate a magni-
ficent pavilion will be erected where the municipal
authorities will await their Majesties and present
them with salt and bread, the national welcome. In
the Red-square a huge stand, capable of holding 9,000
persons, will be prepared for the 1,000 musicians and
8,000 school-children who are to greet the Imperial
couple, on their entry, with the national anthem.
Another stand will be erected, containing also a
pavilion and a music hall.
The city of Moscow will not arrange any public
balls, as no localities are available capable of holding
so great a number of persons. The nobility of the St.
Petersburg Governorship will, however, entertain
their Majesties at a ball in their own hall, for which a
limited number of invitations is to be issued. The
Moscow nobility are also preparing a programme for
their participation in the festivities.
The great festivities for the populace are generally
arranged with a view of giving them a Russo-Asiatic
character. The arrangement of the public fetes in the
Chodymski-square has been undertaken by the
contractor Lentoffsky for 100,000 roubles. gere font

large theatres will be erected, and also the 85 circular
dining tables, where nearly one million rations will be
distributed, and the 16 reservoirs, containing 40,000
buckets of beer. About 400 persons will appear in
the theatres as acrobats, harlequins, conjurors,
jugglers, &c. There will be pantomimes, circus
entertainments, menageries, and also the favourite
peasants' dance " Chorowod." At night marine
fireworks and illuminated flotillas will be displayed
on the Moskva. The Guard regiments will be enter.
tamed at a separate festivity at the Sokolniki village,
four versts from Moscow, where booths and stands
are now being erected for all the amusements of a
Russian carnival balagan. Small presents will be
distributed to the people, including 800,000 earth ?,n
jugs for the beer. The total costs of the coronati m
are estimated at twelve million roubles, including also
the extraordinary police expenses for the Czar's safety.