The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-06-07 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

•
Three privates of the Derbyshire Regiment stationed
at Athlone were drowned by the upsetting of a boat in
the river Shannon on Monday evenmg.
There has been a severe frost in the Northern
States and in Canada, which has caused damage to the
crops.
A New York telegram says that the visible supply of
wheat on May 31. was 18,000,000 bushels, as against
19,300,000 bushels the previous vveek. Visible supply
of Indian corn, 8,500,000 bushels, as against 10,000,000
bushels the previous week. The export clearances of
wheat for Europe during last week amounted to
810,000 bushels; the export clearances of Indian corn
for Europe during the week amounted to 430,000 bushels.
The seamen and firemen in Aberdeen have resolved
to form a local branch of the South Shields United Sea-
men and Firemen's Society. The chief object of the,
rociety is the defence of its members from what is re-
garded as arbitrary treatment by the employers.
The Madrid correspondnt of the " Times " says that
four thousand acres in Valencia have been attacked by
locusts. It is to be hoped that the local authorities
will act more energetically than those at Ciudad Real,
where, ()Wing to previous neglect, the locusts now cover
200,000 acres.
In a paper read at the last meeting of the Institution
of Civil Engineers, Sir J. W. Bazalgette stated that
the aggregate length of the streets of London was 1966
miles, of which, excluding 248 miles in course of forma-
tion, 1718 miles were thus maintained by various
authorities; Macadam 573 miles • granite, 280 miles;
wood, 53 miles; asphalt, 13.1 miles; flint or gravel,
7981; miles.
The assembly el the Established Church of Scotland
discussed disestablishment on Sattuday, and rejected a
proposal to ask the appointment of a Royal Commis-
sion to inquire into ecclesiastical divisions. By a large
majority the Assembly adopted a resolution proposed
by Lord Balfour of Burleigh, expressing to the other
Presbyterian Churches the desire to take all possible
steps consistent with the maintenance of an establish-
ment of religion to promote coaaeiration in good works
and the reunion of Churches adhering to the same con-
fession of faith.
The total number of beast arrivals at the Metropolitan
Cattle Market for consumption for the week ending
Saturday last was 2900 head; the corresponding week
of 1883, 2500; 1882, 3150; 1881, 4320; 1880, 3450;
1879, 4410; 1878, 3530; 1877 2170; 1876, 4060; and
1875, 4240.
A telegram from Simla states that Lieutenant Dupuis,
of the 2nd North Staffordshire Regiment, recently left
Quetta on a shooting excursion, and had not since been
heard of. His body has now been found, and there is
no doubt that he was murdered by Pathans.
The Queen has been graciously pleased to confer the
dignity of Baron of the United Kingdom upon the
Earl of Seafield, who will take the title of Baron
Strathspey.
On Monday evening, as a conveyance was passing
along High-street, Gunnersbury, one of the occupants
named George Pearce, of St. Ann's-road, Notting-hill,
London, fell out. Before he could regain his position a
four-horse omnibus came along, running over him and
killing him on the spot.
On Monday a demonstration of members of friendly
societies took place in Wolverhampton in celebration
of the opening of the Art Gallery and Industrial Exhi-
bition. A procession of 5000 or 6000 persons, headed
by the Mayor and Corporation, and accompanied by a
number of brass bands, paraded the town, afterwards
passing into the exhibition. Many thousands of spec-
tators lined the route of procession. The exhibition
was visited during the day and evening by over 10,000
persons.
The dead body of a young man named William
Routledge, the son of a farmer at Lothwaite, St.
John's Vale, Keswick, was found on Saturday afternoon
about a mile from home beneath a cart in which he had
been riding. It is supposed he fell out while asleep
through the cart beneath overturned at a narrow turn
of the road where it was found. The body was in such
a position that the whole weight of the cart was pressing
upon it.
A serious disturbance occurred in High-street,
Glasgow, on Saturday, in the course of which four men,
named John Lochrie, Patrick Lamb, James Turner, and
John Lamb, were seriously stabbed. Lochrie, who was
exhausted from loss of blood, lies in the infirmary in a
very precarious oondition. John O'Harra, John Mont-.
gomery,and Samuel Christie were arrested in connec-
tion with the disturbance
In Hungary, where the electoral agitation has just
commenced, very serious conflicts have taken place. In
one case, a procession of carriages, containing candi-
dates and voters, was interfered with by the mob and
treated so roughly that siety persons weie seriously
injured.
The annual moveable delegation of the Order of
Druids was opened at Hanley on Tuesday, under the
presidency of the Grand Master, Henry Baxter, of
Hull. About sixty delegates attended. The Grand
Secretary's report showed that the members numbered
41,000, and that the sick fund was worth £116,000.
At Millstreet, county Cork, Petty Sessions, on Tues-
day, five men were prosecuted under the Crimes Act,
charged with intimidating a bailiff in charge of an
evicted farm. The Bench sentenced each of the
prisoners to imprisonment for three months. Appeals
were lodged against the sentences.
At the Kensington Special Sessions the Countess de
la Torre has been fined ss. with ss. costs for causing a
nuisance to her neighbours by keeping thirty-three
cats and dogs in the house 38, Pembroke-square, Ken-
sington. A prohibitory order was also issued.
The fine plantation of Arbliston, near Fochabers,
Aberdeenshire, the property of the Duke of Richmond
and Gordon, was almost totally destroyed by fire on
Monday. Between 500 and 600 acres of larch and fir
trees from fourteen to twenty years old, were con-
sumed. The fire is supposed to have originated
through some :gipsies preparing a meal and leaving the
fire burning.
News was received in Dublin on Tuesday of the
death of Dr. Hunter, the first medical missionary to
China of the Irish Presbyterian Church. He died on
board the steamer 'coming from China to this country.
Dr. Hunter was 51 years of age. Death resulted from
consumption.
John Tyler, farmer, of Pilton, was charged at Rut-
land Petty Sessions on Tuesday with unlawfully placing
on land at North Suffenham a quantity of poisoned
grain with intentto destroy birds, and was fined £l2 165.,
including costs.
The children of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
arrived at Deeside on Tuesday, and will stay during the
summer months at Abergeldy Mains. It is understood
that the Duke and Duchess will reside during the shoot-
ing season at Birkhall.
A Constantinople telegram states that while Lord
Du„iferin was out driving on Tuesday the horses became
frittitened, and bolted down a street in which a market
is held. Eight persons received slight injuries. The
Ambassador succeeded in jumping out of the carriage
unhurt.
On Tuesday an inquest was held near Warrington
into the death of Margery Gore, aged 40, wife of a
chemical labourer at Widnes, and of Sarah Ann, their
child, aged three. The woman was walking near the
canal with the child and an elder daughter, when she
suddenly threw herself and the children into the water,
saying, "It is better that we should all die together
than be parted again." The elder girl succeeded in
getting out. It was proved the woman was in delicate
health, and had formerly been in an asylum. Verdict
that she committed the act whilst of unsound mind.
By the death of Mr. J. Hinde Palmer, Q.C., one of
the Liberal members for Lincoln, another Parliamentary
vacancy is created. Mr. Palmer, whose loss will be
much regretted, was 76 years of age.
Mr. Vitallis, the Greek sculptor, who is residing at
Munich, has made considerable progress with his statue
of Mr. Gladstone, which, when completed, will be
placed in one of the public squares of Athens.
On Tuesday a meeting of the juvenile members of
the Salvation Army was held in a field at Intake, near
Sheffield. In this field was an empty dray, upon which
a lot of children climbed. The vehicle was on a slope,
and some boys thoughtlessly lifted the shafts of the
vehicle and the conveyance slid down some distance.
Several of the youngsters fell off, and four were
injured.
A shocking murder is reported from county Water-
ford. On Monday night a farmer named Kenneally
was waylaid near Ballyduff and beaten to death. Two
arrests have been lade.
On Tuesday the Governor of Durham Goal received
an official intimation that the sentence of death passed
upon William Smith, at the last Durham Assizes, for
the murder 3f his wife, had been commuted to penal
servitude for life.
The death is announced of the Rev. Mr. Smith, the
oldest Protestant Episcopal Bishop in America.
Major Turner, of the Egyptian army, who went up the
Nile to purchase camels, has been drowned while
bathing at Keneh. His body has not yet been re-
covered.
Twenty-six persons accused of ha;ing committed
anti-Jewish outrages in two Hungarian villages some
months ago have been tried in Pesth. Twenty-two
were sentenced to imprisonment varying from six years
to six months.
In the match between the Gentlemen of England and
the Australians at Lord's, the former won on Saturday
by four wickets, the Colonists thus experiencing their
third defeat during the present tour.
From the Ist of April to the 31st alt. the Ex-
chequer receipts amounted to £14,058,540, as compared
with £14,733,394 in the corresponding period of last
year. The expenditure has been L 11,108,012. On Satur-
day last the balance in the Bank of England was
£6,385,060 and in the Bank of Ireland £1,410,574.
A telegram from Florida announces that General
Babcock, formerly secretary to President Grant, with
two others, was drowned on Saturday last, in Mosquito
Inlet. General Babcock was a Government Inspeeter
there.
In accordance with custom, a flower service was held
on Tuesday night at the church of St. Catherine Cree,
London. The ancient edifice was filled, the great pro-
portion of the congregation being young persons, each
of whom carried a bouquet of flowers. The sermon
was preached by the Rev. W. M. Whittemore, D.D., the
rector, who took for his text chapter ii., verse 3, Song
of Solomon—" The apple tree among the trees of the
woods."
On Tuesday morning ayoung gentleman from London,
named Taylor, who had been living for several days at
Datcfiet, near Windsor, took a bath from a boat moored
to the Bucks shore of the Thames. He did not rise to
the surface, and, upon the spot being searched, his life-
less body was recovered from the water.
On Whit Motalay afternoon Charles Ormond, aged
estdead the W
ou
nine, of Pentonville-road, London, was accidentally
o.rlkd,hsap id.
knocked down by a swing in the Vale of Health, Ham
Infirmary.
wpasr.eßonnvnietyiendg,towhthneenxaamminp
ou se
he was suffering from compound fracture of the skull,
and he was in apparently a dying state.
A prize fight took place at an earl hour on Tuesday
morning near Walsall. The combatintsoey
Bir-
mingham men, known as " Woff "
anlveL twEades,
and the stakes were £5 a side. Upwards of 500 persons
were present. Fifteen rounds were fought in thirty-
five minutes, and "Woe"
was declared the winner.
Both men were_ badlnyttlishe4,
_

All the Atlantic steam lines have now reduced theft;
railway fares from the Atlantic seaboard to Manitobei
to 12 dols.
_ _ _ _

Instructions have been given to have all the English
and Scotch mails from America in future taken direct
to Liverpool by mail steamers, instead of having them
landed at Queenstown as heretofore.
Some hundreds of strangers visited Hawarden Church
on Sunday morning in the expectation of hearing the
Premier read the Lessons; but, although the right
hon. gentleman attended, he took no part in the
service. _

A youth named Frederick Williams, 15 years of age,
was walking along the cliffs at Durdham Downs,
Bristol, on Sunday, when he slipped and fell a distance
of some 200 feet. He was dashed to pieces.
A Reuter's telegram from New York reports that ten
persons have been drowned by a waterspout in a cattle
camp i.: Colorado.
Sir Joseph Pease, M.P., speaking at the opening of
a Miners' Hall at Butterknowle on Saturday, urged that
in view of the stupendous progress which had been
made of late years, it was necessary that miners should
educate themselves by means of such institutions in
geology, mining, metallurgy, and chemistry, so that
they might the better understand their daily occupa-
tions.

It has been ascertained that the whole of the em-
ployers in the chain trade in South Staffordshire and
East Worcestershire districts who have orders in hand
have consented to give the required advances. The
strike, which has lasted about six weeks is now con-
sidered to be practically terminated, as the other em-
ployers are expected to give an advance when they,
have work.
On Monday morning the ;,body of Eli Beardsmoore,
miner, was found in the Elephant Pit Shaft, Dudley,
shockingly disfigured by having fallen down the shaft.
The man was discharged from the Staffordshire Lunatio
Asylum as a pauper lunatics fit to be at large, under
control of relatives. He was, however, missed on Tues-
day in last week, and all efforts to trace him were futile
until his body was found.
John Watt Garland,letter carrier in the Aberdeen Post
Office, was charged on Monday with tampering with
letters containing money and other valuables. Garland,
who is 19 years of age, is supposed on several occasiors
during the past year to have tampered with letters
passing through his hands. He was remanded in
custody.
With fine weather the fishing on the West coast of
Scotland last week was more successful. The total
catch was 6000 crans, and the quality is improving.
Prices range from 18s. to 245. The catch for the season
is 18,000, being 3000 higher than the corresponding
period last year. The probable average for the week is
14 erans per boat.
On Sunday, about 11.30, a party of- six cyclists, who
were returning from the cyclists' encampment at the
Alexandra Palace, were set upon by a gang of about 20
roughs near the Bald Face Stag, Finchley. Two of the
party, Messrs. Duncan and Richardson, were badly ill-
treated, the former being much cut about the face.
The last fight between the Ameer's troops and the
Mongols occurred on April 23 in the Ghaling Pass. The
Mongols were defeated, several villages were burnt,
and a number of prisoners were taken, but the chief
Sirdar escaped, and is said to be now in the vicinity of
Tirah. Sadus, brother of the Mir Asghar, was killed.
A county meeting was held at Shrewsbury on Satur-,
day, Mr. jasper More presiding, to form a committee
to relieve the distress caused by closing TankervillS
and some other Shropshiro lead mines. It was
stated that two months' wages were owing to the men,.
and 330 are thrown out cf work. Thirty families are in
actual want.

The tolls on cereals shipped from Montreal or any
Canadian port east thereof have been reduced from 20'
to le cents per ton.
A man named John Creed, a farmer living near.
Donoughraore, Millstreet, was shot dead on Monday-
morning, and two other persons in his ,houae were
wounded, by a party of assailants. Creed had seized
some cattle on a farm at Ballinagree, formerly in pos-
session of his sister, and it was supposed that a party
making reprisals committed the deadly outrage.
Two gentlemen were remanded by the Dublin Police
Magistrate on Monday for a murderous assault at the
Ship Hotel the previous night. On being refused ad-
mission they beat the manager with sticks and kicked
him in the face, and severely assaulted several waiters,
one of whom is badly injured.
On Sunday the body of a man named Philip Francis,
better known as Old Phil the Blacksmith, was found
floating in the Old Mill Pool, near Soutly Smithy, a few
miles from Wrexham. As there were no marks of
violence on the body, it is supposed that the deceased
committed suicide.
• Sheriff Cheyne, of Dundee, has fined a lad 10s. 6d..
and casts for killing a sparrow with a catapult.
The statistical statement just made of the Society of
Friends shows that its total membership is now for
Great Britain 15,219, the increase having been practi-
cally continuous for over twqnty years. The deaths of
members were last year at the rate of about 17 per
1000.
At the last sitting of the French Academy of
Sciences, Count Wilczek and Sir William Thomson,
Professor of Physical Sciences in Glasgow, were
honourably mentioned; and Edward Frankland, Pro-
fessor of Natural Sciences in London, was elected a
corresponding member of the society.
With the death of the Duke of Buccleuch a singular
appointment became vacant. The High Steward of
Westminster is nominated for life b:;,, the Dean and
Chapter of Westminster. The chief duty of his office
is the formal appointment of a deputy to preside at
the court leet- -a court which is now held in imagination
only.
The Bible belonging to Milton has been bought by
the British museum.
A Universal Exhibition is to be held in Paris in 1889,
the centenary of the Great Revolution of 1789.
The death is announced at Breslau of the well-
known botanist and palmontologist Dr. Goppert, in his
84th year.
In 1865 the total number of metropolitan theatres,
including the suburban houses, was 18. There are now
within the jurisdiction of the Board of Works 43.
Gratuities have been awarded by the War Offire to all
the troops engaged in the recent operations in the
Soudan, the grants ranging from one share for fifth claims'
in the rank and file to 400 shares for the General in
command, the value of the share being M.
M. Laroche Joubert, Deputy for the Angonieme, snd
proprietor of one of the largest paper manufactories ill
Francei is the author of an original proposal to obsain
the 120 millions of francs which the Minister of Finsace
requires to balance his budget for 1885. His system
is to levy a tax of 20 per cent. on the salarien of
foreign workmen. He calculates that there are 500,000
in France, earning on an average 1200 f. a year, and a
tax of 240 f. on each would produce the 120 millions
required.
A Reuter's telegram announces that the following
steamers left Woosung on the 25th inst. with new
season's tea on board: The Oopack, with 3,230,00011 a ;
the Ghazee, with 3,230,0001 b.; the Glenelg, witb
3,470,0001 b.
The Committee of the United States House on
Foreign Affairs is considering a measure, reported to it
by a sub-committee, authorising the President to open
Inegotiations with Great Britain for a renewal of the
Canadian Reciprocity Treaty.
The executive of the Portsmouth Swimming Club
have decided upon instituting a race for the Salt-water
Championship of the World. The race will be contested
off Southsea beach on the 4th August (Bank Holiday),
and the distance will be a 'quarter of a mile. Substan-
tial prizes will be offered in addition to the cham-
pionship.
Twenty-one actual shipwrecks were reported last
week, being the same number as for the corresponding
week of last year; while the total for the present year
is 716, against 915 in 1883. Thirteen were British
vessels, including three steamers of (330 tons ; and seven
British were sunk by collision off the United Kingdom,
causing the loss of three lives, the total lives lost for
the week being 35, compared with 88 last year.
While some policemen were returning from Cam-
lough, near Newry, on Sunday night, where the
Nationalists held a meeting, they were attacked by
mobs and stoned. The police jumped off the cars on-
which they were riding, and charged their assailants,
who fled. One constable was struck with a stone on
the head and rendered insensible.
The number of live stock and the quantity of fresh
meat landed at Liverpool last week from the United
States and Canada was much below the arrivals of the-
preceding week, the total imports amounting to 1653'
cattle, 6300 quarters of beef, and 458 carcases of mut-
ton, there being no arrivals of sheep.
Last week's receipts of cotton at all United States
ports were 8000 bales; since Ist September, 4,748,000.
bales. Week's exports to Great Britain; 16,000 bales;
to the Continent, 1,000 bales. Total since Ist Sep-
tember, 3,544,000 bales; stock at all ports, 473,00 a
bales; ditto interior towns, 54,000 bales.
A terrible accident occurred at Lille on Sunday,.
While a balloon was ascending, from which a view of
Lille and the neighbourhood could be obtained, the car
became detached, and fell from a height of forty
metres. Twenty persons were in the car at the time,
and several were injured.
William H. Wentworth, of Niagara Falls, New York,
is the 1884 Cobden Club medalist. The result of the
competition was seven elaborate and excellent essays on
economic subjects. The winner of the Cobden Club
silver medal at the University of Madras is M. 0.
Parthasarathi Aiyangar, M.A.M.L.
According to a Parliamentary return just issued, the
total sum paid to officers of the cavalry and infantry by
the Army Purchase Commissioners to March 31, 1883,
was £6,455,616.

. ,
A New York telegram says that a German woman
residing at Albany, having become insane through the
loss of her bank book, killed five of her children, and
seizing another threw herself with the child in front of
a passing train. Both were killed.
The Portuguese explorers, Senhores Capello and
Ivens, -starting from Pont Pinda, in Mossamedes, have
innile an unsuccessful attempt to reach, by way of the
Corosea, which enters the sea at Pinda, the river
Cunene, lying to the south-east. Their description of
this part of South Africa is not flattering. The country,
as far as they were able to go, they describe as a wild,
arid zone of gneiss rock, intersected by deep ravines, a
de,sert burnt up by the terrible sun, a domain of lions,
leopards, and rhinoceros. •
In connection with the Wyc/iff quincentenary corn.
memoration, the authorities have arranged for a special
exhibition of Wycliff literature at the British Museum.
The committee are also inviting collections in the rural
churches and chapels in furtherance of the objects
which it is proposed to carry out as follows: (a) The
assistance of the Wycliff Society and the popularisation
of Wycliff's works; (b) the erection of a Wycliff
statue; and (c) the encouragement of Scriptural
studies throughout the length and breadth of the
land.
The additions to the Zoological Society's Gardens,
Regent's-park, London, during the last week included
a bonnet monkey from India, presented by Mr. J. L.
Ellis; a black-backed jackal, from South Africa, pre-
sented by Mr. H. P. Plummer; a spotted eagle owl,
from /..frica, presented by Captain Lamer; a Nicobar
pigeon, from the Indian Archipelago, presented by Mr.
T. H. Haynes; a herring gull, European, presented
by Dr. E. H. Cree ; a bonnet monkey, from India,
deposited; a rabbit-eared perameles, from West Aug'
tralia, two specious pigeons, from South America, pur
chscl•
-
e Bennett's wallaby, from Tasmania, received
In exchange; Wapiti deer, born in the Gardena.
a( ;