The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-06-28 00:00:00

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LIE AMATEUR CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIP.—On Saturday
afternoon the one mile bicycle and 25 miles tricycle
amateur championships were decided, under the
auspices of the National Cyclists' Union, at Lillie-
bridge Grounds, West Brampton. For the one mile
bicycle championship there were 17 entries, but only
nine competed. After seven preliminary heats Messrs.
H. W. Gaskell (Ranelagh Harriers), C. E. Liles
(L.A.C.), and H. A. Speechley (Chelsea 8.C.) were left
to contest the final heat. The run, a close one, was
ridden at a very slow pace, and resulted in the victory
of Mr. SpQechley, who beat Mr. Liles by three inches
only. Time 3min. 14 2.ssec. In the twenty-five miles
tricycle race there were nine riders, and the record was
beaten from 12 miles upwards to the finish. Mr. C. E.
Liles (L.A.C.), last year's champion, won by 100 yards
from Mr. H. J. Webb (L.T.C.), Mr. S. Lee (Sutton T.C.)
being third, a lap behind. The winner's time was
88min. 58sec., or 7min. ssec better than the previous
fastest time for the distance.

LAST WEEK'S WRECKS.—The feature of the past
week among shipping disasters wr the report from the
Greenland coast announcing the wrecks of vessels in
the ice, which crushed two vessels, one American-owned
and one Danish, the latter sinking with ten men. A
Dundee whaling steamer was also in a critical position
with seven men on board, some of the crew having, it
was feared, been lost. Off British North America two-
colonial vessels went down with 25 lives; off the Eng-
lish coast a small vessel with" all hands; and in other
parts of the world three (two British and one French-
owned) carrying sugar and coal, with "all hands."
The actual wrecks for the week were 21 (13 British and
eight foreign), against 24 for same week last year,
making the total for the present year 780, against 976
last year. Two British vessels sunk by collision (one
off England and one off France), causing the loss of
three lives.

KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.—Now is the time to SOW
longpod beans for a few dishes of each sort to be had in,
the autumn (says "Land and Water "). The Seville-
early longpod, which is the earliest of all, or the common
longpod, are the best for the purpose. 3ince the rain
beet-root plants have been able to make some growth,
and the subsequent warm weather has brought them on
rapidly. The ground must be kept clean by using the
hoe, and it is also necessary to thin out the plants,
leaving them a foot apart. All the hales should be
planted out from the seed-beds. It is best to do this
in showery weather, or as soon as showers are imminent.
They lay hold on the ground quickly, and make an
excellent start, which is of the greatest advantage
especially if the summer should prove dry. Walcheren
broccoli and Dean's early snowball cauliflower should be
sown now to come in for autumn use and during the
winter, and if some of the useful purple sprouting has
not been sown no time should be lost in doing so.
Brussels sprouts should always be planted out at the
earliest opportunity, and young cabbages also.
Carrot crops should be thinned out from time
to time as required, pulling the most advanced
for present use, and some seed of the early forcing
French horn should be sown for successional crops,
and celery should be planted out in well-manured
trenches, for with these there is nothing like a good
start. It is a good plan to prick off seedling plants
into nursery beds, four to six inches apart, and then
from these to the trenches when well established. Ridge
cucumbers should be encouraged to grow as much as
possible, drawing the soil up about the mounds and
keeping the pleas well watered. The plants of endive
raised from seed sown in April should be planted out,
and some seed of the green curled be sown for autumn
, and winter use; seedling plants should also be thinned
out when necessary. Some kidney beans can yet be
sown for late crop, selecting ri coal, moist situation for
the crop. Leeks should be planted out in well-manured
ground; it is a most useful and wholesome vegetable.
deserving of being widely grown. Lettuces should also
be planted out for succession, and sowings made for
autumn use. Sweet, crisp lettuces can be had with a
little care nearly all the year round if a cold frame can
be utilised in autumn and winter. Tomatoes can be
planted out in warm positions against walls and similar
places. Onion beds should be thinned, hoed clean, and
the surface soil carefully stirred, but not interfering
with the roots. Parsley may be cut down from time to
time in order to induce the plants to furnish young
leaves. Parsnips need to be thinned' out, and the soil
among them hoed. Potatoes must be earthed up as
required. Red and white turnip radishes should be
sown for successional crops in a cool spot. Sow a little
more summer spinach for succession, and some early
six weeks or American etranleaf turnip for early use
Dx_ien raoir EATING MaexEnEe.—Mr. George Collier
has held an inquest in London at East India-road,
Poplar, on the body of James Townley, aged seven
years. Mr. James Townley, the father of the deceased,
said a few days ago he gave him some mackerel, and on
the following morning he did not seem well. The
dector gave him medicine, but on Saturday he was
taken with vomiting and fits, and died before a doctor
could he fetched. Witness and hs wife, and three
other children partook of the fish, and his wife was very
ill at the present time from the effects of eating the
fish. Mr. Aird, surgeon, said the actual cause of death
was convulsions from gastric irritation causecrby eating
maclirel. The jury returned a verdict of "Death by
misadventure."
THE GREAT FIRE IN RANGOON.—A correspondent of
the Pe.ngoon Times" gives further and fuller particu-
lars e' the conflagrations which recently destroyed the
greater portion of Mandalay. He describes the loss of
property as enormous, but cannot estimate the figure.
Twenty-three lives were lost, and over 20,000 tenements,
brick and bamboo, were destroyed. A portion of the
north -west stockade round the palace was consumed,
and the palace itself had a very narrow escape. The
great Arkan idol was melted about the head and one
arm, but as it had an accumulated coating of gold on it
to the thicknege of eight inches, the original case was
not injured. This coating of gold is the outcome of the
continual layers of gold leaf laid on by several genera-
tions of worshippers. While the shrine was burning
a small fire-pump was brought to bear on it, and the jet
of water caused the huge idol to crack across the face
from ear to ear. It is not now believed in Mandalay
that the fires were caused by incendiaries. Though
much misery and poverty exists in the Golden City,
there is nothing like a rice famine either there or in the
surrounding districts. Grain and other edibles though
dear, are still within reach of the poor who Live the
wherewith to buy.
AN IsnaND Fog Seer..—The island of Herm, one of
the Channel group, which is announced for sale by
auction in London on the 29th of July, is at present
owned by the monks of La Grande Chartreuse, so well
known as the manufacturers of the liqueur of that
name. The confraternity purchased the island about
three years ago, pending the erection of a monastery at
CowfoM, Sussex. Had the French Government cord-
pelled the Order to quit France previously to the com-
pletion of the English monastery, temporary accommo-
dation would thus have been available in the little
island, and this was the object for which they purchased
it. The necessity for keeping the island having ceased
with the completion of the monastery in Sussex, which
can now receive all the monks in France belonging to
the Order, the island is again offered for sale.
BATHING FATALITY.—A sad bathing fatality has
occurred in the River Dee, in the Vale of Llangollen.
A railway porter named Thomas Burgess, employed at
Glyndyfodry Station, on the Great Western Railway,
was bathing in the Dee in company with two others,
during the interval between the trains. In wading
across the river, Burgess got into a deep hole the Dee
being very treacherous in many parts. The Other men
' hastened to rescue their drowning companion, but one
of them was eagerly clutched and dragged down the
stream, a desperate struggle ensuing, and it was feared
both would be drowned. The scene was witnessed by
several persons on the banks of the river, who made
efforts to save the drowning men. After a severe
struggle Burgess released his companion and perished,
the other man being ultimately rescued.
MinmEn AND MUTILATION.—A Vienna telegram
states that a horrible rani-3er is reported from Prague.
An old man, formerly a civil engineer, was found
murdered in his lodgings, his head being severed from
his body. The head and the mutilated body were found
in the bedroom but the murdered man's legs had been
cut off from the trunk and carried by the murderers
into the kitchen. The money in the house was un-
touched, se that the crime is believed to have been,
instigated by motives of revenge.