The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-05-10 00:00:00

FLIGHTS FOR LIFE.

Two highly sensational incidents, says the Melbourne
Argus, have been recorded to the recent bush fires in the
Western district, and these will give some idea of the dangers
of colonial travelling during the dry season.
A well.known settler was drPring from Condah, and
on reaching one point of the road he found that he
was surrounded by flames. To the right and left, front
and rear, there was nothing to be seen but flames,
smoke, and tottering trees. There was nothing for it
but to apply the whipcord, and then commenced a
race for dear life. The maddened, frightened steeds
dashed along at a furious rate over the rough road,
past red•hot embers and burning trees, and it was not
until a long distance had been traversed that the
driver could congratulate himself and the occupants of
the buggy upon being out of danger.
But, if possible, the passengers by the evening train
to Portland passed through a still More trying ordeal,
although it wa3 sooner at an end. The fire was burn.
ing on both sides of the line, but no particular anxiety
was felt until a large tree was seen just ahead in full
blaze, and swaying to and fro in such a manner as to
inoicate that it was about to fall across the line.
There was no time to stop the train, and the driver
of the engine, quickly appreciating the perilous
position in which they were placed, determined to
make a bold dash for it. Putting on steam, he
made the locomotive fairly Jump again, and
quicker probably than they were ever carried along
before, the passengers went safely past the tree. The
second or two occupied in doing this, however, must
have appeared a lifetime to some—not that any of
them was afraid the tree would fall on his own par-
ticular carriage, but imbued with the knowledge that
if it fell on the train at all there would be a general
smash and loss of life, his own, perhaps, included.
The guard's van had scarcely cleared the tree, when it
fell with a crash right across the rails.

INFANTS FOR CONFIBMATION.—Two of the hundred-
ton gups bought by the government are announced to
have arrived at Woolwich. They are to throw pro.
jectiles of 2,0001b5. each, propelled by a proportionate
quantity of powder, and expected to pierce at least
three feet of iron target, on which they are now await-
ing trial. Let us hope they will stand it ' • for, other-
wise, after all they have cost, they will prove mere
twopenny busters.—Punch.

divt..jr. 1104,

, 0,0

THE POPE'S ADDRESS TO FRENCH
PILGRIMS.

At the audience granted on Friday in lad week, to 800
French pilgrims, the Pope addressed them at some length.
The chief passage ()this speech was as follows:
- - •

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"It is with feelings of indescribable consolation
that we see the vigour with which Catholic life is
maintained and developed in France in spite of mani-
fold obstacles and the frequent contradictions it
meets with, for it does not shrink from encounter-
ing them in the name of its God, the God of righteous
and holy causes. Constantly we have evidence of
this in the generosity with which French charity
anticipates every want, every misery as in the in-
trepid readiness which gives you strength fearlessly to
fight for the rights of Christ and His Church. And we
rejoice openly to tell you so, for we rest our dearest
hopes for the future of your illustrious nation on these
virtues. We often reflect that God will not desert a
people which never tires of giving the world such
striking testimony of its fidelity to its Church, of its
filial love to the Vicar of the Heavenly Re-
deemer. Therefore, my children, it is of conse-
quence for the weal of your country as for that
of religion that you should continue unflinchingly
to profess your faith and your union with
the Apostolic See—a faith and a union that
once obtained for France the glorious title of the
eldest daughter of the Church. You will dispose of
the treasures of grace the Lord has granted you in the
interest of justice and of truth. The more terrible
the times the more necessary is it that you should
seek shelter from storm and shipwreck in the holy ark
of human salvation. Thus you will save your country
from the dangers it is expc.sed to and assure it the
order, peace, and prosperity we pray you may have at
the feet of -our Divine Master."