The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-02-07 00:00:00

A GALE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN.

The steamer Magdala, Captain Greig, which has
arrived at Liverpool from Alexandria, reports terrific
weather in the Mediterranean which damaged the
steamer and washed overboard five persons. Captain
Greig states that when the lvlagdala lef a Alexandria
she had a valuable eargo and several passenger 3, four
of them being deck passengers. The vessel, on the
13th of January, was about 160 miles east of Malta,
wheu she encountered a cyclonical gale, blowing
strongest from east south east, and frequently sending
seas over the vessel. About five o'clock, after the
seas hal been breaking over the vessel for some time,
a terrific wave struck her, and carried away the main-
rail and a portion of Ale bulwarks. Captain Greig
was on the bridge at the time, but the sea fortunately
did not reach him. It, however, struck the chief
steward and the seeond cook, causing the former
to have a very narrow escape of his life. The main.
boom was brought down by the sea, and in its descent
fell on the steward, who was jammed between the
falling spar and the deck. Although this Injured him,
it had the effect of saving his life, as he was in great
peril of being washed overboard had it not been that
he was held fast by the boom. The cook received in-
juries which disabled him for seven or eight days.
About five minutes before the sea struck the vessel
Captain Greig saw the second engineer on the deck.
It was not then his watch below: but about an hour
afterwards he was missed, as well as the Jour deck
passengers, and although a thorough search was made
for them they could not be found, and it was concluded
that they must have been washed overboard by the de-
structive sea about an hour previously and drowned.
Of the four deck passengers drowned, two were Mal-
tese and the other two were Moors.

THE DOLLAR siarr,—C. if. Waring, Clifton-villa,
Clifton-wood, Clifton, writes to the Whitehall Review :
"In a recent number of your paper I notice a para-
graph on the dollar sign. I send an explanation of
this, taken front au American paver last year The
sign used to designate the dollar ($) is derived from the
Spanish fuertea, or hard, and was adopted to distin-
guish hard dollars from paper ones. The letters "f. s."
were used at first, hirtr astiey -418°_A9ocl J. 4,1 tra4rs
and fermi* the ts
wad curved round tWo f," =ft
forma tho presemdollN 'wk."! '

MR. PARNELL IN THE AMERICAN
CONGRESS.

On Monday night Mr. Parnell was received by the
American Congress. The special correspondent of the Irish
Times, telegraphing from Washington, gives the following
account of the reception
"At eight o'clock, Mr. Parnell having reached the
hall through applauding crowds, and accompanied by
kis friends and local supporters, among whom there
was much enthusirom, was introduced to Congress by
the Speaker. The session was being held. Mr.
Parnell addressed the Home from the floor, and spoke
with coolness and effect. He made a most favourable
impression by his sdlf-possession and clearness of
utterance. He pointed out the defects in the Irish
land system, the improvements which he and his friends
sought to effect in it, and explained at length the Prus-
sian precedents in the sense in which they have been ex-
plained by him on many platforms during his tour.
The speech was very similar to that delivered at
Boston, which was one of the most striking of his
utterances in the States. Mr. Parnell's mother and
sisters were present, with crowds of ladies, by special
favour of the House, and the scene was most unusual
andimposing. The demonstration excited the utmost
interest, and may justly be described as brilliant. A
marked interest was evinced by the members, and
sympathy with the Irish suffering was the predomi-
nant idea."_ _ _ _

A Renter's telegram says that the House of Repro.
sentatives held an evening session solely for the pur
pose of hearing Mr. Parnell. A small proportion of
members was present, but the galleries were filled
with the general public. The Speaker of the House
read a resolution extending the courtesy of the
Chamber to Mr. Parnell, who, having been
introduced, proceeded to deliver an address. He
said that the tenure of land was the most
pressing question in Ireland, and condemned Mr.
Bright for failing to ask the British Parliament
to sanction the principle which he himself had
formulated—namely, that of advancing money to aid
the Irish tenants to become landlords, Mr. Parnell
said it would be a proud boast for America if, by the
mere force of opinion, without a sign of violence or a
threatening word, she should aid in the solution of the
Irish land ,question. The speaker expressed his
belief that in that way, and in no other, could Ame-
rica become an important factor in the solution of tho
problem.
The House adjourned at the close of the address,
and Mr. Parnell was introduced to the members pre-
sent.