The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-11-20 00:00:00

THE RAILWAY CATASTROPHE IN
AUSTRIA.

The Vienna Journals publish particulars concerning the
dreadful accident which recently took place between Vienna
and Prague. It appears that toe train ran off the metals
on an embankment near Gmund, in consequence of logs of
wood having been placed across the line The list of killed
comprises three railway and one post employe and four pas-
sengers. Seven passengers and one post official were more
or less seriously wounded The train carried 128 passengers.
One of the survivors gives the following account
"I was enjoying a pleasant doze in my sleeping
coupe, while my servant lay fast asleep in another
corner. All at once I was tossed up by several violentjerks, and I felt as if the carriage was going down-hill
at a furious speed, whilst I was alternately knocked
against the roof and the floor of the carriage. Around
.me, a chaotic convulsion of broken glass, travelling
seemedapparel,
to and
ad carriagebate its
circularfittings.
All
a once
race.thought
under me like the rushing of water, a river perhaps,
the carriage
heard
Being undressed I made up my mind to try swimming.
I therefore smashed a window, and put my arm through
it. I soon found I was mistaken, for instead of a rush
of water I only met a gust of cold night wind. I felt
a burning pain in the left foot, when I discovered
it was jammed between two boards. Without the
hard mattress above me I should certainly have been
crushed. I crept out with my night-gown on, and
found that my carriage had landed in the open field,
about 100 yards from the rest. The carriage had lost
its wheels and bottom frame in crossing the ditch at
the bottom of the embankment, which accounts for
the rushing noise I heard whilst being darted across
the field. My servant escaped unhurt. I now hastened
to the scene of desolation—a picture of devastation
and destruction. The carriages lay there smashed—
piled up so that the wounded passengers had to be
got out by the roofs ; they were carried to the fires
lighted in the field. On some of the br.,ken carriages
might he seen scattered portions of the human frame."

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

According to a recent return, there were 853 crimina
lunatics in conilmement-619 males and 204 females.
A violent gale prevailed at Boulogne throughout the
whole of Sunday, and that port was strewn with wreclipge.
Two boys have been drowned by the floods on the
Teams, a tributary of the Tyne.
The Queen is expected at Osborne on the 17th of
December, and will remain until February.
On Monday, Verdi, the composer, took his seat in
the Italian Senate.

M. Gußtave Dore is engaged on a picture, 30ft. by
201 t., representing Christ's entry into Jerusalem.
- - - -

The bodies of three of the six sailors who perished in
the burning of the Magenta have been recovered, and have
been buried in the cemetery at Toulon, Admiral Roze and
all the crew of the ill-fated vessel attending the funeral.

The Volunteer returns, so far as they have been fur-
nished to the War Office, show a considerable increase in the
total number of efficients in the principal regiments.

The Argentine Congress has placed £60,000 at the
disposal of the Government to promote emigration from
Wales and Ireland.

The ship Calcutta, from Quebec for Liverpool, was
wrecked on the Magdalen Islands on.the 7th inst. Captain
Tyrell, three men, and one boy were saved, but 22 of the
crew and one lady passenger were drowned.

- - -
The sum of £l,OOO has been bequeathed to the Uni-
versity of Glasgow for the establishment of two bursaries—
one in divinity and the other in medicine—by the late Mrs.
Barbara Lauder or Marshall.

Mr. William Sanders, the geologist, died on Friday
at Clifton, aged seventy-six, after a long illness. He had
prepared large geological maps of Bristol and the neighbour-
hood.

The Voissische Zeitung makes the extraordinary
statement that the Italian Government is carrying on nego-
tiations with England for the cession of the island of St.
Helena, on which it intends to establish a penal colony.
Mr. Medhurst, British Consul at Shanghai, observes
in his report this year that, roughly speaking, the working
classes all over China are clothed entirely with fabrics manu
factured from native-grown cotton.

The Sheffield Telegraph says there is great stagnation
In the iron and steel trades of that town, and adds,- -"It is
not pleasant to hear that one large Belgian house is deliver-
ing tires in this neighbourhood at prices far lower than those
at which they can be produced in Sheffield."

-
Some of the leading South Yorkshire and North
Derbyshire coalowners have announced further advances in
the price of house coals. One large firm, trading more
largely with London than other pits in Yorkshire, increases
its best and special London coal by ninepence, and its second
quality by one shilli.ng per ton.

The Bishop of Olinda had a long audience of the
Pope on Saturday. He is said to have expressed to his
Holiness the cordial feelings entertained by the Brazilian
Ministry for the Holy See, and given a general account of
the clergy of his diocese.

The Brighton police have, in accordance with annual
custom, registered the number of pleasure vehicles which
have passed a given spot on the King's-road within ten
minutes. The number was 297, last year was 278, and in the
first year, 1857, 133.
-

_ . .
A French-Canadian iitUrateur of Ottawa claims to
have become possessed of a document relating to the fate of
Sir John Franklin which has never been published. It was
sent to him by a friend who has lately travelled in the
North-west.

An unknown Russian ship having been observed in
distress'off Brest on Sunday, the Souffteur, Government vessel,
went to her assistance, but in consequence of the rough
weather had to put back into harbour damaged, and without
having been able to render any help.

Among the products of British Columbia to be ex
hibited at the Philadelphia Exhibition is what is said to be
the largest canoe in the world. It is 6011. long, 81 t. wide,
and 4f 1. high, and will hold 100 men easily. It was built at
the order of Mogulliah, chief of the Nootka Indians, on the
western coast of Vancouver Island, and is covered with
curious Indian devices and hieroglyphics.

An engagement has taken place in the Herzegovina
near Gatschko, in which the Turks are said to have been
defeated with a loss of 800 killed and 600 wounded. The
fighting lasted all Thursday and Friday. It is stated that
the insurgents suffered heavy losses and were too exhausted
to pursue the enemy.
- -

During the eight weeks ending last Saturday, 901
inches of rain were measured at the Royal Observatory at
Greenwich, averaging 113 inches per week. Rain was mea-
sured on 36 of the 56 days in these weeks, the largest daily
amounts being •74 and 19 of an inch respectively on the 2nd
and 20th October.
An amusing anecdote, and as true as amusing, is re-
lated of an old country gentleman, who undertook a long
coach journey to see Kemble in "Hamlet," Tired out with
his ride, and having after a considerable struggle succeeded
in gaining a comfortable seat some time before the perform-
ance commenced, he fell asleep, and was only awakened by
the loud and continued applause of the audience. It was the
call for Kemble at the termination of the play.

The passing of the Unseaworthy Ships Act of last
session has thrown a great deal of additional work upon the
Board of Trade, a large part of it relating to a reorganisation
and allotment of the duties to be performed by the sur-
veyors. Nearly a thousand persons have applied for the
new surveyorships which will be created under the new Act.

It is stated in a telegram from Cattaro that the ex-
pedition under Selim Pasha, consisting of eight battalions,
had arrived between Gatschko and Goratschko, whore it was
met by Secich with 3,000 insurgents. The Turks were sur-
rounded, and are represented as unable to advance or
retreat.

In a recently-issued Parliamentary paper an analysis
is given of the Inhabited House Duty, which amoiinted last
year to £1,381,116 7s. 3&The annual value of shops and
warehouses assessed at 6d. in the pound was £9,628,015;
beershops, at the same assessment, £3,770,153; farmhouses,
at the same, £768,806; while the annual value of dwelling-
houses at 9d. was £29,727,132.

The Geographical Society opened its 46th winter
session in London, on Monday evening. The president, Sir
H. Rawlinson delivered an interesting address detailing the
progress of geographical extloration, in which equatorial
Africa and the Arctic regions had the larger share. He men-
tioned, as the first fruits of the present journey of the Prince
of Wales, the receipt of a set of interesting route maps of
Upper Egypt which his Royal Highness had obtained from
the Khedive.
An exciting scene took place in the Alhambra
Music Hall, Liverpool, on Monday night. Some person
raised a false alarm of fire, and immediately all present rose
to their feet and began to scramble towards the doors. A
number of those in the gallery, in order to facilitate their
escape, dropped into the body of the hall, alighting on the
heads of the struggling crowd. Fortunately the proprietors
of the hall succeeded in allaying the panic before any one
was seriously injured.

Mr. Disraeli in answer to the request that he should
receive the deputation appointed by the Council of the Cen-
tral and Associated Chambers of Agriculture to present to
him a memorial praying for effectual measures against foot-
and-mouth disease, has directed a reply to be written, stating
"that this subject is one which engages the unceasing atten-
tion of her Majesty's Government," and that, "should the
Chamber desire to express its views thereon, the best course
will be for that association to place itself in communication
with the Lord President of the Council, who has given much
consideration to the question, and whose department is
specially entrusted with its care."

Probably the largest private residence in London is
Hertford House, Manchester-square. It used to belong to
the old Marquis of Hertford, but when he died it passed to
Sir Richard Wallace, who almost rebuilt it, adding stables
and a splendid picture-gallery. Into this gallery he is now
removing the treasures which he has lent for so many years
to the Bethnal Green Museum, and when they are arranged
he will allow the public to see them. Otb,er generous persons
are coming forward to supply the void at Bethnal Green.
Court Jouraal.

Going to bed with the stomach empty is a frequent
source (says the Sanitary Record) of restless nights, espe-
cially with elderly people. Even after a late dinner it will
be found beneficial in some cases of sleeplessness to take a
light repast immediately before bed-time. Bread and milk,
or rice milk, or soup, generally answer the purpose best ; but
in truth it is the quantity, not the quality, of the solids
taken in this emergency that effects the desired object.

The King and Queen of Denmark, with the Princess
of Wales the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess of
Teck, and Princess Thyra, attended the meet of the West
Norfolk Foxhounds, at Babingley Bridge, on Friday morn-
inc. Mr. Anthony flamond, the master, had his hounds put
Into cover immediately, and found a fox, which was very
quickly killed.

Colonel Alexander, M.P., spoke at Ayr on Tuesday
night on the work of the past session. He claimed credit
for the Government for their legislation on matters affecting
land, and maintained that the labour laws had been satisfac-
torily dealt with. He spoke of the importance of the
Artisans' Dwellings Act, and noticed some of the useful,
though modest and unpretending, legislation of the year, such
as the Trade Marks Act. As to the Friendly Societies Act, he
disapproved of it, his objecilon t ) it being that a bad society
would be placed on the same level as a good one, after sub-
mitting their accounts to a sham audit and their n. ssets and
liabilities to a sham valuation.

The Rev. Dr. William Brook, a well-known Baptist
minister, died on Saturday morning at St. Leonard's, where
he had intended to pass the winter. Dr. Brock, who was
upwards of seventy years of age, was formerly minister of a
Baptist congregation at Norwich, and resigned that post
about twenty-live years ago, in order to become minister of
Bloomsbury Chapel, London, then recently built. lie re-
mained at Bloomsbury until a year or two ago, when he
retired from the ministry. Dr. Brock was one of the most
popular ministers in the Baptist denomination, and took an
active part on the Liberal side in many of the political
movements of his time.

The recurrence of the Empress Eugenie's fête day
has been for the last two years marked at Chislehurst simply
by the celebration of mass at St. Mary's Church in the pre-
sence of the Empress (who, as usual, has received a great
many congratulations) and Prince Louis Napoleon; and
Monday (the 15th) was no exception to the rule. The usual
members of the suite accompanied the Empress and the
Prince to the church, and some personal friends of both were
also present. Those who attended Monday's service were
nearly without exception the regular attendants at the
church, and they greeted the Empress and the Prince with
the customary marks of respect.
Last week 2,449 births and 1,567 deaths were re-
gistered in London, the former having exceeded by 8, and
the latter by 20, the average numbers. The deaths included
one from small-pox, 43 from measles, 116 from scarlet fever,
12 from diphtheria, 49 from whooping-cough, 20 from dif-
ferent forms of fever, and 24 from diarrhoea ' • thus to the
seven principal diseases of the zymotic class 265 deaths were
referred, against 278 and 280 in the two preceding weeks
These 265 deaths were 6 above the corrected average number
from the same diseases in the corresponding week of the
last ten years, and were equal to an, annual rate of 4•0 per
1,000. The fatal cases of scarlet fever again showed a large
excess, and those of measles, diphtheria, and whooping-
cough were also above the average.

At the distribvtion of prizes to volunteers at Liver-
pool on Monday night Major General M'Murdo advocated
compulsory military service, and in reference to the suppo-
sition that there might be confusion if the volunteers were
called into active service, said that such could not occur,
for arrangements had been made that would prevent such
confusion. For this purpose there had been formed the
Engineer and Railway Staff Corps, the object of which was
to secure unity of action among the railway companies in
time of war. This corps consisted of three classes, namely,
some of the most eminent civil engineers, the general
managers of railway companies, and the leading contractors
In the country. Their duty was to consider problems of
war given them by the Secretary for War, and though per-
formed in secret, their services were of great value.

An accident of a serious character happened to
Captain Oliver Montague on Friday last, while partridge
lordship's
driving p g is with
seems
os
sr
ttdhr
na
at mrgd
rwcaiacpiikteae ati
Captain
an
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nra togyxu
eomf f rns
ti
oet
onhkde stf
the
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mem:
tion of the line and fired down it, several shots from his
and one, unfortunately, passing through the eyeball. Captain
Montague was at once taken to the nearest surgeon, living
at Royston, and thence returned to Wimpole. The next day
Captain Montague was able to return to London. Hopes are
entertained that the eye may be saved.—The Daily Telegraph
of Tuesday says :—" We are glad to state that Captain Oliver
314ntague progresses favourably, and that Mr. Critchett last
night found all the symptoms of a satisfactory character.
The shot had entered the right eye obliquely. and, though
the condition of the patient is most beneficially influenced
by his courage and quietude, it will yet be a day or two
before the actual extent of the injury can be determined.
Numerous Inquiries were throughout yesterday made at Cap.
Ltal
Minister personally called for intelligence concerning his
progress.' —The following bulletin was issued on Wednes-
3Hloinnteahinugeb'sroroeksiadnendcLe,owrdhnereenhrye
Lennox,is carefully
a and
ttehned
Primeed b by
pd
raoygrmeosrsn
' Nature is doing her best to repair the wound.'—(Signed)
Intiosninßoor.." •
Leserciduilitieneshatiniabfraooctokry:—. " Cparp.tacinrittlhoentttagsauyes's;
ci no
gn
tbi ty. u

In the year ended the 31st of March last the Excise
duty on chicory,. at Us. id. per cwt, amounted to £3,360
lle. 5./d.

At-an auction sale of wax figures in Memphis, Henry
Ward Beecher brought 17 dollars, Theodore Tilton 13 dol-
lars, and Mrs. Tilton 5 dollars

The city of Kingston (Jamaica) was visited at ten
minutes to one on the morning of the 16th of October by two
very severe shocks of earthquake, which lasted for many
seconds.

The Toscoff steamer which was supposed to have
been lost with all bands, numbering thirty, has arrived at
Constantinople, and it is ascertained that she has met with
no disaster, and all the crew are safe.

_
Two banquets were given at Bristol on Saturday in
celebration of the Colston anniversary, at one of which the
Marquis of Hartington spoke at considerable length, in re.
sponse to the toast of "The Liberal Members of the House
of Commons."
- ---

_
Intelligence has been received at Vienna to the effect
that the Herzegovinian insurgents contemplate sending to
the Governments of the three great Northern Powers a depu-
tation bearing a petition in which their wishes are to be set
forth under four distinct heads.
The Directors of Convict Prisons, in their annual
report, just published, state :—" The number of prisoners
discharged during the last six years who have been aided
by the Royal Society for the Assistance of Discharged Pri-
soners has been 3,929. Of this number the society at 39,
Charing Cross, has helped 2,637."
A Boulogne telegram announces the stranding, on
Sunday night, at Andresselles, and the breaking up an hour
and a half afterwards, of the ship Astraida, of 1,000 tons
burden, from London to New Orleans, in ballast. The
captain and ten men were saved, but eight other men and a
woman are believed to have perished.
Tuesday's Imperial Gazette of St. Petersburg pub-
lishes an °Mehl article, in which it maintains that the fears
entertained in Xnrope with regard to the insurrection in the
Herzegovina are not justified. It declares that Europe was
never in a more favourable position for settling the question
peacefully; that the three Northern Powers are endeavour-
ing to obtain this result: and that, aided by the othet
Cabinets, they are likely to succeed.
The returns of our export and import trade for the
month of October are, The Times thinks, more marked than
ever in the indications they give that business is undergoing
considerable shrinkage. In the City Article it is remarked :
"Much attention is now being directed to the state of the
coal and iron industries of this country, and it is alleged
that a serioss crisis is by no means improbable this winter."
The New York Herald comments upon the frequency
of homicide in that city. Within a fortnight there have
been nearly half a score of convictions for murder or man-
slaughter, and five of these were for murder in the first
degree. In every case the guilt of the culprit was clearly
established.
The death is announced of the Rev. Thomas Jones,
who is said to be the oldest clergyman in London' having
reached his ninety-sixth year. He was nominated 1121813 by
Dr. Randolph, Bishop of London, to the office of chaplain or
" morning reader " at the Chapel Royal, Whitehall, a post
which he held until the time of his death, although for many
years past he has ceased to officiate.
On the conclusion of the voting on Saturday for the
election of a Lord Rector for Aberdeen University, in the
room of Professor Huxley, tt was found that in each of three
out of the four "nations "into which the students are divided,
Mr. W. E. Forster had obtained a majority, while in the
fourtlf " nation " the votes were equal. The aggregate of in-
dividual votes was composed of 378 for Mr. Forster, and 145
for Lord Lindsay—Mr. Forster being thus elected by a
majority cf 233.
.The reports of the floods show that they 'have pre-
vailed very generally throughout the country. The Thames
has overflown its banks all along its course, submerging the
fields for miles, rendering roads impassable, and more or
leas flooding the houses in many districts of the towns
throughrch it passes. In London, on Monday morning,
at ,a fe minutes past one o'clock, an extraordinary tide
swept ov r the banks of the River Thames, which was at-
tended with disastrous results, a vast amount of property
being destroyed.
Two trains came into collision on Sunday night be-
tween the Linkoeping and Bankeberg Stations on the line
from Malmoe to Stockholm. As far as at present known six
persona were killed—namely, two railway officials, an engine-
driver, two stokers, and a guard. Twelve persons were in-
jured, including the Count and Countess Nachtmehter,
Baron KoskueL Consul Lyon, and the Belgian Minister, who
was, however, only slightly hurt. Seven railway carriages
were broken to pieces by the force of the collision.
The following statistics have been published respect-
ing the damage caused in Paris by the gale :—From Sunday
to Wednesday morning, in last week, about 10,000 chimneys
were blown down, 160 roofs of different kinds have been
more or less injured, 30,0001. worth of glass was broken,
1,000 fences were thrown down, and 200 trees were broken
or uprooted. The damage is estimated at 500,000 L forth I
three days.