The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-09-03 00:00:00

SATURDAY, SEPT. 3, 1881.

ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE AT CHIO.—A telegram from
Constantinople, dated Aug. 27, says that the Euro-
pean Vice-Consul at Tchesme and Chio were visited
on the night of Aug. 26, by an earthquake still more
terrible than that of the 3rd of April. The destruc-
tion of property, he says, is considerable, and the
inhabitants are in despair.
"'

AN OWL CAPTURED By A HEN.—A *ery good illus-
tration of the biter bit comes from a village in
Monroe co., America, where a fine specimen of the
cat owl was captured after this wise :—At a farm-
house a hen and her chicks wero housed with one edge
of the coop propped up, with a corn-cob standing
under it. They were discovered by the owl when in
pursuit of his nocturnal prey. He entered the coop,
and was instantly attacked by the old hen. In the
scrimmage all the chicks escaped. The hen, in follow-
ing them, knocked aside the cob, and the owl found
himself a prisoner for life.
A GROSS FAT MAN.—There died, according to the
Annual Register, in the year 1775, at Shetlington near
Tamworth, aged 57 years, a Mr. Spooner, farmer, who
was reputed to be the fattest man in England. When
weighed some four or five days before his death he was
found to be 40st. 91b., or 5691 b. For many years he
had been unable to take walking exercise, but in
order to enjoy the fresh air he was drawn about in a
small cart and horse. After death he measured no
less than 4ft. 3in. across the shoulders, while at his
burial it took thirteen men to carry him to the grave.
His great fatness, however, once served him a good
turn. Happening, unfortunately, one day, at Ather-
stone Market, to get into an altercation with a Jew,
the latter stabbed him in the belly with a knife, yet
the weapon did not even penetrate the fat.
ADAGE BY A YOUNG LADY.—Man proposes, but
Mamma disposes.—Punch.
THE WELSH SUNDAY CLOSING ACT.—The Cardiff
licensed victuallers have held a meeting, at which they
decided to oppose the operations of the Welsh Sunday
Closing Act on the occasion of next licensing day, the
9th of September, on the ground that notice for the
sessions was given on the 10th of August. Their con-
tention is based on the third clause of the Act, which
says, " This Act shall commence and come into
operation with respect to each division or place in
Wales, on the day next appointed for the holding of
the annual general licensing meeting for that division
or place ; " and they hold that the "day next ap-
pointed " will be next year, when notice is again given.
They also passed a resolution censuring the Govern-
ment for passing the Act.

A SLANG DICTIONARY WANTED. -- The United
States, The American tells us, is sadly in need of a
"Slang Dictionary." New Mexico furnishes the
latest bowie knife cuts of American speech, as they
might be called, by defining her criminals as
" rustlers," "cowboys," " card-jerkers," " dinglers,"
and " notchers." The "rustler" is an international
dealer in other people's property, who sells his
American swag in Mexico, and loads himself for a
return voyage with Mexican plunder. The " card-
jerkers" and "cowboys" are professional gamblers
and herdsmen who commit crime by way of urban re-
laxation; the " dinglers" are coach robbers; while
the " notchers" kill men
.merely to acquire a reputa-
tion.

A NEW LIFE PRESERVER.—In the swimming schools
of Berlin experiments have been made with a new style
of life-preserver. It is a sort of cloak of silk, with
three India rubber bags or pockets, one on each side
and one at the back. On touching the water a chemical
compound in:the pockets turns into a kind of gas,lwhich
will support a man and keep him afloat for two days.
THE NIGHTINGALE FUND.—The report for the year
1880 of the Nightingale Fund, under which women are
trained in the practice of hospital nursing, states that
on December 31 there remained in the school at St.
Thomas's Hospital (London) 32 probationer nurses, of
whom 12 were special or lady probationers. Six of
these latter were admitted under the special regula-
tions upon payment, four paying £3O and two paying
£52 towards the cost of maintenance and education
during the year of training. The annual gratuity of
£2, allowed by the regulations to certified nurses who
have completed a year's service in some approved
hospital satisfactorily, was awarded to 10 nurses for
their third year, 19 nurses for their second year, and 21
nurses for their first year. Twenty-five probationer
nurses were entered on the register as certified nurses,
after satisfactorily completing their year of training.
From the opening of the school in June, 1860, to the
end of 1880, a total of 604 candidates have been ad-
mitted, and 357 have left the school, after completing
a year's training, as certified nurses.

EXPERIMENTS ON LIVING ANIMALS.-A copy of the
Report of the Inspector appointed under the 39 and
40 Viet., c. 77, showing the number of experiments
on living animals in Ireland during the year 1880, by
licences under the Act, has been just issued as a Par-
liamentary Return. The number of experiments made
was 34, of which 24 were performed according to the
licence, and the remainder under certificate C. Mr.
W. T. Stoker is of opinion that they have been free
from appreciable suffering, ireful to science, and that
the conditions with respect to the use of anaesthetics
have been rigidly adhered to.

THE GROWTH OF Bass.—As a burlesque on the many
fabulous fish stories " flcating on the lines" of the
various newspapers, the Norristown Herald has the
following incident :—", A Charlestown (Va.) paper
tells this story. A bass weighing one.pound in 1880
was returned to the Potomac with a small sleigh bell
attached to its tail with a wire. A few days ago it
was caught with the bell still attached, the fish weigh-
ing six pounds." This may sound like a fish story,
but some of our readers may remember that a one
pound bass caught in the Schuylkill five years ago was
returned to the water with a penny tin whistle
attached to its tail. Three years later the bass was
caught near the same spot. It still weighed a pound,
but the whistle had grown into a fog horn.

STRUCK DEAD BY LIGHTNING.-At Newport, 1.W.,
on Monday, an inquest was held on the body of James
Shotter, who was struck dead by lightning on Satur•
day. During a heavy thunderstorm deceased took
shelter under an elm tree by the side of the road. The
tree was struck by lightning, and the evidence of Dr.
Hutton Castle went to show that the electric current
passing down the trunk struck deceased on the right
temple, inflicting a wound two inches long, singeing
the whiskers, and scorching the right side of the face
and neck. The current then passed obliquely across
the chest to the left side, cleanly cut open the trouser
seam, ripped up the back of the coat, and escaped
into the road, which was torn up to a depth of
several inches. Deceased's watch was forced from his
pocket, and was found in the lining of the waistcoat
at the back, the case being melted. A verdict was
returned that the deceased died from the effects of a
stroke of lightning.

THE KNIGHTS OF THE GARTER.—Sir Albert Woods,
Garter Principal King of Arms, proceeded to Windsor
Castle on Monday, and placed the banner and regalia
of the Emperor of Russia, one of the newly-created
Knights of the Garter, above the stalls in the choir of
St. George's Chapel. Thel yellow flag of His Imperial
Majesty, emblazoned with the black eagle, was sus-
pended between the banner of the King of Greece and
the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen on the princes' side, and
an ormoulu plate engraved with the arms and titles of
the Emperor was affixed to the stalls beneath. The
inscription was as follows :—" Du tres haut, ttes
puissant et tres illustre Monarque Alexandre 111.,
Empereur et Autocrate de toutes les Russies, Cheva-
lier du tree noble ordre de la Jarretiere. Dispense
des ceremonies d'installation par lettres patentes
dates du lime jour d'Avril, 3IDOCCLXXXI." The
banner and regalia of the late Earl of Beaconsfield,
which hung at end of the stalls nearest the Queen's
closet were removed from the chapel.

AN AMERICAN VIEW OF MR. GLADSTONE.—" Mr.
Gladstone has won during his present administration
many splendid achievements. If he succeeds in
passing the Irish Land Bill in the face of a hostile
House of Lords it will add to his already imperish-
able renown. There is nothing, however, for which
we are disposed to give him higher commendation than
for his magnanimity and firmness towards South
Africa. Mr. Gladstone has risen above all other con-
siderations, and has recognized the justice of the
claims of the Transvaal for independence. He has
ended a humiliating and disgraceful war by conceding
to this people their undoubted right to govern them-
selves. This act;will be criticised in England, but it will
be remembered by conscientious and civilized people
throughout the world to the honour of the Minister
who wgs bold enough to attempt it and the lustre of
the Crown which he serves with so much genius and
fortitude."—New York Herald.

AN OLD PRACTICE—The history of the law as to the
disposition of the dead bodies of criminals is thus
summed up (writes a correspondent of Notes and
Queries) by Sir R. K. Wilson in his useful little book
"The History of Modern English Laws" :--" Death
in public by hanging, which, in case of murder, was
followed by dissection for the benefit of anatomical
science, under an Act passed just before Blackstone
wrote."—P. 62. "Dissection of a murderer's body
was made optional in 1832, and abolished in 1860."
P. 223. The practice of granting the bodies for dissec-
tion seems to have first been authorised by the 32 Hen.
VIII., c. 42. The iniquities of Burke, Bishop; and
Williams led to its abolition.

A FRIGHTENED BOIL—The State officials are deter-
mined to stop boys from killing birds in the Capitol.
square. Yesterday the Governor found a youngster
about nine years old with a shotgun hunting robins
right under the shadow of the dome. Grabbing the
boy by the scurf of the neck, he exclaimed, "I want
your name." The boy was so frightened that he
dropped his gun, and his knees shook with terror.
"What's the matter? "he finally asked. "Can't a
feller take a gun to git it fixed ?" "Thought you
were going to kill some robins," said the Governor, re-
laxing- his hold. "Do you want to go the penitentiary
for fifteen years ?'' "Look a hear, Governor, I was
goin' to git this gun fixed to parade on the Fourth;
come all the way from Virginia to help along the cele-
bration." The Governor relaxed his hold, arid the boy
grabbing his gun went through the gate like a flash.
In a few minutes he was relating to a gaping audience
of youngsters how he "Give the Gov. a
Carson City Appeal.

"IT ALL DlTENDS."—Custonzer. "I don't know
how it is, but my clothes never fit me nicely. Now
you always make my friend Captain Stollert's coats
to Bit beautifully ! "—Tailor. "Yes, Sir, but he's got
m
Shoulders to hang 'e on If a Gentleman's made
like a Champagne-Bottle, no Tailor can fit him
[Exit Customer in dudgeon.]—Punch

A SATUFACTORY EXPERIMENT.—Vienna has several
places of refuge for the destitute called " warming-
rooms," where all persons who are in need are allowed
to make themselves comfortable, and are given soup,
coffee, or tea, with bread, free of charge. No inquiries
are made as to character or calling. It is sufficient
that they say that they are cold and hungry. Large
stoves warm these places, benches run along the walls,
and newspapers are provided, but mainly on account
of the advertisements of help wanted. The food and
drink are given to each person twice every day, and at
night those who need lodgings are enabled to sleep
there. The experiment has proved so satisfactory
that another place of the kind is about to be opened,
large enough to accommodate eight hundred persons.
Since December 6, forty-nine thousand seven hundred
and thirty-six persons have been assisted at these
places with food, lodging or otherwise, and between
December 15 and January 20 not a single instance of
suicide traceable to poverty was reported,. although
self-murdtr from that cause was not Infrequent
before,

THE LATEST, LATEST.—The very newest of all the
agonies is for a young lady to have he hand photo-
graphed and send it to her best young man. This
signifies : " 'Twas mine ; 'tis yours," etc. If this isn't
"utter" then we are "quite too."—New .Haven
Register.
AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH 001i1.—The follow-
ing are the average prices of British corn for the week
ending August 27, as received from the inspectors and
officereof Excise :—Wheat, 51s. 10d. ; barley, ate. 9d.;
oats, 245: 6d. per imperial qr. Corresponding' week
last year I—Wheat, 445. id.; barley, 335. Bd. ; o4ts,
245. bd.
A MAN OF REGULAR HABITS. The Mikado of
Japan appears to be a man of regular habits, and his
daily programme is thus announced by the Japan
Mail. Throughout May last he was to rise at 5 a.m.
worship before the shrine of the sacred insignia at 5.30:
breakfast at six, and study from seven to nine. At
ten he would attend the Privy Conncirs meeting until
two p.m., and e,,•age in various military studies from
three to five. 'this is a very different list of duties to'
those performed by His Majesty before the Reforma-
tion, when the chief portion of his time was taken up,
by the performance of his religious observances.
THE PRINTER'S ROLLER.—The invention of the
roller, simple as it seems, was so great a step in ad-
vance as almost to revolutionize the art of printing.
Without the elastic inking-roller modern fast printing-
presses would be impossible. Previous to the invention
of the roller, forms were inked by hand by daVing with
balls of soft' leather on which ink was spread 6; rub-
bing together, one beirg held in each hand by the
workman. The balls were stuffed with tow or cotton-
and attached to handles. The first composition for
rollers was glue and molasses. This is still in use.
Other compounds are glue and glycerine, glue and
honey, etc. The glue is melted by steam heat to,
avoid burning, the molasses or other ingrediente
added; and the whole mass cooked until it arrives at a,
proper consistency, which is determined by cooling a
small quantity. DI onkin and -Bacon's English Patent,
1813. The roller is cast in a hollow cylindrical mold, a
wooden cove with metallic bearings being first placed
centrally in the mould. —The Practical Dictionary of
Mechanics.
- -

A GREAT ENGINEERING SCHEME.— A proposal has
been suggested to utilize the vast water supply of the
extreme north of America by closing the northerly
outldt of the valley of the Mackenzie River at the line
of 68deg., and thus storing up the water to 1,260,000
square miles, to which could be added the water of
other large areas. A lake would be formed of about
2,000 miles in length by 200 of average width, which
would cover with one continuous surface the labyrinth
of streams and valleys which now occupy the
Mackenzie Valley. It would be a neverfailing feeder
for the Mississippi, and would connect with Hudson.
Bay and the great lakes, and also with the interior of
Alaska through the Yukou and its affluents. The
connexion of the Tipper Mississippi with Lake
Mackenzie would be a comparatively easy matter, and
a vast amount of navigable waterway would be added
to this river. The brmation of Lake Mackenzie
would also contribute to the proposed ship canal from
Cairo (Illinois) to the Gulf of St. Lawrence by the almost
straight line which cuts the Wabash Valley, the
Lakes Erie and Ontario, and the Lower St. Law-
rence.

A BOY ACCIDENTALLY HIING.—In London an
inquest has been hell at the Clerkenwell Coroner's
Court respecting the death of Henry H. Pitcher,
fourteen, 322, Goswell-road. It appears that the
deceased was the son of a house decorator, and upon
Monday in last week he was left at home while his
parents went out for the day. He was in the habit of
playing with a rope which was attached to abeam hi the
yard, and was found,by the servant hanging up by the
rope, which was round his neck. It is thought that
the deceased whilst playing with the rope accidentally
got his head into a loop, and could not extricate himself
from it. The jury returned a verdict of "Death from
misadventure."

THE ARLBERG TUNNEL.—The Arlberg Tunnel,
which was visited recently by the Emperor of Austria, .L .
will, it is expected, take four years to finish. Its
length will be 10,270 metres or under seven miles.
The Gothard Tunnel is 14,906 metres, or nine miles
long; and the Mont Cenis Tunnel 12,333 metres, or
not quite eight miles. The cost of the St. Gothard
Tunnel was at the rate of about £4OO a yard, while
that of Mont Canis cost £250 per yard. It is esti-
mated that the Arlberg Tunnel will cost £l6O a yard,.
the total outlay on it being calculated at nearly is
million and three-quarters sterling. The entrance to
the tunnel on the east or Tyrol side is about 4,000 feet
above the level of the sea' while on the western or
Vorarlberg side the height is nearly 3,700 feet. The
Ferroux system of boring is employed, the same as
was adopted in the St. Gothard Tunnel. The blast-
ing is effected by dynamite, in charges of half
a hundredweight at a time.
A VALUABLE BIRD !—A veritable goose with the
golden eggs lately passed through the German Post
Office. The bird was a stuffed one, and not being
claimed was put up for sale. As the official conduct-
ing the sale held up the goose for inspection, and, in
order to show it to more advantage, untied its wings,
he was surprised to find concealed behind the left
wing a small package containing £175 in bills of 500
and 100 marks. Oddly enough neither the sender nor
the consignee of the bird can be found.
REMARKABLE SCENE AT A FUNERAL.—During the
funeral services at the Greenville (N. J.) Evangelical
Church, over the remains of Wolfgang Stocel, a mem-
ber of the order of Knights of Pythias, a thunderbolt
struck the building, descending to the gronnd, at the
side of the church by way of the lightning-rod (says
the New York Times). The shock was terrific and the
entire structure was shaken to its foundation. A scene
of consternation at once ensued. There were about 200
persons present, and a simultaneous rush was made
for the door, while the building resounded with the
shrieks of women and children. There was a sufficient
number of cool-headed persons present to intercept
the crowd at the door and prevent the loss of life,
which must have ensued had the vestibule and steps
been reached. While the excitement was going on a
number of old ladies who were present fell upon their
knees and prayed aloud and earnestly. Several of the
knights who sat on the side where the lightning struck
were prostrated by the shock, their swords attracting
the electricity, The minister exhorted the people to-
remain quiet, saying, "It is the lightning of God
which purifies all hearts." The excitement lasted
half an hour. While these scenes were going on in
the church, another bolt struck the pole of one of the
coaches which was standing in the street, shattering
it and prostrating the horses. The horses attached to
the other coaches took fright and ran in all directions.
They were finally gathered together and the funeral
proceeded.
THE DEANERY OF WESTMINSTER.—Her Majesty has
been graciously pleased to approve the appointment
of the Rev. George Granville Bradley, MA., LL.D.,
Master of University College Oxford, and Canon of
Worcester, to the Deanery of ?Westminster, in succes-
sion to the late Dean Stanley.
TREASURE TROVE.—A find of considerable interest
to the city of Berne was made a few days ago at
Nieoersteinbrunn, in Alsace. As two men were dig-
ging a ditch on the site of an old house they came upon
an earthenware jar containing 4,000 gold pieces, of
which the weight was nearly 201 b. The pieces are all
of the same mintage, about a millemetre in thickness
and the diameter of a mark. On one side is the effigy
of a double eagle, with the inscription " Bercht V.,
Box Zerin Fondator," and on the reverse appear the
arms of Berne—a bear on a mown field. The inscrip-
tion signifies that Berchtold V., Duke of Zaenurrgen,
was the founder of the city. The dates on the coins
run from 1617 to 1623, and they were probably hidden
where they were found at the time of the thirty years'
war.
AN ACT OF KINDNESS RETURNED.—Many years ago
the engine of the mail train on the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, bound west to Cumberland, of which
Beckett was the engineer and the late George A.
Rawlins conductor, when near Doe Gully tunnel,
struck and killed a cow belonging to the widow
of a watchman at that point, who had lost his
life in the service. The accident brought to the
scene many persons, including the widow and her
children, who were crying most piteously at their
loss. Beckett and Rawlins headed a sub-
scription, took it round among the passen-
gers and train hands, and soon succeeded in collecting
70 dole., which they handed to the widow. Turning
to Beckett and Rawlins she said :—" You will never
regret this kindness to the widow and her children,
and it will come home to you some day." Several
years passed and the incident was forgotten, when one
night Beckett left Cumberland on his east-hound trip
in a terrible rain-storm, and after passing Doe Gully
tunnel, noticed a large bonfire some distance ahead.
He quickly blew for brakes, and succeeded in bringing
his engine to a stand within fifty feet of an immense
landslide, covering the track for a distance of 150
feet. Ahead of the slide the widow had built the
fire. She came running to the engine, and ex-
claimed, "I told you you would never regret your
kindnes I heard the fall of the rock and earth in
the cut and I knew you were coming down, and I
built the fire to wain you of the danger. God bless
the man who thought of the poor widow and her
children when they were in trouble !" This act of
the widow saved the lives of the passengers and
trainmen, and to the day of his death "Tommy"
Beckett never tired of talking of the widow who
signalled him at the Doe Gully tunnel.—Detroit Free
Press.
LINGERING LOVE.—Little Timkins : There she is, at
the end of the pier, with her sisters, bless her! She
sees me too—she's smiling • I must certainly speak to
her to-clay. Seafaring Party (owner of telescope) : 'E
don't 'urry 'isself, 'e don't; sort 'a gent as takes 'is full
pennorth out, he is.—Judy.
THE LABOUR MARKET.—Reports from the labour
centres show that trade is on the whole fairly good.
Cotton weavers are making full time in Preston and
its neighbourhood. Steam-engine makers who are
fully employed are asking for an advance of wages.
Trade in. all districts is very brisk just now. The
value of steam engines exported in July, 1881, was
£417,000, being £170,300 more than in the same month
in 1880, and £300,000 more than in July, 1879. The
Staffordshire nail trade is very unsettled, the
operatives claiming an advance of wages to the extent
of 30 per cent. The manufacturers have expressed a
desire to settle matters if possible, and are willing to
concede 20 per cent, on the current rate, which it is
expected the men will accept. The nut and bolt
makers of South Staffordshire have received an
advance by the adoption of a new list of prices last •
week by the members of the Conciliatory Board.
The coal trade in Staffordshire is somewhat better.
At all the dockyards there is great activity, and large
orders for the future are in hand. The London
industries continue fairly good, the operatives in the
various branches being well employed.
A MELANCHOLY AccIDENT.—A melancholy acci-
dent, attended with most distressing circumstances,
has occurred in the cricket field at Reading. A boy
named Crements was watching a game of cricket, and
one of the players called for a stump, which, in being
thrown to him, accidentally struck Clement q on the
head, the point made of steel piercing and fracturing the
skull. The poor lad was removed to the Royal Berks
Hospital, and after a few days an operation was suc-
cessfully performed, but he never gained consciousness,
and died two days afterwards. The jury returned
a verdict of "Accidental death." The lad's father
visited him, and wa.-3 iu overcome that he returned
home to Chieveley and died, and the mother was
dangerously ill for ppm age.