The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-01-11 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS,

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Gape of Good Hope advice. say that a diamond
weighing 821 carats has been found at the Melds.
The Duke of Norfolk's colliery, situated near the
Old Manor House, Sheffield, is flooded to a depth of two
feet, and a large number of men are thrown out. of work.

A new York telegram says that a storm of eleet and
rain occurred on Sunday, destroying the telegraph wires in
town and countay ; and • heavy fog which prevailed at the
time interrupted the navigation of the ferries.
The Japanese Government has just made an addi-
tional grant of 2,0'0,000 dolt, in aid of the schools of the
empire. A geographical and Ithtorical manual in Japanese
and English le also about to be Introduced.
According to the Record, the governing body of
Winchester School will meet on the 23rd Inst., to Rive their
decision with regard to the practice of "tundlng" and other
matters affecting the discipline of the school.

- -
The Globe elates that the Royal Geographical Society
haa received a communication from the Government. refusing
to accede to the propora recently laid before her Majesty',
Ministers for a North Polar expedition.
One hundred and forty witneeses have been !ram-
mooed to give evidence at the inquiry rerpecting the Barn-
staple election petition. Illie petitioners alkwe that 141
voters were bribed, and that eight persona paid money.

- -
Mr. Hakes, Kr., addreqsed his constituents at
Ccester on Monday night. He reviewed the work of the
past session, unfavourably criticising the action of the
Government in the Geneva arbitration and condemning the
Ballot Act. With regard to prospective legislation, the
honourable gentleman said that the questions of local taxa-
tion and the income tar pressed for consideration.

The Comte de Ch-umbord has sent through his
private secretary a subacrlption of 4.000 fr. to the Figaro
fund on behalf of the sufferers by the inundations of the
Seine. In doing so the Count explain that he would have
subscribed earlier. but for the fear that him name might
have given political colour to a purely charitable move-
ment. . . . . . .

--
The question of the admission of lady medical stu-
dent. to the uneds of the lidinburgh Rnyal i firmer', came
before the annual meeting of contributors on Monday, the
Issue raised being whether the meeting should appoint a
list of managers understood to be favourable to the com-
prrunae recently off.-red to the Idles, or. lilt ruch as the
Indies oostld depend upon to push their claim. still further.
On a division the former proposal was carried by 279 to 271
vote. A scrutiny of votes was, however, demanded.

The Bishop of Manchester administered a severe re-
buke to one of his clergy Cu Saturday. His lordship said he
bad heard with shame and confusion of face of • church in
the diocese In which there had been carried • banner on
which was emblazoned the name of "the Queen of Heaven "
and he remarked that though he was glad to see • revival of
reverence, devotion, and piety, it mast not be forgotten that
there was • limit beyond which they most not go In Imitating
She practises of the thirteenth century.

From New York we learn that Stokes, who bee been
found guilty of the murder of James Ask, Is to be hanged on
the 28th of next month.

Senor Morales, the President of Bolivia, is dead. A
New York telegram says that he -u drank and using threats
against the Legislature, and vu shot by his nephew.
The subscriptions to the Mansion-house Fund for
relieving the distress caused by the inundations in Italy
amount to about £6.400.

Six schools, affording accommodation for between
1,000 and 1.200 children 1n crowded and necewltlons parts of
the town, have been opened by the Leeds School Board.
The only thing really new in Paris just now is the
Importation of Alpine rats as au article of food ; they are
pronounced to be egad to domestic rabbit and a shade better
than cats!

A French statistician, who vouches for the facta,
states that Paris contains 1,450 hanchbacks, 1,22 i indivi-
duals with only one arm, 1,145 with one leg, 110 cripples,
17 without noses, and three without either arms or legs.

" Nameloc," the champion member of secret Annie-
ties in Philadelphia, now belongs to 342 different lodges,
circles, <Cc , atid la the custodian of 1,377 alicus, grips, pass-
words, ltc.

"We have received from 'A Queen's Soldier' a
Scotch note for one pound, and sit atampa, for the decors,
don of the Inside of St. Pant's, and have forwarded7thetu to
the proper quarter—London Standard.

- - -
There is really no accounting for taste. The Paris
papers report the death of an old man, one POre Lem,
whom sole amusemest for many years put consisted in taking
part in as many funerals • day as possible.
On Sunday the Pope received an Irish deputation,
who offered him 81. Peter's Pence and an address of sym-
pathy and support. Ills Holiness concluded • brief reply by
blessing Ireland, and congratulating that country for the
preservation of its faith.
A Paris physician wm recently amosted by the
concierge as he was leaving.• patient's house. "Sow lithe
alive until New Yeses It;
Roa,g2i.ermadno lulstail3m?
that
I may not be deprived of my etrennet—do this foresee!
The legacies paid to the Edinburgh infirmary during
the three months beginning Ist October last, when the ac-
counts for the past financial year were closed, together with
those intimated hot still outstanding, now amount to the
large sum of £26,397 Si. lid,

•
The engine-drivers of the North of Spain Railway
have struck work, and refuse to convey any passengers.
The awaits have cut the railway between Miranda and
Bilbao and between Masan' and Pampeluna. They burnt
a railway station by means of petroleum and carried the
officials off as prisoner.

On hristmas Day Barnum's Circus and Museum in
Now York were entirely destroyed by fire, together with the
old church of St Lawrence. A large and valuable collection
of wild beasts in the menagerie were toasted alive, hut there
was no loss of human life.

"This mild season has brought Christmas roses out
In unusual profusion. lielleborus lager 'periwig il, in
several localities, one man of flower, and Mr. Ferry informs
us that helleborus attrorubens and several kinds of cyclamen
are flowering most abundantly in the neighbourhood of Tot.
tenham."-7Ae Garden.
The week of "special united prayer" appointed by
the Evangelical Alliance, commenosd on Monday in London
—there being three meetings at Willis's Rooms in the fore-
noon, at the London Tavern in the afternoon, and free-
muons' 'tall in the evening. All the meetings were well
attended.

It is a. curione fact that the operation of " Litho-
trity, supposed to be a medern invention, was known to the
ancient Romans, specimens of instruments adapted to the
purpose having been found among the rains of Pompeii. It,
nevertheleu, fell into complete oblivion, until it was revived
In the present century by Baron lienrteloup, a French sur-
geon.

Dr. Alfred Carpenter opened the year's meetings of
the Social Science gleoclation by reading a paper on "the
simplicity and safety of sewage ventilation," urging that so
long as the sewage was kept in movement, no mischief could
arise, and that consequently the real source of evil was rather
the discharge of foul air from stagnant house drains than
from running public sewers.

- -
The American papers annotuace the death, at the
age of 78 years. of Mr. George Catlin, the artist and tra-
veller. lie was celebrated chiefly for his eight-years sojourn
among the Indians In 2830-9, during which time he rafted 48
different tribes and painted portraits of 200 delete and famous
warriors. This curious gallery was afterwards exhibited In
the principal cities of America and Europe.

. --
The Bishop of Exeter preekind et puv.lic meeting
at'Tiverton, on Tuesday, to promote reltglow teaching io
elementary Church schools. He repressed an opinion the
all who cared for the religious character of the youthful
population felt that that which was distinctly put wide by
the Government ought to be taken up by such meetings as
that, which should take care that religions education did not
suffer. Masters of schools should be religiously prepared for
their work.

Miss Ellicott, daughter of the Bishop of Gloucester
ar d Bristol, has met with a severe accident while hunting
with the Berkeley hounds, the was accompanied by a
groom, and when at Churchdown the groom cleared a ence
and wide and nasty ditch. Miss Ellicott followed, her horse
fell, the rider was thrown, and the horse Dose and literally
stood over the young lady and then walked away. alias
Ellicott was stunned, and remained insensible for half an
hour. She was removed to the Palace in a cart, and is, we
are glad to say, Programing favourably.

We understand that Sergeant Bates, who is return-
tint° America in a few days, has written an account of his
march from the north to the south of England, and has
asaigned he eLtiro profits in the book to the Infirm Orphan
Asylum, Wanstead. Ile declines to derive any advantage
from the peclicatien, but, as the father of a family of small
children, feels a special interest in the particular institution
which he desire. to benefit In this way. Messrs. Routbdge
and Sons are the publishers of the book, which is entitled
'Sergeant Bates' March from Gretna-gre,n to GuildhalL"
The Swiss Times contains an account of the discovery
of a substitute for coal made by Signor Femme, of Milan.
The material employed is described in vague terms as ex-
tremely abundant in Italy, and, until this invention, sup-
posed to be °ovoid of combustioie and gaseous qualities.
The new fuel will not cost more than two lire the hundred-
weight, and is especially suited for machine and locomotive
consumption. The refuse—, sort of coke—may also be em-
ployed for kitchen purposes. The discovery has been made
tn the very nick of time, and the public will be glad to learn
• few more definite partici:dart

On Alasiday morning the American barque Wallace,
1,000 tons, caught flre while lying at al.chor near Brixham.
She immediately atood for Torquay harbour, the flames and
smoke pouring oat of the main hatchway. All efforts to
subdue the flee proved awls., and the ablo wan burnt to
the water's edge. No lives have been lost. Some of the
burning emben carried by the Idol ignited the roof of the
Torbay Hotel, two hundred yards diatant, but the flame was
speedily extingulabed. Hundreds of visitors at Torquay
were spectators of the conflagration.
- - - -

A terrible accident occurred the other evening, near
Waterford. A man named Mahoney was engaged during
the day quarrying stones at Bilberry sock; he was suspended
over the cliff by a rope. Having succeeded in excavating a
large stnne ebnut twelve hundredweight, he somehow unfortu-
nately got disconnected from the rope from which he was
suspended and rolled down the rocke—a depth upwards of
150 feet. Some persons who saw the dreadful occurrence
immedietely ran to the assistance of the poor fellow on
reaching him they found him quite deed and fearfidly
mutilated.

Paton, one of the four men waehed out of the Royal
National Institute lifeboat Mincing Lane, while engaged in
rescuing the crew of a venal at Montrose, died on Monday
afternoon. Mr. Paton was In his twenty•fourth year. Ile
wan the only one of the four able to walk home after the
accioent, but he never recovered from the chill he erpe-
rieneed. It will be remembered that the four brave fellows
were twenty minutes in the water, floating about by means of
their life belta, while the rent of the crew were engaged in a
gallant and aucceedul effort to save the shipwrecked cation
Paton leaves a widow and child. The other men have now
nearly recovered..

Lo-rd Derby supported on Monday, with pleas of
great cogency, the claims of the Mancheeter Boys Refuge
and Industrial Home, pointing out the economical wiedom,
apart from motives of humanity, of helping lads entering
on life—and who are in danger of "knowing civilisation
only by the restraint which it impose., and not by the bene-
fits it confers "—to form battik; of thrift, industry, and nee-
fulness. Incidentally his lordship observed that, whatever
may be the explanation of the fact, we seem to have in Eng-
land "more than our fair share of roughs, habitual beggars,
and people who live without any recognised means of getting
their livelihood.

An inquest has been held at Richmond touching
the death of Charlotte Carter, aged twenty five, who was
choked while eating her dinner on Sunday afternoon. The
body was identified by her husband, who stated that he and
his wife sat down to dine off some fresh hoile 1 beef, pota-
tom, and plum pudding, on Sunday. In a i.einnub. after
his wife had begun her dinner, she began to cangh and
became black in the face, and put her finger i.k mouth
as if something was sticking in her throat. ..1 for a
surgeon, who on coming pronounced her dead. A verdict
of accidental choking WU returned.

The inquest upon Harriet Bagwell, the woman
murdered In Great Coram-street, London, was resumed on
Monday. A great deal of evidence was taken, chiefly that
of the persons living in the house in addition to which Dr.
Murphy stated that there waa no appearance whatever of
chloroform or any narcotic having been administered. The
inquiry was then adjonnied till Monday next for the pro-
duction of further evidence, the Coroner Intimating that he
should ask the Home Secretary to at least double the re-
-0:1 It present offered for the apprehension pith° murderer.
Th. row,. bas since been increased to £.2)0.

A. si-. orespondent of the Dai/y News, at
611 neut an a mount of some of the remarkable
coremoLles wb.,n the young Emperor of China wee
I. perform on the 21at ,/,• r The two Empreasee
who acted ms Eeortta rim; I etc rite will not finally
ffoall oower untu the early p. et if th . -ear. One of
th s eir *eta • enthoetty wait° ideate an 4 •e upon
the astroromi•ni Board to !oleo- a proe,..i.J, the
f;rst moon of the taw cm which hie Majeety in,ght formally
ascend tin. U.r:we in was ri.port. lin Nanig Cat the 2 Itt
of Net. •,, hern eele,ted.

Mr. Brnoc bay ihclined to rcce outation wdose
object was to plead tie iticission .titence pawed
upon five gas stokers by ' stks llrett, to calf the Mil,
hon. gentleman's attention i. s- rue legal points err ,ecied
with the case, and to discuss the mid .10 et !tic I ;overt.
ment In having passed the Criminal Lae .rot Ad.
At the same time, the Home Secretary express.... I: is willing.
nets to receive and consider a memorial on behalf of the flier;,
and it washon Tuesday resolved that the draft of such •dotit,
meet should be forwarded.
Lord Napier and Ettrick, on Tuesday, took the
chair at • Conference at the Society of Arts, the main pur-
pose of which to consider questions affecting the education
of the middle classes. One of the subjects of discussion was,
as to how far It wee desirable that there should be a regis-
tration of public and private school teachers, and schools;
and If so, how this could best be accomplished. After some
discussion a resolution was carried in favour of a Scholastic
Registration Act. A subsequent debate on the expediency
of toe Insdection and systematic examination of Endowed
Schools was presided over by the Rev. Dr. Riga', and the im-
portance of elaborating a plan for carrying out this object
was recognised by resolution.

-
An accident occurred on Monday on the Midland
Railway le,tween Royston and Cudworth stations, the latter
being the junction for Barnsley. The train to which the acci-
dent happened le the 2.4, from Leeds, which is due at Sheffield
• little more than an hour later. It was proceeding at the
rate of about thirty-live miles an hour when the tire of one
of the leading wheels of the engine snapped and came ofl.
The engine kept the rail+ for upwarda of 200 yards; It then
left them, but fortunately did not run over the embankment,
which at that part of the line Is very deep. Several of the
carriages also ran off the rails, and both the up and down
lines were blocked for several hours. None of the passengers
were serfoully injured, hut they did not reach Sheffield till
nine o'clock.

The new year has not proved a happy season to the
octopus in the Brighton Aquarium. After having been ad-
mired by thousands of vialtors during the past holidays, this
interesting animal has met with • sad and sudden fate. The
unfortunate creature, finding himself uncomfortable in •
tank where he had been newly placed by the curator, came
out, in an unguarded moment, of the house of living oysters
he had collected as a shelter round him. In this tank were
several large specimens of spotted dog llsh. one of these
fish, with the true cuteness of • sea dog, Immediately
pounced upon the unsuspecting octopus, and Instantly swal-
lowed him. An alarm was raised In the hulloing, but in
spite of the direction and their staff, the octopus could not
be recovered.

The Lords of the Admiralty have issued an order
directing that all boys who have been brought up in the
training &hips belonging to Her Majesty are to be rated ordb
nary ..amen at the age of eighteen, unless they should be
found on examination unfit, either from ignorance or inca-
pacity. If a boy be found unfit, he is to be continued in the
rating of first-class boy for. further period of six mouths, or
to be rated second-class ordinary, as the examining °Mizell
may recommend. All such cues are to be reported to a
commander-in-Chief. Boys who may be entered from the
shore sa flrst-clam boys, and who have not paned through
the training ships of the Royal Navy, are to be rated ordi-
aary seamen, or second-class ordinary seamen, at the age
of 18, or not later than 14 years, according to their pro.
&Laney.

A gentleman at Sheffield bee died of • gunshot
wound accidently inflicted by • contlaulion with whom he
was !Obit-shooting at Swinton.

Twenty emits-Mee from London have proceeded by
the steamer Ajax for Hong Kong, where they are to be em-
ployed to do police duty.

- • -
Newbold Church, Sheffield, hen been etruck by
lightning, and the spire destroyed. No servioe was held
last Sunday, the building being deemed unsafe.

- -
According to the Printers' Regiater, there are thig
day published 112 daily nevrtpapent, distributed as follows :
London, 14; provinces, 64; Scotland, 11; lreland, 20:
Wales, 2 ;. Channel Islands, 1.

Mr. Chat lee Pollock, .Q.C., of the Home Circuit, has
been raised to the Bench an Baron ot the Court of Ex-
chequer in the plass of Baron Channell, whose retirement on
account of 111.hea1th has been already notified.

On Monday morning the Duke of Edinburgh ar-
riv.d at Windsor, and haying been joined by Prince Arthur
and PritlCO Chriptutn, hart a day's shooting in the Great Park,
their Royal ilighneues at the close adjourning to Camber-
d Lodge.

The ironworkers of South Staffordshire and Emit
Worcesterthire have accepted the terms offered by the
muters, and will continue to work at preeent prices for
three months. At the expiration (that time anew basis of
agreement will be sought by the men.
- -

Mr. Gladstone completed the 63rd year of his age on
Sunday, the 29th Lit, haying been born in Liverpool on the
29th December, 1809. Mr. Diemen, who wu born in London
on the 31a1 December, 1806, entered Me 68th year on New.
year's eve.

According to acme recent French etatietica, out of
100 persona accused of crime mid misdemeanour, 36 could
neither read nor writs, 44 were imperfectly educated, 16
could both read end write well, and the remaining four were
described as being of a superior education
-

President Grant has- explained that the vessel sent
to Honolulu k merely Co protect American citizens there.
and to see that no other nation take. any undue advantage
of the state of affairs that may arise from the death of he
Bing.

Amon g new literary ventures shortly to be started
in New 1 ork, the most important 11l an illustrated daily
paper, which has been set on foot by a num`ier of Canadian
capitalists. The engraving is to be by a sew process, and •
rfect copy can be made of the artist's sketch or drawing
In less than twenty minutes.
Considering the extraordinary prosperity of this
country, it is really remarkable to observe the constant
stream of emigration from its shores, which can only be ac-
counted for by supposing that the asceticism of the working
classes leads them to flee from the temptations offered by
luxury and wealth.

The Alhenteum says :—" A curious book is on the
point of publication. The author seriously professes to give,
from actual experience, a matter of fact account of the laws,
manners, and customs of a kingdom situated in one of the
planets of the solar system. The title of the book
'Another World.'"

A political Christmas tree was exhibited in Pawl'
last week It was a good-zed fir from the Vosges moun-
tains, torn up by the roots, with a quantity of the native soil
of Alsace still clinging to it Around this tree richly laden
with toys and bonbons, were congregated 2,000 children of
Alsace and Lorraine exiles. kg, Gambatta and several °thee
deputies were present.

A movement in favour of annexing the Sandwich
Islands to the United States, commenced by Americsn
settlers in Honolulu, is said by the Philadelphian correspon-
dent of The Times to be regarded with genera approve! In
America ; and, according to the same authority, no serious
opposition to the project, on the part of the insular Govern-
ment, appears to be anticipated.

• • - -
The value of the coffee imported into the United
Bingdcm in the first 11 mouths of last year was £6,022,4139,
so compared With £6,120,758 in the corresponding period a
1871, and 44,848,804 in tlie corresponding period of 1870. In the
total for the Bret 11 months of Lai year, Ceylon
£2,198,099 other Brinell colonise for £1,208,473 ,fil Brazil for
r
£e89,077, sad Central America for £686,974.
Two very interesting birds have just been received
by the Zoological lioclety in London, and are now to be seen
I. the "Flab-house,' which has been recently cleaned and
repaired. These are an American din, or stilt-plover
(Bintantopur nigncollis), and a darter (Pottle an/tinge).
Both time birds are remarkable in form and appearance,
and new to the society's collection.

A somewhat serious disturbance has been the subject
of an onicial inquiry at Devonport. A number of the lower-
deck crew of her Majesty's ship Aurora, lying in the dock-
yard basin at that port, being annoyed at their leave
stopped, became insubordltutts, put out the lights, rbo'da
heavy shot end barrels about, broke the mess utensils, and
knocked the /anteres out of the bands of the petty officer*
sent down to quiet them. This violation of discipline fortu-
nately did not last long.

An inquest ham been held respecting the death of
George Gearing, aged about 40. The deceased was employed
at the Ford Junction Lime Works, on the London and thigh.
ton Railway. On Friday night, after drinking a good deal,
he left the house of a friend to go home. The next morning
it was found that he had been run ever by a train and cat
to pieces. It appeared that he had gone to sleep on the line.
Verdict, 'Accidental Death."

The New York journals call attention to the un-
usual prevalence of murder in that city. Life is said to be
held cheaper there than it bee ever been before in American
history, even in the most lawless districts of the West or
South. Criminal homicides are recorded pretty nearly
every day. Such in the complaint that reaches na from the
other side of the Atlantic.
There is every reason to fear that the Sphinx, of
Nth will have to be Aided to the list of steam-
ships belongiUg to the North of England which have perished
during the late storm. She sailed from the Clyde in the
latter part of October. bound for Catania, and the bat
account received of her was her passing Gibraltar in the early
part of December. She has not since been heard of. She
was in command of lir. J. K Brown, and her new of 21
hands all told.

Hopeful anunies for the New Year's campeign
against the electoral disabilities of women, sre gatberwd by
the advocates of "woman'. rights " from the recorded ex-
perience of 1872. During the pest twelve months, it seems,
the number of constituencies in favour of the cause ram
from 125 to 141 ; the number of petitions from public meet-
ings and concrete bcwiles nearly trebled twenty.seven
Town Councils petitioned in favour of the measure, egabort
only six in 1871; while the total number of signatures
obtained was nearly doubled, rising from 187,000 to 388,000.
- • -

In the course of a dispute between • Dutch and an
English sailor on board the dretkuak lYing off Weymouth,
the foreigner struck his comrade on the head with an axe.
Inflicting a dreadful wound. To escape with life the English-
man leaped into the boat, which he cut adrift, while the
Dutchman followed up the assault by throwing at him bolts
of iron. The poor fellow wag picked up sadly exhausted by
loss of blood. When his eminent MY brought on shore It
required all the effort, of the police to prevent the crowd
throwing him overboard.

Daring the week ending Saturday last, 6,091 birth.
and 3,262 deaths were regietered In London and twenty other
large cities and towns of the United Kingdom. The ZOOl,
tality from all causes In the.. towns was at the rate of 23
deaths annoally to every LOCO persoos estimated to be living.
In the metropolis 2 777 births and 1,212 deaths were
tered, the former having been 318 above and the latter 17=
low the everace. boor persons died from small-pox, 6 from
missiles, 9 from scarlet fever, 8 from dint/aerie, 37 from
whooping-cough, 26 from different forms of fever, and 16
from diarrhon ; thus to the .oven principal Mammas of the
symotic 004 deaths were referred, against b 9 and 118 In
the two proceeding weeks. The mean temperature at the
Royal Observatory, Greenwich, has 46 degrees, or eight
above the average,

The Board of Management of the Royal Hospital
for incurable. have published in a neatly-printed pamphlet,
entitled "Life in Shadow," eve narratives of visits to the
hospital—ore being by Miss Thackerey, another by Dr.
Guthrle, tee The second consists of an article reprinted
from the Daily News, to which the editor of the pamphlet
attaches the following note Within a few days of the
publication of thin paper, a stranger ailed at the hospital
carrying in his hand • copy of the Daily New& He asked to
be shown over the wards, In order that he might see with
his own eyes if the descriptions were •eensattonal! After
satisfying himself that they were not, he went direct to the
City Office of the Hospital for incurables, and presented It
anonymously with a chequedor live hundred pounds,"
The second part of the "Official History of the
German War" has lust appeared. The first part, It may be
remembered, takes us up to the end of July. The second
stops at the 6th of August, the eve of Ire battles of Woerth
and Spichern. It contains an account of the skirmish, or
demonstration, or whatever it is to be galled, at Saarbrucken,
on the 2nd of August, and of the battle of Welesenburg on
the 4th, terminating with • view of blie positions of the
armies on the night of the 6th. One of the most interesting
chapters in this new instalment of • work which will evi-
dently be much longer than was originally intended, I.
devoted to a description of the King's head-quarters and of
the organlarAlou of the great general stair at idayence, im-
mediately before the advance to the frontier.