The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-07-03 00:00:00

EPITOME. OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Mr. John Wilson, colliery manager, has been killed
through falling down the shaft at the pit of Messrs. Haigh
at Dewsbury Moor, from a height of several hundred feet.
Mr. H. A. Brassey, M.P., of Preston-hall, Ayles-
ford, near Maidstone, has, in consideration of the present
position of agriculturists, remitted the half-year's rent to all
his farm tenants, and forwarded them receipts for the
amounts.
Lord Aberdare presided on Monday at the annual
meeting of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals at St. James's Hall. The Princess of Wales, who
was accompanied by the Prince of Wales and Prince Albert
Victor and Prince George, distributed the prizes to the suc-
cessful essayists. In responding to the vote of thanks ten-
dered to the Princess on behalf of the meeting by Lord Aber-
dare, the Prince of Wales spoke of the good effect of the
society's work, and especially upon the excellent result Of
the competition, which had brought 10,000 essayists' into the
field from 500 different schools in the metropolis.
" I feel
sure that the value of such a competition to our great educe-
tional establishments must be very considerable," said his
Royal Highness, "for it inculcates in .the minds of young
people that one great duty is, after showing kindness sine
gentleness to our fellow creatures, even more so to show t
to the brute creation, to whom we owe so much. The more
this is inculcated into their niinds, the more will the usefulness
of the society be increased, and the necessity for its work
. .

diminished.
In speaking of the late Lord Kilmorey, the Chester
Chronicle says :—" He was certainly an eccentric nobleman
if all the stories told about him are correct. It is said that,
like the famous Jack Mytton, he was exceedingly fond of
playing practical jokes. On one occasion he was boating on
the Thames with an officer now high in Her Majesty's ser-
vice, and asked his companion gravely whether he had ever
been upset in the river. The reply was in the negative.
'You shall never be able to say that again,' rejoined Lord
Kilmorey, and immediately upset the skiff. This.reads tike
a parody of the laughable stori told of Ilytton. said
Mytten to a companion riding at his side in the dog-cart
have you ever been upset?" yo,' replied his fellow
traveller. ' Well,' said 31yt10n, 'You shall never ay that
again,' -and he drove hth up over the hedge hank,"

According to returns furnished by the Turkish
Press Office there existed at Constantinople in 1878 72
journaes and periodical publications—among them 30 daily
journals; 16 were published in Turkish, 2 in Arabic, 20 in
French, 12 in Greek, 13 in Armenian, 4 in Bulgarian, 2 in
Hispano-Hebrew, 1 ill Persian, 1 in Italian, and 1 in
English.
The British Museum has, says the Athenteunt, re-
ceived five boxes of antiquities from Babylon, the results of
the excavations. Amongst the recent arrivals are some
tablets containing the names of Kandalanu and Nabonatsir,
the Kinneladanos and Nabonassar of the Canon of Ptolemy,
the la t the celebrated monarch to the era dating B.C. 7.
In consequence of the adverse vote of the House of
Lords Oil Friday night, the promoters of the Bill for legalis-
ing marriage with a deceased wife's sister have determined
to keep it on the notice paper of the House of Commons with
a view of passing it through the House in the present Session.
On the day upon which the decision respecting can-
didates for the Presidency took place in Chicago General
Grant was sitting, as usual, in the office of General Hawley
in order to receive his telegraphic despatches. When the
news arrived that General Garfield had been nominated as
the Republican candidate Grant observed quietly, "That is
well done; lam quite satisfied." tie put on his hat lighted
a fresh cigar, and placidly marched off on his way home.
On Thursday in last week, a young man named
Lander, a joiner, living at Stockbridge, Edinburgh, died in
the Royal Infirmary in that city from an attack of hydro-
phobia. It appears that about two months ago Lander was
laitten in the thumb by a dog. He experienced no bad effects,
however, Until Monday last, when he was seized with what
seemed to be delirium &mums, but which proved to be
hydrophobia. For several hours before his death the un-
fortunate man was in great agony, mad he occasionally
warned the attendants to keep at a distance, as he could not
restrain an inclination to bite.
The Constantinople correspondent of The Times
writes :--" There is grave reason to fear that the Sultan com-
pletely misapprehends the real nature and object of Mr.
Goschen's mission. With the distrust which is common to
all Oriental statesmen, he suspects that the British Govern-
ment has some secret hostile purpose in view, and his con-
stitutional nervousness and timidity magnify the imaginary
dangers. During the last few days he has more than once
said to those around him that the Christian Powers evidently
desire to destroy his Empire and drive the Mussulmans from
Europe, and he is for the moment dominated by this idea, as
he was previously by the perpetual fear of conspiracies and
assassination. One monomania has thus been replaced by
another, and the latter may prov 6 the more dangerous of the
two, so far, at least, as the foreign policy of the country is
concerned."

At Moseley, on Monday morning, all the spinners
and minders came out on strike with the exception of those
employed in the mills of one firm. The cause of the dispute
Is the refusal of the masters to grant an advance of five per
cent.

For the last fortnight the trawlers fishing in Dublin
Bay have been catching quantities of splendid haddocks of
a very large size, and Land and Water says on Saturday
last one of them brought in weighed 2411 b., measured from
nose to tail Mt. lin., and girthed round the shoulders
lft. Min. These once prolific haddock fisheries are showing
sins of reviving.
- -

A Trade Report from Belfast says there has seldom
been a better prospect of a good harvest in Ireland. "Every-
thing in the way of crop is luxuriant."
In London last week 2,492 births and 1,273 deaths
were registered. Allowing for increase of population, the
births exceeded by 101, whereas the deaths were 109 below,
the average numbers in the corresponding week of the last
ten years. rho annual death-rate from all causes, which
had been equal to 18•6, 18-4, and 171 in the three preceding
weeks, rose again to 181. During the past twelve weeks of
the current quarter the death-rate in London has averaged
only 19-5 per 1,000.

Information has reached Liverpool to the effect
that the mail steamer City of New York, 1,716 tons, one of
the Alexandra line of vessels trading between the West
Indies and New York, in connexion with the Liverpool lines
of steamers from the latter port, lately took fire in the
harbour of New York, and was totally destroyed. Some of
the cargo had been discharged before the fire broke out, and
it is supposed that all the specie and mails for England had
also been landed. .

Nearly 15,000 volunteers paraded on Saturday in
and near London, most of them having been ordered out
for the annual Government inspection by officers of the
regular troops.
-

The dangerous number of tigers and cheetahs in the
Madras Presidency is made manifest by a recent return,
which shows that in the last quarter of 1879 no less than
1,567 domestic animals were destroyed by them. Is not this
a useful field of sport for Englishmen upon whom the fox
has begun to. pall ?
Society is labouring under a new hardship—the
scarcity of dancing men. A few of the best balls monopolize
all the dancing men, and the others are comparative failures.
This evil has been particularly noticeable within the past
week or two, wlien the season may be said to have attained
its height. It is no uncommon thing to find at a party two
dancing girls for every dancing man; for, somehow, dancing
seems to be less and less cultivated every year as a masculine
accomplishment. The dancing man in society has, therefore,
at present a somewhat hard time of it. He is expected by
the hostess to prance about a ball-room from midnight till
five o'clock in the morning without intermission, in order
that all the ladies present may, if possible, have a turn.—
Court Jouriuzl.

The Earl of Partmouth has returned the tenants on
his ratshull estate, near Wolverhampton, 15 per cent. on
the past half-year's rent. This is the fourth remission he
has made.

An inquest has been held at the Isle of Grain, near
Sheerness, touching the death of a farnier's labourer,
seventy-three years of age. Deceased was at work in a field
when a storm broke over the Isle of Grain, and he im-
prudently took refuge beneath a tree, which was struck by
lightning. It appears that the lightning struck him on the
right side of the head, tearing his hat to ribbons, and passed
down the body, coming out of the calf of the right leg.
Deceased's trousers were slifacross the back by the electnc
fluid, and were cut and were burnt black round the calf.
The jury returned a verdict of "Killed by lightning."

At the cotton mills of Messrs. Swainson and Birley,
Preston, a boy, aged 14, named Williamson, was caught by
a pulley and dragged round a shaft. Death was instan-
taneous.

According to official returns the internal revenue of
the United States for the fiscal year ending June 30, amounts
to 123,000,000 dols. This sum exceeds the previous year s
revenue by 10,000,000 dols., and is 3,000,000 dols. in excess of
the estimates.

The death is announced of Father Anthony, the
founder of the Capuchin Monastery at Greenhithe and
Crawley. The learned father built Crawley Monasterr
twenty years ago, under the patronage of influential Roman
Catholic families in the South of England. As a Capuchin
monk Father Anthony came from Ancona in Italy, and
leaves behind him at his death, at the early age of 47, the
monasteries of Crawley and Greenhithe, and numerous
English monks of the same order. Deceased was an
eloquent preacher.

_
Edison's polyform is now advertised by American
chemists. It is not a tisht-fttting garment producing a pretty
form for Polly, but it is a perfect cure for neuralgia, from
which the renowned electrician has been a great sufferer,
and consequently put his peculiar genius to work to dis•
cover a cure with happy results.

The Metropolitan Hospital Sunday Fund amounted
on Saturday to nearly
i £26,000, or about £4,000 in excess
of the sum.receivf4 n the corresponding period of last
year.
Mr. Chamberlain, M.P., received a deputation at
the Board of Trade on Saturday which urged the necessity
of facilitating the appointment of a Parliamentary Com-
mittee to inquire into the subject of Grown servants en-
gaging in trade, and asked for the issue of regulations on
the subject. The President of the Board of Trade replied
that every facility would be given by the Government for
the appointment of such a Committee. With regard to the
second point, which was one of great importance, he would
consult his colleagues, undertaking that the weight of the
arguments placed before him should lose nothing by reason
of their transfer through him.

The Boston Courier knows of a wonderful parrot in
New York belonging to a friend of the editor's. A few days
ago the lady who owns it took a couple of small children to
see the bird, when it suddenly refused to say a word. After
the children had gone its mistress said, "Pony, why didn't
you talk?" And the parrot quickly replied: "You know I
never did like children I"

Lord Huntingdon has made a second reduction of
rent of thirty per cent. to his Irish tenants.

The Constantinople correspondent of the Daily
News telegraphs from S3Ta that the excitement during the
past week as to the result of the Conference of Berlin has
been very great, and that the Government are undoubtedly
making warlike preparations.
The coal trade in South Yorkshire continues in a
very depressed condition, and it is stated that unless there
is some improvement shortly, the colliers will be called on
to submit to a reduction.

The Ministerial Bill against drunkenness about to
be considered by the Dutch States-General limits the num-
ber of publichouses to one per 500 inhabitants in towns of
50,000 souls, one per 400 in towns of 20,000, one per 300 in
towns of 10,000, and one per 250 in all smaller places. It
also forbids the supply of intoxican.ts to ,children under 16,
imposes from one to eight days' imprisonment for supplying
intoxicants to persons already (flunk, and a day's imprison-
ment, with a line of 10 florins fa being seen drunk in the
streets.

An inquest has been held at Bristol on the body of
Captain William Unett, late of the 43rd Regiment, and cap-
tain of militia. The deceased, who was eighty-four years of
ago, accompanied a niece to the Montpelier Railway Station,
and was attempting to cross the metals instead of the foot-
bridge, when he slipped, and falling received a severe cut
over the eye. Blood poisoning supervened and proved
fatal.

The Worshipful Company of Turners have given
notice of prizes which they will present in October next to
"any workman, whether master, journeyman, or apprentice
in the trade in England, who may send in the best specimen
of hand-turning in wood, ivory, and precious stones, including
engraving in intaglio." Excellence of workmanship, apart from
elaborateness of design, will be accepted as a qualification.
The prizes will be silver and bronze medals, sums of money,
certificates of merit, and the freedom of the City of London.
The week ending October 9 is appointed for the sending in of
the competing specimens.

The death is announced at the age of sixty-seven of
the Danish Arctic explorer Carl Petersen. In 1850-51 he
took part in the English Expedition under Captain Parry to
try to discover the survivors of the Franklin Expedition.
From 1853-55 he was engaged with Dr. Kane's American Ex-
pedition, of which he was one of the few survivors. From
1857-59 he took part in the Fox Expedition under Sir Leopold
McClintock, which brought back relies of the Franklin
Expedition; and filially he took part in the Forell Expedi-
tion to Spitzberg, in which he was accompanied by Professor
Nordenskjtild. H. Petersen had received the decoration of
the Dannebrog, the English Arctic Medal, and the Swedish
Gold Medal "Pour le Mdrite."
The conclusion of a new Treaty of Commerce be-
tween Digland and France is, according to the Debate, by
no means so near as is generally supposed, and nothing can
be done before the end of the year.
The yacht Garrion, belonging to Brightlingsea,
was moored in Cattewater. Plymouth, on Satureray,, and one
of the crew, Ephraim Maskell, was going ashore to fetch the
captain. As the boat he was in passed under the gangway
the one o'clock gun was fired from the yacht, and the charge
caught him about the chest, completely mangling both
arms, and inflicting other injuries which resulted in instan-
taneous death. The man who fired the gun had not been
aware of Maskell's movements, and hence his failure to ob-
serve his approach to the line of fire.
A serious accident occurred in London on Sunday
morning to two firemen at a fire which occurred at a builder's
in Duke-street, Bloomsbury. A girder supporting the floor
of the mahogany room gave way, and carried with it the
floor and the wall. Several firemen were precipitated to the
ground and buried under the debris. So great was the
weight upon two of them that nearly half an hour elapsed
before they were extricated. One man was dreadfully lace-
rated. Ile was removed to the University Hospital, where it
was ascertained that his left arm was broken and his right
arm severely crushed. The other man did not appear to be
so much hurt, but on removal to the University he was found
to be raving mad. A brief examination failed to find any
broken limbs, but he will be watched for a few days, when
the doctors think his brain will recover its equilibrium.

On Wednesday in last week a tourist was swept
over High Force, the well-known waterfall at the head of
Teesdale. It appears that tvvg tourists, who had ascended
the summit of the Force, were seated on the rocks in the
centre, which, when the river is low, are unusually dry. A
rush of water, consequent on the recent heavy rains, awl-
denly made its appearance, and with a deafening roar the
now swollen waters of the Tees rushed over the fall, a depth
of 72 feet. The tourists becoming aware of their dangerous
Position, made signals for assistance, and at length they
were observed by Mr. Stones, nephew of Mr. Scarth, agent
for the Duke of Cleveland. Mr. Stones speedily procured
assistance, and a party of men proceeded with ropes to the
top of the Force. A rope was thrown to one of the tourists,
who was dragged through the seething waters for a-distance
cf about ten yards, and landed in a gasping condition.
Afterwards the rope was thrown to the remaining roan,
bqt unfortunately he was carried away over the rapids.
The man's name was George Edward Stephenson, of Gates.
, head.

On the Tweed last week the famon fishing was very
dull. Prices on Saturday iifternoca were :—Salmon, is. 7d.;
grilse, is.; trout, is. 4d.
The Cambridgeshire Chamber of Agriculture have
Dassed resolutions in favour of the repeal of the malt tax
and the Hares and Rabbits Bill, but disapproved entirely of
the Employers Liability Bill.
There are ten thousand one hundred and thirty-one
newspapers published in the United States and Canada, of
which 899 are issued daily. The total circulation of a single
issue of these papers amounts to 20,687,538 copies.
According to official statistics, there were during
the month of May in Russia 2,451 fires, of which 202 were
wilful and 992 caused by imprudence. The causes of 1,211
have remained undiscovered. In 142 of the cases the losses
suffered have not been ascertained. In the 2,309 others they
amounted to 3,885,000 roubles.

An attempt will shortly be made to ship Australian
horses for the English market. The Australian horses are
said to be good hunters, and easily broken in. On the other
hand they are generally of uncertain temper. The high
prices realised in India have encouraged this enterprise, but
the difference in the length of voyage and cost of keep has
to be considered.
A rather alarming accident occurred on the Great
North of Scotland Railway on Saturday, by which several
persons were slightly Injured; amongst others Sir William
Forbes, who contested West Aberdeenshire at the lag, elec-
tion, received several severe bruises on the head. A train
coining from the north ran into an excursion train stand-
ing on a siding near Inverurie. There was little damage
done to the rolling stock.
By the latest reports issued with regard to the
trade and agriculture of the United States, many important
facts are made known. The exportations of bread ano
breadstuffs last year amounted to £42,071,000, provisions
came to £23,371,800, living animals represented £2,297,650,
and of cotton manufacturers the value exported was
£2,170,790.

The Bishop of Manchester, preaching on Sunday
morning at the parish church of ileane, near Bolton, alluded
to the question of education. His lordship quoted figures
from the report of the Privy Council on Education to show
that the Church of England at the present moment was
doing by far the greatest part of the work connected with
elementary education. In the evening- the bishop preached
at the Bolton Parish Church, and incidentally referred to the
Burials Bill, remarking that he, for one, would only be too
glad if it soon became the law of the land.
- - -

At the Preston Quarter Sessions Mr. Higgins, Q. C.,
said they had been in the habit of attributing an increase of
crime to low wages and so forth, but a test of that kind was
utterly fallacious. It might be a question whether crime
had any relation whatever to wages.
The international rifle match between Ireland and
America took place at Dollymouut, Dublin, on Tuesday. The
terms of the competition were fifteen shots at each of the
three ranges, 800, 900, and 1,000 yards, any rifle, and any
position. The teams were composed of six men respec-
tively, and the visitors proved victorious, the total scores
being—America, 1.292; Ireland, 1,280.
A telegram from Paris says that the probability of
an extended strike among the Lille mechanics is growing
more imminent. The directors of the large engineering
works of the Fives, Lille, will probably close the factory in
a few days, unless an understanding can be arrived at in the
meantime. The men claim to work only ten hours a day,
and, though offered an increased rate of wages for the
eleventh hour, adhere to their demand.
Persia has begun to issue post cards.

The work of freeing the bridges within the metro-
politan area from toll was completed on Saturday, when
the Prince and Princess of Wales formally declared Wands-
worth, Putney, and Hammersmith Bridges free for ever.
An addrecs was presented to their Royal Highnesses by Sir
J. M'Garel Hogg, chairman of the Metrorolitan Board of
Works, andthe Prince, in his reply, expressed the willing-
ness of the Princess and himself to lend their aid to the
furtherance of any act of utility in which the interests and
convenience of the dommunity are involved. Notwithstand-
ing the rain, the inhabitants of the district assembled in
thousands, and gave the Royal visitors an enthusiastic
welcome.

Lord Lytton took his departure from Simla on
Monday, with full military honours, for Bombay on his way
to England. The Marquis of Ripon and all the thief officials
assembled to bid him farewell, and the outgoing Viceroy
was heartily cheered by all present.

-
Mr. Robert Arthington, of Leeds, has offered to the
Baptist Missionary Society £4,000 in aid of its Congo special
mission, and particularly for the purchase and perpetual
maintenance of a steamer on that river and its affluents. Be
stipulates for the establishment of mission stations at the
mouths of the tikutu and the Ikelimba rivers.

The French Ministry of Commerce has now, for the
first time, published statistics on the imports of cattle and
pigs into France. The return applies to the first four months
of the present year, and shows that during that period in all
87,000 head of horned cattle, 575,000 sheep, and 95,000 pigs
have been imported; that of these only 131 oxen, 1,405 sheep,
and 26 pigs were brought from America; and that the prin-
ciple exporter of oxen to France is Italy, which sends nearly
two-thirds of the total imported. Algeria sent no less than
62,000 sheep.
Some workmen engaged in demolishing several
houses near the parish church, Swansea, for purposes of
public improvement, have found the skeleton of a man,
apparently of large stature, buried only Gin. under the Boor
of an old bake-house. Near it also was the skull of a small
dog. The house is near a graveyard. Medical opinion is to
the effect that not more than sixty years have elapsed since
death.
An accident occurred at the Cleveland Ironworks
Middlesborough, on Tuesday evening, by which three men
were killed. They were tarring the gangway, when the
staging gave way. Two were killed on the spot, and the
other died in the hospital.

The cricket match between the Australian Eleven
and Eighteen of Northampton and district terminated
on Saturday with a victory for the Australians by eight
wickets.

The preparations at the camp at Wimbledon for the
reception of volunteers are progressing rapidly. The Com-
missariat Pavilion is completed, and already made use of by
Royal Engineers and drafts from other corps now engaged in
enclosing the ground. Tents are being erected on the plain,
and by the end of this week more than one camp will be in
regimental order. The executive staff take up their quarters
in camp on Monday next.

A fête was given on Saturday last at the Alexandra
Palace in aid of the fund for the relief of the relatives of
those who have perished in Her Majesty's ship Atalanta.
The Lord Mayor of London, with the Lady Mayoress,
asttended in State, accompanied by the sheriffs and other
civic officers.

It will hardly be credited that as much as fifty tons
of ice have been used at some of the entertainments given
this season. It is not consumed, as might be presumed, by
provincial lovers of the article, but used in decorative work
and for cooking processes. —Court Joutnal.

In a claim for wages in lieu of notice, where the
rule requiring the giving of notice on either side had been
suspended by the employer because of existing disputes, the
Judge of the Burnley County Court have decided in favour
of the plaintiff, holding that such a suspension was of no
avail, and that before a servant who had engaged with his
master subject to the giving and receiving of notice could be
summarily discharge a new contract of service must have
been entered into.
The Duchess Dowager of Cleveland has just pre-
sented a third sum of £l,OOO to the Bishop Suffragan of
Nottingham towards the endowment of the proposed new
Bishopric of Southwell, and a further sum of £5OO towards
the provision of a palace for the future Bishop.

The Siamese Ambassador and suite visited the
House of Commons on Tuesday and cccupied seats in the
gallery alloted to foreign Ambassadors. Sir Charles Mike
received his Excellency.
The Court Journal says that among those present
at the Court Ball on Wednesday were two young Indian
ladies, of tiny stature, who seemed much amused, and even
joined in the dancing. They wore European costumes of
white tulle over satin, made with high bodices, the only
mark of their Eastern extraction being their headdress,
which consisted of bands of gold, from which large veils fell
at the back of the head.

-- -
Bishop Colenso in a letter, dated " Bishopstowe,
May 23," refers to the refusal of the Cape Government to
permit his son, Dr. Coleus°, to see the ex-Zulu King
ostensibly on the ground that no one was allowed totti
him. It says that he has good reason to believe that a lady
who had just arrived in Natal hag seen taken by Lady
Frere to see Cetewayo, and that Mi. Napier Broome visited
the ex-King on May TO. The Bishop adds :—" The fact is,
as I have been told on good authority, anyone is allowed to
see him who is not known to be a friend to the Zulu Xing,
such as Bishop Colenso or any of his tamily."—Daily
Neve.
The Metropolitan Board of Works has fixed a
plaster cast of a sphinx, coloured to look like bronze, at the
base of Cleopatra's Needle, on the Thames Embankment, in
order to judge of the effect prior to the oasting in bronze of
the two sphinxes which the Board have decided to place on
the pedestals. The model now exhibited is an enlarged copy
of a small sphinx in stone in the collection of the Duke of
Northumberland at Alnwick Castle, which is supposed to be
of the same period as the obelisk itself. Certain additions
have been made to the base and pedestal of the obelisk, in
order to hide the broken portions of the column, and if these
are approved they will eventually be executed in bronze.

Father Mullooly, Dominican Prior of San Clemente,
Rome, and discoverer of the subterranean church and re-
mains of the Roman house of Clemens, &c., died on Friday
in last week, and was buried on Sunday. The mass, said
by the General of the Dominican Order, was attended by
the Bishops of Clifton and Salford, and a number of Roman
Catholic ecclesiastics, and all the British mid Irish residents
in Rome who are Catholics. Father Mullooly was favour-
ably known to the members of most of the Royal families in
Europe, who, during recent years have visited Rome. The
Prince of Wales when in Rome never omitted to visit Father
Mullooly, and the Princess of Prussia, when last in Rome,
tried to see the worthy prior, but he was then too ill to sec
her. He was but 60 years old, and was A native of Ireland.