The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-01-01 00:00:00

DARING ATTACR ON A TRAIN.

The New York papers of the 13th inst. contains the
particulars from St. Louis of the train robbery which
occurred two days previously, near Bellevue Station,
Texas, showing a state of panic upon the part of the
passengers. Three robbers, who were unmasked and
made no effort at concealment, reached the water

tank a few minutes before the cars. When the train

I arrived one of the fob!). e-ri; tv—itirad;awn pistol ordered
Engineer Ayres, his fireman, and 0. G. Miller,
another engineer, who were riding in the car,
to alight, which they did. He then marched
them some thirty feet from the t.-ain, and
took from them all the valuables they had.
While this was goin4 on, the other men went
through the train. One of the passengers who was
looking out of the window saw this operation with the
train men, and went into the forward cars, notifying
the other passengers of what was going on, and telling
them to secrete their money. Tl4is they did in various
ways, giving most of it and their diamonds to several
of the ladies aboard. Miss Kate Haas, of Fort Worth,
took charge of 3000 dols. and other valuables. Mrs.
Chambers, of Pottsdam, N.Y., received 5000 dols. and
some diamonds, and Mrs. Wittick, of Carthago, Mo.,
took her husband's gold watch and several hundred
dollars. Mrs. Wittick was greatly incensed at the
proceedings, and boldly stood up in the car and asked
if 40 men were going to submit to such an outrage at
the hands of three highwaymen. About 12,000 dols, in
money and 4000 dols. worth of diamonds and other
valuables were left by the robbers in their haste to
get through the train, and because they did not search
the ladies. They were evidently novices in the busi-
ness, and went away with the paltry sums of 105 dole.,
three gold watches, ten silver watches, five revolvers,
and one gold ring. The robbers left the train at the
rear of the sleeper, mounted horses standing near by,
and rode rapidly away. The train was then hurried
on to Bellevue, where telegrams were sent to Super-
intendent Frost at Fort Worth, who immediately
replied, offering 250 dols. reward for each robber, and
in less than an hour five posses of officers and
citizens were in pursuit, under Siseriff M'Lain, of
Montague; Marshal Black, of Bowie, and others.
Sheriff M‘Lain says he knows the robbers, and has no
doubt of his ability to capture them. Captain Connors
was on the train, having in charge two deserters, with
a guard of five negro soldiers of the 24th United States
Infantry. Connors ordered the soldiers to draw their
revolvers and fight the robbers, but several passengers
apposed so strongly, and pleaded so earnestly in behalf
af the women passengers on board, that the Captain
reluctantly yielded, and when the robbers reached the
soldiers and demanded their weapons they quietly
gave them up.

MR. GLADSTONE'S BIRTHDAY.
The Right Hon. William Ewart Gladstone, 31. P ,
completed his 77th year on Wednesday, baying been
born at Liverpool on Dec. 29, 1809. The Parlia-
mentary career of Mr. Gladstone commenced on Dec.
13, 1832, upwards of 54 yearsago, when he was elected
to represent Newark, and he has been longer in Par-
liament than any other member, except Mr,
Christopher R. M. Talbot, the "father "of the House
of Commons. He first took office on Dec. 26, 1831;
as a Lord of the rreasury in Sir Robert Peel's first
Administration. On Sept. 8, 1841, lie was sworn a
member of the Privy Council, and is now the senior
member of that body. He has been thrice First
Minister of the Crown, his first Administration
having lasted from Dec. 9, 1868, to Feb. 21
1874, or a period of five years and 74
days. His second Administration extended from
April 28, 1880, to June 24, 1885, or five years and
THE SULTAN IN COLLISION: 57 days; while his third Administration lasted only
SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE. 178 days—namely, from Feb. 6to Aug. 3, 1886. Mr
Glaistone was Chancellor of the Exchequer during
the Administration of the Earl of Aberdeen,
Lord
iLroisnbcolnadtelseguraltapnheadnadt
Palmerston, and Earl Russell, and for short periods
Ville adxne'4n-
soria (s.), belonging to the Compagnie Deschargeurs
d • If first d d
during isan second Administrations. Its
Friridlaoyyd:B"aßgreintitshat
R6unis, have been in collision in Lisbon harbour
during the night. The latter vessel sank in deep represented Newark from 1832 till the end of 1845
water. The Ville de Victoria was bound from e
th University of Oxford from 1847 to 1865 (whet
Havre for Santos." A second telegram from Lloyd's he was defeated), South Lancashire from 1865 tc
agent statesthat the Ville de Victoria sank almost im-
1868 (in which latter year he unsuccessfully stood for
mediately after the collision. It is said that most of South-West Lancashire), Greenwich from 1868 tc
her crew and passengers were drowned, and that
1880, and Midlothian from 1880 to the present time.
both vessels were at aschor at the time of the col-
InlBB 1880 he was likewise returned for Leeds, and in
6 for Greenock. Such a long Parliamentary and
lision. Tnerefore one must have dragged her anchor. official career is quite unique in contemporary
The Ville de Victoria was a steel screw-steamer of 2548
gross tons built at Nantes in 1883. A later telegram
,
says: "The Sultan moored during ebb tide. At five '
in the morning both cables parted and she collided 1
with the Ville de Victoria. The latter vessel was --
damaged below the water-line, and sank in a few A rough draft of the Navy Estimates for 1886-87
minutes after the collision. Portion of crew and pas- nes been issued, and it shows a total estimated expen-
Bangers saved. The remainder, 32 in number, are diture of .£13,650,626, which is an increase on last
missing. The Sultan also collided with the Rich- year's estimate of about £560,000. Of the amount to
mond, British steamer, which vessel has sustained be spent in the forthcoming financial year .£3,000,000
slight damage. The Sultan has sustained no damage, will go under the bead of wages of seamen and
The Minotaur also dragged her anchor, and came marines, .£1,730,000 for salaries and wages in dock-
into collision with the Monarch. Damage in. yards and naval yards, £2,370,000 for machinery and
significant." A Renter's telegram, dated Lisbon, ships built by contract, £1,336,000 for naval stores,
Friday, 12.15 p.m.,_ says: "From the Particulars and £1,233,000 for victualling and clothing. Military
which have been obtained of the collision between and civil pensions will absorb £1,200,000. The amount
H.M. ironclad Sultan and the steamer Ville de to be expended in dockyard salaries and wages is about
Victoria, the catastrophe appears to have occurred £58,000 in excess of last year's estimate, and the ap-
at five o'clock this morning. The steamer had propriation under this head for Devonport dockyard
on board at the time sixty persons, and not 250 is £366,996, provision being made for 360 additional
as at first reported, and was to have sailed to-day men, for which purpose an extra grant is made amount-
for Brazil. It is stated that the Sultan was anchored ing to £6848. The Estimates for last year were based
too near the Ville de Victoria, and that when the on the employment of 4588 men at Devonport, at a
former swung round with the tide her spur entered cost of £360,151 ;in the comi!ig year the number of
the steamer's side. The Sultan also sustained some men voted for is 4937, at an estimated cr
expen iture of
damage from the collision. Dead bodies and wreckage £366,999.
from the steamer are now being washed ashore on the ess------
banks of the Tagus." A later telegram dated Lisbon, THE RENT WAR IN
Friday, 4.50 p.m., states that the captain of the IRELAND.
........_
Sultan admits that the collision was owing to his Despite the vigilance of the
vessel breaking away from her moorings. The Ville ' under the Plan of Camped police, rent collecting
de Victoria sank ten minutes after the collision, and ' the Mitchelstown dist ' Campaign is being carried out in
the Sultan was carried down by the strong current pounds of the Kingsten 'let'
and several thousand
to
and came in collision with the steamer Richmond
• f e common lodged in the rents have been collected and
which received some damage. The captain fund.
of the "1/ ille de Victoria went down with his Mr. Healy' addressing
vessel, but was saved with eight other persons, y Liberals on b a meeting of Glasgow
Tuesday,
roats belonging to the English steamer Toronto. The of
political alluded to the present position
crew of the Vile de Victoria numbered 43, of whom ints o
rest f parties, and urged that it was to the
23 were saved, while the number ot passengers was Scotland and England that• the Irish
20, 10 of whom were also rescued. Nearly all the cQuestion should be settled, as the affairs of those
laved reached the shore by swimming. An English countries would never be satisfactorily dealt with
until Horn
laav nrolmAngnr cm hogra the Ville de •Vietorie who f e Rule had been granted to Ireland. He
was among the saved, lost a bag containing the sum a I.'"'"""i' "4'"" .4 ..,,..---- 1----o"- -- 44-‘, X. Wt.
of £6OO, which she was wearing suspended round her question. ,
neck at the time of the collision. The greater portion
of the Ville de Victoria's cargo was lost. Three
boats belonging to the Channel Squadron were imme-
diately launched, but only rescued a few of the sur-
vivors. The lighters which were engaged in loading
the steamer cut their moorings and drifted into the

middle of the stream.

GOD has divided the genius of men according to
the different affairs of the world, and varied their
inclinations according to the variety of actions to be
performed.

B EAL merit of any Kind cannot long be concealed;
it will be discovered, and nothing can depreciate it
but a man's exhibiting it himself. It may not
al ways be rewarded as it ought; but it will always be
known.