The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-09-27 00:00:00

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SATUIMAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1873.

CURRENT TOPICS.

Exc optionally line weather favoured the
demonstration of Odd Felh.ws,' Free Gardeners',
and others, which was held in Dudley, on Sun-
day last, with the object of beuelitting the Guest
Hospital in that town ; and, as a matter of
course, the undertaking was crowned with
suceess. The procession was a very huposing
one, and was accompanied by two military bands,
which played sacred airs, each as " Onward,
Christian Soldiers, c ,on the way to the Court
Yard of the Castle. The Rev. Dr. Cosens,
vicar of Dudley, with the choir from the Parish
Church marched in the procession, and sang
the above beautiful hymn, to the accompaniment
of Mr. Field's band &Mist en real- for the Castle.
Thousands of spec ors lined the streets, and
afterwards assembled in the Castle Grounds to
listen to toe eloquent aziel iwpressive sermon
preached by the worthy vicar. At the close of
tue service .a() 12,3 34 was collected for the
funds of the hospital. The demonstration of
last Sunday was quite an innovation in this
district ; but it was for sueh a worthy object,
and was conducted with so much order and
decorum that we do rot think the most punctili-
ous observer of Sabbath ordinances could object
to it.

The passion for gambling is one that is deeply
mplanted in the human breast ; and it is us-
tonishing what inconveuieuces and trouble its
votaries will put up widt to enable them to
gratify it. Of late years there has been adeter-
mined effort on the part of the Government to
put a stop to all kinds of gambling whether it
be on horse-racing, cards, dice, or even the
humble gamed " pitch and toss." The Govern-
ments of other countries have one by one fol-
lowed our example, and the palatial buildings
at Homburg Ind Baden-Baden, which used to
resound nightly with the croupier's cry of "make
your genie," and where thousands of pounds
were frequently won and lost in a few hours, are
now silent as the Halls of Eblis. The .aristo•
erotic gambler has now to seek "fresh fields
and pastures new," for an opportunity of staking
his roll of notes on the " black or the red." in
like manner his humbler prototype, if he wishes
to have his gatue of " nil-fours," for a pint of
ale, or some other stake in proportion to his
income, is obliged to leave the warm fireside of
his favourite "pub," for some bank—inot always
a mossy one)—or road-side, where he indulges
in the forbidden pleasure with " a fearful joy," I
lest one of the stern myrmidons of the law I
should pounce upon hint, and drag him before ,
the" beaks," to answer for his violation of the
statutes of his country. John Hill, who was
convicted Si playing at "banking," at Old Hill
on Wednesday last, is evidently one who tho-
roughly understands this craving for sport
among the lower orders, and being one of those
who are " wise in their generation," did oat for.
get to turn that knowledge to his own advan-
tage. It was given in evidence that lie was known
to entice young men to play at cards who were
returning with their wages on Saturday night ;
and that he often made as much as by card-
playing in one night. The above sum seems
but small compared with the princely amounts
cleared in one evening by the" banks," at Ham-
bury or Baden-Baden, but for all that it is a
good percentage on the amount invested at his
" bank." The month's imprisonment with hard
labour which he has been committed to will
doubtless serve to make him more cautious in
future.

A hero of the American war has fallen upon
evil times. His name—as given at the Police
Court, at Old Hill—is William Thomas, and in
a momentary absence of mind he went into the
shop of Thomas Homer, butcher, of Cradley
Heath, and took a piece of bacon and secreted
it under his jacket. Unfortunately, for him,
Mrs. Homer witnessed the transaction, and,
doubtless, not being aware of the fact that it
was an American warrior who confronted her,
treated him in the same manner as if he was
an ordinary paltry thief, and had him locked
up. When before the Magistrates he told of
the scars he had received whilst engaged in
" wars alarms." and informed the Bench that when
he was stupefied with drink—he was like persons
of a more common mould in the saute condition,
and was not cognisant of what he was doing.
The Bench however committed him to a month's
imprisonment, where he will have the opportu-
nity of " chewing the cud of bitter fancy,- and
realising the truth of the old Latin adage,
Sic transit glom: mundi.

Kr. Arch, the friend of the agricultural
labourers arrived safely at Quebec, the capital
of Canada, on the 7th inst. On the 15th he
had an interview with Lord Duffsria, the
Ooveriaor of the county, and explained to him
the object of his mission. He was very cordially
received by his lordship, and in the evening of
the same day had the honour of dining with
him. On the following day he was to start fm.
the " bush." It is said that the Government
of Canada are maturing an emigration scheme
which embodies most of the siews of Mr. Arch.

Nothing dsunted by the fate of Sir John
Franklin and other celebrated navigators who
have attempted the' north passage," an expedi-
tion having a similar purpose for its object, set
sail in the Polaris from the l'uited States of
America, a couple of years ego ; and after under.
going terrible privations a portion of the crew
arrived safely in this country in the whaling
vessel Arctic, Captain Adams, on Friday the
19th inst. The following description of the
voyage was given at the meeting of the British
Association by Captain Markham, on Saturday
last :—The Polaris left Brooklyn Navy Yard on
the 19th of June, 1871. After calling at Lienly
and Upernervik she entered Smith's Sound, en-
countering very few difficulties by the way, and
only old Arctic navigators would scarcely believe
that it only took her five days to proceed from
Cape Shackleton, the southern limit of Melville
Bay, that bay so dreaded by all whalers as being
so fatal to their ships in consequence of the
accumulation of ice, to the estimated Latitude of
82'16, the highest latitude she attained, alto-
getuer a distance of 600 miles. That latitude
was reached in August. The progress of the
vessel wee then impeded by vast quantities of
ice, but of each a soft or " brashy "nature that
it would not have prevented a stronger vessel,
properly equipped and manned by a disciplined
crew, from reaching a much higher latitude. In
fact, the ship in whice he had sailed would
have been able to go at least a degree farther
north. In consequence of their not having left
any depots to the eoute, the crew of the Polaris
determined to retrace their steps, and the head
of the ship was accordingly pointed to the
south. Shortly afterwards she was beset by
the ice, and drifted down to the south as far as
81•40, longitude 61, in about two months.
Having gone into winter quarters, a sludge party
started, under the command of Captain Hall,
and was away about fourteen days, and reached.
latitude 82. During this journey they first met
with the musk ox, of which they shot twenty-
six. They also fell in with foxes, wolves, and
lemmings, and with many of the feathered
denizens of these regions, which were just as
numerous in those high latitudes as they were
in Baffle's Bay. Seals were also abundant, but
walruses and narwhales were not seen farther
uorth thau latitude 79. Immediately on bis
return Captain Hall was taken ill, and in ten
days after he died, when Captain Briddington
took the command of the expedition. Of Captain
Buddiegton he wouid Fay DU more than that he
wee a very good whaler. Nothiug more was
lot° opted during the winter, but in the spring
Or. Bessels, the chief of the scientific depart
meet, etarte.l on a sledge journey for the south,
for Lee purpose of connecting the expedition
with. Kane and Morton's survey. Having
trevam ri f-rty or tatty miles to the south, he
re.ndo.i.l the twice were that survey showed
Cape Constitution to be ; but, although he
travelled fifty or sixty miles beyond the point,
he failed to reach the Cape, showing that the
harvey had placed the Cul e too neeth to the
northward."

WRECK OF A STEAMER AND LOSS OF
LIFE.

QUEBEC, Thursday.

'1 ~ ~4 way, from Quebec to
L nee Uenu ervcked. Several lives were
lost.