The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-09-25 00:00:00

STOURBAIDGE OBSERVE

better kinds of raw material are firm. Hematites'
are quoted ..€4. to .f. 4. 55.; hot-blast native all
mine is .24. 10s. to .24. 155., and cold-blast £6.
Common cinder pig may be had at OE2. 10s. Some
anxiety is caused by the flooding of mines in the
Tipton and Bilston districts, which, unless speedily
checked by additional pumping power, must soon
limit the supply of coal and ironstone.

: RAILWAY ACCIDENT NEAR DUDLEY.
On Tuesday night al accident occurred to the 10
p.m. Walsall train at the junction between Dudley
Port and Dudley. Here some mismanagement of
the points took place, and the consequence was that
the train ran off the metals, and one carriage was
thrown on its side. The only occupant of this coach
was Mr. Fisher, jun., son of Mr. Fisher, jeweller,
Market Place, Dudley. Hearing a series of grinding
and unusual noises, and feeling the carriage was
upon the "sleepers," Mr. Fisher jumped out, and
thus saved himself from injury but narrowly escaped
death, as in a second afterwards the carriage fell on
the same side from which he had emerged. He,
however, again entered the compartment he had oc-
cupied, and having secured his hat and carpet bag,
walked up to the Dudley Station with the rest of the
passengers, none of whom had received any injury.
Two circumstances tended to mitigate the conse-
quences. One was that the train had slacked speed,
and the other that they were single and not "twin"
carriages, or the whole of it must have fallen over.
After the accident a breakdown gang was once des-
patched from Walsall, and the duty of clearing the
line was proceeded with. There was no great dam-
age to the permanent way, and the only work to
be done was the removal of the upset carriage.
It was however, approaching midnight before one
set of rails was cleared, and, in the meantime,
passengers by trains on each line from Birming-
ham were kept waiting at Dudley Port. The
whole of the line was free for the resumption of
traffic by one o'clock. As this accident happened
at that part of the loop-line where a considerable
shaking is always experiencedf the alarm of timid
passengers is not likely to be abated.

which would complete the total force of 23 officers.
At the request of the Colonel, Superintendent Free-
man put the men through their drill, in which they
acquitted themselves saiisfactorily. The, Colonel
examined the men's clotbing, and aftorwards the
(tells and the books, and appeared perfectly satisfied
with everything he saw.

THE THEATHE.—A performance was given at
this place of amusement on Saturday night last,
by the Stourbridge Dramatic Club. The piece
performed was a drama entitled "The Convict,"
which was written expressly for tho occasion by
Mr. W. 11. Davey, one of the members of the club.
He also sustained the character of Whalebone, a
carter, in the piece in a very creditable manner.
The other principal roles were those of
Hampton a farmer, • Mr. W. Bourne; George
Curtis. manager of a mill, Mr. • Bosworth; Silas
Quill, Mr. Evan Oliver; Mary, the maid of the
Mill, Miss Reeves; an Dolly, the Dairy Maid,
Miss Nelly Thorley. The drama was acted well
and evenly, through-out; and the audience were
roused to a high pitch of enthusiasm by the scene
in the mill in the third act, where the villain
Curtis, attempts to murder Quill, but is baffled by
his former victim, William Hampton, the returned
convict. The author was called before the curtain at
the conclusion of the piece, and received quite an
ovation. There was a large attendance. The
performances was repeated on Monday last.
A BEGGING IMPOSTOR.—At the Police Court,
on Thursday, before Mr. R. L. Freer, John Wilson,
who described himself as a railway coach builder,
was charged with obtaining money by false pretences
from Mr. C. P. Noel. Defendant pleaded guilty.
From the evidence it appeared that the defendant
obtained money from Mr. C. P. Noel, of Belbrough-
ton, to whom he represented himself as a parishioner,
and that he afterwards made representations of a
similar character to the Rev. G. Gilbanks. His im-
posture was discovered by Mr. Noel, and he refused
to give defendant any more money. The latter was
afterwards seen by some of Mr. Noel's servants hid-
ing himself in some trees in the shrubbery, and upon
their approaching, he decamped. A policeman, how-
ever, who was near at the time, apprehended him.—
He was committed for one month's imprisonment in
each case.

DRUNKENNESS.-At the Police Court, on Mon-
day last, Joseph Hingley, haulier, of the Lye, was
charged with being drunk and disorderly at the
Lye,lon Sunday night last, the 19th inst. Police-
sergeant Rea pioved the case, and defendant, who
had been previously fined three times for similar
offences, was ordered to pay lOs and costs; in de-
fault 14 days.—Edward Brooks, labourer, of the
Lye, was also charged with being drunk at the
Lye, on Sunday night last. The case was proved
by Police-constable Moyland, and defendant fined
2s 6d and costs; in default seven days.