The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-06-04 00:00:00

A FORTY-FIVE DAYS' FAST.

A. telegram from Chicago says that Mr. John
Griscom commenced a forty-five days' fast at noon
last Saturday, under medical inspection. He pro-
fesses to have undertaken it in the interests of
science.

FATAL RIFLE ACCIDENT.
A gloom was cast over the proceedings of the closing
day of the Middlesex Rifle Association meeting on
Friday afternoon in last week by an accident which,
unfortunately, had a fatal termination. It appeared
that while a number of competitors were firing at No.
3 butt, Wormwood-scrubs, from the 600 yuds range,
the signal of danger was raised in the butt apparently
to test the value of a shot. Shnultlneously with the
raising of the flag at the butts a compotitor discharged
his rifle at No. 18 target, and the bullet passed through
the stomach of the marker in charge, named Penfield,
who unfortunately came out at the moment without
raising his flag, and 'before the signal could be an-
swered at the firing point. The first intimation of the
occurrence was conveyed to the competitors at the 600
yards range by the son of the unfortunate man, who
ran down the range and ackcel for a doctor. Surgeon
Shepherd, Victoria Rifles, at onpe proceeded to the
butt, with Surgeon Coilins, 2nd Sussex, but their ser-
vices were of no avail. Penfield, who leaves a wife
and family, was one of the oldest and most experienced
markers on the Scrubs, having been engaged there for
supwards cf year . The occurrence was purely
,acci-
dental.
An inquest has been held, wiisn the ivy returned a
verdict of Accidental Death.

TEM POST OFFICE TELEGRAPH
CLERKS.
In London, on Saturday night, at 4, crowded meet-
ing of telegraph clerks, held at the Foresters' Hall,
Clerkenwell-road, to consider the recent replies
given by the Attorney General and the Postmaster
General in the House of Commons, a resolution was
carried unanimously to the effect that the meeting
desired to convey its most sincere, and heratfelt gratitude
to those members of Parliament who had advocated the
case of the telegraph clerks in Parliament, and to the
206 gentlemen who had promised their support through
Mr. Macliver, M.P. ; and further to express its hearty'
thanks to the Press in general for the valuable sup-
port thpy had given to the cause, and to solicit their
continued support, in view of the absence of reassuring
information other than co much as had been contained
in the official circular of the Postmaster General.
A resolution was also passed to the effect that np
scheme was acceptable which placed the private and
post transfer clerks on a different footing, as both were
Civil Service clerks.

Advices received at Vienna from Bagdad state that
several obstinate battles have been fought between the
Turkish forces in Asia and the insurrectionary Hamoud
tribes.

The ARCTIC STEAMER "JEANNETTE "

The following cable message has been received at
the London office of the New York Herald
"Washington, May 28. Mr. Hunt, Secretary of the
United States Navy, has ordered the United States
steamer Alliance to proceed with all despatch to the
Spitzbergen coast to aid the Arctic steamer Jeannette
in case she should come out that way. Secretary
Blaine has just telegraphed Mr. Foster, American
Minister at St. Petersburg, ta ask the Russian
Government to direct its vessels to keep a friendly
look-out on the Siberian coast for the Jeannette. No
disaster to her if apprehended, but the department
deems it prudent to take these precautions."