The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-24 00:00:00

[STAMPED, Id„ ADDITIONAL]

THE BELGIAN TIE NATIONAL

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.
BRUSSELS, MONDAY MORNIN4I.

The great Belgian ride gathering opened yester-
day, one day before the Fkes of Independence, which open
to-day. At theopening of the" Tir," which has some special
features of interest for the FAiglish public, there was no
public ceremony whatever. It was simply announced by
a salvo of five cannons, and immediately afterwards the
cracking of rifles sounded throughout the " Tir "building.
At a later period of the day the official recognition of the
" Tir " was made in the arrival of the Minister of th
Interior, M. Vandenpeereboom, who was received on

the dais of the oft-described building of the
" Tir " by the president, M. Darley, and the council.
A kindly greeting was given to the few English volunteers
present, and anxious inquiries were made about the
others who might be en route. Members of the council
stated that they had readily taken steps to prevent another
national reception, and they had hoped the English would
have come as friendly visitors—as riflemen emulous of
proving their skill before the target at the Chasm& Lou-
vain (as the Belgians hope to do next year at Wimbledon)
—even if all international demonstrations were dropped.

The paucity of the numbers of the volunteers may be
accounted for by, on the one h►nd, the fact that there
has been no organization of our crack shots as in previous
years. and on the other, because there bays been no
volunteer tickets issued on any of the English lines. Many
of those who have found their way here, came by the
Harwich and Antwerp route of the Great Eastern.
The Belgians have been gainers by the international
visits to the extent that they have this year opened as •
new feature of their " Tie," a distance double as long as
any which they have ever fired before, namely, 550 metres
or about 580 yards, the longest distance at which they
previously fired being 225 metres or 260 yards. The old
tir stands undisturbed, and the new long range is • little
further on the Chaussee Louvain, situated in a moat delight-
ful spot, where it is now permanently established as • place
for Belgians to practise in, and at this time, for Belgians
and foreigners, all corners, to compete at for • long aeries
of prizes, " with arms of war." It should be particularly
noticed that the Belgians are so far a practical people that
they do not encourage the shooting with any rifle which
could not be used against the enemy in the field, so that,
by these competitions, the sons of Belgium are measuring
their strength with all corners, and are taught to be good sol-
dierly tireurs, not a mere body of dilettanti riflemen, with
" fancy rifles," toy sights, and costly ammunition, such as
the Wimbledon all-comers' prizes offer the only encourage-
ment to. The entries here, too, are very smell, from a
franc for the five shots to two francs the five shots, spinet
the 10s. and I/. entries at Wimbledon for the same num-
ber; and besides there are here a great many prizes, and •
man who makes a " fluke carton" out of his five shots is
as likely to gain a prize as the man who makes his five
good bulls-eyes. In some of these shootings, the rifleman
is allowed to enter at will up to • certain time; while
in others he is allowed to shoot two series only.
This plan is adopted at all distances. It may be men-
tioned, too, that this year there is to be special shooting by
all foreigners belonging to • military body, and who are in
uniform, and are, ►s well, certificated as efficient members.
Stich members of • military body may shoot with Belgian
military rifles, which will be " loaned " to them, for the
prizes which in previous years were the special prizes of
the Belgians only. Though there were no English compe-
titors for these prizes yesterday—and as most of them had
only arrived in the morning at Brussels, after a night's
journey from London, it was not to be expected they would
shoot, even if they forgot the general regard paid to the
day in England—there will be to-day, and the Belgians ex-
press the earnest hope that the efforts of retrangers may be
crowned with success. Yesterday, it must be mentioned,
set in wet, and the Belgians, giving • comical look at the
humid descent, apologised to their visitors by a signi-
ficant reminder of what occurred at Wimbledon by
touching their shoulders and mentioning that name.
There is to be another public demonstration in
which the King of the Belgians and the English
will take a prominent part. A deputation, with a
memorial signed by the Mayors of Manchester and Simi-
ford, waited upon the King, from the volunteers of Lan-
cashire in particular, asking his Majesty's permission to
present him with his portrait, in commemoration of the
cordial interchange of courtesies and hospitality between
the two nations. His Majesty graciously consented, and
and Mr. Charles Mercier, an English artist, was
aomminsioned to paint the portrait. It is now finished,
and some of the volunteers at present in Brussels have
been allowed the honour of visiting the palace, where the
artist has had his studio, for the purpose of inspecting this
work of art, with which they are much pleased. The
picture is a full length, life-size portrait of his Majesty in
his uniform as • general, and wearing his many orders.
It is to be presestod on Tuesday or Wednesday, publicly,
a course which was not desired by those who commissioned
Mr. Charles Mercier, but which has been urged by the
loyal authorities and people here.

DESPERATE STABBING CASE IN LIVERPOOL.
At the Liverpool Police-court yesterday a young man,
named Joseph Murphy, was brought up charged with
having stabbed a carter named Thomas Davis. It appears
that the parties had a quarrel in the previous day in a
hayloft where they had been sleeping, when the prisoner
drew a knife and stabbed Davis severely three times. One
of the wounds, which was inflicted near the heart, at one
time was thought to be fatal, but he gradually rallied, and
is expected to recover; though he still remains very weak
from loss of blood. Murphy was sent for trial.
SHUCKING BLAST FU KNACK ACCIDENT. —On Friday
night, at Messrs. Gibson's MiMelds Furnaces, soon after
one of the furnaces bad been charged for the first time
following the previous casting, three men, named respec-
tively Thomas Arnold, Hilaton (teaser) ; Joseph Cox,
Blakenhall (keeper) ; and Edward Ellis, Gibbet-leas
(helper), were at work in front of the furnace, making •
road for the molten scoria to pass away with freedom,
when one of the tuyeres of the furnace Must and blew out.
just at the spot e here the men were at work, perhaps
two toes of red hot °leder@ and lava. The force with which
this storm of burning material came out upon the poor
fellows was something terrible, and they were almost im-
mediately covered with the fiery mass, and their
clothes enveloped in flame,. Happily the report of
the explosion was heard round the works. The
sound was too well known to lead to any doubt as
to what had happened, and there was quickly
plenty of help. The poor follows were very shockingly
burnt, and were removed with as little delay as possible
to the South Staffordshire Hospital. The fire in escaping
front the furnace shot up • great height and sot fire to the
timber incline by which the material are taken front the
ground to the mouth of the furnace. Efforts were at
oncecommenced to subdue the flames, a messenger was
despatched to the police station at }Wilton, and Mr. Chief
Superintendent Weise, with a detachment of police, were
soon at Millfielda, with the town engine. There was an
abundant supply of water from the canal, and the engine
was so successfully worked that the fire was put out
without the total destruction of the incline. Thus •
serious loss, resulting from an inability to reach the
top of the furnace for some time, was prevented. The
injured men are so shockingly burnt that there is only
little expectation of their recovery. They are all married. 1
and have children. A painful incident in connection with
this accident is that Joseph Co: is brother to a workman
who was severely burnt at the same place upon the same
spot, • few weeks ago, by accidentally slipping into a well
of burning lava. Joseph had taken his brother's place at !
the works, and they now occupy opposite beds in the same
ward at the hospital. We have examined the tuyere, and
we find indications of its having been burnt through,
doubtless by the dropping upon it of the molten contents
of the furnace as the mass gradually settles down. The I
nose of the tuyere having been burnt, the water between
the inside and outside lining of the tuyereeecaped into the
furnace, and accumulated, the steam exploded, andcaused
the accident. The tuyere was of strong 11-inch boiler plate,
and had not been put in more than two days.—Birmiac.
tam Post.
THE VoLtra OF Nrrrcks.—Sow and plant net-
tles, says Mr. Xavier Garenne, and all the lar.des in the
south and the wastes in other parts of France will be 0011.
verted into green and profitable fields. He wonders that
the world is so slow to learn the great economic value of
this robust plant, which will grow everywhere. Maitre
nettles, and in the young tops thereof you will have •
delicious and early vegetable for your dinner-table, and
abundance of early green food for your cattle. The milk
of cows is improved by a diet of nettlia, and the beef of
cattle fed on nettles is superior to all other. Nettles, too,
are of remarkable efficacy in restoring broken-down borne
to vigour. And in commereetheir value is great ; for they
can be treated as hemp, and spun into lines and ropes, and
woven into cloth. France has grand schemes of planting
in contemplation, and it may be that the long-stegleeted
Urtios will be taken into favour.-4Ohnoirtna.

[TWOPENCE

THE FENIAN OUTRAGE AT MANCHESTER.

MANCHESTER, MONDAY AFTERNOON.

A number of further arrests have been made
since yesterday for complicity in the rescue from the prison
van. It wan hoped that among this large number of fresh
arrests would have been included one of rather special
importance ; but it is to be regretted that the constables
and other witnesses of the rescue stationed in the identi-
ficatini.office have not yet seen this man amongst the
captures. This is ■ man stoutly built, above the middle
height, who took the leading part in attacking the rear of
the van while others were assaulting it in front. Some
bystanders saw him present a revolver at Police-constable
Knox and Constable Correll, those being the two police-
men stationed on the foot-board behind the van. He
was also heard to say, " Turn up the keys and let the
prisoners out The constables making no answer to this
demand, he and another fired at them, but neither of the
shots took effect. /a the excitement which followed,
Constable Knox, who is an old soldier from the Bth Regi-
ment of infantry, was seen to stamp his foot on the foot-
board, and striking his breast, he shouted to them
" Fire away, you cowardly rascals, if you dare, and be
" Some more shots followed, and eventually the
policemen were hustled away amid a crowd of the attack-
ing Fenisuis, wbo by this time had entirely surrounded the
van. We learn that the same constables will be able to
give such evidence se will clear away any doubts still
existing as to the circumstances attending Sergeant Brett's
death. When the van was about to leave the polioe-court
es route for the city gaol, there were among the prisoners
two young lads whom Constable Knox had in charge, and
was instructed to leave, on his return, at the Industrial
School at Ardwick-green. It was for this purpose that
Knox accompanied the van, and not with any idea of
adding to its safe escort. Before leaving the police-court,
Sergeant Brett, seeing there were more officers than usual,
said to Knox, " I will go inside, Knox, and you give me
the keys through the attic" (ventilator). There were three
keys on Brett's ring—two which were required for the
locks on the outer door, while the third was necessary to
enter the interior compartments. The upper lock in the
outer door is only a catch lock, such as are seen in railway
carriages, and the lower one, below the ventilator, is
; like the lock on an ordinary door. Knox handed the keys
through the ventilator, as Brett had desired him, and
there is now no doubt that Brett kept hold of them till he
was shot through the ventilator, and that then they were
handed out by a number of women who had not been put
in separate compartments, but were along with Brett in
the central corridor, and that this was done under threats
by Allen and others of being fired upon unless the keys
were passed through. It was possibly at this crisis that a
witness, to whom we are indebted for much of this infor-
mation, heard a woman's voice scream out, inside the van,
, " He is killed."

It will probably be a matter for inquiry yet as to bow
much blame is due to the Manchester authorities for this
rescue, and how much to the Home•oftee. Blame is laid
on the former that they did not send an armed guard. It
appears that the warning telegraph from Dublin would
have been in time if it had been delivered at once, but it
did not reach the mayor until hours after it came to band.
This will have to be inquired into. But if the Manches-
ter police had been ordered to arm and accompany the van,
it is very doubtful whether their armoury would have
furnished any but a few old and inefficient steepens, with
which they would have been a doubtful match for meat
armed with six and eight chambered revolvers. Tilt
Manchester are generally a law-respecting people,
. .

. .
probably it has never been contemplated that arms of such
a formidable nature would be required. Nor is it certain
that if the van, by means of a detour, had escaped the
ambush laid for it on the way, the prisoners would
have been much safer in the city gaol. The gaol
is • new edifice, presenting to the eye on every side very
formidable masonry, but it has in front of it the two
handsome houses of the governor and chaplain, which
open directly into the prison, having glass doors, with
stancheons outside, hut of • character which would not
have rendered the passage invulnerable in case of surprise
by resolute men. The gaol is in a lonely and remote
place on the skirts of the city, which would have
given a surprising party great advantages. At 2.10
this morning • man named Peter Lynn, born in
Ireland, and living in Dale-street, Hulme, was taken to the
Albert-street station. The prisoner has been identified by
a young lad named Thoniu Patterson, who was watching
the attack from over a wall near the arch. This witness
says he saw the prisoner among those who ran away in the
directioo of where the platelayers were at work. The
prisoner is ► tall powerful man, Oft. lin. in height. Some
years ago he was in the Irish constabulary. Michael Brian is
also among those last arrested. He is a short thickset man,
who says he is • labourer, though his bands do not appear
tosupport thatatatement. He was arrested at t', Riga.street,
Hulme. A man named Kelly, fif t. 10in. in height, who did not
know his own age, or what trade he belonged to, is among
the prisoners brought in from the outlying towns. He
was arrested in Ashton. On being charged with riot and
murder, he made • statement which, if true, would show
he was elsewhere at the time of the attack.

A man, named John Martin, who, in answer to Captain
Palin, said he was a pensioner in the lit Dragoons, has
also been arrested. He said he had served 12 years and
68 days. Captain Patin said this part of the prisoner's
statement seemed likely to be true. The proceedings of
identification are nearly complete, and so many of the pri-
soners as have been "spoken to" have been conveyed to
the City police-court, where, as in the other cases, Super-
intendent Gee will ask for a remand.

The A/endanger Ir..caitiner says :—" The following com-
munication he been forwarded to us from a reliable
source, with a request for its publication : In their
seal to capture all suspected persons, the Blan-
chester police, on Friday evening, summarily apprehended,
on suspicion, a highly-respectable young gentleman, a land
surveyor, residing in Stockport. Our officials conceived
that he bore a very strong resemblance to the renowned
Colonel Kelly, and it was not until late on Saturday
afternoon that he was set at liberty—undeniable evidence
el his non-complicity in the outrage baring then been
established."

DESTRUCTION OP AN AMERICAN SHIP BY FIRE.—
] Intelligence was yesterday received in Liverpool to the
effect that the American ship W. B. Densniere, bound
from Shields to Bombay, with a cargo of coal, bad been
• destroyed by fire at sea. The crew were fallen in with on
' the lath July, in let. 37.5, long. 21 E. by the Jalaivar, and
I afterwards transferred to the Jeannie Eastman, which
I arrived at Liverpool yesterday. Several other shipping
disasters were reported in Liverpool yesterday, but they
were not of much consequence.
THE LADY SWINDLER.--fn the following letter
the " Hon. Mrs. G. Maurice" attempted to victimise
Messrs. Swan and Edgar:—" The Villa, Swimmer', Dorset.
—The Hon. Mrs. G. Meurice will be obliged by Messrs.
• Swan and Edgar sending her some cloaks and jackets for
' choice, the latter must be loose and richly embrodered,
not with beads ; one clook must be black, and one jacket
or clook the colour of the green and blue. They will
also please to send parasols with thick handles. The
goods not kept will be carefully returned same day as re.
ceiving.—Aug. Is. Messrs. Swan and Edgar." Her intended
victims, writing to a contemporary, observe :—" Her letter
throughout, notwithstanding that the jackets are to be
' loose,' and though ' richly embroidered, not with beads,
and the ' parasols' are to have ' thick lianillea'—to the
practised ear lacks the genuine ring. You will observe
that one of the jackets is required to be green, and, with
bitter irony, an artificial ivy leaf of unnatui al brilliancy is
enclosed as a guide for the shade. Moreover, who
would send a valuable parcel of goods to an un-
known correspondent, whose orthography would do
no credit to the servants' hall, an.l who pro-
mises that ' the goods not kept will be returned the IMMO
day as receiving.' No, sir, we have bean swindled before
now, and wish—vain hope !—we could anticipate security
from the adroitness of the fraternity, male and female,
for the future; but we shall have deserted our fate if
we shall allow ourselves to ho taken in by so clun.sily
baited a hook as that of this, say ' female swindler ; for
the true lady swindler' must feel indignant at this
misapplication of a term which, if not the most honour-
able in tbe world, implies at least a superior a:due...diem as
• primary condition of • well.founded claim to the dis-
tinction."
PwuoulNo MATentini.—The meeting of the
Royal Bucks Association took place last work at Ayles-
bury, when the first prize in the champion class was won,
with • Howard's plough, by a local ploughman be the
employ of Mr. Acton Tindal. The silver cup was awarded
to Mr. John K. Fowler, for the beat three.horse
ploughing, his mazi, John King, also using a Bedford
PUMA.