The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-07 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7, 1864.

" Truth is stranger than fiction" has long been a
recognised saying, and certainly those who analyse
the striking events of life will see much reason to
ratify the force of the observation. The news that
yesterday circulated through the metropolis of the
capture of MULLER. was a remar'aable piece of intel-
ligence. Had such an incident been introduced into
the pages of fiction it would have been doubtless re-
garded with derision, and we can fancy the cap-
tious critic or matter-of-fact reader declaring that
authors were getting quite beyond the bounds of
probability in their extravagant assertions. It
has been reserved for 119, however, to witness in
real life as strange a tale as any that fancy could
devise, or the sharpest wit develop in a sensational
work. There have been many carious incidents
connected with the murders that have startled our

generation from its propriety, but not one has sur.
passed, while few have equalled, the peculiar cha-
racteristics of this case. A dense and seemingly
impenetrable mlstery hung over the affair at first
but the clouds seemed to clear away as if by magic,
and the successive proofs accumulated, until at last
from the Atlantic came the tidings that the mur-
derer has been captured. There is nothing astonish-
ing in the report that MULLER denies his guilt, for,
judging from the circumstances of the case, he is
just the man to do it. The intelligence conveyed
in the telegram that "the hat and watch of Mr
BRIGGS were found in the possession of the
prisoner" seem to be conclusive evidence,
and to furnish testimony that nothing can
dispute or gainsay. What could have been the
motive for MULLER'S retaining the watch it is indeed
difficult to conceive. He had far better have de-
stroyed it or got rid of it in some fashion. The
bat is a strange coincidence and a startling con-
firmation of the adage that " Murder will out."
It is not likely that during this lapse of time
MULLER should not have ascertained that the hat
was not his own, and thence the natural inference
would have been to get rid of such a possession
that could furnish such a damnatory proof against
him. It would seem as if the unhappy man had
been under a delusion that he was perfectly safe,
and that there was no probability of his being in
any way suspected. No other explanation can be
given of the fast that he has gone about his work
in about as senseless a fashion as can well be
imagined. Perhaps part of the surprise that na.
turally is experienced at these affairs, arises from
it being generally presupposed that murderers and
the worst class of robbers are men of great ability
in their vocation. *Such is not ordinarily the case,
although there have been signal proofs to the con-
trary, which have formed the groundwork of the
notion. We may notice in perusing the annals of
crime that the most extraordinary mistakes have
been made, and that the murderer of Mr. BRIGGS
lava been kept in countenance in his most extrava-
gant blunders by others of the dark race of crime
who have gone before him. It would be almost
impossible for the greatest adept in crime to encom-
pass all the dangers and difficulties that are hedged
round his path, and it is a satisfactory conclusion to
arrive at, that there is little chance of a murderer
escaping conviction now-a-days. It must appear
probable to all who have thought upon the subject,
that MULLER mast have had some secret motive in
his mind that we cannot fathom. It is not in an., I
cordance with the evidence of common sense that
a man should incur such frightful risks to put him-
self in possession of the trifles that he secured. A
watch, however valuable, is a dangerous property
to an unrightful possessor. It must have been most
likely oue of two motives that led to the perpetra-
tion of the fearful crime. Either the prisoner be-
lieved that Mr. BRIGGS had a considerable sum
about him, or else he was fulfilling a project of
vengeance. The mystery which enshrouds the
whole affair may be greatly cleared up at the
approaching trial, but the most important
event has already taken place in the
capture of the criminal. The American authorities
will, no doubt, afford every facility for the delivery
of the culprit, and there is no reason to doubt that
justice will be satisfied, and that a foul crime will
be expiated in the most effective form which
human laws can devise. It is not likely that in
this case there will arise the hosts of well meaning ,

but misguided philanthropists who take mur-
derers under their special protections and are up
in arms if the extreme penalty of the law is
announced to be imminent. The. details of this
railway crime are of so flagrant a character that
all must agree in denouncing fne perpetrator of
such a deed. MULLER has just put himself
out of the pale of commiseration, horror
and indignation are the prevailing senti-
ments of all the minds that have dwelt
upon his infamy. Through the length and breadth
of the land there arose a feeling of horror when first
the intelligence of the murder was disseminated, and
they who then mourned over the catastrophe now
rejoice at the tidings of the capture at New York.
Events of this character startle the generally sui
pine, and must make the obtuse and hardened think.
It is not likely that minds sunk in crime and
thoughts buried in guilt will comprehend the full
significance of this affair, but if MULLER be
brought back to England and there pay the penalty
of his crimes, it must be a warning that will speak
to those like him immersed in deeds of darkness.
The teachings of experience are better than advice,
however good, or the most strenuous efforts
to show the guilty the error of their ways.
It is startling to contemplate the feelings with
which MULLER must have beheld the men who
were to seal his doom, to proclaim his guilt before
his fellowmen, and finally to know the agents in
the course of the proceedings which would send
him into the presence of his Maker, from earthly
to eternal judges. It is an awful subject for con-
templation, and painful in all its details. Human
nature is disgraced by the existence of such men,
and it seems difficult for those possessed of con-
science to comprehend the possibility of such ac-
tions. It is, however, a great advantage to be pos-
sessed of the means of proving this affair, and ex-
hibiting to the eyes of the scoffing unbelievers of
right that a doom will infallibly overtake the guilty,
that the dark places of earth will disclose their
secrets, and the sea become a pathway for the foot-
steps of those who track their crimes.

The engineering wonders of our age have become
almost a matter of course. We have grown so
much accustomed to hearing of obstacles being
overcome that when any new scheme is proposed
very little thought is given to its accompanying
difficulties. The days are long past when the
Thames Tunnel or the line over Chat Moss ranked
as the wonders of the world. Occasionally, how-
ever, some special achievement arrests public atten-
tion, and reminds us of the fact that the distin-
guishing feature of this age is its extraordinary
engineering skill. The feat just accomplished ie
Brazil under
,the management of Mr. BRUNLEES
is certainly one of those that are altogether out of
the beaten track, and that even in days when we
are accustomed to miracles of skill and enterprize
exhibit a degree of daring and of perseverance that
excite the deepest interest. We have, it is tine,
spanned rivers and tunnelled vast cities, but to
climb vast mountain ranges seems too great and
difficult an undertaking even for modern science to
attempt. Mr. BIIIINLEES, however, has just brought
such an undertaking through its first and most
difficult stages, so that by the common consent of
all who have witnessed or taken part in his pre-
liminary experiments, the vast ;undertaking is an
unmistakable success. Starting from the little sea-
port of Santos on the Brazilian coast, the new
line crosses the vast mountain chain which runs
along that part, and thence goes on to a village
called Jundiaby, a distance altogether of eighty-
eight miles. It is proposed, indeed, to carry it still
farther into the interior of the coffee-growing
country, for it is one of the great objects proposed.in
the construction of this line to enable the commerce
of the country to find a ready outlet. Hitherto the
grim front of the Serro del Mar has stood resolutely
in the way of trade and export, and thanks to
English skill, English capital, and English energy,
this obstacle is now being surmounted, so that
the rich produce of the fertile interior may
find its way to the sea without danger or diffi-
culty. Some idea of the formidable na►ure of
the experiment may be gained from the fact, that
at one spot the railway, in the course of five
miles, attains an elevation of 2,600 feet. There
is only one point at which the province of San
Paulo can be entered from the sea, and it is at
this spot that the railway is to lee carried over
the mountain ridge which has hitherto formed
such an impassable berrier. So much importance
does the Imperial Government attach to the under-
taking, that it has pledged itself a guarantee of 7
per cent. upon capital advanced, and the progress
of the works is watched by authorities and people
with the greatest interest. The line, as we have
said, starts from Santos, where it runs over a
swampy country for a distance of about eight miles,
when, after crossing the Catatao River, the aecen►
commences by a defile in the rocks. After reaching
the stupendous altitude of 2,600 feet, it passes out
through an opening in the heights on to the "Cam-
pos," over which it runs on into the interior.
Torrents, chasms, and rocks impede its progress, and
it is no great wonder that hitherto the prospect
has been ridiculed as hopeless. Now that suc-
cess has been proved to be possible, all classes
are alike enthusiastic at the prospect thus opeaed
out to the Brazilian trade and industry. So far has
the work already advanced, that a short time slue
the President of the province, his staff, and others,
were taken on a trial trip up that part of the ascent
which is already cancluded. The whole ascent is
divided into four inclines of a mile and a quarter,
each running at a gradient of 1 in 10. A level
platform is at the summit of each incline, and here
is a stationary engine, with double cylinders of
26 in. diameter, calculated to haul up 50 tons at the
rate of 10 miles an hour. The trains are raised
on the traction system, and a steel wire rope
one inch and an eighth in diameter pulls up the
ascending trains. This rope, which has necessarily
to be severely tested before use, passes over friction
wheels, and is attached to the flywheel shaft. The
inclines are partially self-acting, as one train passes
down to the foot of the mountain at the same time
that another is drawn up to the higher level. On
the third division there is another difficulty to en-
counter, for there is a terrible ravine 900 feet in
span. This is crossed by a viaduct resting on iron
columns, which, in their turn, spring from stone
piers 200 ft. below the line. Such an undertaking
might well excite first ridicule and then wonder;
but the first part of the incline is actually con-
quered and the engines nt work. Such an achieve-
meat is one which even our energetic nineteenth
century has not witnessed before, and will certainly
crown its projectors with fame, as we trust it will
reward them with profit.

PARTRIDGE SHOOTING.—The anticipations of
sport put forth in this paper last week have been pretty well
borne out by the experience of the past few days of the
shooting season. In the Midland Counties, where game
preserving is the rule, birds are found very plentiful—from
9tolB in a covey—but also very strong on the wing. For
want of cover, turnips and marigolds being very scarce and
thin, and the practice of cutting the stubble clown to the
ground (" bagging," it is called) increasing every year,
partridges are found extremely s ild and hard to get at, so
that no large bags have been made. The price in the game
shops varies from 3s 6d to 4a 6d the brace. Birds and hares
were to be seen in most of the game-dealers' shops early on
the Ist September, the great part having, no doubt, been
the booty of the Poacher, Hares and rabbits are plentifu I
—too numerous ixt some places for tile tentuc farmer,