The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-13 00:00:00

POACHING AND MURDER.

According to the Sheffield Independent, a desperate,
encounter took place on Wednesday night near Pilley-.4
a village situate nine miles from Sheffield and five from
Barnsley—between a gang of poachers and a party .of
gamekeepers in the service of Lord Wharncliffe, of Wort.
ley Hall. The conflict resulted in the murder of on*
of the keepers and the injury of another. Between nin
and ten o'clock, when it was moonlight, while two of his
lordship's watchers, named Thomas Mayes and Thomas
Oram, were on duty in a wood near the village of Pilley,
they detected a gang of five poachers, busily engaged
setting nets. The poachers were armed, not only with
guns but with bludgeons, and they were also accompanied
by a dog. The watchers convinced that they " were
unable cope with so formidable-looking a gang,
sent, before discovering themselves, for his lord.
ship's head keeper, Mr. Thirkell. He promptly responded
to the call, and came to the assistance of his
men. No sooner did the keepers discover themselves than
than they were attacked by the poachers, and a short but
murderous encounter folluwed. Mr. Thirkell attempted
to seize one of the poachers, and while struggling
with him another of the gang seized a gun, and at
a distance of about four yards took aim and fired at him.
The charge entered his abdomen,' and he fell and died
almost immediately. He was not even heard to speak
after being shot. With the murder of Thirkell the affray
terminated, and the poachers, abandoning their nets,
hastily made off in the direction of Thorpe Hesley. They
also left behind them a hat and a walking-stick, but they
took with them the gamekeeper's gun.

POLLUTION OF RIVERS COMMISSION.—This com-
mission, under the presidency of Mr. E. Rawlinson, C. 8.,
is now proceeding with a personal inspection of rivers, in
the vicinity of Liverpool and Manchester, preparatory to
the examination of witnesses. By this means it is antics.
pated that time will be saved in the examination of wit-
nesses that the commissioners may call before them, and
that they will be able to submit their report to Parliament
shortly after its reassembling in February.
THE ALABAMA CLAIM3.—The Alabama claims aro
soon to come up both in Congress and in Parliament. We
earnestly beg that some kind of settlement may speedily
be made. The greatest obstacle to a mutual understand.
ing is the factiousness of a party which tries to nurse a
cause for war with Great Britain, and hopes sonic day to
use these unsettled claims as a convenient pretext. The
two Governments are so nearly agreed now that it seems
hardly possible to avoid disposing of the matter, unless
there is a want of good faith on one side or the other.—
Nee: York Tribune, Nov. 30.
THE AMERICAN PEDESTRIAN FIAT.---Edward
Payson Weston, the pedestrian, arrived at Chicago
at 10 a.ni. on the 25th of November, having ac-
complished the feat of walking from Portland,
1,2371' Miles, to Chicago in 2G walking days. Ho
had two hours to epare, and was received by enormous
crowds of people in Chicago. 'NV-atoll failed in all his
attempts to walk 100 miles in 24 hours,- and on the last
occasion made SG miles in 21 hours 15 minutes. The stakes
were 10,000 dollars a side for the feat, but Weston loses
six-tenths for not having walked the 100 miles, and there.
fore gets but 4,000 dollars. His achievement, as it is,
however, is reeler*, 44 9110 a tot tgocalgv. (OA
mop! 2: