The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-17 00:00:00

DEATH OF THE KING 01? SIAM.

A telegram from Crane, dated the 4th November,
announces the death of the Supreme King of Siam, which
occurred on the Ist October. The literary and scientific
acquirements of this remarkable man have given him a
very high rank among Oriental monarchs. No infor-
mation is conveyed as to the successor to the
throne, but no doubt the next overland mail will bring
detailed reports from the Court of Bangkok. The Straits
Times of October 8, in announcing the illness of his
Majesty, says :—" It is with much regret we learn from
our latest files of the Ras:9,l-0k Daily Advertiser, brought
by the Chow Phya on Monday last, that his Majesty the
King of Siam had been seriously ill with fever during the
latter part of August and the whole of September, and
that although on several occasions he seemed to be recover-
ing, relapses always took place, and when the steamerleft
recovery was deemed hopeless. The fever is supposed
to have been caught during the visit to Hau Wan,
to see the eclipse ; and the jangle malaria at that
place must he very virulent, for eight of the Siamese
visitors of rank who accompanied the King on that
occasion have died from fever since their return,
including his Royal Highness Krom Koon Ilachasee, a
nephew of the King. His Royal Highness Somdetch
Chowfa Chulalornkoru, the eldest son of the King, had
also been ill with the fever, but had apparently quite re-
covered. His Majesty's death will be a great loss to the
kingdom of Siam, and important consequences may result
therefrom. His Majesty has proved himself an able,
enlightened, and liberal monarch of varied accomplish-
ments, whom it will be difficult, if not impossible, to replace,
and we sincerely hope that our next advices from Bangkok
will tell us that he has after all recovered. Some appre-
hensions were entertained that should his Majesty not
recover revolutionary
disturbances would take place, and
as a matter of precaution, the Government was calling out
the native militia to be ready for all emergencies. It
would he well also that a British man-of-war were on the
spot, to watch events."

Mr. John Bright has recommended Mr. Rawson to
the electors of Salford. no speaks of him, in a letter, as
man he has known for 25 years, during which time nothing
has transpired that is not to his honour. Ile esteems him
as a man and a politician, and says that working men may
rely upon him as a supportor of all that is enlightened and
ust in legislation.

THE WAR OFFICE.—The Times states that there
is no foundation for the announcement which appeared in
some of the military
papers on Saturday, to the effect
that Sir Edward Lugard is about to retire from the War
Office, owing to impaired health. Sir Edward Lugard is
at present in excellent health, and has no intention of
leaving the War Office, nor of accepting any appointment
abroad.

Yesterday morning, shortly before divine service,
a man entered Trinity Church, Swansea, hastily, ascended
the pulpit, throw the books right and left, indulging in hor-
rid blasphemy. no next stripped the cloth from the com-
munion table,
perpetrating other mischief. The terrified
officials sent for the police ;
He but he made his escape before
their arrival.
proved to be a lunatic residing at Fox-
hole, who some time since was guilty of a similar freak at
Bt. Mary's Church.

We learn that the prizes won by the English
Volunteers at the Tir National, Brussels, have been for
warded to the Anglo-Belgian Prize Fund Committee,
through the Belgian Minister, but that they are detained
at the Dover Custom House for compliance with some for-
malities required for their being passed free of duty. We
also learn that the hon. secretary to the Anglo-Belgian
Prize Fund, Colonel Beresford, on the eve of his departure
for an absence of some months on the Continent, resigned,
and that his place is likely to be shortly filled by a gentle.
man possessing high qualifications for the office.
FETE OF THE EMPRESS ECTGENIE.—Great prepa-
rations were made at Compiegne on Sunday to celebrate
with éclat the Empress's Fête. The gates of the park
were opened to the public ; the whole town was dressed
out with flags, and a universal illumination was
to take place at night. The Ministers went down by
special train to present their respects to her Majesty. In
the evening there was a grand dinner of 100 covers, and
afterwards a ball. In Paris the principal theatres were
dressed out with flags and illuminated in honour of the
event.

TERRIBLE RAILWAY ACCIDENT. —The Stuttgardt
journals publish details of a horrible catastrophe which
took place a few days back on the railway to Geisflinger.
A goods train had to g 9 down the line, and inconsequence
of the snow lying deep upon the rails the greatest circum-
spection was recommended to the engine-driver. Never-
theless, whether the snow had accumulated in too great a
e-w
quantity before the wheels thellocomotive, and prevented
the proper working of the breaks, the train ran off the
line down an incline, and the twenty-eight carriages com-
posing it fell one on the other and soon formed only a
frightful heap of ruin. Out of twelve persons accompany-
ing it, three only escaped with their lives.
FROZEN-OUT FISH IN INVERARY. —A correspon-
dent of the Glasgow Morning Journal writes :—" In con-
nection with the sudden and severe frost which set in
towards the end of last week, there was the unwonted
spectacle of Lochfyne frozen more than half-way across.
On Saturday morning the ice lay so thick between Inverary
and St. Catherine's that a small boat narrowly escaped the
fate of some of our intrepid whalers it the Arctic seas.
Later in the day some townspeople, who were near the sea-
beach opposite the anchorage ground, noticed a strange
appearance on the ice, about 300 yards from the show. It
seemed as if a shoal of fish were engaged in St. Vitus's dance
on the hardened surface of the sea. There was a bright sun
shining at the time, which gave the performance a very
striking effect. Manning several boats, the fishermen were
soon at the spot, and there, sure enough, they found hun-
dreds of fish flapping about on the ice—saithe, lithe, cod,
and hereing--of all sizes, from fry of an inch long to full-
grown one 9f several pounds weight. The astonished
#lle2cme,n 194 ,110 time in securing thci_

71IE CHAMPIONSHIP OF 7HE THAMES.

GREAT SCULLERS RACE BETWEEN HENRY
KELLEY AND JAMES RENFORTiI FOR £lOO.

The contest for the championship of the Thames
is, under any circumstances, a feature of great in-
terest and speculation in the sporting world, and
its interest was materially enhanced on this occa-
sion by the peculiar circumstances attending it.
The last champion from the Tyne w,is the de-
ceased Bob Chambers ; the present aspirant to Vac
proud distinction is James Renforth of Gateshea 1,
of the same calling as Chambers, viz., a puddler in
an iron-foundry, but otherwise there is nothing to
make them assimilate, on the contrary, there is
this marked distinction : Robert Chambers had,
by a series of brilliant victories, clitnbe I the ladder
of aquatic fame before he was backed for the cham-
pionship, while Renforth has literally suddenly
rushed into notoriety. The former gained his posi-
tion by degrees, and by many a hard-earned
victory. The latter, should he win, may fairly
be said to have acquired it in one race,
for two years ago the name of Renforth
was unknown in aquatic circles, neither north nor
south. Until the Thames Regatta of this year he
was an obscure individual ; the Chronicle tells us of
two or three wagers in his native place for insigni-
ficant sums ; but it was destined that in the Thames
Regatta he should emerge from obscurity and be-
come the leading star of the Northern division.
the sporting men of that part of the world are pretty
good judges of what to back, and his amazing speed
in his triumph at the regatta aforesaid stamped him
as a man whose pretensions fairly entitled him to
the appellation which had been in some quarters
bestowed upon him as " the coming man."
Of Henry Kelley, the resident champion,
Renforth's opponent of to-day, it certainly
is not necessary to say much ; he gained the
much coveted honour of champion from James
Messenger in 1857, lost it in 1859 to Robert Cham-
bers, of Newcastle, and some years after regained
it from the same oarsman, and has since been en-
gaged in a physical and legal contest against Joe
Sadler, of Putney, to maintain it; and when the
Northerners expressed their desire to put up Ren-
forth for the seat of honour, the Southerners were
not wanting, and willingly backed Kelley to get in
before him.

Both trained hard, and inspired full confidence
in their friends and admirers.

The course was from the Star and Garter at Put-
ney to Mortlake, and the stake £2OO a-side.
The weather was as fine as could be expected
for this bleak time of year ; there were eight
steamers besides tugs and rather less than usual of
the small fry. Mr. John Ireland, of the London
Rowing Club, was sole umpire and starter, and the
stringent orders issued from Scotland-yard under
a recent act of Parliament, kept the steamboat
captains in order, and gave both men a fair
chance.

On shore and on the boats the betting fluctuated
considerably, but at the start Kelley was slightly
the favourite, and as they rowed at three o'clock
from their boat yards the burst of applause that
greeted them must have seemed ill timed to some
of the denizens of Putney, who are generally so
quiet at this time of the year.
The toss for choice of sides was won by Ren-
forth, who took the inside or Middlesex berth.
Both stripped to their buff, and after one false start
they got away together, Kelley having a momen-
tary lead. Of this he was dispossessed at the
Duke's Head, and then Reuforth, amid the
plaudits of his countrymen, rushed to the
front at a tremendous pace. At the Point
he was a length in front, and shortly after crossed
his man ; towards the Soap-works Kelley drew up
slightly and again after they passed Hammersmith
Bridge ; but it was evident thus early that the
North-countryman had the race in hand ; he con-
tinued to get away, and although Kelley drew up
at Barnes, Re °forth ultimately won by three lengths
clear. Time, 23 min. 15 secs.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE —This Day.

WARWICK RACES—Tins DAY.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
MAIDEN WELTER PLATE.

A Maiden Welter Plate of .50 Boys; three year olds list,
four 12st, fivo and upwards 12st 71b ; half brads allowed
71b ; gentlemen riders, professionals 51b extra ; two
miles on the flat.

Colours
Draxford
Brown Jug

Seven ran.
HANDICAP OF 5 SOVS.

A. Handicap of 5 sovs each, Ift (to the fund), with 50
added; winners after Nor. 13 (at ten a.m.) 51b extra.
Half a mile.

Parma 1
Venturer
Retirement", 3

six ran.
N URSERI HANDICAP.

The Nursery Handicap of 15 sous each, 10 ft, and 3 if
declared, with 100 added ; winners after Nov. 6 (at 10
a.m.) 51b, twice 101 b extra; the second to save his
stake. Three-quarters of a mile. 53 subs, 33 of whom
declared.
Pladda

Zapolya
Grantess
Sixteen ran.

WELTER HANDICAP. •
The Welter Handicap of 5 sous each, 3 ft, for three year
olds and upwards ; winners after the weights are out
51b extra ; gentlemen riders, paofessionals Glb extra.
Three-quarters of a mile.

Cork Jacket 1
Rampart 2
Tripthong 3

Five ran.
DONNINGTON HANDICAP.

The Donnington Handicap of 10 sovs each, 3 ft, with 50
added, for three year olds and upwards.
Monarch of the Glen 1
Clemente 2
Acorn 3
Eleven ran.
RACING STAKES.

The Racing Stakes of 5 sovs each, with 25 added, for two
year olds; colts Bst 121 b, fillies Bst 101 b; the winner to
be sold for 200 sovs ; if entered for 100 sovs allowed 51b,
50 101 b. Five furlongs.

Hippodamia f
Waffles
Altisidora
SeTen ran.
MATCH.
Dulcet boat Hopeless.
SELLING NURSERY.

The Selling Nursery Handicap of 5 sovs each, 3 ft (to the
fund), with 50 added; the winner to be sold for 100
sovs; winners after Nov. 13 (at ten a.m.) 51b extra.
Three-quarters of a mile. 26 subs.
Juanita
Edith
Wild Flower 3