The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-17 00:00:00

THE WIMBLEDON

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111YSTEI?IOUS DISCOVERY AT HAXER-
STOCK HILL.

THE CAME', Thußspi.i.

There has been a perceptible increase inv,the number of
visitors to the camp to-day. Having endured the stifling
seat of the railway jaunt from town, fought,.with beasts
et Ephesus—that is, cab and omnibus drivers al Putney—
end been half baked to death in the ride up the
Ong and dusty hill leading to the heath, they are
lere, clustering round the ranges with an enthu-
liasm, which, with the thermometer standing at 94
n the shade-3 deg. higher than yesterday—is something
marvellous, and leads one to suspect that it springs rather
From a personal interest in the marksmen than from admi•
-atiou of the science of shooting in the abstract.
Turning from the visitors to the volunteers, the official
return chews that there are at the present moment 129
A-leers and 573 non-commissioned officers and privates
in the camp. In the National Rifle Association
camp, which is distinct from the general camp,
there are KG officers and 617 noncommissioned officers
and privates ; giving a grand total under canvas of 285
Peers and 1,190 non-commissioned officers and privates.
The slight fire which broke out yesterday has caused the
council to issue a special notice this morning, requesting
volunteers and visitors to abstain from throwing fusees
upon the grass " which, being so dry, easily catches fire."
Around the ammunition store, where the conflagra-
tion occurred, railings have been erected twenty
yards square. Let the present condition of the
atmosphere continue much longer, and there will be a very
fair chance of the grass catching fire on its own account.
The shooting for the Queen's Prize at 500 yards was com-
menced this morning, and continued throughout the day.
Comparing the scores made at the shorter distance of 200
yards yesterday with that of last year, it is apparent
that it is better ; but it is not quite up to the
mark of 1866. There are over 1,900 entries
for the Queen's. The shooting in the first
stage of the Alexandra Prize has also been pro-
ceeded with, and will close at gun-fire this evening.
Winners of the 156 prizes in this stage will be qualified to
shoot for the cup of the value of £5O on Monday.
The greatest interest occasioned was in the match
between the Lords and the Commons, and, despite
the broiling heat, there was a large attendance of ladies to
witness this aristocratic encounter. The conditions were
as usual, seven shots each, at 200 and 500 yards, any
rifle, and any position. There were six competitors on
each side, the Upper House being represented by Earl
Spencer (the chairman of the council of the National
Rifle Association), the Marquis of Abercorn, Earl of Den-
bigh, Earl of Ducie, Earl of Dunmore, and Lord Dufferin.
The representatives of the Lower House were the Marquis
of Lorne, Sir Philip Egerton, Mr. Malcolm, Mr. Ding-
wall Fordyce, Mr. Bass, and the Hon. C. T. Lyttelton.
The last-named gentleman shot in the place of Lord
Elcho, who did not arrive on the ground until the 500
yards competition had been commenced, the noble lord
having been detained in London on his parliamentary
duties. The Earl of Ducie led off for the Lords at the
200 yards range, but the shooting of both Houses at this
distance was not so good as might have been expected, few
bull's eyes being made on either side. The Commons fired
much more rapidly than their rivals, and when it was
announced that they had scored 140 there was some doubt
as to whether the Lords would be able to beat it. In a
few moments the latter completed their rounds, and as
the numbers were given—Lords 133, Commons 140—
bets were freely laid that the popular House would this
time prove the winners. Although large numbers were
present at the lesser range, Little interest was taken in the
different shots, the excitement evidently being bottled up
for the contest at 500 yards. In a few minutes the pre-
limimaries at the latter range were completed, and the
Lords were again the first to begin. In the first two
rounds they did remarkably well, and each shot was
watched with eager interest. The Commons appeared to
take it for granted that they would prove the
victors, and in the first round they were ex-
ceedingly loose in their firing. By the time the
second round was finished the Lords had pulled up so
rapidly that they tied the Lower House, and then the
interest in the match increased. The targets 35 and 36
were eagerly watched, and the competitors fired with such
regularity that those present could easily tell how the match
was proceeding. As the rifle went off with a sharp, hissing
sound, all eyes were directed to its destination, and when
it became known that a bull's eye was made, the centre
of attraction turned towards the next target, in order to
distinguish whether the other House had scored the same.
Singular to relate, if the Lords made a bull's eye, the
Commons would be sure to make one also ; and the expres-
sion, "Bull's eye for the Lords," was instantly followed
by " ditto for the Commons." The Marquis of Lorne was
a great favourite with all, aristocratic and plebeian, and as
he repeatedly made bull's eyes he was loudly cheered.
The Lords finished first, they having scored 145, thus
making a total of 278 points. The excitement now rose
to the highest pitch, and as the Commons had one round
more to fire, every shot was watched with intense interest.
The Marqulis of Lorne in the last shot made a bull's eye,
and as he rose, a cry of " Bravo, Lorne !" greeted him
from all sides. Mr. Malcolm, the stalwart member
for Boston, followed with a centre, Mr. Fordyce with a
" bull," Mr. Bass with a centre, and then Sir P. Egerton
knelt—or rather lay—on the heated ground. Two shots more
had to be fired, and the Commons had to make 6 points to
tie, and 7to win. Crack went Sir Philip's rifle, and the
cry of " miss " was raised. The Lords were almost going
to raise a cheer, when an outer was signalled, and there
was still hope for the Commons. The last to fire
was the Hon. C. J. Lyttelton, who scored a centre.
Thus the Lords won the match by one point. The
Earl of Dunmore could not resist the temptation to
call out, " We've beaten you by one," at the same time
playfully patting Mr. Malcolm on the shoulder. Three
cheers were then given for the winners, and a
similar compliment was paid to their vanquished
friends, who appeared to be the most popular.
One word about the ladies. We agree with the suggestion
thrown out in one of the morning journals that those who
bravelysat in the midst of the burning sun deserve the Vic-
toria Cross. Gratification was freely expressed at the conduct
of Lady Constance Grosvenor, who, when she became
aware that her umbrella was causing inconvenience to
those behind her, magnanimously closed it, thus setting
an example which was afterwards generally followed.

An event of a very mysterious character nas just been
brought to light in this neighbourhocd, which has caused
considerable excitement amongst the inhabitants, and
which serves to shew that untenanted houses ought to be
subjected to police supervision, for the experience of the
last few years has proved how easily they may be resorted
to, either for acts of violence, or as convenient refuges
for starving wanderers. The facts connected with
the occurrence referred to may be briefly told as
follows :—On Wednesday evening last, as some boys
were playing on the pavement opposite the house 42,
Queen's-crescent, Haverstock-hill, which has been for
several months uninhabited, a ball they were using fell
into the area, and one of the boys climbed over the railing
in order to recover it. The door of the coal-cellar being
open, and an offensive odour issuing from the interior,
the boy's curiosity prompted him to enter, when, stretch.
ing out his arm in the partial darkness, he touched
what appeared to be a human hand. Dismayed at
this shocking discovery, he called to his companions,
who related the circumstance to a man who was
passing, and begged him to descend into the
area. The result was that on entering the cellar he
saw the body of a woman, in a sitting position, with her
back against the wall and her head bent forward, and pre-
senting every indication of having been dead several
days. The body was respectably clothed, and there were
marks of blood upon her head which naturally led to the
suspicion that the woman had been murdered. Police-
constables James Perkins, 275 S, and William Smith,
39 S, were immediately on the spot, and the body was
conveyed on a stretcher to the police-station in
Albany-street, after having been examined by Mr.
Tucker, a surgeon, of Ashdown-street, Kentish-town,
who expressed it as his opinion that the woman belonged
to the class of " unfortunates," and that she had not died
from violence or starvation, but disease. The natural sup-
position was that the poor woman, being benighted, had
managed to scramble over the area railing in the hope of
securing a shelter in the empty house, and being exhausted
by the effort she was unable to get beyond the coal-cellar;
where she died before the morning. That she had been
dead many days when the strange discovery took place
was sufficiently proved by the fact that her lower extre-
mities had fallen a prey to the carnivora whose gloomy
territory she had invaded. The body was ultimately con-
veyed to St. Pancras workhouse, to await the post-mortem
examination and the coroner's inquisition. The appear.
ance of the deceased is thus described in the police
books :—" Thirty-five years of age, 5 feet 2 inches in
height,
dressed in a black stuff petticoat, lavender striped
gown, blue plaid crinoline, brown shawl, white corded
stays, calico chemise, white cotton stockings, and side-
spring boots." On Thursday evening an inquest was
held on the body by -Dr. Lankes'er, coroner for Middle.
sex, at the Elephant and Castle Tavern, in the Old
Pancras-road, when, in addition to the above facts, it
transpired from the evidence of one of the boys alluded to
that ten days ago he chanced to be in the same area for the
purpose of gathering bones and rags, when on endeavour-
ing to enter the cellar he was prevented from doing so by
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