The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-09-16

Wonderful Kr0aks OF A1SntnAn8s
The ALBANY Erenin0 Journal reports
a remarkable circumstance which TOOK
place in that city on Monday morning.
Martin L. Kelly, the contractors Tor
building a new reservoir, intended 10
commence work OH Monday morning.
but anticipating trouble from large
gang of unemployed laborers, detacl. ,
ment of police was detailed to support :
the contractors in case OF trouble
About twelve o'clock violent thunder
storm commenced. Seventeen persons,
thirteen of them policemen, who had
taken refuge from the violence OF the
storm in a tool house on the site OF the
new Prospect Hill Reservoir, were pros
trated, and every man and boy compos-.
ing the number was more or less injured
by the fluid and the shock which accom-
panied it. Some we're rendered uncon-
scious by the shock, others had portions
of clothing torn from their bodies, and
some were paralyzed. With so large. a
number of men grouped together In
such confined quarters, the escape of all
from being killed may be looked upon
as little short of miracle. Among the
tools were number of bright steel SHOW
els. and it is supposed that these attract
ed the fluid which had SO disastrous an
effect. Sergeant Mcnamara, Whisl and
White, at the same time that the fluid
struck, were sitting on bench in the
shanty, and, as it appears from the state.
ments of those present, the fiuid hrst
struck Mcnamara, and, after destroying
his shoes, glanced off to Whish. the
spark seeming to strike him in the back:
from him it glanced off to White, and
thence to the remainder, flashing from
one to another with the quickness OF
Thought. The men are to be congratu-
lated on their escape from death, or
more serious injury. The families OF
the men. hearing the numerous reports
in circulation, were, of course, in the
highest state of anxiety, but their fears
were allayed on ascertaining the truth.
Captain Hagadorn kindly permitted the
men to visit their homes, and dispel any
anxiety that might be felt.
SENT ROUND THE WORLD. - Three
months is short time to make voyage
round the world, even for a piece OF pa
per. It has been accomplished, how
ever. in little less than three months.
| ONUtU LJUttcS 1uNVs JOuAhssA Wv
voted to postal matters, tells OF q gen
t'eman residing in the suburbs OF New
York, who recently made an expert
ment, with q view to ascertain how long
it takes letter to travel round the world
by mail.
He addressed letter to the United
States postal agent at Yokohama, Japan,
marked it "via Brindisi," and dis
patched the same by steamer from New
York to Southampton, England, on the
18th of May last. The letter enclosed
another, addressed to himself at New
York, which he requested the postal
agent at Yokohama to forward to the
United States via San Francisco, by first
steamer.
The letter arrived in England on May
oath, and was then dispatched via Brin-
dist, Alden (via Suez), Ceylon, Singa-
pore and Hongkong to Yokohama, ar
irving there July 18th. From there the
inclosed letter addressed to the writer)
was forwarded by steamer, leaving
Yokohama on July 18th, and arrived ut
San Francisco July 31st; left San Fran
cisco August 9th, having accomplished
the circumferaneous journey i'll exactly
lightweight days.
The cheapest and most valuable cur
rency is good manners. Illustrative of
this useful lesson, We find in cotempo-
rary, the following anecdote of Lord
Palmerston, which we reprint for the
benefit of hotel clerks, car conductors,
bar-keepers, and other public servants,
while admitting that they have many an
nOyances to endure this hot weather.