The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-11-30
Great itritain.
DISASTER IN THE CHANNEL.

channel ON Monday night. The Hamburg
American steamer Pommerania, Capt Schwen
sen, from New York Nov. Nth, made Ply
mouth at midnight on the 24th and landed
some passengers, then proceeded to CherbCnrg
and landed some more, and then proceeded W
the channel Next night about midnight, d
heavy fog prevailing and being intensely dirk
about eight miles from Folkstonc the Pom
mcrania was run into by the Welsh bark y DEL
Eilian, and the steamer so badly damaged that
she foundercd in ten minutes. The Welsh
bark meantime, unconscious of the damage il
had inflicted, proceeded on her way. OF cOuise
the widest dismay and confusion at once pre-
vailed on the steamer She carried eight tc
boats of which three had been crushed in tie
collision A fourth was sunk by too great a
rush Of passengers. Most of the passengers
and crew were saved in the others. Thuc
were at the time Of the accident 100 passengers
on board, of whom 70 are saved, and of the
crew of Ill "a survive. The captain was the
last to leave the vessel but as she went dowl
floated away on a plank and was picked up
by passing Antwerp steamer. Most of the
other persons were picked up by the Glengar
ry and one or two other vessels that were at
tracted to the spot by the signal rockets thai
were sent up. The total loss of life was A.
Among the lost are Mr. Lucke, a wealthy bank
er of New York and partner of Aug. Belmont
with his wife and three children. Three of
the Clymer family of Philadelphia, b. Bedisco,
Russian consul in New York Mr.. Louis Rab-
be of Chicago, and numerous others equally
prominent
THE AFGHAN WAR.
The first collision between the advancing
British column and the Afghans occurred on
the 21st in front of Ali Musid in the Khyber
pass. The guns from the tort as Gen. Browns
column came in sight fired their first shot
about noon. The afternoon was mainly occu-
pied in taking up positions, though now and
then sharp skirmishes occurred supplemented
by brisk firing from the town. Night coming
on, further operations were suspended until
tomorrow. Next morning it was discovered
that the Afghans In the night had abandoned
the fort, and the English took possession, seiz-
ing arms, food and 81 cannon. \ number of
prisoners were also taken, among them the
commander of the fort. The English loss in
the affair was about 300 killed and wounded.
The hill tribes generally assisted the English
and intercepted 500 of the fugitive garrison.
Since the oath there has been no fighting but
the English have taken Dakka, Is miles be.
yond Ali Musjld, Jelalabad, and Fort Khur.
nm, all of which were deserted by the Afghan
garrisons, who are flying to Cabul, 100 miles
away.
GENERAL NEWS.
There are growing indications Of trouble
between England and Russia over the Afghan
question. BY many war is regarded as newt
able
Bankruptcies continue. Mitchell Bros flax
spinncrs, Belfast; j. Il j. FentOn, private
bankers, Rochdale, and two OF the largest slate
factories at Bangor, Wales, are among the la
test failures.
Ten thousand cotton spinners at Oldham
went on strike on Monday, and 100 mill,
there have stopped running. The strike of the
Clyde ship builders Is ended. The Stafford
shire nail makers have given notice of thcil
intention To strike on the Both.