The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-26
THE OLD WORLD.
News by Cable From Different
Countries.
The Situation In the Soudan Very
Alarming.
Seventeen Passengers Killed by a Boiler
Explosion In China.
ENGLAND.

LONDON, Feb 2o.-Shortly after one O'Clock
this morning terrible explosion occurred in
the cloak room at the Victoria railway station
in London. The explosive agent was undoubt-
edly dynamite. A large portion Of the roof
was blown off and nearly all the glass work In
the station destroyed. Seven men were sent to
the hospital with severe injuries. Extensive
damage was done to sa rounding property.
LONDON, Feb. 25-The Standard publishes
this morning a communication from its Berlin
correspondent which contains the following
sentences: "Tbe independent papers are bitter
ly complaining at the dishonorable semi-oficial
attacks upon Minister Sargent, who has never
been popular in official circles here. The iu-
spired press pretsnds that he Is unpopular be-
cause he Is merely politician and not schol-
gent does not regard bis position as sinecure,
but energetically fulflls his political duties
which fact often occasions difficulties"
Mr.. Chamoerlsin's shipping bill ID issued by
the Queens printers. There are very string
ent clauses on the subject of insurance. The
bill proposes to prevent the insurer from OBJ
tanning more than indemnity for the actual
loss Suffered. There Is to be no profit In ship
wrecks. IT 1t can be shown that the ship was
unseaworthy when she started, or if her loss
results from the neglect Of her owner or his
agent to provide all reasonable requisites for
the voyage, the right of recovery against .
maritime policy ceases, and no claim can be
enforced
1t has been arranged for the Queen to start
for the continent the first week in April. Ths
exact date will be kept secret, as also the
route by which she goes, az the Queen Is still
troubled with fears Of q possible outrage. She
will make the voyage in the royal yacht Os-
borne, which will have the ships A Iberia, En-
chantress and Galatea az escorts. The Queen
will be away from England month, greater
part OF the time at Dsrmstadt, where she goes
to attend the wedding of her niece, the Prin-
cess Victoria of Hesse.
The Pail Mall Gazette as well as the Tory
evening papers deprecate the reported advance
OF General Graham upon Teb, where Osman
Digma is stationed. as hazardous and needless.
Mr.. Foote, editor OF the Free Thinker, has
completed a years imprisonment for bssphe-
my. Bradlaugh with 1000 sympathizers met
him at the gate of the prison as he came
forth today.
Sir Henry Brand, retired speaker Of the
House of Commons has been elevated to a
peersge with the title Of Lord Hampden.
Brooks bust Of Longfellow has been COM
pleted and will be placed in conspicuous an
gle of the poets corner in Westminster Alb
bey between the buSts of Chaucer and Dryden.
1t will bear the following inscription left by
Dean Stanley: This bust was placed among
the memorisls Of the poets of England by En-
glish admirers OF the American poet" The
memorial committee has invited Gladstone to
unveil the monument next Saturday.
GIBRALTAR, Feb. 25.-An American ship
which arrived here for repairs was seized by
Spanish revenue officers for anchoring in Span
ish waters and subjected to heavy fine on the
charge of breaking bulk. The captain de-
manded BIRTHS protecti IN, for IL was believed
the anchorage was in British waters
SWHTZERLA ND.
BERNE Feb. 25.-Bienne, a small city IT
miles northeast OF here, was the scene OF a
fatal accident this morning. Five lsborers in
quarry were killed by falling masses of stone.
RUSSIA.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 25.-The Ignatieff
committee, who have been examining into the
administration of Turkestsn, have detected a
deficiency of 100, ,O00, 900 rubles in the last Il
years.
LONDON, Feb. 20 1t is stated that Russia
has voluntarily offered England pledge to
stop at Merv and to use her influence with the
Kharys of Bokhara and the Kline, 10 facili-
tate English commerce. 1t is further stated
| that the Russian Governm ant has invited
England to join in constructing canal from