The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-02-04 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

DONE A DEAL OF QUIET, USEFUL WORK.—Mr. Bruce, M.P., Vice-President of the Board of Educe tion, has been addressing his constituent at Merthyr. Having referred at some length to foreign topics, yin. dicating the course pursued by the Government, the hon. gentleman turned to domestic questions, and claimed for the present Parliament that, though it showed no very brilliant results, it had done a great deal of quiet useful work, which evinced a deep and sincere interest in the welfare of the country As in stances of this, he referred to the Post office Savings Bank measure, the Government Annuities Bill, the general spread of Education by Government aid, the application of the Factory Acts to trades not hitherto brought under their operation, and t 3 other kindred measures.  A GooD Sunarsrlom.—Dr. Charles Kidd, of London, writes to the Daily Nuys : A ad acriglent Is mentioned In the country, where a young lady and gentleman were engulphed In broken Ice, and when taken out an hour after, "of course no effort was made to restore life," says the local reporter, and they were carried home dead. I mentioned • case last year exactly similar, where life was restored after four hours of warmth and electricity. What a pity the same publicity Is not given to such facts as to the Irredeemable folly and fudge of photograph ,oic_ures from the retina of the eye of persons murdered—an Important piece of nonsense without one grain of troth to recommend It. Why Is it we care so little snout taring life and so much about hangings and murders Let ter4 from KeViTal TIIE PERILS Or THE SF:A Of the passengers who went out in the auxiliary screw steamship Loudon have been received, dated Capetovvn, December 6, 1864. This splendid new ship Hailed from the East India Docks on the 20th of October last, with a full compliment of first, second, and third class pamengers for Melbourne, confidently hoping to reach their destination in sixty days. Everything went on well till the '2lst of November, when she encountered a severe gale. Several of the sailors were at work on the forecastle, and, unfortunately, one was washed overboard. Instant measures were retorted to save him; several life-buoys were thrown to his assistance, and it is believed that the drowning man clung to one of them. Mr. Harris, the sailing-master, lost no time in lowering the lifeboat, when he and five men got into it to go to the poor fellow's rescue. The fury of the neither the boat nor the man could be seen. The waves, however, was so great that in a few moments  _ eaptain ordered the sails to be reef,. I in order Gr stop Lit,, ship, as she was under canvass. 'rho tires were lighted, and the steam got Ito as smiekly as possible. The vessel was then steamed in search. of the missing men for at tenet thirty miles, I.ut without maws. No trace of the boat upsetting and the men being drowned could he found. Night setting in and all further search being considered useless, the captain ordered the vessel to puraue ite course. The calamity caused a general gloom among the passengers anti crew. It is, however, hoped by those on board that having lost sight of the ship, Mr. Ihirris and his men made for land, the poor fellow:I being about sixty mils,, from Trinidad. Archdeacon Riley, who is among the pasaengers, preached three affecting sermons on the occasion, and prayed that if they are still alive they may be directed to tind lansl, so as not to perish with hunger. The London sailed for Melbourne from Capetown on the 7th of December, having been replenished with coals, water, and sheep, A