The Cotton Factory Times. — 1889-12-20 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

TWO CHILDREN BCRNED TO DEATH.—Two children, a boy aged three and a girl aged five years, lost their lives on Sunday morning at Peuclawdn, near Swansea, by pouring paraffin on a tire which they had lighted in a room in their parents' house.  PLATELI';T,: DtCAVITATED.-OU Tuesday LOOTTI• log, shortly alter eight o'clock, a platelayer, named Stephen Idusgras,e, living in Plant-row. Romanterrace, was knocked down by a Leeds express to Sheffield in the cutting at Meaborough West-end Junction. Deceased was employed as flagman to lessen the speed of trains in the cutting, and it is supposed that his attention being directed to another train the fast one came upon him unawares. His head was severed, and his body was frightfully mutilated.  A tragic affair happened at the Church of the Messiah (Unitarian) Sunday Schools, in Birmingham, on Sunday morning, a young man named Walter Johnson shooting himself in the presence of an adult class of which he is the secretary. He had read a paper in a very composed manner, and, after announcing that he should not be able to attend a meeting on Thnrsday, sat down and pulled out a six-chambered revolver and fired at his throat, indicting a superficial injury. 11,- was overp,,wered and taken to the lock-up, and released on bail.  TRAC,TC ScrNE IN A iirNDAY Scaom..—An extraordinary affair happened at the Church of the Messiah Unitarian Sunday Schools in Birmingham on Sunday, a young man named Walter Johnson shooting himself in the presence of an adult class, of which he is the secretary. He had read a paper in a very composed manner, and after announcing that he should not be able to attend a meeting on Thursday, sat down and pulled out a six-chambered revolver and fired a shot at his throat. inflicting a superficial injury. He was overpowered and taken to the lockup and released on bail.  Six MONTHS roe WIFE KILLIN(i.—At the Liverpool Aesiees, on Monday, Andrew Tracy, labourer, was placed on his trial charged with the wilful murder of his wife. The deceased was very much addicted to drink, and frequently pawued or sold articles belonging to the prisoner and his children. Tu the course of a quarrel, the prisoner, being elaeperated. exit the woman's throat, and then his own. She died immediately, and he was in hoepital for several mouths. The jury found a verdict of manslaughter. The Judge passed sentence of six mouths' imprisonment. ; A QC/ARMIN DROWNED Dr am: THE Foe AT IDlX.—During the fog which prevailed on Sunday night, a delver named William Allsop, sixty years of age, who resided at Hillytield, Idle, walked into the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and was drowned. He WAS returning to his home along Apperlewroad, from Apperley Bridge. about 10 30 p.m., when he was observed by two men named Bottomley and Garnett, who were close behind, to leave the highway and walk into the canal close to the bridge. : They followed immediately to the spot where he had stepped from the canal hank. and shouted. but they were nnable to see or hear anything of him. They then communicated with the police, who dragged the canal. arid about midnight found the dead body of Allsop, Who was upright, with his head out of the-water. YORKSHIRE Comeene Senreceenee AND mete WIAFth.-- Delegates representing the eurfacemen employed at most of the collieries of South Yorkshire, as well as of some of the collieries in West Yorkshire, met on Saturday night at the Duke of York Hotel, Barnsley, to consider the movement for an advance of wages. Reports were submitted showing the results of interviews with employers on the subject, from which it appeared that at the Rockingham and Taukereley collieries the full advance asked—a total of 00 per cent, on the wages of last July—had been conceded. At other places the reply was that they would "go with the district," and others had given an undecided answer. It had been previously decided to give notice on the 19th inst. if no satisfactory advance was made, and accordingly forms of notice were distributed on Saturday night; and it was decided that at all places where the advance is not conceded notice shall be given on Wednesday to expire on eke 31st inst. Practically the whole of the men in South Yorkshire, with the exceptions above named, will thus give notice, and it was decided that no further meeting be held until the first Saturday in Januare', ! when the notices will have expired. A circular was issued to all the colliery surfacemen in Yorkshire, urging them to join in the movement, and to organise themselves by joining the Yorkshire Miners' Association, as only by so doing could they hope to : get the fair value of their labour. Seem:el