Evening Express

TO-DAVS WEATHER. The forecast of the weather throughout the West of Enekuid and South Wales for in-iity (Thursday) is as follows:—E. and :E. winds, light; fair at first, doubtful later, possibly thunder shoicers.

DATE. 1- TEMPERATURE.! RAINFALL Max.| Mm. iMean. 9a.m |9p.m.iTotal. Friday 2' 69 51 61*5 *00 *00 "00 Satiirda y 3 73 54 64'0 i "00 "00 :00 ) r f-'undav 4 78 55 70"0 "00 "00 "00 Monday 5 81 62 71*5 "00 "00 "00 T,iesday 6 81 62 71*5 "00 -00 -00 Wednesday. 7 79 51 65'0 -00 "00 *00 ILiurscLiy. 8 *00

Telephone: National. 502. Post-office. 95. Telegrams- Express Cardiff.

WHAT WE THINK. It gave general pleasure yesterday, when it was noted that the exceedingly narrow-minded action of certain members of the Cardiff School Beard did not interfere with the pleasures of the children at the Sophia Gardens fete. We are. unfortunately, accustomed to see party antagonism carried into every little circum- stance of public life on the Liberal side in Wales. We have grown so used to teetotal fanaticism that we hardly notice it, except when it makes a bigger break than usual. The whole force of public sentiment moves against it when our public men lay themselves open to the suspicion that they allow themselves in their public capacity to be actuated by either of these failings. The gala happened to be in aid of the Penarth Conservative Club, and this led to the issue of a peremptory circular by Mr. Lewis Williams, ordering teachers not to allow the distribution of tickets to-the school- children. A few local gentlemen had subscribed to purchase a number of gala tickets *() give the children this treat. The objects of the had nothing to do with this distribution. The tickets were a gift in celebration of a local wedding which occurred on the same day as the gala. It is encouraging to notice that the public sentiment went dead agaiust this extra- ordinary action on the part of the school board chairman, and that nearly five thousand children passed the turnstiles before four o'clock yesterday afternoon. The attendance both of children and their parents was quite distinct from party. The only atmosphere of party hung :n a haze round that happily abor- tive circular.

Powder and Shot. Fogs and heat waves are both unpleasant in their kind, and it is not often that London has bcth at the same time, as this morning. It was a striking, and, in view of its probable cause, a South Wales coal striking combination of atmospheric phenomena, which to see is not to love. The Rev. J. M. Saunders. M.A., and Mrs. Saunders have arrived home in Swansea from America-they have decided to remain in Wales, and not. as reported, in America.The more reverends we can keep in Wales the better. What on earth would become of us it they all emigrated? And what would become of America? < We have heard so many things of Jimmy Michael that we are prepared for anything. But we never expected such a shock as this:- The little Welsh wonder we were told some time ago) took a vacation from the bicycle and spent it as a jockey. Now he has taken a day off from both, and has dived into litera- ture as the "Welsh midget novelist." The New York "Evening World'" announces a "thrilling serial romance," entitled "Paced to Victory by Love." A correspondent telegraphs from New York that many deaths from sunstroke occurred yes- igrday, _"wljitii_ wa3, a holiday, when everyone tried to be out of doors, with deadly effect." The moral is that if people will persist in going out of doors with deadly effect, they must expect to hop across a sunstroke death. It was a holiday in Cardiff yesterday, and a big fete and gala day to boot, yet everyone was careful enough on going to the park, to leave any effects of a fatal kind at home. Here is a new method of indicating speed in travelling. It is A telegram from this morning's "Mail" .—" 'Over 500 Arabs mounted on camels have been despatched after the Khalifa. He is reported to be moving with 'such speed that seme of his wives have been dropped on the road." But the news leaves U6 a little in the dark. There must be something very remark- able about the Khalifa's speed, or something lacking in his wives—we don't know which. We saw A coloured gentleman last evening moving with terrific speed along Bute-street towards the club-but do you think he could drop his wife? No! The good lady followed up behind. and nailed him. and the heat-wave in Bute-road last night was blue. • •••*• We quote a telegram this morning to the effect that the Khalifa is flying with such speed "that some of his wives have been dropped on the road." This moves us to deep thought. Does the Khalifa jettison his wives to lighten his baggage (we have heard wives called "baggage" by bad men before)? Does he drop them because he cannot stand their talk about Omdurman ? Have they been dropped through stepping too persistently to pick up hatpins? Does the Khalifa leave a wife at every mile- stone in the hope that they will freeze to the Sirdar and talk him to death? Or does he drop a wife after the fashion of the Russian sleigh-driver, who drops out bits of meat when pursued by wolves? How many wives wives has the Khalifa to waste, anyhow? • » » » • • We are glad to welcome Jimmy Michael as a private in the literary ranks. although he will find it harder work to win on our track than on the bicycle—and the training will be several times more arduous. But the American paper which is publishing a maiden effort of Jimmy's evidently believes in the faith cure for any literary rawness. It tells us that "the pen is mightier than the wheel, no doubt, but the world's greatest bicyclist has proved that he is master of both implements. In fact. he has combined wheeling and literature to such effect that he has turned out the best. most thrilling bicycle story ever written. Of the many thousands who have cheered Jimmy Michael on to victory, few. perhaps, have guessed that the marvellous athlete is as clever with the pen as on the track." It has become fashionable these days to follow one rapid road to success in literature. The aspirant first sets himself to work, and wins notoriety as A jockey, \an actor, a bank- rupt on a large scale, a North Pole explorer, a pugilist, a millionaire, or anything which is easier to gain than literary fame. Once he has made himself notorious he writes a book—and, presto, he is a popular author. Jimmy Michael, starting on the bicycle, should finish neck-and- neck with Dickens or Sir Walter Scott upon this principle. This is a hint at the synopsis of Jimmy's story:—Two bicyclists hate each other for the strangest reason imaginable. In- cidentally they love the same girl. They race for a prize such as no other men in the history of cycling ever had a chance of gaining. The happiness and well being of four people are at stake. Life. love, wealth all hang in the balance. The finish line is neared, when sud- denly and unexpectedly—but it would be utterly unfair to Mr. Michael to spoil his story by continuing a ragged outlirte of it. We have noticed something queer about the sun of late. So have many folk—but they all put it down to liver, and took pills. Now here comes a Barry man, who reckons us up: — Sir,—I presume your astronomer-in-chief is on his holidays. May I usurp his functions? There is an uncommonly large sun spot visible just now, which, representing a violent distur- bance in that luminary's surface, may account for the abnormal heat. It can be seen with the naked eye at sunset, when the sun reaches the bank of low-lying haze, or, with a coloured or smoked glass it can be seen at any time. I have been watching it these three days past. -Yonrs, Ac., SPOT." We have interviewed the office astronomer with considerable hauteur (we won't say heat) upon the subject, and he says he knew all about the spot, but didn't want to frighten us, He did not feel inclined to talk, he says. of violent disturbance in that luminary's surface, because he noticed similar disturbances under this luminary's surface (meaning us), and couldn't stand two such phenomena going at the same time. • ••••• By the way, talking of Michael this morning, there's a high Romeo-and-Julietty flavour about the latest arrival on the cycle track. She is Lizette-a little creature, not much over 5ft. in height and weighing only 931b. She and Michael are in the same class of midget phenomena. She has heralded her arrival in America with a letter, in which she says:—"In February. 1896. I had a match on the winter track in Paris against Michael—the best little Welshman against the best little Frenchwoman. I have not seen him since, but I wish him much success—myself also." And then Lisette was tackled by the interviewer on landing in the States, and she let herself go. "Oh. yes. I raced with Monsieur Michael once." said Lisette. "He is a wonderful rider, and although I had a handicap of over five miles, yet he beat me. That was three years ago, however, when I had not so much experience as now. I should like to enter the lists again with Monsieur Michael, but I believe that the League of American Wheelmen does not permit a man to race with a woman. I am sorry, for I should like another try."

SENSITIVE PAUPERS. Mr. Braxton Hicks held an inquiry on Wed- nesday at Lambeth concerning the death of Mary Parker. aged 79. who committed suicide in the Lambeth Infirmary by jumping from a window. It was stated that this was the second suicide from a window within five ■<"eeks. A bar had been placed across the window from which the former suicide jumped. Mr. Turner, A member of the board of guar- dians, said that the matter would be dealt with by the committee at once. Mr. Hicks: That is the question for my jury—what is going to be done. Are you going to put another bar across? Mr. Turner: These people are very sensitive, and they say bars make the place look like a prison. The Coroner: I have bairs in my nursery, and I should have thought there was no harm in them. Mr. Turner: These people are very awkward to deal with, being so sensitive. Mr. Hicks: However, as you assure us some- thing will be done, that is enough for our purpose.

FOOTBALL. CARDIFF FOOTBALL CLUB.—Members lOs" Ground 5s.. and Workmen's 2s. 6d. Tickets are now ready, and may be obtained from the Secretary, 53. Queen-street, until Saturday Even- ing Next, after which date the Ground and Workmen's Tickets will be sold at the Cardiff Arms Park. e7041 CARDIFF FOOTBALL CLUB.-Practice Matches, Cardiff Arms Park Saturdav, Septem- ber 17th. All players wishing to take part in the above are renuested to forwnrd their names and position on field to the Secretary. 53, Queen- strest, by the 12th inst. e7040

Penarth Football Club. A practice game will take place on Saturday, September 10th; kick-off at four o'clock. Any- one wishing to take part are requested to send their names and position in which they play to the Secretary, 115. Pla;sey-street, Penarth, not later than Friday evening. E703&,

Llwynypia Football Club. The first practice game of the above club will take place on Saturday next, 10th Septem- her. at five o'clock. Any players desirous of joining this Club are invited to take part in this trial match. The secretary will be glad to reneivft namesFr;/Uv nii^ht,. K705n 1

Big Fire at Cardiff. I WAGON WORKS DESTROYED. SINGULAR PREDICAMENT OF THE FIRE BRIGADE. Cardiff was the scene of another disastrous fire on Wednesday night. At five and twenty minutes to twelve John Templeman, a fore- man in the employ of the Cardiff Railway Company, was riding on an engine on the east side of the East Dock. When passing TIE premises of the North Central Wagon Works Company (Limited), he discerned a strong smell of firé. The engine was stopped, and Templeman alighted and instituted a search, with the result that he found an out- break of fire in the boiler-house. He imme- diately raised an alarm, and he and the engine-driver, fireman, and others at once removed a number of railway wagons. But the fire had already obtained A hold. and. fanned by a gentle breeze, the flames spread with remarkable rapidity. From the boiler iious-A they passed to the wagon house—A wooden structure with a cor- rugated iron roof—and very soon nearly the whole building was enveloped. Meanwhile the members of the Bute Docks Fire Brigade had been called, and within a short space of time four jets of water were playing upon the flames. For a time the efforts of the firemen had but little effect. The whole structure and it3 contents were made of wood, and burnt like matchboarding. # In half an hour or so the roof fell in with a crash, whilst the whole of dockland was illuminated. A large number of people were attracted to the spot. The firemen then directed their efforts "towards saving the adjoining premises. At one end were further works of the same company, whilst at the other, separated by a short distance, were the offices. On one side was another wagon shed, and on the other were buildings belonging to the Cardiff Railway Company. Considering the fierceness with which the fire raged, and the showers of sparks which fell in all direc- tions, this was no easy matter, but so well did the brigade work that in an hour and a half they, not only prevented any extension, but succeeded in getting the flames well under con- trol. It was at this point that the town brigade arrived on th9 spot with the steam fire engine. They were greeted with ironical cheering, the crowd being under the impression that they had been sent for. but had missed their way. In conversation with our reporter, however, several men belonging to the brigade said they had received no call, and that was why they had not gone earlier. They had seen the fire, and had been waiting in readiness for a call, but AI they did not receive one they did not know where the fire was located. After waiting for an hour or more they decided to try and find it. and guided by the flare they had no difficulty in doing so. They arrived too late, however, to be of any service. Up to the time our reporter left no official of the company had, as far as he could gather, arrived on the scene, and, consequently, no idea could be got as to the loss sustained by the company. This, however. must be substantial. The premises contained six or seven lots of rails, and on all these were numbers of railway wagons, many of which were new ones. All of them were destroyed. A telegraph pole caught fire. and the upper portion of it was burnt. The damage will amount to several thousand pounds, but it is not known whether the premises were insured or not.

THE DREYFUS CASE, A Renter's telegram from Paris on Wednes- day says:—The newspapers this morning all agree in stating that the Dreyfus case occu- pied the greater part of yesterday's Cabinet Council. The "Figaro" understands that the principle of revision was unanimously ad- milted, and that the Minister of Justice was empowered to set the law in motion. The 'Matin" re-produces a rumour that the inquiry opened at the Ministry of War since the dis- covery of Colonel Henry's forgery has disclosed traces of certain acts of grave irregularity committed by other officers of the general staff. General Zurlinder is said to have made a communication on the subject to his col- leagues yesterday after having conferred at length with M. Cavaignac in the course of the morning. The "Matin" also understands that General Zurlinder at the Cabinet Council ex- pressed himself in favour of a reform of the Intelligence Department at the Ministry of War. He was charged to consider a measure to ex- clude the officers of the general staff from the scope of public work now being carried on ¡ hy the Intelligence Department. THE ALLEGED LETTERS FnOM THE KAISER. An Excharge Company's telegram from Paris on Wednesday says:—No secrecy is made now about the nature of the documents termed ultra secrets." They consist mainly of letters attributed to the Emperor William and of correspondence between the Emperor and the German Ambassador in Paris, Count Munstcr. It goes without saying that the authenticity of these letters—which are said to refer to Dreyfus in several passages—is contested by the defenders of Dreyfus, and, after the categorical denial given by the Ger- man Minister for Foreign Affairs. Her Von Buelow, as to Germany's relations with Dreyfus, there is little doubt that these documents and others of a like nature will prove to be apo- cryphal. Regarding M. Paty du Clam, it is said that his silence, in face of the very grave allegations made against him, is due to the fact that he received orders from his superiors to this effect. It is also given out that M. Cavaignac's relationship to M. Paty du Clam is one of the main reasons why the former so energetically opposed the revision of the Dreyfus trial. The latest news received by M. Mathieu Dreyfus from his brother is to the effect that the condemned man has become acclimatised, and is physically well. HAS MAJOR ESTERHAZY DISAPPEARED? An Exchange Company's telegram from Paris on Wednesday says:—It is reported that the inquiry instituted by the War Office since the discovery of the late Colonef Henry's forgery has resulted in further facts incriminating several officers of the Etat-Major being brought to light. A rumour is current that Major Esiterhazy has disappeared. DEEYFUS'S LAST LETTER. Subjoined is the text of the last letter of Captain Dreyfiu. It is dated June 27, AQD runs as follows: — "My dear and good Lucie,—Across the dis- tance which separates us I feel how distressed you are—suffering not only your own suffer- ings, but mine—that I wish to talk to you, although I wrote to you a few days ago. I wish to draw still nearer to you in spirit. though my thoughts never leave you, and always, also, to repeat to you the words which must keep up your unshaken courage. Inno- cent of this abominable crime, as I have told you, I have thrown my appealing cry towards my country, demanding my honour, the revi- sion of my trial. We have both suffered too much mentally; our sufferings have lasted too long A time; the hours are too long for me to talk to you about myself. All that I can tell you is that day and night, every hour. every minute, my heart, my thoughts, all that is living within me, is for you and our children. My life certainly belongs to my country to-day, AS it did yesterday; but my honour does not belong to it-it is the birthright of our children, the sacred claim of two families. Therefore, being innocent of this abominable crime. I have thrown my cry of distress towards my country, asking for my honour with all my heart of a Frenchman and a soldier, with all my heart of a husband and a father, to ask M. Ie President de la Republique for the revision of my trial. I embrace you, as I love you, with all the force of my affection, as well as oar dear and adored children.—Your devoted ALFRED."

DEATH OF THE EARL OF WINCHTLSEA. The Earl of Winchilsea, died shortly before five o'clock on Wednesday afternoon at Haver- holme Priory, near Sleaford, in the presence of his family and several relatives. Lord Winchilsea was the twelfth earl. Born in 1851. he succeeded to the title in 1887. He vas educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford, and became a fellow of Hertford College. In politics he was a Conservative, representing South Lincolnshire from 1884 to 1887. The deceased peer displayed the greatest interest in agricultural matters, aiding materially the movement for promoting the SALE of British dairy farm produce in the Metropolis. He was well known as the founder rnd prssident of the Agricultural Union. He is succ-nied by his brother, the Hon. Henry Stormont Finch-Hatton.

A fire broke out on Tuesday night at the library of Mr. Lenox's house at Ynysangharad Park, Pontypridd, but was extinguished by the brigade before serious daijOQags was done.

Dark Side of Klondyke. LETTER FROM A DISAP- POINTED PROSPECTOR. The "Enniscorthy Guardian" for Saturday. August 27, contained a post-card and a letter describing life at Klondyke from Mr. Ralph Geoffry Grey* a young relative of Mr. Cornelius Lundie. general manager of the Rhymney Railway. The postcard was dated Yukon, June 1. and read as follows:—"This is just written with a bare chance of getting to post, to let you know that we are so far and all well. We got to Indian River, 30 miles above Dawson, on May 29, and are going up this river about 80 miles to the head waters to prospect, and may not be in Dawson for some weeks. It is a shallow river, and we are dragging the boat up. walking in the water most of the time. We have left most of our stuff near the mouth, hoping to find it when we come back, and have taken only five or six weeks' grub. Weather fine, hot; mosquitoes not as bad as they will be. They say that almost every inch of good country is already staked off in claims, and if our chances are slim, it i5 a poor look out for the thousands coming behind. The 'boom' will fizzle out this year probably. It seems the rich country is very limited, and already owned. At the same time. worthless claims are being sold for thousands down in the coast towns. I wonder when I will get news of you all?—R. G. G." Tha letter is dated from Dawson, N.W.T., July 8, 1898. The following extracts are taken from it: — My dear Father,—We got to Dawson yester- day. and I got your letter of May 6 to-day. First let me say that the great rush to the Yukon has turned out a fiasco, at least for 90 per cent. or more of those who have got in or will get in since last fall. and we are no exception. We came on down from the lower end of Teslin Lake, where we had got to on ice, and where we built our boat. On May 21 got to the Yukon (mouth of Hootalinqua); on May 24 with the British ensign floating over the N.W. Mounted Police-station to welcome us. and lots of people mostly Americans, there, who were coming over the Chilcoot and White Passes. There we got news of the outside world, and heard of the war for the first time. We got to the mouth of the Indian River on the Yukon. 30 miles above Davson on May 29. We turned up that river to go prospecting. leaving most of our goods in a cache on high poles on the bank. We had a hard struggle getting up stream against rapids and over shallows, two men in the boat poling, and the others walking along the banks with a long line, struggling through bush. round rock bluffs, where the river was a torrent passing the rope round, over, or under all kinds of obstacles, as fallen banks. trees, &c. We were all in the water half the time up to our waists, but, though the water was cold. the weather was generally warm and fine. It took us a week to get 80 or so miles, and were the first lot up. We got to the mouth of Eureka Creek, where several men wers on their claims, and, from information received, decided to go and explore. We put our packs on our backs—blankets, grub, pick, shovel, and gold pan and washing pots- and started off through the forests and over the mountains. We found a big creek with several branches that we knew was marked on no map. and which seemed to lie in the forma- tion of the gold-bearing hills and bore good indications. So we started to prospect, divert- ing the course of the stream to get to bedrock, and sinking holes through the frozen ground by means of fires at first, and. when water accumulated, hot stones; but found no gold. In the meantime news spread that a new creek had been discovered, and people flocked to the district, where before we found no trace of mail, but old tracks of Indian hunters. Nothing, however, was found, and we abandoned the crsek. We tried a number of other creeks. but found that every one running into the Indian River was staked off in claims. All this winter people have been stampeding out of Dawson, and staking and recording claims, till there is actually no creek or beach or ground left unstaked that is worth anything. We came on to Dawson after picking up our c'lche, which we hardly expected to find. as forest fires were raging everywhere, and we had seen the remains of other caches burnt up. Dawson is a. town of tents. They say between 15,000 and 20.000 people are here. and more caming- every day. We are camped on a gravel bar exposed by low water. If it should rain and the river rise we should be flooded out. The Yukon when we came down first was a mighty torrent. In June it fell 15ft.. and the day before we got to Dawson rose about 2ft., flooding out all the camping ground at the water's edge along the front of Dawson. I may say that it is almost as light here all night as in daytime for the two or three summer months a great advantage for people travelling with packs on their backs across country, as they go during the cool night, and need little blanket when sleeping in the warm day. Of course. when it rains they catch it, as we have done once or twice. Now I must speak of the situation. Well, we are. it is almost decided, just going out again. I expect we will go down the Yukon the remaining 1.600 miles to the coast in our boat, and take ocean steamer at St. Michael's. It is useless to hunt for claims. We had our chance on one of the few unknown creeks of the country. It did not pan out, and our chance passed. Every other creek near the gold region has its thou- sands. One thought, as the papers and autho- rities said, that there must be room in the country for everyone, but the fact APPEARS that a creek or river is soon staked off. The "Crown" (?) reserves half. and ten claims go to the mile. The trouble is that the law is shame- fully administered, and in a manner that gives no chance to the bona fide prospector. The cry of everyone is the corruption of officials, every one—the police. land office, post-office, gold commissioner's office. The country is stampeded and staked off on speculation, and the working prospector has no chance to test the ground: he must stake with the stampede. and take his chance and the chances are that a man must search a long time before he finds gold, and then he should be able to stake his claim. The law allows only one claim per man. but the officials give endless opportunities to their friends or those who bribe, and men have staked off dozens of claims in fictitious names and sold them in Dawson. They say many lives were lost by men stampeding out of Dawson during the winter, gamblers, saloon men, hangers-on, Ac., travelling in the extreme cold and some losing their way. It is absurd. Every little creek that is not worth a dam—that is to say, damming for sluicing purposes—is staked on the chance of selling to tenderfeet' and companies when the boom is on. There will be far more worthless claims sold than there are good ones. Of course, there are rich claims on the Klondyke tribu- taries, but many of them hardly pay to work. though this winter, with labour and food cheaper, they will pay better. One wonders if the expected great rush by ocean steamers up the Yukon will take place, and if European tenderfeet will flock in. Poor beggars! I hope not. No claims to stake and no work to get. They say for every kind of job in Dawson there are hundreds of applicants. There is little work about the mines after the wash up as soon as summer opens till early in November. Winter is the time for the firing process required for mining in this country, as water stops it in summer. It is curious, this frozen country. In the heat of summer you can put a stick down through a foot of moss and surface mould, and strike hard, frozen ground that never thaws. Of course, we return worse off than when we started, but I think we are lucky if we get out with good health. I do not regret having come. The adventure and experience will have been worth the trouble and loss. There are numbers of tents across the Yukon, and a little town across the Klondyke at the mouth. It has always been called Louse Town, but has lately blos- somed into Klondyke City. A bridge connects it with Dawson—charge 50c. (2s.) to cross each time. The authorities have given it a monopoly, and allow no ferries. A man applied lately for a ferry, and got it. The second day he was stopped, and it appears that it was only a trick to levy blackmail on the bridge people again, as when they complained of it to the authorities they had to square them in order to have the ferry stopped. So everything is run. The post-office is run by the mounted police, of whom there are numbers in Dawson doing nothing but levying blackmail. They work the post-office purposely short- handed. Mails are weeks behind in being delivered. All day long a long file of people stands outside the post-office for hours to get letters or inquire for them. The idea is that those who are willing may come to a side door and pay the officials to get the mail quickly. We had to pay £1 for our party's first mail. They levy blackmail on the saloons and gambling-houses, &c. The Gold Commis- sioner's and Record Office is run on the same plan. You give backsheesh for everything you want. The Government have evidently sent the I rag-tag and bobtail of their party and hangers- on. and they are working the country for all it is worth while their time lasts. Martial law I is in force, and the police are in power. If any- one offends them they run him in on short notice, and he is fined or imprisoned. I have not. of course, been able to verify all this for myself, but a great deal is true. and more also. The situation of Dawson at the confluence of the Klondyke and the mighty Yukon, sur- rounded by high hills, is very fine, and some day it may he a pretty town; but if no further rich strikes are ma.de. and remembering its eight I months of Arctic winter, it will never be a fashionable rejort or a very populous place. The question with thousands is—Now we are in J Klondyke. what shall we do? Most, no doubt, will go out. but enough will be left to flood the labour market." Writinll: further on JULY 12. Mjr. Grey says; —I "A mail goes out to-day, so J will post this. No river boats from St. Michael's are up yet. Tha town is exercised-I cannot say excited; the silent crowds of disgusted men one sees cannot be called excited-about a. fresh case of official corruption. A certain portion of the Klondyke district has been reserved on account of some disputes, and had then been thrown open to prospectors, and it was found that the officials had already put their creatures on to stake it. reserving half for themselves, and when the rush got out they found it all staked off. I could wish for nothing better than a revolt, our en- sign hauled down to save it from further disgrace, and the Stars and Stripes hauled up, officials kicked out, mounted police and all. and miners' law established. There are crowds of Australians here, enticed by advertisements of Canadian Government agents. They compare this with Australia, where the mining laws are good and well administered, and the genuine working miner has a chance, and call it here a. huge fraud. Those of them who can afford are going straight home, and they will give tho Canadian Government a good name in their country papers." PROSPECTS FOR THE WINTER. A telegram from Dawson City, dated August 20, via Victoria (B.C.), September 7, says:—Large parties of all classes are leaving this city for the south. Nevertheless, fully 20,000 will re- main throughout the winter. Steamers are arriving almost daily at St. Michael's. Ample supplies are, therefore, assured, though there is some expectation that there will be a re- newal of high prices. The situation will be chiefly affected by the final decision of the Government authorities regarding the royalty demanded on gold found by prospectors. If the royalty is abolished, work will be plentiful-; if maintained, dire desti- tution awaits those who have no money to go on with. Winter will find many still located in tents without the means of securing better shelter. Meanwhile consider- able prospectmg is being done. Summer digging is continuing active. The natural richness of the diggings is the only thing that saves the country from collapse under exist- ing administrative conditions. The depression in values of really rich reining properties affords speculators greater opportunities than are enjoyed by prospectors, who naturally largely predominate in numbers. Already there is a considerable amount of typhoid in the city, and a prospect of much more, for the sanitary conditions are execrable. Perfect order now prevails, and for the future is cer- tain. Two hundred Militia have arrived from Selkirk, but their presence is regarded as an unnecessary burden on the country. Mr. Wade, the Crown Prosecutor, left yesterday. A telegram from Skaguay on September 2, via Victoria (B.C.) September 7. says:—Mr. Ogilvie, of the Geological Survey and Mines Department, and a large staff left here on Monday for Dawson City, in order to re-orga- nise the Gold Commissioner's Office. A general amelioration of the conditions there is antici- pated. In consequence of the discovery of promising new diggings at Lake Atlin. near Bennett City, there has been a rush of over 1,000 prospectors from the coast towns. Four creeks are entirely staked out in claims, hut it is impossible to estimate with any precision the value of the discoveries until more pros- pecting is done. Many will winter at Lake Atlin. The general exodus from Dawson City continues. Every outgoing steamer will bit crowded until navigation closes.

SHIPPING CASUALTIES. The Press Association Holyhead correspon dent telegraphs that the Cork steamer Dotterel has arrived there with the crew of the French steamer Fostimora (Captain Le Block;. Captain Nance reports that the French vessel ioun- dered on Wednesday morning shortly after three o'clock in the Irish Channel, after collision with his vessel, the Dotterel. The latter steamer was bound from Southampton A Liverpool, and the French steamer i.-om. Garston to Nantes. A thick fog prevailed, and both captains were proceeding slowly T ad sounding whistles, when suddenly the bows of the Dotterel penetrated the port bow of the Frenchman abreast the engine-room. SHE sank immediately, the French crew -.avmg themselves by jumping aboard the Dotterel. COLLISION IN CARNARVON BAY. During a dense fog which prevailed in the Irish Sea on Wednesday morning tha French steamer Fostimore came into collision with the Cork liner Dotterel, near Carnarvon Bay Lightship. The French steamer foun- dered. the crew being picked up by the Dotterel and landed at Holyhead. [Lloyd's Telegrams.] Wednesday. Steamer Dotterel, of Cork, Rotterdam for Liverpool, put into Ho!yheaQ with forefoot gone, forepeak full water, having been in collision off Carnarvon Key Lightship with French steamer Fostimore, of and for Nantes. Latter sank; crew landed Holyhead. Steamer Corinthia, for Swansea, and ship Mount Stuart, from Havre, collided about mid- night in lower part of Gravesend Reach; damage slight. French s-tpamer Carly, from Bristol, arrived Newport with several bow-plates broken above water line and deck damage through collision in River Avon. The two following vessels, previously referred to as overdue, were posted at Lloyd's to-day as eriiian barque Hebe. which left Barry for Iiuique, with a cargo of coal, on March 22 last, and was spoken on April 16 in lat. 1 S long. 29 W., and the French barque Pierre Corneille, which left San Francisco for Table Bay, with a cargo of wtieat, on February 22 last, and have not since been heard of. The following- vessel, not having been heard of since the date specified, is considered very much overdueKezia Harrison. which sailed from Preston for Kilkeel on January 29 last. German steamer Maria Rickmers. from Bremen for Baltimore, general and passengers. towed Falmouth this evening by Dundee steamer Iona, Montreal for London, general and cattle, and reports tail end shaft broke 4th September, 10.35 p.m.; wa" taken in tow by Iona 5th. at two p.m., and towed Falmouth, from 50.36 N., 14 W. FOREIGN ARRIVALS AND MOVEMENTS OF LOCAL STEAMERS. Garth arrived Marvpoit 6th. Elemcre leaves Portsmouth for Cardiff 8th. Vectis left Devonport for Barry 7th. Quickstep left Portsmouth for Barry 7th. Camrcse arrived Nanles 7th. S. W. Kelly arrived Java 7th. Kate B. Jones left Hull for Genoa 6th. Collingham arrived Carthagena. Cosmopolitan left Malta frr Santander 6th. Cædmcn left St. Nazaire for Cardiff 7th. Eden arrived the Tyne 5th Ely Rise left Bilbao for Maryport 6th. Hurworth passed Pera for Gibraltar for order* 5th. Maltby passed Pera for Gibraltar 5th. Picton passed Pera for Gibraltar 5th. Bellerby arrived the Tyne 6th. Horr'en left Hull for Cronstadt 6th.

CARDIFF TRADES COUNCIL, A general meeting of the Cardiff Trades Council was held on Wednesday night at the Grand Hotel, Westgate-Sireet, Mr. W. R. Thomas, president, was in the chair. The recom- mendations of the executive committee (which have already appeared in print) in connection with the reception of Alderman David Morgan (miners' agent) on his release from prison 011 the 29th inst., were considered and approved. —The question of labour representation on th-FT Cardiff County Council was discussed at length. Councillor Crossman was prevailed upon to withdraw his intended resignation as one of the Labour representatives of Cathays Ward. Several of the branches are con- vening aggregate meetings of the members. with a view to still further increasing the number of Labour representatives. The Railwaymen. the Carpenters and Joiners, and the local branch of the National Amalgamated Association of Labourers contemplate taking a vote of their members to assist, either by contributing to the Trades Council Central Fund or by taking steps to consider the advisability of running candidates connected with particular industries.—An announcement was made to the effect that the executiva of the Plasterers' Union had forwarded a. cheque for X50 for the relief of the distre-s following in the train of the strike, and votes of thanks were passed to the several societies that have contributed to the relief fund of the Trades Council, which amounts to between £300 and JE400.

"THE LITTLE MINISTER. COMING TO CARDIFF. One of the few very successful plays produced in London during the past year is Mr. J. M. Barrie's own ramatic version of his famous novel. "The Litrle Minister." The play ba» 0 now been sent. on tour with a company in which Mr. Cyril Mande has taken more than ordinary interest, and all the players have been specially chosen for the characters that they will impersonate. The company is due at the Theatre Royal. Cardiff, next week. The scenery is an exact replica of the Haymarket set, and is painted by the artists who were responsible for the original (Messrs. Walter Hann and Joseph Harker.) whilst the incidental music that, Sir Alexander Mackenzie wrote will be played by an augmented orchestra, This will be the first time that the play has been played in Cardiff.

A RECENT SWANSEA FATALITY. Mr. George Rees. pilot, Swansea, has ex- pressed his firm conviction that his little boy. Elmore Rees, who was drowned at Docks, was pushed into the water by some hig boy who was seen running away. No evidence OF the kind was produced at the inquest, but Mr. Rees is reported as saying that he is NOT. satisfied with the result of that inquiry.

HEAVY-WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP OF SOUTH AFRICA. A Renter's telegram from Cape Town OF Wednesday savs:—In the contest for THE heavy- weight championship of South Africa, which took place to-day. Allen tine, of Sydney. bcat. Lachie Thomson, of Glasgow, who was KEOOKED out in tliiii ronxui.