Weekly Mail

300 PER CENT. PROFIT ON SPRATS. The opmwag season at Brightlingsea is now in full swing. Scores of boats are busy net- ting and landing, many vessels coming from placed higher up the river Colne. Fresh sprats were being sold wholesale at Is. 6d. per bushel, a bushel containing about 6Mb. These, sold ait lid. or 2d. per lb.. brine the retailer w rataBtfui jvrofit of wer- 300-per -oenfc,

RISCA COLLIERY STRIKE SETTLED. A mass meeting of the workmen employei at Risca Colliery, who have been out on strike for about a fortnight, was held on Wednes. day in the Risca. Public-hall. Mr. A. Onions (agent), Mr. J. Winstone (a^ent), and Mr. J. Manning were present at the meeting repre- senting the South Wales Federation of Miners. After considerable discussion, the above- named gentlemen were authorised to wait eim the manager, stating that the men were prepared to return to work on the conditions which formerly existed, the matters in dispute to be settled whilst the men are at work. The deputation waited on the manager, and an amicable understanding was come to by which the men return to work at once. The night shift went to work on Wednesday even- ing. GWAUNCAEGURWEN DISPUTE SETTLED. At a special sitting of the PontardaW8 magistrates on Friday summonses against 169 Gwauncaegurwen colli-ers were dowr.-for hear- ing for breach of contract. The Gwauncae- gurwen Collie-ry Company claimed zPl damages each from 69 men, 14s. each from 57 men, and 10s. ea-ch from the 43 other men. Neither of the parties appeared i1 court, and Mr. Jenkin Jones, the magistrates* clerk, explained that he had received intima- tion from Mr. Kenshole, Aberdare, and Mr. David Randall, Llanelly, that morning that they had come to terms.—Mr. Herbert Lloyd said that was the best thing they could do. THE UNEMPLOYED NEAR SWANSEA Negotiations took place at Swansea 011 Wednesday between the minors' agents of the Western Division and the proprietors of tha Copper Pit, Landore, whereby it is believed that a large number of men affected at the Llanerch Colliery will receive employment. CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. At a meeting of the Coalowners' Associa- tion held at Cardiff on Monday it was decided voluntarily to give the miners Christ- mas Day and Bank Holiday as holidays. FEDERATION AND THE WORK- MEN'S COMPENSATION ACT. A meeting of the Executive Council of the South Wales Miners' Federation was held at the Angel Hotel, Cardiff, on Monday, Mr. W. Abraham (" Mabon "), M.P., presiding. There were a-lso present Messrs. E. Thomas, A. Onions, J. Winstone, Geo. Little, John Daviea, John Thomas, Vernon Hartshorn, John Wil- liams, John Williams (Merthyr), D. Watts Mor- gan, Thomas Davies, James Manning, D. BeY" non, E. Morrell, C. B. Stanton, John Kemp, Ben Davies, Thomas Evans, Thomas J-amed6 and the general secretary (Mr. Thomaa Richards). An appeal was received from the Western District, on behalf of a large number of work. men who were thrown out of employment by the stoppage of various collieries in the dis- trict, asking the council for some financial assistance, either by way of grant or weekly payment. As this could not be done under rule, it vra* resolved that a general conference of dele- gates, re-presenting the whole of the Federa- tion, be held at Cardiff on Monday, January 11; also That there should be considered at that conference the matter of workmen corf tracting out of the Workmen's Compensatiot Act, 1897, the following resolution being now unanimously adopted in relation th-ereto:- That this meeting, having seen from. report in the press that the chief registrar of Friendly Societies has granted a certifi- cate for the renewal of the Miners' Provi- dent Society's scheme, in a modified form, in favour of the employers for contracting out of the Workmen's Compensation Act, the Employers' Liability Act, and at common law, strongly protests against such certificate having been granted before tha workmen have been consulted, seeing that the scheme has been altered. We strongly advise all workmen to refuse after the end of the present year to continue their con- nection with the contract;ng-out scheme. We desire to point out that a manifeeto upon this question is now in the hands of the printer, and will in. a few days be sent to the lodge secretaries. That at a con- ference of representatives of the lodges of this Federation to be held on the 11th of January, 1904, this question will be 'dealt with. That we advise meetings to be held in the several district, especially at those collieries, where the workmen have con- tracted out, and that this executive council will send speakers to address such meetings on application being made to the general secretary, Mr. Thomas Richards. The Bla-ina night men's dispute was referred to a future meeting, and a further meeting of the workmen is to be held to consider the Risca stoppage.

MINERS' WAGES REDUCED AN AWARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXPECTATION. Lord James of Hereford submitted his award on the miners' wages question to the joint secretaries on Tuesday. The resolution sub- mitted to im was that the present rate of wages be reduced as from the first making-Bp day in the current month by taking off two advances of 5 per cent. each, made as from the first making-up day in January, 1900, and the first making-up day in October, 1900, respectively, or either of them. Lord James gives hit casting vote in favour of taking off the advance of 5 per cent. made as from the first making-up day in January, 1900, but against taking off the adta-uce of 5 per cent, made as from the first making-up day ia October, 1900. The effect of this decision is that the miners' 4ages are reduced 5 per cent.

WELSH TIN-PLATE TRADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ARBI- TRATION PROCEEDINGS. The arbitrators appointed by the Board of Trade to deal with the grievances of the Con- ciliation Board will sit. at Swansea on Janu- ary 7. At a meeting of the executive of the Tin and Sheet Millmens' Union at Swansea on Monday, Mr. Ivor Gwynne, Briton Ferry, presiding, arrangements were made to meet the arbitrator. Certain arrangements were also made in reference to the appointment of a new general secretary. It was reported that out of the 27 branches in the society, twenty-one had sent in nomination papers. Sixteen had nominated Mr. Ivor Gwynne, Briton Ferry, and Ave Mr. Henry Davies, Cwmavon. CRISIS IN THE COTTON TRADE. An important conference of the South- east Lancashire cotton spinners was held at Manchester on Tuesday to take into considera- tion the present state of the cotton trade, Mr. C. W. Macara presiding. The proceedings were private, but at the close the press representa- tives were informed that the following reso- lutions had been adopted:— 1. That communication be entered into at once with American and Continental associations engaged in the cotton trade, and that the following cable be sent to each:—"Lancashire has euggested short time in ootton trade. Are you prepared to do the same?" 2. That a mass meeting of all interested in the cotton trade be called for an early date to consider the position.

A WRETCHED CASE. BLACK COUNTRY SLANDER ACTION. An action was brought at the Birminghpin Assizes on Wednesday by Annie Taylor, wife of David John Taylor, of New Mill-street, Dudley, to recover damages for slander from William Round and his wife, Louisa Round, of the Hope and Anchor Inn, Dudley. On July 11 Mrs. Taylor heard that she was being slandered, and she went to see Mrs. Cook, with whose husband, Albert Cook, she was alleged to have misconducted herself. While engaged in conversation with her the defendant came along and called her by opprobrious epithets. This was said in presence of a crowd. Later on she called her "a black-haired daughter of Mrs. Salter," and said she had been a bad one all her life." The defendant also followed plaintiff and her husband and shouted after the latter. You are a blind fool, and you are re-i-ping the benefit of my son-in-law, having the money that ought to go to keep his wife and children." Plaintiff emphatically denied these statements. Nor was it true that she WM in the habit of communicating with Cook or making appointments by signals. Two witnesses were called for the defence, who spoke to having seen the plaintiff with Cook under suspicious circumstances; and the man Cook gave dates on which he asserted misconduct had taken place. The Judge, summing up, described the case as a wretched one.—The jury awarded the plaintiff X30 damages.

BARRY TRADE. The steamer Torr Head, 3,868 tons, belong- ing to the Ulster Steamship Companr, arrived at Barry on Monday, via Belfast, and will diaeharge a valuable cargo of general goods, comprising cotton-cake, lard, &o. During the day nearly thirty steajners, representing a gross register of nearly 100,000 tons, also arrived, so that the coal ehipmentp g&,]U=y ujnjsutfcllj-toswy*

TRAGEDY OF THE HIGH SEAS. MURDER BY NEW ORLEANS FIREMAN. At Bristol Assizes on Thursday Jean Lewis, a tall, gaunt-looking man, a native of New Orleans, was charged with the murder of Demetri Zadaki,l a Greek fireman, upon the high seaa, both being employed on the steamship Bris* fcol City; also with wounding Manuel Androis, a Turk, with intent to murder. Mr. F. E. Weatherly and Mr. Holman Gre- gory were counsel for the prosecution; and Mr. Thornton Lawee undertook the defence, at the request of the judge. Prisoner pleaded not guilty in a firm voice, being prompted by his solicitor, Mr. Watson, who sat in of the dock. Opening the case, Mr. Weatherly said that the tragedy occurred on thfc steamship Bris- tol City. Some time in August prisoner shipped as a fireman on the steamer at Barry for Las Palmas and New York. There were among the crew two Greeks, named Demetri Zadaki and Manuel Andrios. There was trouble at times between the men, and on the evening of the 23rd of August the prisoner did not sleep in his usual place in the fore- tle. but took his bedding on deck. and slept somewhere there. It wfta in the forecastle that the killing of Zadaki took place. At seven o'clock, when the watch was called, there was a quarrel between the prisoner, Zadaki, and Andrios, and after the fight the prisoner left the forecastle. He then had in his hand a bucket, with which he had, no doubt, been defending himself, whilst the other man used a bucket and a coffee kettle. After going out of the forecastle, the prisoner took out his knife, opened it. and, returning to the forecastle, stabfeed Zadaki in the left breast. Zadaki followed the prisoner on deck and threw a piece of wood at him; then the man FELL DOWN AND DIED. The prison doctor would certify tha.t the prisoner was now a dangerous lunatic. Thomas William Barclay, captain of the Bristol City, said that six firemen occupied the forecastle. On the morning in question he saw Zadaki lying on the deck on his back. He was them alive, but he had a wound in his left breast, and was unconscious. He died within an hour, and was buried at sea. About a quarter of an hour before witness had seen the prisoner on the poop with a piece of wood in his left hand and a knife in the right. Witness asked him what he had been doing, and he replied something about the Greeks trying to kill him. Witness held out his hand for the piece of wood, and prisoner let it go. Witness also asked for the knife, and at first prisoner refused to give it up. He asked witness if he would pro- tect him if he gave UP theknife, and witness replied that he would. Thereupon prisoner gave it up. Next day witness asked prisoner if he stabbed Zadaki, and he replied that he supposed so. Cross-examined: The impression prisoner conveyed to his mind was that he really wanted protection from the Greeks. By the Judge: prisoner was taken charge of on board, but it did not strike him during the voyage that there was anything peculiar in his manner. There were some papers found among his belongings. The Judge: I have a copy of them. When do you think they were written? Witness: From their appearance I shottld say some weeks before. The Judge: They are ctearly the work of a disordered brain. Witness: Yes, I should think. Andrianos Johannes Rodey, a French fire- man, who was on the ship, said he riaw Zaaki looking under the table and heard the prisoner ask what he was looking for. Zadaki and another man started fighting with a coffee kettle and a can in their hands, and the prisoner was forced to leave the forecastle. A little later the prisoner returned, and wit- ness heard somebody say, Put that knife away." The prisoner walked in with his open knife to Zadaki. who cried out, after which witness saw blood. Prisoner then went out, followed by Zadaki. In cross-examination, witness said that Lewis had complained the night before that the Greeks HE WANTED TO KILL HIM, and went to sleep in another part of the ship. The Judge said he had a statement made by the prisoner (a part of which he read), and obaerved that the man who wrote it must be as mad as a hatter". Fritz Lohneftnk, a seaman of Greek nationality, on board the vesael in question, stated that on August 24 he heard a quarrel between prisoner and Zadaki. Subsequently Lewis produced a knife, and went to the fore- castle, where he stabbed the deceased. Andrios went to the help of Zadtaii, and picked up a. broom, but when prisoner approached he fell down, and Lewis kicked him in the left side, and then left the forecastle. On the pre- vious evening Zadaki. threatened prisoner with a piece of wood, and remarked," By and bye." The night before the tragedy he thought the prisoner was a quiet man, and that the Greeks were threatening him. Dr. William Cotton, surgeon to the gaol at Horfield, stated that the prisoner had been under his observation since October. He had examined Lewis 8J8 to his state of mind, and found that he was subject to delusions, from things he had said. Witness had also seen papeTS found upon him, apparently written several months ago, and hie opinion, based upon them, was that prisoner must have been subject to delusions and insane. Mr. Weatherly: And, being in that condi- tion, he would not be capable of understand- ing between right and wrong? Witness: I think that at the time as to which he is charged he was suffering from delusions, and unable to distinguish right from wrong in the act that he did. The Judge, addressing the jury, said he thought the doctor's evidence made it plain what the verdict ought to be—namely, that the prisoner was guilty of an act committed at a time when he was insane, so as not to be responsible for his actions. The jury, after a little consultation, found the prisoner guilty, but insane. The Judge: Then the order will be that the prisoner be detained at Horfield until his KajagWo pleasure is kzKxim.

SANATORIUM FOR WEST WALES. MOVEMENT PROGRESSING FAVOURABLY. The second annual meeting of the Wesb Wales branch of the National Association for the Prevention of Consumption and Other Forma of Tuberculosis took place in Car- marthen Shire-hall on Wednesday afternoon. The president (Sir John Williams, Bart., The Plas, Llanstephan) occupied the chair. The Hon. Secretary submitted his second annual report, which stated that a site for a sanatorium on Alltymynydd, on the Highmead Estate, had been kindly offered by Colonel Davies-Evans. Three well-known firms had submitted plans and estimates. The Univer- sity College of Wales at Aberystwyth had formed a sub-branch of the West Wales branch amongst the professors, members, students, and others of the college. The Cardiganshire County Council had referred the matter of a grant to its finance committee, which would meet in January, whilst the Pembrokeshire County Council had decided to agree to his suggestions and to appoint representatives. (Hear, hear.) They had in hand or promised L478. The report was adopted, after which the report of the sites and buildings committee was received. This latter stated that a sanatorium with 28 beds and administrative block could be built for £ 7,000. This included two* wings of four beds each for special paying patients, which would cost £ 1,760. The plans and specifications of Messrs. Spiers and Co., of Glasgow, appeared to best meet the requirements of the associa- tion. The President, whd' was warmly received, said that the estate offered by Colonel Davies- Evans was a most stylish one. Through the kindness of the colonel he had had an opportunity of visiting and examining it, an-d he thought it would be difficult to find a site more suited to the object which they had in view. Plans for the building had been submitted to the committee. The buildings would cost about E5,000, and the annual maintenance about XI,500, a con- siderable sum of money, but a very small one in view of the magnitude of the work in which they were engaged. They had heard from their enthusi- astic and indefatigible hon. secretary that an appeal for a grant had been made to the county councils of the three counties of Wast Wales. They trusted that they would receive favourable replies. The hon. secre- tary pointed out that with the help of a very small rate from the three counties the insti- tution could be established and maintained. j any circumstances, they would need further help from the 'charitable and benevolent inhabitants of the district. The enterprise was a great one. The deaths from consumption in these islands was 60,000 a year. Their object was to reduce that mor- tality. Consumption was a disease arising from a parasite, a living organism living in and on animal tissues, and without this parasite consumption could not arise. Those parasites were not generated spon- taneously they were born of parents, and an infectious disease such as consumption or emall-pox could not be generated anew in any person. It could be produced only by I contact or communication in some way, direct or indirect, with another person afflicted with the disease. One way, then, to abolish consumption was to destroy the mis- chievous bacillus. Another way was to take precautions against the attack of the bacillus. He was hopeful of overcoming the evil, in the first place, because the world and the people in it were getting better day by day; ignor- ance was disappearing, and knowledge was rapidly on the increase, especially n,atural knowledge, which was the all- important knowledge in that particular work, for it alone taught them to lead physically healthy lives. Selfishness was on the wane and thought for others was in the ascendant. Let them look a.bout and behold the numerous schools and institutions for the sick and the afflicted, and they could not fail to see that mankind was on the mend. The Golden Age was in the future. In the second place, he was hopefu) because for many years past there had been a decrease in the prevalence of consumption. His third reason for being hopeful was that they now knew that the disease arose from infection only, that it never started anew without the introduction of a foreign germ, and they were, therefore, in a better posi- tion to resist the attacks of that germ and avoid infection. Knowledge had to be dis- seminated amongst the people, and it was a part of the work of such associations as that to furnish the equipment, to teach people how to lead healthy lives, to take proper food, air, and exercise, to avoid those forces which depreciated health and lowered vitality and resisting power, to point out the evil effects of all manner of excesses, be they in eating, drinking, or working. To hasten the time when the ravages of consumption would have come to an end he wanted them all to come to the help of thoee who were devoting their time, knowledge, and strength to this bene- ficial cause, by contributing to help them to build and maintain a sanatorium, and, in other ways, by spreading the knowledge that consumption was a preventable disease, and by making known the means by which its spread could be averted. (Applause.) I On the motion of Colonel Morris (Amman- ford), seconded by Dr. Bowen Jones (Carmar- then), the hearty thanks of the committee were given to Principal Roberts and the members of the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, for the great help they had given to the branch by the formation of a sub-branch at the college. Colonel Morris offered to go round as a missionary to the works in the Amman Valley in order to arrange for regular con- tributions from the working men. Votes of thanks terminated the meeting.

SOLICITOR'S LIBEL SUIT, At the Old Bailey, London, on Wednesday, John Robert Lawson surrendered to his bail to answer an indictment charging him with having published a false and malicious libel of and concerning Mr. William Joynson Hicks. Defendant pleaded not guilty, and put in a plea of justification.-Prosecuting counsel said the alleged libel was contained in a letter addressed to the chairman and directors of the London General Omnibus Company, of which Mr. Hicks was solicitor. The object of the letter, said counsel, was to induce the company to come to the conclusion that Mr. Hicks was a dishonourable man, who was not to be trusted as the solicitor for such a cor- poration. In that letter defendant wrote that Mr. Hicks had broken the law and violated every principle of justice, and further that he had used undue influence. This, said coun- sel, had reference to the will of a lady named Hawkes, who died in 1897. One of the daugh- ters of the testatrix was wife of the defend- dant. Mr. Hicka, in his evidence, said he had been in practice sixteen years as solicitor. He was a candidate for Parliament for the North Division of Manchester. Mrs. Hawkes at the time of her death was possessed of more than £ 10,000. He said there was abso- lutely no truth in any of the charges con-' tained in the defendant's plea of justifica- tion. After luncheon counsel for the defend- ant stated that Lawson now desired, after having heard Mr. Hicks' explanation, to with- draw his plea of justification, to apologise to the prosecutor in the fullest Sense for the statements he had made concerning him, and to express regret for having made them.— Prosecuting counsel said it was very late in the day for the defendant to adopt this course, but he should ask for a verdict on the whole issue. Defendant then withdrew his plea of justifi- cation, and pleaded guilty to publishing a defamatory libel. The Recorder bound tfce defendant over in a sum of E500 to come up for sentence if called upon.

SIX MEN TO ONE WOMAN. At the Thames Police-court on Wednes- day, John O'Brien, Thomas Griffiths, Walter Rice, Thomas Hart, Geo. Harrison, and John Donovan were charged on remand with being concerned together in causing grievous bodily harm to a young woman named Nellie Neuth. The young woman, as stated at the first hear- ing, was alleged to have been seriously mal- treated by someone, her clothes having been partially torn from her. and a number of injuries having been inflicted upon her. Her condition has necessitated constant care in hospital. No evidence was offered yesterday, it being stated that the prosecutrix was still too ill to attend. Prisoner were again remanded for a week.

RAILWAY TUNNEL OUTRAGE. A Banley correspondent states that the result of the inquiry by the North Stafford- shire Railway directors into the assault on Miss Goss in Harecastle Tunnel last week is that the engine driver has been reduced from an express to a goods train, and the guard has been reduced. It is stated that an inspection is being made of the North Staf- fordshire's communication cords, with the result that many, owing to disuse, have been found absolutely worthless, and others, through not being examined, have got clogged.

CHEATING THE GALLOWS. A large force of Canadian mounted police and a big posse of citizens, ranchmen, and cowboys are in pursuit of Ernest Cashel, who was to have been hanged on Tuesday for the murder of a rancher named Rufus Belt, his friend and employer. Cashel escaped from Calgary gaol three days ago, secured arms, and fled to the hills. It te expected that he will fight for his ljte. Ile isc a criminal of long standing.

PERILS OF THE SEA. f ♦ 1 DISABLED STEAMER TOWED TO SWANSEA. The steamship Heptarchy, an old and well- known trader, belonging to the Bacon Line, Liverpool, arrived at the North Dock Jetty, Swansea, on the afternoon tide, with her aft bulwarks and deck fittings in a sorry plight. As fav as could be gathered, the Heptarchy, whilst on a voyage from Newport to Water- ford, on Friday found the barque Roland, of Bremen, in a helpless state in Carmarthen Bay, and took her in tow. Subsequently, owing to the heavy weather, the tow-rope got foul of the Heptarchy's propeller, with im- mediate serious results. She became un- manageable, lost part of her bulwarks, and her mizzenmast and her boats and other deck furniture were smashed up. The steamer Dramond, bound for Cardiff, fortu- nately came to her assistance, and brought her in tow to the Mumbles Roads, where she left her, and proceeded to Cardiff. The tugs Wasp and Fawn on Sunday brought her into port at Swansea. The tug Foxhound sub- sequently went in search of the barque, but no news of her bad reached Swansea up to Sunday evening. TENBY LIFEBOAT LAUNCHED. The Tenby lifeboat was launched about seven o'clock on Saturday night, during a strong south-easterly breeze, in response to signals shown by a steam-trawler lying in Caldy Roads. The boat proceeded to the roads, and returned to Tenby after being absent over two hours. It appeared that a disabled German four-masted ship had been seen in Carmarthen Bay during the day in charge of the trawler and two tugs. The coxswain of the lifeboat was informed by the skipper of the steam-trawler that the ship was then lying about ten miles off Galdy, with both anchors down, but, apparently; no assistance waa required, and the boat returned to Tenby after a. needless journey. The trawler and tugs had left Caldy Roads on Sunday morning. KETCH SUNK BY A STEAM TRAWLER. A collision took plaoe off the Nash light- houses, in the Bristol Channel, at midnight on Monday between the steam trawler Champion, owned by Messrs. Neale and West, of Cardiff, and the ketch Sarah Ann, of Braunton, Devon- shire. The Sarah Ann, a coaster, trading between Barnstaple, Lydney, Newport, and Cardiff, was proceeding to Newport with a cargo of gravel. The Champion was astern. When opposite one of the Nash lighthouses the trawler collided with the ketch with suoh violence that the latter quickly commenced to sink. Her crew launched a boat, and a few minutes later the ketch sank. The steam trawler stood by and picked up the crew of the wrecked vessel, and conveyed them to Cardiff, and they are now comfort- ably quartered at the Seameh's Home. Their names are: — Robert Tucker, skipper. Philip Daniel, mate. Frederick Corney. cook. Philip Daniel, the mate of the ketch, told our reporter that the collision occurred about a quarter-past eleven off the Nash lighthouses. The night was dark. but there was no haze, and one could have seen the hull of the vessel some distance away. Had you a light astern?" asked the re- porter. Yes, but it must have gone out; they said they could not see it. When I first saw the trawler she waa about three lengths away. The captain and I were both on deck, and we both shouted. But almost directly she came full into our stern stem on.We tried the pump, and found she was filling, so we got our boat out. The vessel was filling very quickly, and we had a jpb to get clear in time. When we left her she was level with the water, and she sank in about fifteen minutes. The stem of the trawler smashed into the stern for about three or four feet." "The trawler stood by?" Yes; she picked us up, and brought us to Cardiff at about three in the morning, and at about nine o'clock we came here, to the Sailors' Home." A CRAFT SWAMPED. During a strong south-easterly gale at Swansea on Saturday the ketch Charles, of Havre, got into a dangerous position and at the mercy of the seas in Mumbles Roads. The captain went ashore for assistance and in the meantime the force of the weather became so great that his craft was swamped. The lifeboat was in readiness to be put out, but. fortunately, had not to render assistance, the crew getting safely to land. GALE OFF NEW YORK: STEAMERS DELAYED. All the Atlantic liners due at New York on Saturday night were delayed from twelve to fourteen hours by a heavy gale. The French liner Savoie was not sighted until six o'clock in the morning. The Cunarder Umbria was not expected to reach New York until Monday.—Central News. NEWPORT STEAMER ASHORE. Lloyd's Nantes telegram states that the steamer Gwendoline, of Newport, is reported ashore, and the chance of getting her off is extremely doubtful. The steamship Gwendoline was of 1,493 tons, and was owned by Messrs. the Gwendoline Steamship Company (Mordey, Jones, and Co.). She was built at Newcastle in 1882. LINER'S EXPERIENCE IN THE STORM. The liner Menominee, belonging to the Atlantic Transport Line, which left London last week for New York with a general cargo and passengers, has just arrived at Falmouth in a disabled condition. The vessel had a stormy voyage down Channel, and on the 7th inst. encountered a fearful gale. For some time her decks were awash with the heavy seas, but the vessel managed to continue her voyage under slow steam until she was 560 miles off the Scilly Isles, when one of the heavy seaa broke the rudder head and left the Menominee almost helpless. The engineers, after consultation, decided to try and effect temporary repairs, but this proved a difficult task, and took some days. Meanwhile the vessel had drifted back two hundred miles. Eventually, however, the rudder head was temporarily repaired, and Captain Lucas was enabled to put back to the nearest port. The linerv which is a sister ship to the ill-fated Mohegan, arrived on Sunday afternoon, and it was reported that none of the passeng-erp had suffered any injury. PASSENGERS AND CREW LOSE THEIR LIVES. A telegram from Vardoe States that the steamer Orion was destroyed by fire on Saturday evening. Three of the crew a.nd three passengers lost their lives.—Renter. A LINER'S EXPERIENCE. The Raglan Castle, of the Union Castle Line, arrived ait Plymouth, on Monday from the Oape, and reported that on Saturday morn- ing, when in the Bay of Biscay, she expe- rienced a. terrible gale, with te-rrine seas. A portion of he bridge was swept tfway, and the commander, Oaptain J. T. Robinson, was hurled to the deck, whence hA was picked up unoonscious and bleeding, with his head lacerated and his leg broken. For 48 hours the weather was of the wildest description. L' TWO SHIPWRECKED CREWS. The Union Castle liner Briton, which has arrived at Southampton, brought home two shipwrecked crews from South Africa. The first was the crew of the Arranmore, which sailed from Portland, Oregon, on May 15, for Algoa Bay, with a cargo of grain. The Arranmore was lying in Algoa, Bay on Novem- ber 14 when a steamer drifted across her bows, and she paarted anchor. The Arranmore went ashore, and was dismasted, the crew being rescued by the rocket apparatus. The shipwrecked sailors, on landing at South- ampton, were sent on to London. On the same day, where the Arranmore stranded, the barque County of Pembroke, London to Algoa Bay, with a general cargo, was also blown ashore, a. boy named W. Hughes, of Holyhead, being washed overboard and drowned. The Pembroke's rocket apparatus was rendered useless, but the crew subse- quently, with considerable difficulty, got ashore in their lifeboat. At Southampton they were looked after by the agent of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society, and sent to their homes. CARDIFF MAN DROWNED. The Moor liner Ventmoor arrived in the Tyne on Monday, and reports the singular drown- ing oaae of James Sharpies, Cardiff, fireman, while at Kurrachee. Sharpies, like his ship- mates, slept on the forecastle head, owing to the excessive hot weather. Early one morning Sharpies' companions were roused by hearing cries for help. It was ascertained that he was struggling in the water, and he shortly afterwards disappeared, and was drowned, having rolled overboard in his sleep. Sharpies resided at Christina-street, Cardiff.

SHIPWRECKED SEAMEN. ALLEGED UNSATISFACTORY TREATMENT AT GENOA. At the annual meeting of the Swansea Port Sanitary Authority on Tuesday afternoon Mr. M. Tutton waa re-elected chairman and Mr. H. P. Charles (Neath) vice-chairman of the authority.—The report of the medical officer called attention to the unsatisfactory way in whioh nine distressed seamen and two stowaways had been shipped from Genoa to Swansea on September 30. Five had no bunk accommodation of any description. One man died at sea the day before the vessel's arrival, and out of the nine four had been in hospital at Genoa.—It was decided to bring the matter before the Board of Trade, in order that inquiries might be made at Genoa as to the methods of shipping distressed eea- aeD hom (

COULD STAND AGAIN AS AN INDEPENDENT. Sir Edward Reed favoured us with an important statement as to his future inten- tions with regard to Cardiff. We wired him on Friday as follows:- Sorry to troable you when indisposed, but deeply obliged if you will state whether, in view of the attitude of local Liberal association, you are likely to stand indepen- dently or in any other capacity. Sir Edward Reed replied as follows:— Your question raises the very point which I wish to avoid until fully recovered from present severe cold. My present feeling is that I could only stand again independently, and on an ample requisition of the constituents, with full freedom on purely fiscal-and. therefore, non-political-questions. But I can decide nothing just now. In reply to another telegram Sir Edward says:—"The Cardiff Liberal Association have leapt, me for four months under the wholly unjustifiable insinuations of their resolutions, which I have waited in vain for them to rectify. In no event, therefore, could I again accept nomination from them. I am very far, however, from having any complaint against the constituency generally, which I honour and regard, and which has always been most generous to me. I am recovering from a severe oold rather slowly, oaring to the bois- terous weather, and can, therefore, say no more at present than that I ca.nnot a-gain accept nomination from the association." FORTHCOMING ADDRESS TO THE ELECTORS. Sir Edward Reed's Welsh medical adviser, Dr. Davies, of West Kensington, visited Sir Edward at Brighton on Saturday la-st, a-nd remained with him on Sunday. With his permission, Sir Edward Reed returned to London on Monday morning, and attended for a short time at his office to deal with immediate and pressing work. He is much better. It is expected that Sir Edward will shortly publish an address to his constituents in the united boroughs of Cardiff, Cowbridge, and Llantrisant.

MR. GOOD IN THE FIELD. ACTIVE CAMPAIGN OPENED: AN ADDRESS TO THE ELECTORS. Councillor Good has seized the opportunity afforded by Sir Edward Reed's action of com- mencing his active campaign. Although dated December 5, the issue of his address to the electors has been, for some reason or other, delayed. On Friday evening, however, Councillor Good issued his address to the burgesses of the United Boroughs of Cardiff, Cowbridge, and Llantrisant, in the course of which he says :-HSince I retired with other candidates in 1900, in order to unite the party and carry the seat, numerous political friends through- out the wards have pressed upon me the neces- sity for again assuming this position definitely and finally, and especially so at this juncture, in order to remove the deadlock that exists in the representation of the Liberal party in Cardiff, and to enable the electors to demand from a representative or a candidate a clear and unequivocal expression of opinion upon, and the adoption of ah unswerving attitude towards, the important and vital questions that now fill the public mind, and press for speedy settlement. An expression of your agreement with, or any suggestion upon my candidature, is earnestly solicited, and would be much valued. A subscription fund, for elec- tion expenses only, is opened at a bank. Mr. David Lewis, 110, Clifton-street, will act as treasurer pro torn., to whom all cheques and postal orders should be made payable, crossed 'Metropolitan Bank of Wales.' A committee of gentlemen will act with him, who, should any surplus occur, will hand the same to the Cardiff Infirmary. "FOUR-PLANK PLATFORM." Mr. Good has "A Platform of Four Planks," otherwise "the work to be done." These are the planks: —(1) The pregram.me of the Labour party; (2) the unconditional rejection of the entire Chamberlain-Balfour fiscal proposals, and opposition to any reversal of the existing Free Trade policy; (5) an uncompromising I resistance to, and repeal or amendment of the obnoxious Education Act, and defence of the Passive Resistance League, and (4) a drastic reform of the Land Laws. including (a) the taxation of ground values and mining royal- ties, and (b) the enfranchisement of lease- holds.

[MEETING OF THE CARDIFF LIBERALS. An ordinary monthly meeting of the execu- tive committee of the Cardiff Liberal Associa- tion was held on Tuesday night at the offices in St. Mary-street. Mr. Sidney Robinson, J.P., presided, and there was an unusually large attendance, including Dr. T W. Edwards, the Rev. J. Morgan Jones, Principal Edwards, Alderman Mildon, Messrs. Robert Bird, F. J. Beavan, Charles Burgess, John Enoch, Lester Jones, Samuel Jones, David Brown, David Shepherd, and Glenelg Grant. The meeting was of short duration. The business waa routine, and although Sir Edward Reed's name was not publicly mentioned, the Radical dilemma in regard to the representation of the borough was incidentally referred to. The formal business was contained in the official report tendered by Mr. Henry G. C. Allgood (Liberal agent). That which transpired other- wise, in the nature of privacy, was gleaned afterwards from an equally authentic source. OFFICIAL REPORT. The result of the Grangetown bye-election was reported, and a resolution was passed thanking the members of the association and ladies who assisted to return Mr. Sessions, who was congratulalted, by resolution, upon hie triumph, and Mr. Allgood, as agent, was specially thanked. A self-congratulatory resolution was passed re the Runci- man meeting, and the Free Trade Union was thanked for the 100,000 leaflets, more or less, distributed at Mr. Chamberlain's meet- ing. while the stalwarts from the Cathays Radical Club were thanked for their patriotio efforts as distributors of the literature. MR. GOOD'S CANDIDATURE. The mention of Mr. Good's name was received with derisive laughter, which fact will, no doubt, stimulate Mr. Good, who, what- ever his friends—who have not yet put him upon the executive—may think of him, will, now that he has put his hand to the plough, continue the fight even unto the end. It was Mr. D. Jenkins who mentioned Mr. Good's name, and who, suffering from ill-health, left home against medical advice specially to attend the meeting. He explained that he thought he was in duty bound to be present in the event of Mr. Good's candidature being discussed, but, as the matter was not under consideration that night, his presence was not required, and so he sat down. The Chairman said they had better not discuss it now and let the matter drop, and dropped it was by consent.

COWARDLY BLOW. CAERLEON LADY ATTACKED ON A COMMON. The justices sitting a tCwmbr an Police-court on Thursday were called upon to determine teh identity of a man who made a cowardly attack upon a superior-looking young woman, named Jane Temperance Jones, residing at Highcroft, Caerleon, on the night of the 30th of November. The man summoned for the alleged offence was George Ablart, a carpen. ter, employed on the new asylum works at Caerleon. Mr. H. S. Stowe, B.L. (instructed by Mr. Lyndon Moore, Newport) appeared for the prosecution, whilst Mr. J. Moxon, New- port, defended. Miss Jones's story was that at about nine o'clock p.m. on the 30th of November she was lending home a Mrs. Taylor, who had been spending the evening at her house. They stopped near the Drovers' Arms to wish each other good-night, and just as they were doing so, a man who had come across the common, struck her a severe blow in the chest, remarking at the same time, Now I have you, you She was so terribly frightened at the time that she did not recognise who the name was, except that she noticed that the man wore a. cap and had a moustache. In cross-examination she admitted that if he had apologised for his conduct, he would not have heard anything more about it. The defendant Was a complete stranger to her, and she thought the blow bad been struck her in mistake. Mrs. Taylor said Bhe had no hesitation in identifying the defendant as the man who struck Miss Jones. Mr. Moxon submitted that this was a case of mistaken identity. The defendant said that at the time the assault was alleged to have been committed he was engaged in a discussion on the fiscal question at the Drovers' Arms. Police-constable Powell was here called, and declared that he saw the defendant enter the Drovers' Arms at 9.30 p.m. The Benoh fined the defendant E2.

BOOTS FOR SCHOLARS. A novel method exists for improving the attendance at the Bridgwater board schools. It was reported at the last board meet- ing that since free education had been intro- duced the masters had induced the parents to contribute the fees formerly paid, the fund being annually expended in providing boote for the children. The idea. became to popular that during the past year nearly ISIM wag contributed, and several hundred children bare been supplied with boot& ft uoinmter.

CHAPTER OF FATAL ACCIDENTS. TERRIBLE FATALITY AT LLANDDEUSANT. Mr. R. Shipley Lewis, Llandilo, held an inqueat at Panthowell Farm, Llanddeuaant, touching the death of Susan Preece, aged 17, a domestic servant in the employment of Mr. William Harries, Panthowell. She had only arrived at Panthowell on the 7th inst. On the morning of the 9th inst., about ten o'clock, Miss Harries, Panthowell, had left the girl cleaning the bedrooms while she attended to some outdoor work. About half-an-honr later she (Miss Harries) came a-cross the girl fast to a spindle which connected a water- wheel to the chaff-cutter. She ran to the barn and ordered the servants who were chaffing to turn the water off. This was immediately done, but not in time to save the poor girl, as she was quite dead when extricated. There were two tin water vessels lying close by. and it is surmised that the girl must have gone to fetch water from a stream about ten yards beyond the water- wheel, where water is usually obtained for drinking purposes.—Miss Harries stated that it was an understanding that the servants were not to fetch water while the machinery was in motion.—The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death." ABERDARE RAILWAY FATALITY. An inquest was held at Aberdare on Monday on the body of Thomas Griffiths, of Oxford- street, Gadlys, who was run over on the Great Western Railway between Middle Duffryn Box and Mountain Ash on Friday last. Griffiths was a platelayer in the employ of the company, but was not on duty at the time of the accident. A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned. INQUESTS AT MERTHYR. Mr. R.1. Rhys, coroner, held three inquests at the Merthyr General Hospital on Monday. The first related to the death of John Keefe, a, shoemaker, who was found killed on the Taff Vale Railway at Abercanaid on the pre- vious Friday morning.-John Keefe, the son, gave his father's age as 64. Martha Richards, of the Colliers' Arms, Abercanaid, stated that the man was in her house on Thursday night, and when he left was quite sobsr.—Thomas Lewis, signalman at the Aber- canaid Crossing box, deposed to finding the body on Friday morning outside the rails on the Plymouth side.-Police-constable Dove, who removed the body to the mortuary, said that, apparently, death had occurred some hours before the corpse was found. There were injuries on the left shoulder and a cut on the forehead. Near to the body was a bag containing three pairs of shoes.—Inspector Ponsford, of the railway company's service, said that he had had all the engines examined which passed oer the line between five o'clock en Thursday night and six o'clock on Friday morning, and there was no trace on any wheel indicating that it had passed over any- body.—The jury returned a verdict of "Found dead." COLLIERY ACCIDENT AT PLYMOUTH. The second inquest concerned the death of John Buckley, underground labourer, aged 19, of Parknstreet, Brecon-road, who died last Friday at the hospital.—The evidence showed that in the early part of July last the man was sitting with other men in a stall road in the No. 1 South Pit, Plymouth, when a piece of stone fell upon him from the roof. He was taken to the hospital suffering from a frac- tured thigh and injuries to the pelvis and buttock. Serious haemorrhage &st in for four days, and, after detention for about six wseka, he was sent out in a plaster of Paris bandage. For a time he went on well under the care of Dr. Ward, but at the and of October suppura- tion set in at the seat of the fracture and peritonitis developed itself. On the 25th of November the patijnt was re-admitted into the hospital, and he eventually died from septic peritonitis, consequent on the fracture, and necroeis.-Tha jury returned a verdict accordingly. DEATH OF A CHILD. The third inquiry had reference to the death of Margaret Ann Thomas, aged thirteen weeks, the daughter of Police-constable James Thomas, stationed at Penrheolgerrig.—The jury, upon the evidence of Dr. Biddle, found that death was due to cardiac syncope. CARDIFF CHILD BURNED TO DEATH. Mr. E. B. Reece (coroner) held an inquest at the Town-hall, Cardiff. on Monday on the body of Mabel Elissa VivLtoria Comer, the six- year-old step-daughter of Thomas Partridge, of Oakley-street, Grangetown. Whilst the mothef on Saturday night was out on an errand" Mabel and four other children were left playing in a bedroom in which a fire was burning. The mother had only juat left when she saw the little girl in flames, she having ran out of the room and down the stairs into the street. A neighbour, Mr. Roach, and another put out the flames, and brought back the child, who was attended by Dr. Smart Evans. The Coroner: There was no protection in front of the fire?—Witness: No, air. Do you think it WM a proper thing to leave a room full of children with a S.reP-I was only away a minute. Oh! what nonsense. A woman of your age to do such a thing—it is disgraceful—perfectly disgraceful. Had it been a girl of fourteen or fifteen there might, perhaps, be some exchse, but in the case of a grown-up woman like you I consider it disgraceful. It is a wonder that the whole of the children were not burnt, and that the house as well was not burnt down. In my opinion, such mothers ought to be tried for manslaughter. Thomas Partridge, aged twelve (deceased's brother), said the little one was standing on the fender when her frock caught alight, and she ran off whilst he was fetching a coat to put around her. William Roach gare evidence as to extin- guishing the flames. It was past ten when the accident happened. The Coroner said the child should have been in bed long before then, and he hoped the jury would censure the mother for gross care- lessness. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," and accompanied it with a severe censure upon the mother. GILFAOH YOUNG MAN'S TERRIBLE DEATH. A shocking fatality occurred at about one o'clock on Wednesday at Gilfach Colliery, near Bargoed, belonging to the Bhymney Iron Company. It appears that a young man, named Benjamin Simmonds, aged seventeen, wae engaged in looking after the coal-screens at the pit-bead. He was in the act of oiling the machinery, when his clothing got entangled, and he was drawn into it, thus meeting with a painful death. His body was badly mutilated. The an- fortunate man had been killed about three- quarters of an hour before bo was found. WELSH CURATE'S DEATH. The Rev. Mr. Griffiths, curate of St. I Michael' Islington, visited some sick poor in Beaconsfield-buildings, Beaconsfield-street, at five o'clock on Tuesday evening, and as he was leaving the place he slipped, and fell down the stairs, sustaining such serious injuries that he died shortly afterwards. SHOCKING DEATH AT NEATH. David Williams (35), an insurance agent, of Briton Ferry, was riding on his bicycle through Neath on Wednesday, and to avoid running over a. dog, collided with a cart. The shaft of the cart penetrated his chest. He was conveyed home, to 49, Regent-street East, Briton Ferry, and died on Thursday. He leaves a widow and four small children. SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT BARRY. A youth named James Rennick, aged 16, an apprentice on board the steamer Oodmoor, lying under No. 15 tip, Barry Docks, was walk- ing along the deck of the ship on Tuesday afternoon when he accidently slipped and fell through the hatchway into the hold, a depth of about 30ft. When picked up the lad was unconscious. He was placed on a stretcher and conveyed to the town accident hospital in Kingsland-crescent, where he was surgioally attended to and detained. Bennick lies in a critical condition. FELL 80 FEET. Thomas Holland, aged 60, a mason, of 19, Phillips-street, Newport, had a fearful fall on Saturday. Whilst working on a stack at Aberbeeg for Mr. Jenkins, contractor, he missed his step at a height of 80ft. and fell t? the ground below. Naturally, his injuries were of a very serious character. On being removed to the Newport and Monmouthshire Hospital it was found that his skull was frac- tured, his spine badly injured, and both legs terribly battered. His condition is extremely critical. RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. An official return, issued on Wednesday, show that during the six months ending June 30, 1903, four persons were killed, and 368 injured in accidents to trains, rolling stock. permanent way, Ac., in the United Kingdom. The figures for the corresponding period in the year previous were five killed and 408 injured. The total number of casualties of all kinds, which occurred in the course of public traffio in the six months, was 569 killed and 3,079 injured. This total includes suicides and accidents at level crossings.