The Cardiff Times

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SEA OF ICE Vessel Disabled and Beset BERG FIFTfMILES LONG. Captain's Remarkably Story. A remarkable story of an ice island in the South Atlantic, was told by Captain Yore, of the Glasgow barque Dec, on her arrival from Talcahuano here on Wednesday. Captain Yore reports that when in the South Atlantic some time alter rounding Cape Horn, on September 4th, in latitude 49 degrees S, longitude 50 degrees W., the ship sailed into \rh:t appeared to be a sea of ice. One berg alone was at least 50 miles long. and was about 250 feet high. It took the ship 16 hours to pass it, and while going through this sea of ice a partially dismasted barque was sighted. The Dee bore down on her and asked if she wanted assistance. She proved to be the Nor- wegian barque Trafalgar, bound from Lobas de Afuero with guano for Hamburg. Several of her spars were gone and her bulwarks stove in as a result of impact with the ice. Her captnin replied to the Dee's inquiries that he would try to get to Buenos Ayres. The Dee passed in all 150 bergs, some of which were from one to five miles long. The temperature of the water was 38 Fahr. and of the air 42 Fahr. The whole sea of ice was drifting east and formed a terrible menace to passing ships, par- ticularly outward bound vessels. Captain Yore things many vessels will have met an ugly fate in the ice, as it was impossible to detect its presence until the ships were right into it. Moreover, the presence of such a mass of ice so far north in September was most unusual. The Trafalgar arrived at Buenos Ayres on Septem- ber 20th.

AUSTRIA'S SINISTER PREPARATIONS. Paris,Monday.—According to a Belgrade tele- gram to the "Matin," Austria is collecting fuether troops on the Hamuke and Save, and like pre- parations are going on in Bosnia mainly on the Turkish and Montenegrin frontiers. At Vishegrad, on the borders of the Sandjak of Novibazar. remarkable activity prevails, al- though the utmost secrecy is observed with re- gard thereto. Every night, alleges the correspondent, special trains. with all lights out. arrive with troops, munitions of war, and forage. Even the ordin- ary mode of railway signalling has been dis- pensed with. and Lhe authorities have forbidden the inhabitants of the town to leave their houses between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. —Central News. Belgrade. Monday.—The National Bank to- day transferred its reserves of coin and its books to Nish, the removal requiring 17 rail- way cars. The rumour of an early recasting of the Cabinet is confirmed in political circles, where it is claimed that the situation is too serious, and that the Radicals alone should jear the responsibility for the administration of affairs. It is expected that the Ministry will be reconstructed shortly after the return of the epecial missions sent to different foreign capitals,—Rcuter.

GERMAN MINE DISASTER. Berlin, Tuesday.—In the Reichstag during a debateon the Radbod mine disaster the Prussian Minister for the Interior said in view of the related manner in which men had to work in these mines specially authorised miners enjoy- ing the confidence ot their comrades would be empowered to supervise the safety of the work- ings and to report deficiencies to the mine management], or,when necessary, to the mining authorities. This arrangement must not,, how- ever, develop into a political trial of strength. The Prussian Minister of Commerce said it had been discovered that the wataring was inadequate as the result, of the freezing of the water pipes. It was untrue that two men had escaped after the rescue work had been stopped. Up to yesterday 100,000 cubic metres of water had been admitted to the mine to extinguish the fire. A ^ocialiat attacked the Minister very sharply, declaring that high finance was .responsible for the disaster.—Reuter.

WOMEN AND THE FRANCHISE The Anti-Suffrage League. The Countess of Jersey, presiding at A meeting of the council of the Women's National Anti Suffrage League, held in London on Wednesday, said the vast majority of the women of the country resented the attempt to force the burden of the franchise upon them. The vote was a serious thing, and so far from being a joke, to be given to women to be a plaything, it was a efcep which might end in national disaster. They should resist this attempt to break up their homes and families. The report presented stated that branches had been formed all over England and Wales. Speeches were delivered by Mr Julius Ber- tram, M.P., Mr Hilaire Belloc, M.P., and others, and a resolution was adopted pledging the league, on national grounds, to resist the proposal to admit women to the Parliamen- tary franchise and to Parliament.

THE BROTHERS GUY. TRIO OF PONTYPRtM CHARGER The brothers, William, George, and James Guy, of Dynea-road, Upper Boat, who have been committed for trial on charges of burglary at Whitchurch.were brought before the Ponty- pridd magistrates onWednesday on three charges of breaking and entering private residences at Pontypridd during the absence of the'occu- pants at services on Sunday night. Francis Cuff, collier, Llanover-road, spoke to finrlmg that his house had been ransacked and £5 17s and various articles valued at £9 10s taken; Mrs Benton, Bonvilston- road, missed articles to the value of £5 10s and found a knife, gimlett, and diamond-glass cutter on the window sill, which did not belong to her and Thomas Evans, colliery overman, Graig, Pontypridd, had £21 worth of articles stolen, including a gold presentation watch. A number <9f articles in respect of the three charges were produced by Sergeant Henry Davies, who said he recovered them after a search at prisoners' house, and P.C. Joseph Evans alleged that defendants' mother threw two field glasses out of the window when the other officers were inside the house. The prisoners' only reply to the charge in each instance was," My stepfather has nothing to do with the Pontypridd affair." They were committed for trial at the Assizes. 4 As a sequel to the above case two charges were preferred against Frederick Randell, the stepfather of the prisoners Guy, for receiving stolen property. Evidence was given of stolen arti' l'-s being recovered from the house of the defendant, and that when 'his wife threw the two opera glasses out through the window, he (defendant) was in the same room. Defendant pleaded not guilty, and denied any knowledge of the goods which had been recovered by the police. He was committed for trial to the Assizes.

MALARIA ON BOARD. Mr TVter Allen, second officer of the West Hartlepool steamer Oakby, resident at Male- fant-street, Cardiff, is now in hospital at South Shields, where he was removed on Monday suffering from malarial fever when the vessel arrived in the Tyne. Mr Allen was completely prostrated, and had to be lowered down the ship's side into the Port Sanit.arysteam launch, which conveyed him to hospital, The cook. who joined the Oakby at Cardiff, where she commenced the voyage, was so ill when the steamer left D<»,kar suffering from the same complaint as the second officer, that he had to —e left in hospital. i he Oakby, which has *»een employed trading some months between St. Luis and Dikar, had no less than eighteen^. thr crew suffering from malarial fever, and were on different occasions in the hospital.

UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND FOR SEALS. Cash Rewards for Collactors. The market value of seals has greatly in- creased of late—not of the amphibious genus, but of the new gold seals attached to every drum of "Shell" motor spirit. For along while the British Petroleum Co., Ltd., have adopted the expedient of sealing every can of Shell motor spirit, to prevent adulteration. The familial) leaden seal (in the form of the company's trade mark) has now given place to a gold seal," and we learn to-day that 5s 6d per 10n wiU be paid for the "gold seals" attached to Shell motor spirit cans. Seals jnav :e received up to February 28th, 1909, at the'Golden Seal Dept. Offices of the British Petroleum Co., Ltd.. 22, Fenchurch-street, Ixnidon, B.C.

For the vacant seat caused by the death of the late Councillor Jos. Lewis, there were three candidates, and polling took place on Monday, with the result followingMr Thomas John Griffiths (C.), 313; Mr George Griffiths (L.), 250 Mr Jos. Lewis (C.), 31. The first gentleman was declared duly elected.

Earthquake in Portugal. MANY BUILDINGS COLLAPSE. Lisbon (via Badajoz), Tuesday.—An earth. quake occurred yesterday, the effects of which were most strongly felt at Arrude, Olivaer, and Franca. The shock, which lasted seven seconds, caused indescribable panic in the districts affected. Many buildings collapsed, and factories and mills were partly destroyed. Hundreds of terror-stricken employees, men womf'n and children, rushed from their employ- ment and escaped from the shaken and shat- tered buildings into the open country. The effects of the shock were not confined to the towns. Huge fissures have opened in the land in more than one district and rivers have over- flowed their banks. It is feared that there have been many vic- tims, although no exact details are to hand. A general belief prevails that Portugal will be visited by a stil I more serious shock, and the 'on prevalent feeling is one of intense apprehension since during the last week strong earth tre- V niours were daily registered and caused much damage. Yesterday's shock was by far the most violent.—Central News.

Tornado Devastation. MANY AMERICANS KILLED. New York, Tuesday.-A telegram from Berryville, Arkansas, states that; a terrible tor- nado is raging in the State, and great loss of life is feared. Twenty-five persons are definitely reported to have been killed by the tornado, which has swept everything before it for a distance of seventy miles. The storm is about two miles in widt h, and throughout this tegion houses, trees, and Crops have been levelled to the ground,.the damage being enor- mous.—Reuter. New York, Tuesday, later.—Advices from Little Rock, Arkansas, state that one of the tornadoes travelled in a southerly direction through Carroll, Newton, and Johnson Coun- ties. almost destroying nearly a score of towns andhamietainitspath, which was, half a mile in wicjth. It blew itself out when it reached the Arkansas River. Piney was almost wiped out, thirty persons being killed there and in its vicinity. The other tornado travelled northwards through Lafayette, Pike, and Hempstead Counties. It was as destructive as the other with regard to lile, and scarcely less so with regard to pro- perty.—Reuter..

THE HAYTI REVOLUTION. New York, Tuesday.—The following tele- gram hps been received from Port au Prince :— The towns of Aquin and Jeremie have de- clared against the Government. The gunboat Croyant, which fell into the hands of the rebels, has exchanged shots with the gunboat Centinairc, of Jeremie. General Lecomte, Minister of the Interior, who led the Government forces against the rebels, has been taken prisoner It is reported that he has been executed.-Reuter. New York, Tuesday.—The Herald pub- lishes the following telegram from Port au Prince -•—The German, British, French, and United States Legations have requested that warships be rushed to Les Cayes and Jeremie for the protection of foreigners. General Favo- rolles, the military commander in thesouth, and Senator Morisset have taken refuge in the Ger- man Consulate at Les Cayes.-Reuter.

MUTINY IN CHINA. Pekin, Tuesday.-The situation at Nganking, the capital of the Province of Nganwhei, where a mutiny of Chinese troops broke out on the 19th that., is serious. There has been fighting in the streets, and some foreigners have taken refuge on a British gunboat in the Yangtse. Other foreigners, however, have elected to remain on shore. This information is derived from official .telegrams received at the Legations here. In addition to the British gunboat there is a German gunboat in the river. American residents have asked for a gunboat fqr their protection, but in view of the assur- ances given by Yuanshikai that the situation is quiet and that the mutiny is ended this request has not been forwarded. Private infor- mationhasbeen received here which contradicts the representations made by the Foreign Board, and the Legations have requested the Foreign Board to obtain further particulars. The War Board to-day announced that it had 1.000 troops at Nganking pending the close of the manoeuvres, that the new Government is firmly established there, and that foreigners there need have no apprehension of insurrection. Troops, however, are beingf closely watched, as it is feared they may follow the example of the artillery and cavalry, and revolts The native Press hints that the trouble is traceable to the opposition to missionaries—a charge which is not substantiated.—Reuter.

LEADER OF THE PARLIA- MENTARY BAR. Thela-te Sir Ralph Litter, K.C., was born 73 years ago, the son of a clergyman. Called to the Bar in 1857 he has enjoyed one of the long- est and most lucrative careers of any member of the Bar. With the death of Mr Pope, he be- came the leader of the Parliamentary Bar. There were times when the sentences of Sir Ralph, as chairman of the Middlesex Quarter Sessions, provoked in some quarters San out- burst of furious criticism. He was described as dispensing savagery and ferocity in the name of justice. But he had a kind heart behind an Sir R. Littler. I iron exterior, and there are many stories told of prisoners' families whom he had befriended until the head of the family was out again. Perhaps Sir Ralph's geatest achievement, at the Parliamentary Bar was the successful piloting of the Great Central Railway Extension to London Bill. Magnificent., however. as was his work for that railway, he perhaps shone better when he was opposing a Bill than as a. supporter of one. He was noted as a searching cross- examiner.

SUICIDE OF CO-RESPONDENT. .< .i. In the Divorce Court on Monday Vivian Abbot Johnston, of Meersbrook, Sheffield, was granted a decree nisi with the custody of the children of the marriage on the ground of his wife's misconduct with Michael Lancelot Neale Shuttle, who, it was stated, had committed suicide last July, and whose name had been consequently struck out of the suit. The petition was undefended and it was stated the parties were married in 1886 and lived, at Sheffield. In 1904 differences arose between them and the wife expressed a desire to earn her own living by carrying on a lodging-house at Douglas (Isle of Man). The husband con- sented, allowing his wife JE1 a week. Shuttle, however, lived with Mrs Johnston as her hus- band and when served with the divorce papers he committed suicide under tragic circum- stances. ■

UNIFORM SHIPYARD WAGES. The Clyde shipbuilding and engineering employers will on Tuesday next reduce the ngincers' wages 5 per cent. on piece rates and Is weekly on time rates. The reduction will bring the Clyde rates down to the levei existing in English centres, and in future the wages in aoil centres will be kept at the same level.

MANORBIER CASTLE FROM THE SOUTH. -Photo by Valentine. I CASTLES AND ABBEYS OF South Wales & Monmouth MANORBIER CASTLE. Setting aside the doughty Princes of ancient Wales, with whom we would classify the last who assumed the title of Owen Glyndwr, no county in Wales has produced more distin. guished men than Pembrokeshire, and iifwiU be 'admitted that in the past, at all events, Wales has produced men who occupied a dis- tinguished place in nearly every rank, profes- sion and calling. Whether in literature, in the law, in the church, or in the army, we find Welshmen who held their own with distinction. In the roll of Judges who administer the law, and even in the roll of law-givers who make it, Wales can point out many a dist,inguished son. In literature, the world owes more to the Celt than it thinks. Its poetry, its music, and above all its ancient romances, had an influence in the 13th and 14t.h centuries, which moulded European literature. If we go back to the satires of Walter Map—a Glamorganshire man by the way—we find the prelude to Piers Plowman and Chaucer. Spencer's Faery Queen would hardly have been sung but for the Welsh romances, and certainly Shakes- peare's Cymbeline and King Lear "— the latter perhaps the greatest creation even of the master-would not have been our rich heritage if it had not been that such a man as Geoffrey of Monmouth had lived before him. COURTYARD. MANORBIER CASTLE. —Photo by Valentine. _< I And to what does the late laureate owe his chief fame, except to Arthurian romance ? Pembrokeshire gave birth to Sir Thomas Picton, whose memory is green enough to dispense with any remarks of mine. It also gave birth to Sir John Perrot, probably the oldest Gover- nor.General that was ever appointed for Ire- land. In Pembrokeshire, moreover, was born Giraldus de Barri, or Giraldiis Cambrensis—a Norman on his father's side, but Welsh on his mother's. Giraldus first saw the light at Man- orbier Castle on the South coast of Pembroke- shire, between three and four miles to the West of Tenby. It is, of course, impossible to say whether any part of the present remains was in existence at the time of Giraldus' birth, which took place in 1146. I am inclined to think that some portion of the present ruins was built a little before, or at all events about that time, when in fact most of The Early Pembrokeshire Castles were built. Gilbert Strongbow had a few years before been created Earl of Pembroke, and during his tenure of the Earldom many of the South Pembrokeshire castles were built. Pro- bably, however, Giraldus' father had come to live at Manorbier a little before Gilbert de Clare was created Earl of Pembroke, when Gerald de Windsor was the King's castellan in that part of the country. GiraJdds' father, William de Barri, was one Af those Normans who had settled in Glamorganshire after the subjugation of the southern part of that county by Fitz- hamon, and it is supposed that he took his surname from Barry Is!and, on the Glamorgan- shire coast. He married Angharad, a daughter of Gerald de Windsor, by Nest, the daughter t I of Rhys ap Tewdwr, and it is more that pro- bable that the governorship of Manorbier I Castle was conferred by Gerald on his son-in- law. Giraldus himself tells us that his father had come to live there a few years before his birth, and he gives us the following graphic Description of the Castle as it stood in his time, and of" the locality The Castle of Maenor Pyr, that is the man- sion of Pyrrhus, who also possessed the Island .of Caldy, which the Welsh called Ynys Pyr, or the island of Pyrrhus, is distant about three miles (it is quite five) from Penbroch. It is ex- ceedingly well defended by turrets and bul- warks, and is situate on the summit of a hill extending on the Western side towards the sea, having on the Northern and Southern side a fine fishpond under its wall, as remarkable for its grand appearance as for the depth of its waters, and a beautiful orchard on the same side, bounded on, one side by a vineyard and on the other by a wood, remarkable for thet projection of its rocks and the height of its hazel trees. On the right hand of the promon- tory between the castle and the .church, near the site of a very large lake and mill, a rivu- let ot never failing water flows through a vailed I renderecfsandy by the violence of the winds. Towards the West, the Severn sea, bending its course towards Ireland, enters a hollow bay at some distance, and the southern rocks, if ex- tended a little way further towàMs the North, would render it a most excellent harbour for shipping. Brom this point, you will see almost all the ships from Great Britain, which the East wind drives upon the Irish coast 'daringly brave' tMe "inconstant, and raging waves. Thi3 country (tfcat is, Dyfed or Dime- tia, is well supplied witheprn, sea fish and impor- ¡ ted wines and, what is preferable to every other advantage, from its vicinity to Ireland it is tempered by a s^fubrious air. Dimetia, therefore, with its seven cantrefs, is the most beautiful, as well as the most powerful, district of Wales, Penbroch the finest part of Demetia, and the place I have just described, the most delightful part of Penbroch. It is evident, therefore, that Maenor Pyr is the pleasantes- J spot in Wale3, and the |futhor may be part | doned for having thus extolled his native soil, his genial territory, with a profusion of praise admiration." I I Of Gi raid us's Life space will not permit me to speak here, except to remark that he was an observant traveller, a trenchant writer, one who fought valiantly foi the Church in Wales, and who was twice selected to be Bishop of St. David's, but de- nied the office by Henry and the Archbishop of Canterbury, it being feared that his relation- to the Welsh Princes might be used to the dis- advantage of the English cause in the Princi- pality. At length, however, when he was an old man, and his best energies had been spent in the cause of his country, he was offered that which had been the ambition of his life but he declined it. He died at St. David's in the 74th year of his age, and was buried in the cathedral church. Giraldus' family remained at Manorbier for some 250 years. Its history is not connected with any great public event. It appears to have been looked upon by the hostile Welsh more as a residence of a friendly family than as a fortress occupied by in enemy. Dr. Nicholas, in his Annals of the Counties | of Wales." says that Manorbier Castle was never, so far as is known, the subject of a 1 siege." Of the early Norman times this is true, but it is incorrect of the 17th century. In all probability I Manorbier Was Garrisoned by a body placed there by Sir Henry Vaughan early in 1642, as most Pembrokeshire castles were then put in a position of defence, but in the account of the series of victories Obtained by Major-General Laugharne, with the aid of some Parliament ships, early in the spring of thjit year, the name of Manorbier does not figure. So that., if garrisoned, it was evacuated without an attempt at its defence. But when Gerard superceded the Earl of Carbery in the com- mand of the Royalists in South Wales, Manor- bier was undoubtedly garrisoned, although placed in a most dangerous, position between Tenby and Pembroke, both of which continued then in the hands of the Parliamentary party. When in August, 1654, Laugharne had gained a signal victory over Major-General Stradling and Major-General Egerton on Colby Moor, and Haverfordwest had been taken, there only remained | Three Garrisons of the King's in the County, and they were at the castles of Carew, Picton, and Manorbier. At Carew and Manorbier were stationed altogether about 400 men. 8èh were besieged about the end of August, and about the beginning of September they were taken, and the garrisons made pris- onc-rs. The allusions to the siege of the two castles in lhafc old newspapers of the period are very brief, but there can be no doubt whatever than Manorbier was then subjected to a siege. As confirmatory evidence of this may be men- tioned some discoveries made thereby Mr J. R. Cobb, of Brecon, while fitting up a part of the ancient fortress for a summer residence. In I' front of the present ancient gatehouse, and completely blocking up access to it, Mr Cobb I found an eight-foot bank of earth, cased in front with a five-foot wall, having all the appearance of a Vauban fortification lor guns. He also disinterred several bolts or elugsoflead five inches long and five-eighths of an inch in diameter. I The castle at presept belongs to Sir Charles Phiiipps, Bart., of Picton Castle ,and the lease to the late Mr Cobb having fallen in it is now rented on a, yearly tenancy by Mr Elliott Stock, I the well-known London publisher, who with his family reside therein during the summer months of the year. Beyond what was done to make the front part habitable, the general aspect of of the ruins remains thp same as before. Within a mile of Manorbier is the bold pro- montory of Old Castle Head, on which are the interesting and extensive remains of one of the old Danish forts. The Danes slew two Bishopa of St. David's in 1000 and 1078 I To the antiquary there can be nothing of greater interest than the church, situate on a high hill outeide Manorbier ViDage. It is not properly oriented, and its architecture is a 1 jumble of styles, and it has been described as the most singular and picturesque in the dis- I' trict." It was built in the form of a cross with a tower standing north of the chancel. Under a plain canopy in the chancel is a tomb sup- porting the effigy, of a crusader, with legs crossed, clad in a mixture of ring and plata armour, such as was worn soon after the Con- quest, having his shield-charged with the arjns of Barri, whose family formerly possessed the castle and its domain. De Barri, in.1702, was one of the twelve knights of Fitz-Hamon, among whom this district, plundered from the Welsh Princes, was divided

BRIGAND'S RELEASE. Rome, Monday.—Vincenzo Rucci, a famous brigand, who has been in penal servitude for 42 years, has just received a Royal pardon, and has arrived at Naples. Rucci, who is now 82 years of age, was in'3 860 the head of a band of brigands who, after the fall of the Kingdom of Naples, declared themselves adherents of King Francis, then in exï;e. For four years the band successfully resisted the attempts of Soldiers and police to put an end to their activity, but were at last broken up, although Rucci escaped and continued his nefarious call- ing until 1866, when he was captured. In the course of an interview Vincenzo Rucci declared that he had' killed 33 persons and wounded at least 50. He by no means ex- pressed repentance for his crimes, and he stated, that he had done his duty because Saint Gennaro, who had appeared to him in a dream, had commissioned him to crush the enemies of Naples.. On leaving prison the ex-brigand was informed that a rich man who died several years ago had left him a fortune.—Central News. j

"STORY OF A LOAN. False Pretenoes Charges at Pentypridd. A charge of obtaining jElO by false pretences from the South Wales Loan and Finance Co. was preferred against Albert E. Sayer, laundry- man, of Bristol, late of Abertillery, at Ponty. pridd on Wednesday. Mr J. Bryant, Ppnty. pridd, prosecuted, and the allegations .were that by reprcsentipg himself as a householder paying 7s a week rent, and that he owned all the furniture in the house, defendant obtained ah advance. It was subsequently discovered that the defendant only rented fuitoished apartments. On the strength of his repre- sentations he was advanced £10, for which he gave a-promissory note for £ 14 10s, repayable by instalments of jEl per month. Defendant admitted representing that he was a householder, but denied that he did this with a view'to defrauding the company. He had failed to keep up the regular payments consequent on the illness of himself and his wife. Defendant was bound over and ordered to repay the £10 within 12 months.

BETTING AND MONEYLENDERS. I The first iueeting of creditors of Charles F. Parry, Adeline-street, Newport, coal. merchant, was held on ,Wedncsday. The gross liabilities were £ 213, and the deficiency was given as JE163. The cause for failure was stated to be betting losses." The Official Receiver, in his,observa- tions, states that for. the past three or JTour ) years debtor had made bets on horses and tost £ 100, and that, he used the proceeds of his busi- ness?* to meet his .losses in this.direction. In- May last he joined another man in making a book on horse racing, and invested £ 40. This person, however, left the town a month ago, and debtor lost his money. His life, it is stated, is insured for £100, but the policy isheld ■ by moneylenders. Amongst the unsecured j liabilities is £ 145 for eight professional money- 1 lenders. The Official Receiver remains trustee.'

Collision at Newport. TRUCKS OVER EMBANKMENT. A collision, which caused considerable damage to rolling stock and delay to traffic, occurred at Newport on the Great WTestern Railway on Wednesday morning by what is Known as the Maindy Loop, the line which branches 4ibff the main line about a mile east of the Newport Station, and proceeds to Ptmtypool Road on the north. The mishap occurred shortly after 1 o'clock. The cause of the accident was a light engine. which was returning to Newport Station after completing a trip on a passenger train. It stood near a pair of points which connect the up and down line from Newport to Bristol. It received th signal to enter the station, but the driver in the mean- time had inadvertently travelled a few yards too fat; on the down line to Newport, and, con- sequeutty, when he started his engine, instead of being on the far side of the points, he was 0*1 the station side, and therefore ran across the through shuut 'nto the oncoming m'neral train. instead of proceeding on the down-line- There must have been a severe impact, for trucks were practically smashed and a telegraph post was cut clean in two, the telegraph arrange- ments being upset. Some wagons tumbled over the embankment, which is 20 feet high. on to the backs of some houses, and a large number of boxes of tinplates' were thrown out of the wagons and the contents strewn broadcast. Shortty after the accident breakdown gangs were on the scene, as well s," Mr Jones, of the engineer's office, and Mr Evens, stationmaster. All efforts were concentrated on clearing the line for the Paddington and Bristol expresses, due at Cardiff at 2.5 and 2.20 respectively. The expresses were held up further east. The passengers, however, got away by a special train from Cardiff. They were obliged to leave their own train and walk over the scene of the accident to the Caerleon Road Bridge, where the Cardiff train was in waiting. After two hour;¡' delay they were able to resume their journey. "The normal traffic was restored in a few hours.

OMITTED RELIGIOUS SERVICE. Tredegar Workhouse. Disappointment. At a fortnightly meeting of Bedwellty Board o* Guardians at Tredegar on Wednesday, Mr J. Manning presiding, the Master (Mr W. Davies) reported that no religious service had been held at the Workhouse on November lot h. -Mr J. Emlyn Bvans That's a shame.—Mr J. L. Herbert said that the local minister who arranged the voluntary services of the minis- ters of all denominations had informed him that he had made arrangements t>o prevent a recurrence of this disappointment.Y—Mr J. Emlyn Evans They would come if they were paid, I suppose.—It was decided to. call the attention of tha> ifinisterial Committee to vhe omission. Instructions were given for pro- viding the usual Christmas dinner for the in- mates, and extra relief of Is each adult and 6d each child was ordered for the outdoor paupers in Christmas week. The salaries of the super- intendent and matron of the Cottage Homes were increased to jE55 and JE45 per annum re- spectively, an aggregate increase of £25 per annum. It was reported that the Tredegar Company had declined to reduce the price of JE100 for the purchase of half an acrfe of land near the Workhouse fot a site of an isolation hospi- tal: It was decided to continue the negotia- tions for the land. The formation and equip- ment of a fire brigade at the Workhouse were completed.

WOMEN WORKERS' ADVANCE. During the past few years Trade Unionism haa been making extraordinary strides among women and girls, who are now endeavouring to help themselves. The Women's Trade Union League, with Sir Cliarles Dilke and other members of Parliament for its supporters, is the parent of the gicls' Union. To Miss May Miss May R. Macarthur. Macarthur, the secretary of the League, the I "Trade Union girls come for help, counsel, and encouragement. Tall and slim, with fair hair and blue eyes, Miss Macarthur is quite unlike the typical woman's agitator. An eloquent speaker, a clever organiser, she is adored by the hand of London workgirls she has gathered round her, and who, under, her guidance, have constituted themselves volunteer Trade Union missionaries.

MID-ESSEX BYE-ELECTION. Noxious flumes at Liberal Meeting At a demonstration at Chelmsford cn Satur- day night in support of Mr Dcnce (Liberal), Mr Crittali, a leading local manufacturer, spoke vigorously against fiscal reform. Mr Hamei Greenwood, M.P., also spoke, but was inter, rupted by the ignition of obnoxious chemicals by some perso'is, who wore ejected. Mr Dence's reception was a mixed one.

8,000 ELEPHANTS. Mombasa, Tuesday.—In consequence of the Congo having practically ceased to administer the Lado enclave many Europeans are hunting elephants in the district. It is reported that a herd of 8,000 elephants has boon rounded up and hemmed in by hunters, who are shooting the males. Two of the hunters who liave re- turned to Entebbe after four months' shooting are reported to haye made ££i.CD:) out of thef too.—Renter-

ICEBERGS IN SOUTH ATLANTIC. The baroque Dee, from Talcahuano, which ar- rived at Queeustown, reports that on Septem- ber 4th and 5th, in latitude 49 to 48.29 south, longitude 50 to 48.29 west, she saw 100 icebergs one 50 (?) miles long and 200 to 250 feet high stretch-ing to S.W.

DISASTER TO AN ITALIAN SHIP. Lloyd's Amsterdam agent reports that the Italian ship Fernanda, from Riga for Swansea, I wood-laden, parted from her tug and drove ashore at Terecheliing. Seven of the crew were drowned. The captain is st/iit on board- The j vesseiwill probably be a total loss. Part of the crew were saved and- landed atTerschel- ling.

A labourer named Folly, living at 29, Nora- street, Cardiff, whilst employed bv Messrs J. Allen, Limited, on Tuesday, fell off a scaffold and was seriously injured. At the Cardiff In- I firmary, where he was detained; it was found that he had sustained a wound on the Eca'p, fractured leg, and fracture of both a^-ms.. A, t

TREASURY ACTION AGAINST M.P. Mr Horatio BGttomley, M.P., who has been served with a summons to appear at the Guild- hall to answer a charge of conspiracy, has.- a remarkable and varied career. He is well- Mr Horatio Bottomlpv. M.P. known in the City in connection with financial undertakings. He established the newspaper John BuH: wbich has recently been floated as a company. His successful speech in his own defence at the Hansard Union trial was gener- any allowed to he one of the ablest feats of the kind on recond, and on the platform he has shown that his oratorial style is sufficiently varied.

DARING VENTURE IN HAMILTON STREET. 1 The Thief Disturbed. # Cardiffians cannot just now be too careful about leaving their houses unoccupied during any part of the day, as instance a case which oc- curred on Wednesday, when No. 47, Hamilton- street, the house of Mr Philip Arthur Jacobs, son of ex-Alderman T. W. Jacobs, was en- tered. For some time lately house-breakers have been busv in Cardiff, particularly in the Canton district. On Wednesday afternoon Mrs Jacobs left the house and during her absence forcible entry was made by the front door, the staple: being forced away. Upon her return she noticed the outline of a man through the glass of the door, and the intruder, hearing her approach, locked the front door. Greatly alarmed, Mrs Jacobs called for the assistance of neighbours, who promptly came on the scene, and the front door was opened. It was then found that the housebreaker had all but completed his work for getting away with a considerable amount of property. A large portmanteau had been packed with silver ware and wearing apparel, and the drawers and cupboards had been ran- sacked for articles of value. The upstairs rooms had beensvisited, and small goods in the way of lockets, chain and a watch had been taken from the dressing table. These Ihe un- welcome visitor had evidently pocketed, their value being about £ 12. The drawers in the .vilchen had been opened in the search for property worth taking, but the'housebreaker overlooked a diamond ring wbich Mrs Jacobs had temporarily hung on a hook on the dresser and forgotten. The ring was in a. most con- spicuous position. About the time of Mrs Jacobs' arrival a than was seen leaving the house at. the back by a next door neighbour. The police were at. once notified, and were soon on the spot, and they hope to make an onwf. MrsJacoba having supplied them with a description of the individual wanted. The affair created a sensation in HamiltonJtreei, the peace of mind of residents in that aistrict haVing been considerably disturbed *tecently by the operations of housebreakers.

CARDIFF DRAPER'S AFFAIRS. Meeting of Creditors, A meeting of the creditors of Jnhn Penrose Evans, trading as J. Penrose Evans and Co., Cowbridgc-road, Cardiff, draper, Was held on Wednesday at the Official Receiver's Offices, Manchester. Mr 0. David, Official Receiver, Cardiff, presided. The statement of affairs showed gross liabili- ties £ 2,C87 13s, amount expected to rank for dividend £ 1,800 19s, total asseats JE647, defi- ciency £ 1,153 17s. Debtor alleged as causes of failure insufficient trade for the heavy ex- penses and damage to goods in shop windows. He was for many years an assistant in the em- ploy of a local firm, and commenced business in a auburb of Cardiff, in 1906 with a capital of £ 150. He was allowed an overdraft at the I bank on security of a legooy of £ 55$. He em- ployed eight assistants, but had kept no hooks I of account showing his trade or 'financial posi- tion, hut had kept a cash takings book and also a book showing payments since October last year. In September last, as he could not meet his accounts,, a. creditors' petition was filed to.protect the estate. Although the busi- ness was carried on'at a loss the debtor drew for personal and household expenses £415, which the Official Receiver considered under the circumstances exenssi vc. The debtor not being in a position to offer a composition, was adjudicated bankrupt on the 14th inst. Mr Theodore Gregory, chartered accountant, Manchester, Was appointed official trustefe with a committee of inspection. The first public examination will take place at the City. Hall, Cardiff, on the 8th orox.

-= WELSH GLEANINQST News and Views in Lighter Vein. The new buildings of the Universitv College OIl- u ^ales at Bangor, the erection oi wbich was commenced in November. 1907, will, it is hoped, be completed in time for occupa- tion in the summer of 1910. » — Mr Venables Llewelyn at the Park Hali meeting on Thursday evening expressed the hope that the Conservative minority would be increased. Liberals should have no objection. The total subscriptions last year from Wales Monmouthshn-e, and the Welsh Societies in Lngland towards the British and Foreign Bible Societies amounted to £7,124. According to the Rev. W. L. Richard* Welsh °f 1 Llan^view' there are scores of Welsh clergymen now in favour of Welsh DisestabUsnment, though they are not brave Myto mppoH of co„. A Welsh Liberal who has been on a visit to 11 is talking Free Trade to Americans. They are ^or»r debaters, but in every other respect the /er- age American is a delightful compan on. Dr. Owen Evans, the '• G.O.M." of Welsh Congregationalism, entered upon his eightieth year last week. Dr Evan« Jrhs. g.n. va te the ministry fifty-eight 'y^ a^> ^TiU S anAd,^t,ve ,n Wvand vigorou^'in intel- retirenientfmmhi^*Londoa Da0?085)01h °f h'3 the end of fifty years in Hi cerved a national testimonial of £ 1000 as a mark of appreciation of his public se^vicesf A fvLDCt this column to the Rev. Aelfryn Roberts, Nantymoel, the rev. gentle- man was described as the fourth in seniority in the East Glamorgan Association- It now transpires that the Rev. D. G. Rees, of Whife- ticra"0 18 SOIQe ^'ears his senior in that poai- Shortly before his death the Rev. James Phillips, of Little Haven, Pembrokeshire, had completed a History of Pembrokeshire," upon which he had been engaged for many years. Arrangements have now been made for the publication of the work at an early date, a is proposed by his sisters to devote any profits that may arise out of the sale to some object that would have met with his approval. such as the establishment of a scholarship. « 1* J Rees' Barn-street Council School, Haverfordwest, has undertaken to superintend the publication. The late Mr Phillips was for many years a member of the General Purposes Committee of the Welsh National Liberal t>f the last journeys he took out of his beloved Pembrokeshire was to the annual meetings of the Council at Rhyl. Aberdare is noted for the fact that the churches there retain their ministers for a long time. Indeed, several of the Nonconformist churches, in the district seldom lose a minister except through death. The oldest minister in charge of a church in the town at present is the Rev. tvje3 Jenkin Jones, M.A., of Hendy Cwrdd Welsh Unitarian Church, who was ordained to the pastorate of that church in January. 1864, to succeed his father, who had been the minister of the same church fer over 30 years. The Rev. T. Humphreys, Baptist minister., Cwmaman, has spent over 40 years as minisjter at Soar, Cwmaman. With the] ndependenta the Rev. W. Samlet Davies has ministered at Llwydcoed over 37 years, and the Rev. Hy. Aeron Davies at Cwmaman for 32 vears. Several other ministers in the Valley are about to complete ministries of 30 years. A North Wales weekly has got into hot water for publishing a list of the agad paopk in the district who have been voted old age pensions. Whether this is a desirable thing to do is a very open question the editor claims, tod rightly so, thai there is ho dbgracft attached to tho) pension. The leader of the Labour party in Parliament has, however, taken steps to protest against the publication. In reply to Mr Henderson, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on Friday night explained that Revenue officers are pledged to secrecy in tho matter, but that local committees are not under any legal obligation of secrecy. If the possibility of publication will be to prevent deserving persons from applying for the pensions, then the sooner the better the obligation of secrecy in respect of name is placed upon all committees. The University College of North Wales Calendar for 1908-9 is to haaid, and as usual is carefully edited and fully up-to-date. Bangor is the smallest o the three Welsh university colleges, and yet for the last session there were no fewer than 333 students in. attendance, of whom 294 were drawn from Wales. Towards this total South Wales contributed 28, viz., 16 from Glamorgan, 6 from Cardiganshire, 3 from OruTiiarthenshire, 2 from Brecooshire, and 1 from Pembrokeshire. England was represented by 39 students. It would be interesting to know how Bangor comes to attract students from Glamorganshire and Cardiganshire, each of which counties has a university college within its borders 197 of the students entered the college direct from Welsh county schools and 130 of these proceeded to those schools by means of scholarships from elementary schools. Wales has few more able and fearless contro- versialists than Spintlier," of Llandudno, who has done excellent work in his day as a. Welsh Baptist historian, but who must now prcbably be ranked amongst the patriarchs of his church. His hand. however, has lost nona of its cunning, as was shown in the series of vigorous articles in defence of orthodoxy which he recently contributed to the qolumnia of Seren Cvmru "—articles which found their origin in Spinther's suspicion that some of the younger men of his denomination in Wales were shoving more affection than was desirable for the New Theology- The articles are now reproduced in a bulky pamphlet, entitled Yr Ymosodiadau ar y Beibl yn cael eu Beirniadu," and printed by Messrs W. M. Evans and Sons, Carmarthen. The volume deserves a second edition in larger type and better binding- Can any agricultural correspondent explain the following terms and references in Gomme's Village Community "? He says that an un- usual mode of husbandry attributed to moun' tain tribes appears to havp existed in this country in & bygone age. and he instances the Lynchets of the Wiltshire, Dorset, Hamp- shire. and Sussex Highlands," the butts of Carmarthenshire, the reins of Wharfdale, etc., and the hanging shaws of GhoJlerton. What were these, and whattracea of them may now be found ? Probably one of the largestand most success, ful Bible classes in the Principality is con- ducted by Mr Rhys Morgan, M.A., headmaster of the Pontypridd County School* at the Con- gregational chapel of that town. During the past four years the membership on Sunday afternoons has totalled 70. In such a progres- sive age and with such a multiplicity of theolo- gical doctrines it requires a strong and adept teacher to control it successfully. Mr,Morgan's services have been appreciated by the class in a tangible form, for last week he was made thf) recipient of a framed photograph of the students. It does not fall to every preacher to make his reputation on one sermon. This is, however, likely to be the experience of the young Oxford graduate who ministers to the little B £ pt&t Church at Broad Haven. As a result of that sermon the Rev. Gwilyjn Davies, B. addressed a public meeting at Haverfordw-ccrt,. Here enthusiasm ran fJO high that on coming out Mr Davies was shouldered and carried through the town by the crowd, who alter- nately cheered and sang For he's a jolly good fellow." Carmarthenshire is now to have the services of Mr Gwilym Davies, as he hR8 decided to accept the pastor&te of the Fpgliah Church at Carmarthen in succession to the Rev. Andrew Fuller Mills. He was schooled ia Carmarthenshire, and belongs to the county.