Weekly Mail

STRANGLED HER BABY. UNFORTUNATE KENSAL RISE MOTHER REMANDED. Louisa Day (25), servant girl, was com- mitted for trial at Willesden on Monday charged wth wilfully murdering her child by strangling it at Kensal Riee on August A Prisoner handed in a written statement. which was not read. I

MYSTERY OF A CHILD. + WIDOW CENSURED BY THE JURY. Mr. John Troutbook a.t Lajmlbert on Wed- nesday resumed the inquest on the body of a three-months-old child, stated to be the daughter of a Mrs. Taylor, a widow. An extraordinary feature of the case was that whilst Mrs. Taylor asserted at the pre- vious hearing that deceased was her child, the coroner suggested that she was not the mother. Mrs. Chick, of Wands worth-road, who took the baby to nuree, said that Mrs. Taylor did not tell her whoee ohild it was. Deceased was thin and dirty, and apparently had not had sufficient to eat. The Coroner (to Mrs. Taylor): What is the real reason that you have concealed the fact that this child is yours?—I have not con- cealed it. The Corpner: You have told us that you have concealed it from your daughter, who wa-s perfectly well aware that you have had three children since your husband's death. Why should you conceal this birth from her? Mrs. Taylor said that her daughter was getting older, but she had not kept it from her. Dr. Freyberger said that the body weighed only 61b. 3oz., and was very thin and wasted. Death was due to failure of the heart, accele- rated by catarrh of the stomach, whilst the deceased was suffering from wasting due to improper feeding. The Coroner, in summing up, said the first point for the jury to decide was the identity of the deceased. :Mrs. Taylor had adopted a plan of elaborate mystification about that. It was quite evident from the etatememtg of other people that she never revealed to aDY- body that it was her ohild. The jury returned a verdict declaring that the child's death was accelerated by improper feeding by Mrs. Taylor, but that there was not sufficient evident to show wTiether the want of proper care and attention was criminal or not. They believed the child to be the daughter of Mrs. Taylor. A rider was added that Mrs. Taylor was deaerving of censure for her conduct and for her misleading evidence.

BISHOP OF HEREFORD AND DEAD WIFE'S SISTER. ADVISES "LOYAL ACQUIESCENCE" IN THE NEW LAW. The Bishop of Hereford, replying to an application from an incumbent for guidance as to whether be ought to marry two parishioners who had expressed a desire to take advantage of the new marriage law. says that although he himself was opposed I to this new legislation, believing the old law to be better than the new in the highest interests of the community and of family I life. now that the Act is part of the law of the realm he should advise loyal acquiescence in it, and he, consequently, recommended the marrying of these good Christian people in the Church and receiving them at the Holy Tablo as tiitherto. Table as itherto.

FATAL BIOSCOPE PANIC. CORONER'S JURY BLAMES URBAN COUNCIL. The coroner's inquiry into the deaths caused by the cinematograph fire at New- market was resumed on Wednesday. Mr. Starling, who lost his wife, said he did not see her drop her purse or stoop to pick it up. The purse was subsequently found inside the hall unsoiled. Frank Simpson, captain of the Newmarket Fire Brigade, said he believed the cinemato- graph was erected exactly in front of the closed half of the exit doors. The fumes in- side the hall were 60 bad that witness feared a collapse, and only by a determined effort and by putting a water-soaked handkerchief on his face and dropping on his knee to direct the water on the Are was lie able to stay the flames. Rhoda, WooJkurd, the caretaker of the hall. said she arranged the seats, leaving two gangways, and the exhibition managei filled up the gang-ways with chairs. An iron screen had been erected round the apparatur at a similar exhibition. Nothing guarded the apparatus on the present oocasion in case of panic. Qorham and Police-constable Wright said they saw women falling on the blazing hydrogen cylinder, and others step- ping over it had their clothing ignited. Wit- nesses forced open the closed portion of the door, and rescued those who fell. The atmos- phere, owing to the burning oelluloid film, was suffocating. Wilfrid Black said he saw the operator open the lantern door, and a piece of white hot lime fell out. It rolled or was kicked against some spools of celluloid film on thel floor, which ignited. Greenwood, the opera- tor, attempted to extinguish them. There was a cry of "Fire!" and then came a panic, followed by a rush for the exits. CAUSE OF THE FIRE. The operator (Greenwood) said his experi- ence of bioscope work exceeded nine years. I The machine was fixed in the usual way. They only used a fireproof box when requested by the owners of halls. The maohine was fitted with every safeguard, and the mishap, he declared, was due to a terrible thud against the apparatus by persons leaving the hall, smashing the lime, which fell and ignited the films. A cry of fire followed, and the resulting panic undoubtedly caused the deaths. The manager of the Cinematograph Com- pany generally corroborated the operator's evidence. After twenty minutes' absence the jury returned a verdict of Death from shock caused by burns, occasioned by an accidental outbreak of fire caused by panic." They added the following rider:—"The jury are of opinion that sufficient precautions were not taken by the company for the safety of the public, a.nd that the urban district council, who let the Town-hall, should in future exact the same provisions as the London County Council require in letting their halls for these entertainments."

MRS. GOOLD WILL ANSWER NO MORE QUESTIONS. Among the clothing contained in the Goolds' trunk was a black skict, which is believed to be the one worn by Madame Gcold when she was seen at the window in a red bodice. The nieoe, who was called to give evidence on Tuesday morning, declared that the skirt belonged to Madame Goold, who also identified it as her own. The judge, who on Monday heard several wit- nesses whose evidence yielded no fresh facts, on Tuesday interrogated Madame Goold, who, however, declared that she would answer no more questions.-Reuter.

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ACCIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT. + SHOCKING DEATH OF AN ENGINE-DRIVER. Mr. E. B. LI. Reeoe held an inquiry at Porth on Monday touching the death of Thomas P. Thomas, a young hauling engine- driver, who met his death by being drawn into the machinery he was controlling at the Cymmer Colliery, Porth. Mr. Saint represented the Home Office, and Mr. E. S. Williams, manager for Messrs. Insoles (Limited), Cymmer, watched the proceedings for the company. The evidence of T. Richards, colliery rider, was that on Friday, whilst at work, he gave signals to the boy at the engine, which were not taken any notice of. He went to the engine to ascertain the reason, but could not see Thomas, and at once stopped the machinery. He then saw that the boy had become entangled in the ropes revolving on the drum. He was removed in a shockingly mangled condition. A verdict of Accidental death" was returned. KILLED BY FALL OF ROOF. An inquest was held on Friday at Ferndale on the body of John Richard Jenkins, day rider, Commercial-street, Ferndale, who was killed by a fall of roof at the No. 5 Pit, Fern- dale Collieries. At the very moment when deceased was driving an empty journey of trams a fall took place and buried him under tin debris. Jenkins died soon after being extricated.—A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned. CHILD SCALDED TO DEATH AT CWM. An inquest was held at the Castle Hotel, Cwm on Friday (before Mr. Walford, coroner) touching the death of Edith May Davies, aged 4 yea, daughter of Mr. Henry Davies, Graig-terrace, Cwm. The mother poured some boiling water into a tub and went to the tap for some cold water. The little girl overbalanced herself and fell into the tub, Scalding herself very severely.—A verdict of "Accidental death" was return-ed.-A younger child was also slightly scalded, but is im- proving. KILLED BY JOURNEY OF TRAMS. John Davies, collier, 68. Madeline-street, I'ontygwaith, was killed instantaneously on Saturday at the Ynyshir Pit (Standard Col- liery Company, Limited). Deceased was act- in at the time as a ehacklcr, and was attend- ing to a journey of eight trame, when a rope broke and they ran wild. The unfortunate Inan received shocking injuries. OIIILD KILLED BY A CART. A hooking fatality occurred on Saturday to V „ ^iid named William James Phillips, aged two years and two months, son of Beniamin plrillip-s 27, Anpustus-street, Ynypybwl. The littio fellow was playing on the d^or- 'Itagep of the house, and as the scavengers' ^^■jt was passing he went on to the roadway Observed. i «he -wheel of the cart struck him on the raple, causing" almost instantaneous death. KILLED BY FALL OF STONE. By fall of a large stone at the Cymmer Colliery, Porth, on Monday John Hughes, collier, Glyn-street. Cymmer, a single man, was instantly killed It took an hour and a half to recover the body. SON SEES HIS FATHER KILLED AT ABERTILLERY. James Matthews, a middle-aged Collier at the Arrael Griffin Colliery, Six llelle. Abertillery (Messrs. John Lancaster Co.), was killed whilst at work on Tues- day He was terribly crushed about the head by a, fall of stone, and death was instan- taneous. Matthews resided at New Princess- IItt, Abertillery, and leaves a widow and 6evoeral childreri*. one of whom, a young fellow of eighteen, was working with deceased when ths fatality occurred. PATAL GAS POISONING AT TENBY. An inquiry into the circumstances attend- inS the death of Mrs. Harriet Filer was held Tenby by Mr. John Roberts, deputy- kroner, on Tuesday. The deceased, who was o widow, living with her son-in-law and j^Ughter, Mr. and Mrs. Seaton. at Clares ton- ltd. Tenby, was discovered between five 't)d six o'clock on Friday morning last .ia S^scious in a chair in the kitchen by her Tighter. There was a gas-cooker in the and the tap was open, allowing the ,t4 to escape. Mrs. Filer did not recover ^Iciousness, and died on Sunday morning The jury found that death was cau&ed by R'aA3 poisoning, the result of an accident.

DROWNED AT ABERYSTWYTH. The body of a woman, since identified as Catherine we^» a native of Kerry, near Newtown, was found on Morfa Bychan Beach, Aberystwyth, on Tuesday. Deceased, who Aberystwyth, on Tuesday. Deceased, who "'as 29 years of age. had been in the service Of Mr. Hichard Jones, Aberllolwyn, near Aberystwyth, for the past two or three years. She left that place on Sunday evening, bating she was going to bathe. She was a Carried woman, but had lived apart from her husband and two children for some time. BROWNED IN THE CANAL AT ABERCYNON. Mr. R. J. Rhys, the coroner. quiry at Abercynon on Tuesday Circumstances attending the deatn S'outh named William Stuart Blomley, cynon-terrace, Abercynon, who was to drowned in the Glamorganshire Canal las Saturday. eT*denoe was that deceased had been ■whilstVl&it to a- friend at Cilfynydd, and nlnnc man named Gabe was walking TV? l6e =™»1"e,he and what he S bubbling in the water Upon approaching appeared like a hand, nothing, but 6ent*or /rr c°^'T stood watching, and o V •er-eant Hopkins, aft* timutely Poh<:<3" movered'th/fe Suite lil<.|«s.-A verdict AMSKII'S drowned was returned. cciuentauy

NAVAL DISASTER. f FORTY MEN KILLED AND INJURED. A naval disaster is reported from Japan. *orty members of the crew of tho Japanese j^^leship Kashima were killed or injured j consequence of the powder catching firo gas emitted from the breach of a gun nen it was opened for the purpose of ^ding. tw dead include five officers and twenty- Be ° men- Two officers and six men were v<?rely wounded, and two officers and six are slightly injured.—Reuter.

WORSES CUT UP BY TRAIN. TWO NAVVIES KILLED BY EXPRESS. the manoeuvres of the Aldershot ga™Inand near Aylesbury on Tuesday a bag- Kaif WaSou in crossing the Great Central kill ,y *'as run into by a train. which the t.vo horses drawing it. tr driver had a miraculous escape. The 111 kept, the rails. U*'? navvies, employed by the London and Western ltailway, were knocked *alw- and killed by a fast eooda train while ( eta s 10 wc>rk near Northampton on Tues- b v\ y horning. I i

WILL THERE BE A RAILWAY STRIKE ?-See Page 7.

AN AMAZING STORY DENIED. + BOMBARDIER SAYS HE NEVER TOLD IT. An extraordinary kidnapping story comes from hot. It rea-ds like a chapter out of one of the weird narrativeib of Eastern \engeanca which is 60 much in favour with certain authors. The story itself was amazing eno-ugh. The interest is heightened in one direction by the fact that in Teply to inquiries made on behalf of the "Weekly -Mail" by a London, cor- respondent, we have received the following telegram Bombardier Warren, interviewed at Gos- port, denied the whole story. He says that no kidnapping happened or had been alleged by him. Inquiries by cur Bristol correspondent also elicited the statement given below that, the police in that city and at Avonmouth know nothing about the matter. The victim of the amazing story (as tptld by the "'Morning Leader") Horn hardier Warren, of the Royal Artil- lery, Gosfport, who, after completing a course of gymnastics at Aldershot, left that place for Goeport last week. On Friday a loaal paper contained a ci r cum&t an taa^ report of the bombardier's death, it being alleged that he had been knocked down by a motor-car, there being tyre-studded marks on the body, which was found two miles fro™ Farnham. The funeral, it was stated, had actually taken place. This paragraph was seen by Mise Thomp- son, of Farnborough, to whom the supposed deceased was engaged. The young lady at once ordered mourning; but her father refused to believe the news, and posted on to Lieutenant Betts, the master-at-arms at the Leailquarters Gymnasium, Aldershot, to tty and elicit confirmation or some particulars of his prospective son-in-law's end. He was met with blank astonishment. No news had been received by Lieutenant Betts. The latter made official inquiry, and sent on the newspaper cutting over the wire. On the following morning, last Monday, Mr ThompGon received a telegram: Story in newspaper all wrong; am com- ing.—Warren. The same afternoon Warren arrived a.t Aldershot. Then he proceeded to Farn- borough, and told an extraordinary story about being sandbagged by mysterious motorists, taken on board ship, carried to Bristol, and, in company with another cap- tive, escap-ing through the portholes of the vessel. THE BOMBARDIER'S STORY. Here is Bombardier Warren's own story, as given by the "Morning Leader." Th-i story begins twelve years ago in India, when Mr. Warren was a marine engineer's apprentice. One day he and a number of other Lads paid a visit to Hyderabad, and visited a Hindu temple. In the temple was a curious stone, shaped like a scimitar. All noticed it, and, "merely as a boyish freak, they took the stone away. Now ooimes the extraordinxw-y ing to the story attributed, to Warren. "On Sunday week I was returning to Goe- port by cycle from one of my week-end visits. It was about 10.30, and I was midway between Aldershot and Gosport. I was passed several times by a large motor-oar. The third time it stopped, and one of th 3 three occupants of the car asked me if they were on the right road to Portsmouth. I then noticed that tne inan was a Hindu. Xn order to tpll him I dismountod, looking over 1n7 map, wbon I felt BXiOW ON THE BACK Or MY HEAD. I knew no more until I woke in broad daylight and reoognised that I WIiA in a yacht. I had a splitting headache. Presently the door of the cabin opened and a Hindu entered. I at once reeofcnisfcd him as the man who had stopped me on the Portsmouth-road. To my astonishment he at onoe ask-ed me to produce the stone he said I had stolen at Hyderabad. There wa-s something about his faee and manner that recalled to mind the whole of the adventure. I told him the truth. He became very angry. 'You are a liar!' he said. 'You know where it is! Warren reitera-ted that the Hindu insisted he must know the whereabouts of the stone, and went on: "He said I should not leave the boat until I had confessed. I then noticed there was another occupant of the cabin, and was amazed to find that it was one of my old friends in the Temple adventure of twelve years ago. "The recognition was mutual, and the other man told me that he had been kidnapped from Camberwell under much the game circumstances." MARVELLOUS ESCAPE. They were both well fed," said Mise Elizabeth Johnson, who also told the story to a pressman, but kept close prisoner*, for some days. On Sunday last they found a packing-case hammer, and with their knives managed to cut out the copper bolts and remove the port light from the cabin. Through this Warren succeeded in escap- ing. He dropped into 8ft. of water. His mate followed, but, not being so slightly built, had difficult; in escaping. They both left nearly all their clothes whiÍnd," Warren and his companion were taken to Bristol Police-station, clothed, and sent on their way to Goeport. Warren was at once 'arrested as a deserter, and his companion went with him to substantiate his story. Next morning (Monday) he was released, and at once came to see me." Warren is stated to have said that he and his companion swam for about a mile and found themselves in the neighbourhood of Avonmouth. Warren went straight to Gos- port and reported himself. He said he thought the ship was manned entirely by Hindus. He thinks that groups of Hindus are searching for the stone which must have been of great religious value. irom his photograph, Alfred Audrey Gren- ville Warren, whose fatfher is engaged at a London electrical works, is a tall, good-look- ing young man of 27, of slight build, and looks a thorough athlete. POLICE IN THE DARK. Our Bristol correspondent to-day interviewed the police of that city and of Avonmouth, to- gether with the day watchman at the latter place, and put categorical questions to them baeed upon the story given above. The police stated that they did not pick up tWo men, and, of course, did not clothe them at Bristol Police-station, neither did they pick UP a ^bk3 ,an,d anchor. The only in- formation they had learned of the matter was the story published in the papers.

CASHIER SHOT DEAD. t DARING BANK ROBBERY IN SWITZERLAND. Two individuals entered a branch of the Bank at Montreux on Wednesday morning and requested the cashier to change a bank. note. One of the men then fired at the cashier with a revolver, blowing his brains out. The two robbers then seized the cash and securities in the safe and fled, pursued by several persons who had been attracted by the noise -of the shot. Four of the latter were wounded by a shot fired by one of the robbers, both of whom were finally arrested. Their identity has not yet been established. The securities and money have been reoovered,-Reuter.; The two men say that they are Spaniards, and give their names as Paul Milista and Maxim Danieloff. These names are, appa- rently, false, and the men seem to be of Russian nationality. Gold and silver, a dagger, and fifty revolver cartridges were found on the prisoners.-Reuter. t-

MAN'S "DOU BLE LIFE." A (SECRET REVEALED BY RAIL- WAY DISASTER. A story of a. "double life," led by an American, which was revealed only by the hand of death, is told in Truth this week, in Madge"s letter to its readers. This gentleman crossed to Europe on business, leaving his wife in America. While travelling in France he was among the victims of a terrible railway accident. Beside his body in the mortua-ry was placed the body of another victim, a handsome woman, whose satchel contained some of his visiting cards. The authorities, suspecting nothing irregular, cabled to the family in America to inform them of the two deaths. The widow cabled back merely ordering them to send his body to the States for burial. A second cable was accordingly sent from France to Bay that a lady had been travelling with him, that one of his cards was found upon her. and that her bag con- written on envefooes in her bag Were also wired across the ooeaii. Prompt was the rvply to this. The authorities were instructed to bury the husband at onoe, in France, but nothing was said about the unfortunate woman. They were buried in French graves, side by side. Then the rod story came out. "This woman," says "Truth," had been a life- long friend of the bereaved family. No one dreamed of anything between the two, but the facts pointed to a carefully arranged meeting in Europe. The letters from him found among her belongings afterwards fully proved that the liaison had been going on for years. What a revelation for the widow I (

LADY'S LOST JEWELLERY. INCLUDING ROYAL GIFTS. Lady Suffield has lcet some valuable and much-prized jewellery from Harbrfrd House, Cromer, the seaside residence of Lord Suffield. Among the articles stolen are Royal and Imperial gifts. The first intiimatdon of anything wrong was the discovery by a caretaker of three empty jewel-boxes in a house half a mile neareir the town. These boxes were found in a sitting-room fire-place covered with waste paper. Inside one box was a piece of paper bearing the words, "To dear Lady Suffield, from Alexandra." Lord Suffield, who is in Cromer, was at once apprised of the find, and then it was ascer- tained that the jewellery was safe in Harbord House two days previously. A reward of E20 has been offered for infor- mation which will lead to the oonviction of the thief or thieves. Among the lost articles are:— A round gold brooch, with initiate in diamonds "W. V. with the Imperial Crown at the top. A small gold brooch, with initials, two A's, crossed, set in rubies and diamonds, with the Royal Crown on top. A safety-pin, set in turquoises. A long gold chain, with red enamelled links. A small gold pencil-case, with, ruby amd diamonds at the top. A small gold bangle. A email gold heart, set m diamonds, attached to a chain.

DOCKMEN'S CIGARS. FALSE PRETENCES ALLEGED AT CARDIFF. At Cardiff on Thursday John Samuel (30) and Richard James Havard (13). described as trading as the Maritime Merthyr Coal Com- pany, Dowlais-chambers, Bute-street, were charged on a warrant with obtaining by alleged false pretencrs from W. A. Lewis and Co., Queen-street, 200 Maroella cigars, value dEZ 7s. 6d. Mr. Harold Lloyd appeared for Havard, and Mr. Morgan Rees for the other prisoner. Detective-inspector Davey deposed to the arrest of Samuel at the Great Western Rail- way Hotel. Cardiff. When the warrant was read to him, he said he would pay for the cigars. About the same time Havard was arrested by Detective-sergeant 1126rrill as he was crossing Custom House-street Bridge. At Central Police-station, witness added, accused maintained silence. On Samuel was found W. A. Lewis's account for 250 Mareella cigars, made out to the "Maritime Merthyr Goad Company." They were remanded in custody for a week. I

STRUGGLE WITH A CONVICT.! FRUSTRATED ASSAULT UPON WOMAN IN A TRAIN. At Wolverhampton on Wednesday William Stephens, giving an address at Southport, was sentonced to six weeks' hard labour for a violent assault on a respectable married woman, named Elizabeth Downes, Wolver- hampton. The prosecutrix and prisoner were travell- ing together in the oompartment of a train on the London and North Western Railway, when prisoner attempted a criminal assault on her. After a, struggle she managed to pun the oommunication cord. The train was stopped, and the prisoner given into custody. He was only released from Dartmoor last week on licence.

HIS LAST SHOOT. Just after Mr. R. W. Marshall, of Glyn Garth, Torquay, had commenced partridge shooting with a party at IIaccom.be, near Newton Abbot, on Wednesday he dropped to the ground. and was found to be dead.

HE WON'T BE HAPPY TILL HE GETS IT. A challenge for the America Cup on behalf of Sir Thomas Lipton has been sent to the New York Yacht Club.

GRAVE HOSPITAL BLUNDER. + SHOCKINGLY INJURED MAN DISCHARGED. Remarkable medical evidence was given at an inquest at Watford on Friday on the body of Mr. Simon James Robins, a commercial traveller, of Berkhamstead, Herts. Deceased was motoring with a friend at Edgware when the ear skidded and collided with a van, af5frwards. catching fire. r..Robins was taken to Edgware Infir- mary, and discharged on Sunday, apparently recovered. On Monday however, he had to be taken to Watford Hospital, where he died on Wednesday, post-mortem showed that the diaphragm had been ruptured, and th? whole of the stoaiach, with other intestinal organs, forced upwards into the chest. The heart was forced to the-rigbt side of the such a cede ulHqne in thfo profession. j —The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death." =-

WOLFFE AND THE SHARK ■ f CHANNEL SWIMMER HIT BY MAN-EATER. Our Dover correspondent had an interview with J. Wolffe on Tuesday respecting his exciting adventure with a shark during his umwicoes&ful attempt to swim the Channel oil the previous day. Wolfe saM: The brute came heavily across my loins as it jumped out of the water, and I have a painful reminder of the encounter to-day in considerable soreness just where it struck me. My first impression was that I had been struck by a piece of wreckage, but as I brought my arm down it ptiesed along a slimy body, v?1— horrible. -A-8 swung round to see whac it was, the shark dived and disappeared. I was swimming on my right side at the time (If the occurrence, which was the reason I did not see the brute as it struck against me. When I caught sight of the monster it gave me a bit of a fright, and I shouted out to those on the yacht to know whether there were amy sharks about. It was the most nerve-trying experience I have ever had in any of my swims." Some of those who were accompanying Vvoilte state that the big fish was observed for 601116 time before it struck against the ^mer' bit it was then on the opposite side □amJt-j10'1'' I* waa next observed on the same side as the swimmer. th« lost Kight of by those on denlv aud a few minutes later as sud- in tiL /V'ared on the othor 6ide of the boat u o of j^Ping out of the water, and loi™ down ifc struck Wolffe across the splash s l*le sea with a tremendous attendant boat was quickly rowed to swimmer, and the shark disappeared, and was not seen again. It was about five feet long, and the seamen out the statement that it was a shark ot the bottle-nosed species, and a very ugly customer for a swimmer to meet. Quite a number of these sharks have been caught this summer by the Folkestone and Dover fishermen, in addition to which it is a notable fact that the North Sea has been swarming with them. and fishermen of the French ports especially have experienced great losses from torn nets owing to the sharks beooming enmeshed.

THE COST OF A BLUNDER. I TWENTY-FIVE DEATHS IN AMERI- CAN TRAIN DISASTER. I Details received at Ottawa regarding the 'I collision between the South-bound Quebec express and a North-bound freight train on the Boston and Maine Railroad show that the disaster was due to a mistake in the train despatcher's orders. The conductor of the freight train was given to understand that he had plenty of time to reach a siding. Owing to an early mist, neither engine- driver saw the other's headlight until it was I too late to stop.—Reuter. The casualties are reported to be 25 dead and 27 injured. 1

LADY BALLOONIST FALLS 1,000 FEET. Mrs. Carrie Myers, professional balloonist, fell 1,000ft. from. balloon in which she I ascended at a fair at Olene (Oregon) in the presence of 8,000 people. Every bone in her body was brolev --Reuter. j

IS IT A TRAGEDY OF SPITZBERGEN? t SCOTTISH EXPLORERS LOST IN THE ARCTIC. The following telegram from Aagard, Tromsoe, Norway, was received by the Scot- tish Oceanographical Laboratory, Edinburgh, on Tuesdty: Small steamer just arrived from Spitz- bergen; been in search of Bruce, but in vain. Neither has he been found by a steamer sent \in search of him. Situation critical. Theodore Marner, who is still at I Spitzbergen, intends to have the American Coal Company's ship Munroe provisioned to go looking for Bruoe and his three com- panions. Dr. William Bruce is the well-known oceano. grapher of Edinburgh, and is a son-in-law of the late Dr. Li vingstoae. the explorer. Beatefa Agency &a £ h £ on inquiry that up to Tuesday evening the Royal Geographical Society had received no news of the reported accident to some members of the Scottish expedition under Dr. Bruce, engaged in exploration in Spitzbergen in an endeavour to complete the topographical survey of the SHfflnd and to 1 investig-ato its geology, fauna and flora, also to carry on as far as possible hydrographical research in Foreland S-cund and in the vicinity of the coast. One object of the latter work is the 6ounding out of the edge of the continental shelf. The expedition safely reached Prince Charles Foreland on June 11, after meeting with very heavy weather and exceptionally thick ice. According to the original plans, the expedi- tion was to have been relieved and brought back to Europe by hia Serene Highness the Prince of Monaco on board his yacht, the Princess Alice. Dr. Bruoo is an old Arctic explorer, and his chiei of staff, Mr. Burn Murdoch, has had extensive experience in Siberia. Manohuria, Korea, Japan, and South Africa. Mr. Burn Murdoch was reported to Lave Korea, Japan, and South Africa. extensive experience in Siberia. Manohuria, Korea, Japan, and South Africa. Mr. Burn Murdoch was reported to Lave returned to Tromsoe on the fth inst. w:th the Norwegian Polar Expedition.

HEAD-ON COLLISION. +—;— MANY PERSONS KILLED AND I INJURED. Over seventeen persons have been killed and forty injured in a head-on" collision between the Quebec-Boston express and a freight train at Canaan (New Hampshire). The killed are mostly French Canadian mill- workers. A later message says tha.t twenty dead bodies have been recovered from the wreck, and at least one person is missing. It is believed that the accident was due to orders being misunderstood. The passenger train was made up of four oars full of sleepy excursionists return-ing from the fair at Sherbrook. Quebec. When rounding a ourve at 4.20 on Sunday morning the express dashed into a goods train travelling in the opposite direction, both engines being hurled into a ditch, the luggage van telescoping the passenger car next to it, amd the latter, in turn, was driven backward into another passenger oar. Nearly all the dead were taken from the first passenger coach. and both in this and the second ooaoh those who escaped death were more or less seriously injured. The fourth carriage at the end of the train was a sleeping car, and no one was killed in it owing to its strength, but a number were injured by the sihock of the collision. Day was breaking when the aocddemt occurred, and the scene revealed by the first rays of daylight was a terrible one. Loud a/bove the hissing of steam rose the cries of the injured benea.th the wreckage. Those of the passengers and train officials wlA) were not absolutely incapacitated forgot their injuries and worked valiantly at the work of succour, and by the time the sun was up long lines of dead a.nd injured lay beside I the track. The dead were placed on the ground, while the injured were laid on the upholstered backs of sea<ts taken from the wreckage and swathed in bandages made from the sheets of the sleeping oars. The majority of the dead are women. Several of the injured are not expected to live.—Reuter.

ORDERED HER OWN COFFIN THEN CALMLY DIED OF ACUTE ALCOHOLIC POISONING. The Portsmouth coroner held on inquest on Monday 6n the body of Emily Alice Long, the wife of a. dockyard rigger, who lived apart from her husband. Deceased, who was a heavy drinker, died on Friday night. She had complained of being weary of life, and last Monday went with her landlady to the undertaker to make arrange- ments for her funeral, saying she might drop dead at any moment. She left a letter for the coroner, saying she could not bear her sleepless nights and heart troubles any longer. It was shown, however, that she died from alcoholic poisoning, and a' verdict was returned accordingly.

BIG LONDON BLAZE. A serious fire broke out shortly aiter nine o'clock on Monday in a huge stack of railway sleepers in Rotherhithe-street, Bermondaey, I London. The stack was found by the firemen to b3 completely involved, and, as the sur- rounding property was in the greatest jeopardy, a brigade eadl was signalled over London. Over 10) firemen were at work fighting the flamee, and they succeeded in confining them to the sawmills yard. Thousands of people on all sides watched the furious burning of the great pile of sleepers. Korne of the dwelling-houises in Odessa-road were flooded during the firem-en:f operations. The damage is estimated at £ .'&'■ J00.

FAMILY POISONED. 4 EAT MUSHROOMS PICKED BY FATHER. A terrible case of poisoning through eating supposed mushrooms has occurred in Ips- wich. Six members of a family named Farrow were seized with sickness and diarrhoea on Saturday night, and on Sunday the mother and three children, a girl aged thirteen and two boys aged five and three respectively, died within a few hours of each other. The father, Samuel Farrow, and the daugh- ter, Laura, died on Tuesday, making six deaths i-n all. Each person died after great agony. The father, who was out of work, went gathering blackberries, and finding what he thought were mushrooms, took them home to tea on Friday. The mother was prematurely confined on Sunday morning, but the baby was dead. These deaths again draw attention to the' widespread ignorance of the distinctive features of the edible and the poisonous mushroom. There are not more than four poisonous fungi in the British Isles. One of these is very deadly, and, strange to say, it is the one which bears the closest resemblance to the mushroom proper. This very poisonous fungus is generally white beneath the cap, where everybody knows, or should know, that the mushroom is pink, purplish brown, or almost black. Again, on the top, phalloides is, as a rule, nearly white, but one can invariably see traces of yellowish green, especially about the margin. The stem is bulbous, and springs out of a cup made by the upper part of the bulb, whioh is the so-called poison cup. The cup-like ba.se of the stem, the perma- nently white gills, its shining pale greenish or yellowish-white top, and the fact that it never grows far from trees, especially oak trees, should enable anybody to recognise this most virulent fungus. — in

LOCAL TRAGIC INCIDENTS. FISHED OUT OF THE CANAL AT CARDIFF. At the Law Courts on Monday Mr. B. Llewellyn Reece inquired into the circum- stances attending the drowning of Rose Kinsay, wife of Soloman Kinsay, a smith's striker, living at 99, Habershon-etreet, Cardiff. Mrs. Kinsay, who is described by her friends as a clairvoyant, disappeared on Thursday last, and her body was discovered the follow- ing day in the Glamorganshire Canal, neai Hill's-terrace. The husband told the coroner that he could not account for his wife's death. She always appeared in good spirits, and had never men- tioned any trouble. The last time he saw her was on Thursday, about 1.30 in the after- noon, wnen he kissed her and bade her good- bye as he was leaving for work. Mrs. Alice Evaus, a companion of deceased, said she met Mrs. Kinsay in Sot. John'iSr square on Thursday afternoon. They were together until 4.30 in the evening, strolling about visiting the shops. Mrs. Kinsay went into a pawnshop to pledge a wedding-ring, and they afterwards both walked in the direction of High-street Arcade. Here Mrs. Kinsay met a friend, and asked witness to exou&e her whilst she had a short conversa- tion. Witness waited in the arcade for Mrs. Kinsay to return, but she never saw her again. Police-constable J. Bowdon, who recovered the body from the water, deposed to finding on the clothes of deceased a puri02, containing 3d. and a pawnticket. On the path of the canal he found a lady's umbrella. Dr. Buist, who examined the body, said the cause of death was due to drowning, and he was of the opinion that the body had been in the water all night. "c The jury returned a verdict of "Found drowned," there being no evidence to show how she got into the water. MERTHYR PATIENT'S FATAL LEAP. Mr. R. J. Rhys, coroner, on Monday held an inquest at the Merthyr Uruon Workhouse upon the body of Ann Harrington, aged M. who, whilst an inmate of the infirmary on Saturday morning, threw herself through one of the windows of No. 3 wa-rd, and waa j killed. Margaret Hopkins, a married sister, gave evidence of identification, and said that when she saw her at tho infirmary on Fri- day she appeared somewhat strange. Nurse Watkins said the deceased was admitted on the 4th of July, and was a patient in her ward. At a quarter to four o'clock on Saturday morning she saw tha deceased comfortable in bed, and filled a hot water bottle for her. She we-t into another room, and upon her return she was told by another patient that the deceased had jumped out through the window. Witnetsa then went out, and found the deceased lying on the path outside the building. She was not quite dead, but she died in about five minutes. Harrington's bed was close to the window, with t-be head towards it. The top sash of the window was down, but the deceased opened the lower sa-,h.. The Coroner: Had you any reason to believe that 6he was imbecile or weak in her mind ? Witness: No. Charge-nurse Evans, who last saw deceased about half-past two o'clock on Saturday morning, said that she had never noticed any sign in her of mental deficiency. The drop from the window to the grourd (this witness stated) was about ISft. Dr. Ernest Ward, who saw the deceased after death, explained that, as a result of the fall, there was a comminuted fractore of both bones of the left leg, and that there was a rupture of some of the internal vessels. The Coroner remarked that it looked to him like a case of suicide, and the jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst tempo- rarily insane." BROUGHT ABOUT HIS OWN DEATH. Mr. R, J. Rbys, coroner, conducted an inquiry at Ferndale on Friday into the circumstances attending the death of Thomas Carter, a labourer and an ex-soldier, who died under rather suspicious circumstances last Tuesday. Several witnesses were called, and all agreed in their narration of the facts of the case. which was to the effect that deceased wai drunk on Monday, and had been refused drink at the Victoria Hotel, where his con- duct was so obnoxious that he had to be turned out. He took off his coat, and wanted to fight everybody. He actually knocked one man down. After being ejected, a man named Charles Thorn, of Regent-street. Ferndale, did his best to persuade deceased to go home. Carter con- tinued his disorderly conduct outside the house, and in trying to knock a man down he put his fist through the window of the public-house. Ultimately Thorn went out to again try and persuade Carter to go home, and, in the opinion of witnesses. Thorn showed consider- able patience with him. Instead, however, of acting on the advice of the man who befriended him, deceased turned round and rushed at him and tried to hit him. Thorn eNd not retaliate, and when" deceased rushed at bim again both fell to the ground, deceased pulling Thorn with him Dr. Williams gave evidence to the effect that death was attributable to a fracture of the base of the skull and consequent hemorrhage. The Coroner remarked that, whilst he was very sorry that the poor fellow had died, the evidence conclusively proved that there waa no one to blame but deceased himself. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned. DRINK AND DEATH. Mr. R. J. Rhys held an inquest at Mertnyr on Monday touching the death of John Stilcy, who was admitted into the infirmaxy from Brithdir on the 5th. and died on the 12th. The widow, who lives at Penrhiwceiber, stated that her husband, who went away from her on the 1st of May, had of late years been given to excessive drinking, and Dr. Ernest Ward who made a post-mortem examination attributed death to disease of the vessels of the heart, brought on by alco. holism. The jury returned a verdict accordingly. DIED IN HER SLEEP. Mr. R. J. Rhys held an inquest at Tylors. town on Tuesday as to the cause of death of Mrs. Margaret Davies, wife of John Davies, milk-vendor, Tylorstown, who after eating a hearty supper on Saturday eight retired to rest about one o'clock on Sunday morning. About 4.30 she was seizad with a fit of vomiting, and, returning to bed, was found U_ by her husband dead about 6.30. Dr. Morris gave it as his opinion that death was due to syncope, which might hava been the result of the vomiting. "Death from natural causes was the verdict. A CUPOLAMAN'S SHOCKING DEATH Just before ceasing work on Tuesday at the Bessemer furnace department at the Old Works, Dowlais, John Jones, a cupolaman, was climbing up for the purpose of stopping a leakage ip the vessel. As he was descend- ing from the scaffolding on to a girder Jones missed his footing, and fell to the bottom, a distance of 18ft. He was picked up uncon- scious. and, after receiving medical atten- tion, died on the way to the Merthyr General Hospital. He leaves a widow and three chil- dren.