Weekly Mail

A NEGRO CHAINED UP. SHIP'S CAPTAIN AFRAID TO RELEASE HIM. The captain of the steamship Iser, just arrived in port, entered the witness-box at Swansea on Monday, and stated that he had in irons on board his ship a powerful negro, who had stabbed a member of his crew three times in the back at Varna. He had been in irons since August 25, for the protection of the crew, and he (the captain) wished to know what he was to do with him The Magistrates'-clerk told the captain Del could not keep the man in chains. He must discharge him. The Captain: If I discharge him he will go for the crew. The Clerk: Well, yem have no right to keep him in chains. If he commits any offence when he is discharged he will be pro- secuted. Why won't the man prosecute5 The Captain: He is like alt sailormen—they forget all their troubles directly they are ashore. I shall be left. The Clerk: Are you afraid of him?—I ■would not trust the lives of any of the crew. I would not give twopence for their lives. I released him one day, and it took five of ns a quarter of an hour to put him back in irons. I had hold of his head, and I am pretty strong. The Clerk, however, said that all the advice he could give was to liberate the man and pay him off like the rest of the crew, and the captain left the court and went to the police to make further representations.

AN ARMY OF "BANKERS." The police crusade against Sunday gaming In public places in the Rhondda is being vigorously pursued. Last week at Yatrad there were a number of fines imposed, and at the eame court on ^'oln<la'y no leas than 38 men and boys, mostly colliers, were summoned for playing "nap" and "banker." The first cases were against four men from Clydach Vale, who were seen playing on the mountain side in that locality, fines of 15s. each being in- flicted. Next came a batch of nine men from Tynewydd, Treherbert. Several of these defendants endeavoured to establish &n alibi, one of them, John Jones, being suc- cessful, aud the summons against him was dismissed, the others being fined 15s., with the exception of one gamester, who, not putting in an appearance, was ordered to pay £1- Some amusement was caused by a con- stable describing the method of playing "nap," in which their -worships appeared to take great interest. Then came a haul of 25 defendants from Gelli, where, it was alleged, they had formed a large open-air card party on Sunday, September 8. Some time was taken, as Inspector J. Williams detailed the number of times several had been fined. The inspector added that the complaints made were so numerous that the police had been obliged to take stringent measures. Mr. T. Pascoe Jenkins, the presiding magis- trate, in ordering fines ranging from 158. to 31:6., remarked that the practice of Sunday gaming was becoming a perfect scandal. It, appeared to him that the defendants were getting too much money, and it was a pity they could not employ their time better on Sundays, either by reading good books or attending Sunday schools.

SMART FINE AT BARRY. Owing to the disorderly behaviour of Charles Parkin in a Barry hotel, the services of Police-constable Theophiius Bowen had to be requisitioned to eject him, but when being taken into custody. Parkin became very violent, and after pulling the constable to the g-round struck him in the face, kicked him about the legs, and bit his arm. With the assistance of a civilian, defendant was handcuffed and taken to the police-station. Defendant informed the local magistrates on Monday that ho was very sorry for the occurrence, of which he remembered nothing. Mr J. G. Thomas said he would be fined 5s. or seven days for being drunk, and £2 for the assault.

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ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. — AN EXPLANATION WRITTEN IN A DIARY. Bdward Flower, fishmonger, 54, Glebeland- streei, Merthyr, was brought up at the police- court on Monday charged with attempting to kill and murder himself. Police-constable John related how, at three o'clock on Thursday last, he and Sanitary- inspector Thomas made a forcible entry into the defendant's shop in consequence of a mephitic smell arising from alleged diseased fish, and how, after the removal of the fi&h upon condemnation by a magistrate, they re- visited the premises at 5.15, in order to search for the defendant, it being surmised that there must be somebody in the house, as the front-door key was in the lock inside. upon proceeding upstairs, he said, they found the bedroom door locked, but gained a.n entrance by breaking a glass panel. The room was full of gas, the gas burner, which was on full cock, being immediately behind a chair-bed upon which the defendant was u .nS, unconEci°as. The officer further detailed the steps taken to revive the defen- dant and to secure medical aid, and pro- aucea an open diary found-on the chair at the fM', of the bed, in which was written in pencil, under date of Tuesday, the 17th:- I am not sure whether I am writing on the correct date or not, but that doesn't matter. If I succeed in my attempt I shall commit suicide to-night by gas. Mill (his wife) has left me. I can't live without her. I don't blame her. I only hope she will for- give and forget. I love her more than my own soul, but God has cursed me with drink fthe word "drink" underlined). For over fifteen years I have been a victim. Good-bye all. My last prayer is, "0 God, save Cyril (his little boy) and Mill from drink. Dr. Ernest Ward, who was called to the house, spoke of the state of the defendant before his removal to the workhouse infir- mary, saying that the pupils were widely dilated and his pulse very feeble, this condi- tion being due to gas-poisoning. "Do you attribute my unconsciousness totally to gas?' asked the defendant of the doctor. Dr. Ward: I couldn't say whether you had been drinking or not. I don't consider your unconsciousness was due to alcohol. Upon being formally charged by the magis- trates'-clerk, the defendant said, "It is all doe to drink." Mr. Truran, the presiding magistrate, said it was a most serious case-a case which the benoh could not settle—and the defendant would have to take his trial at the next quarter sessions. Bail was granted, the defendant's father becoming surety in JE25. and Mr. Daviee, hair- dresser, Glebeland-street, in a similar amount.

EXCITING CHANNEL TRIP. CURIOUS STORY AT BARRY POLICE-COURT. Hanna,h James, a woman of respectable appearance, who was defended by Mr. J. A. Hughes, solicitor, was charged at Barry on Monday with stealing three glasses from the Barry passenger steamer Gwalia. Mary Kant, 56, Phyllis-street, Barry Island, said on Saturday evening she was one of the passengers on the boat from IIfraoombe to Barry. When the boat was outeide the Barry Pier about ten p.m. she saw defendant take three glasses off a shelf in the second-class saloon, and put them in a little brown bag which she carried. Witness gave informa,tion to the officials at the pier when they landed. Mr. Hughes: What is your husband?—A sailor on the Gwalia. Was not there a great deal of drunkenness and disorder on the boat ?-I was not on deck. There were about 60 persons drunk, and some of the crew and passengers had to be put in irons?—I could not say. But there was a lot of excitement when a man jumped overboard?—Yes. And was it not at that time that the defen- dant put the glasses in her bag and went on deck?—No, it was just as the boat was coming into Barry. Dock-constable Cooling said he asked the woman at Barry Dock Railway Station if she knew anything of the glasses, and she denied all knowledge of them. At first she refused to allow him to search her handbag, but upon the advice of her husband she ulti- mately opened it. and two sound glasses and one broken one were discovered inside. She appeared to be surprised, and when oharged by Police-constable Binnie at the police- station remarked, I will say nothing." Mr. Hughes urged that there wae no felonious intent. The Bench dismissed the case.

THE LARGEST SINGLE DOCK AN IMPORTANT UNDERTAKING AT NEWPORT. A tangible advance in the immense work of new dock construction, now being carried out by the Alexandra, Newport, and South Wales Docks and Railway Company at Usk- side, was made on Saturday, when the sluices were opened in the Sauth Dock. This dock is now proudly described as the largest single dock in the world, and when fnll will have a water surface of not less than 90 acres. It will net. however, be full for about a month, the time estimated for^the necessary water—a trifle of between 400,000,000 and 450,000,000 gallons—to flow in. to the requisite extent. In depth the dock will be 39ft., a,nd will be nearly a mile long and a quarter of a mile in width. The amount of excava.t.ion has been enormous, for bat ween 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 tons have been removed. The largest day's work was the appalling total of 10,000 tons. There are now three pumping stations at work pouring water into the basin from the Usk and the Ebbw, advantage being taken of the present spring tides. It is expected that the tips for load- ing vessels will be available early in Novem- ber. The work of cutting away the embank- ment between the extension and the South Dock will be undertaken later, this being a new idea in dook construction. A large num- ber of the dock officials and the representa- tives of the contractors (Messrs. Easton, Gibb, and Son) were present.

EVENING SCHOOLS. CARDIFF TEACHERS AND THEIR SALARIES. A memorial was read from teachers in the continuation schools at a meeting m.„ e CWdiff Technical Instruction Com- tim ti? Friday asking for the aboli- bv Vv%„ Present system of part payment aTL<* substituting a fixed rate of vices aiso a-sked that the ser- throu^hrtnt uDt teachers should be retained °Ti"that S £ S?eTJ?r boad th^T n^d hl ± m°Te iu accordance with ttiose paid by other authorities. Principal Griffiths eaid that in view of the proposed re-organisation of schools and the appointment of a dent of technical XS i? to defer the matter till Th« d Y bc8t had taken place! reorganisation This suggestion was agreed to ♦ acki?OT1 V dLr«^or of education, stated that 85 applications had been received for » £ e new post of superintendent of technical education, and it was decided to hold a special meeting at four o'clock on Monday to agree upon a short list. The commencing salary is £ o00. s

ROYAL VISIT TO CARDIFF. There were 40,COO happy children in Oardiff on Friday afternoon, when that number of souvenir chocolate boxes, commemorative of the recent Eoyal visit to the city, were pre sented to the pupils in the elementary sohoote, as the gift of the Cardiff Incorpo- rated Chamber of Commerce. A description of the boxes and their contents has been already published. The task of distribution had been relegated by the chamber to th« teaching staffs, and it was a pleasure to witness the delight of the little ones as they took possession of the gifts and hastened to carry them homewards. In a few days the school-children will also be made the recipients of medals commemo- rative of the same auspicious visit. These are being provided oat of the Lord Mayor's special fund, and Sir William CroeBman and the deputy mayor (Alderman David Jones) intend to present the medals personally to every individual child. The c I jl firm entrusted with the contract have stipu- lated to supply the medals at the rate of 3,000 every alternate day, and they will be distributed in the various schoola by the Lord Mayor and his deputy as the consign-, ment3 arrive. It wag hoped that the first lot would have arrived ere this, and they are now daily expected.

CARDIFF CAPTAIN'S DEATH ABROAD. The British City left Oardiff on August 25 for Genoa, under the command of Captain William Anderson, and during the voyage he became seriously ill, and on the vessel's arrival at the Italian port he was conveyed to hospital in a very critical oondition. Every attention was paid to him at the hospital, but he succumbed from fatty degeneration of the heart.

I CHANNEL SENSATION. I ♦ BARRY MAN LEAPS FROM A STEAMER. A sensational incident took place on Saturday evening on board the well -known Barry passenger steamer Gwalia (Red! Funnel line), a passenger named George Archibald Wood, aged twenty-four. a painter in the employ of the Barry Railway Com- pany. and living at 51. Queen-street, Barry, deliberately jumping overboard. The efforts which were at once put forth to effect his rescue proving unavailing, intense excite- ment prevailed amongst the hundreds of Passengers on board. It appears that Wood and several com- I panions, including Harry Paulin, of Queen. street, Barry, and Richard Henry Couchman, of 22, Hannah-street, Cadoxton, had been spending the day at Ilfracombe. and were returning on board the Gwalia, which left Ilfracombe just at dusk—about seven o'clock There were a number of men on board | whose unruly conduct had given the captain some trouble, and he repeatedly requested them to desist, when Wood, who had divested himself of his coat, vest, and boots, whether in a spirit of bravado or not is not certain, jumped on to one of the seats along- side the and leaped overboard. The cry "Man overboard!" was raised at once. The engines were stopped, and the steamer was immediately put about. Simul- taneously the jolly-boat, which was slung aft, was manned, and the moment that the Gwalia stopped, about the spot where the man had disappeared, was lowered into the water. To assist in the search, the ship's searchlight was brought into play, and for about forty minutes helped the boat's crew in their search for the missing passenger Meantime, the Gwalia drifted down Channel fo a mile and a half. No sign of the man could be seen, however, and with reluctance the homeward journey was reaumed-everyone on board saddened by the belief that a life had been lost. The affair was felt keenly by Mr. W. T. Symonds, the managing director, who pointed out that this was the first occasion on which a fatality had occurred from the Red Funnel boats. On Sunday morning there was a surprising development. A telephone message was received at Cardiff to the effect that Wood had been picked up and landed at Iqu- mouth, where he lay at the Lyntoc Hotel, in an anconacious state. The news was sent to Barry, and Pol ice-sergeant Toy at once apprised the widowed mother of the fact. Her joy at hearing that her son, who was her main support, was alive, found expres- ion in tears of thankfulness. HOW WOOD WAS RESCUED. HOW WOOD WAS RESCUED. Wood's rescue was remarkable Late at night the occupants of the Foreland Light- house, which stands at the summit of steep, jagged rocks on the edge of the shore, heard cries coming up from the waterside. For some time they took them for merely the screaming of gulls, but presently distin- guished that they were human cries for help. It was impossible, however, for them to descend to the rescue, owing to the steep- ness of the rocks, nor through the darkness could they see the position of the man who was calling. Therefore, they at once tele- phoned to the Lynmouth Coastguard Station, and a boat was put out at once. Rowing round the Foreland, its crew soon found Wood. clinging to the rocks, in an exhausted condition, and with a nasty cut at the back of his head. He at once collapsed into unconsciousness. He is said to be a strong swimmer, and when ne jumped from the Gwalia, about three- quarters of a mile from the shore, he must have been caught in the baokwash of the ebbing tide. which was flowing past the Fore land at a good pace. He thus had a narrow escape of being washed out to the open sea, and it is, indeed, marvellous that he escaped at all, for he was probably thrown against the rocks of the Foreland, where there is always broken water with a good deal ot force. WOOD'S OWN STORY. Friends from Barry discovcired Wood cm Monday morning in the hospitable dwell- ing of a Lynmouth boatman, whither they were guided by two policemen. They made known their mission to Wood's hoetess, and she sent word to inform Wood of his friends' visit, he being then upstairs in bed. Pre- sently an intimation was received by the party below that Wood wished to see his brother, and for a short time both remained alone together in the bedroom. The others afterwards joined them, and Wood won began to talk of his adventure. To his friends he told everything he could recollect. He declared there was absolutely no preme- ditation in his action in quitting the Gwalia, He felt people were annoying him, and hi* sole desire for the moment was to get away from them. That wais why he took the plunge. THOUGHT OF HIS MOTHER. THOUGHT OF HIS MOTHER. He struck the water, "And somehow," he went on, "I realised what it all meant. My mother would grieve for me, and, perhaps, my friends on board would be blamed for what had occurred. I could only think of my mother and my friends, and how I could get them out of the trouble they would be in. I caught a glimpee of the Fore- land Lighthouse, and ma-de for it with all my might. "It was hard work, Jim," he continued, addressing Beddoe, "but I stuck to it gamely. They say I was an hour or two in the water, but to rue it seemed more like days. The land seemed never to get nearer, but at last I eaw I was making headway, and, of course, this put fresh hope and fife into me. Then, after a long time, I came among the rocks off the Foreland, and I had to be careful, for any minute my head might be dashed to pieces against one of them. At last I clutched at a rock, and held on like death. Then I dra-gged myself cut of the water, and, although exhausted, I began to climb the rock. I got up and up. and then I found I could get no further. And I could not get back, either. Just Chief-coastguard WOTTON. I if was these two men who, amid the greatest danger, rescued Wood from his perilous position. [" Western Mail" Photos. then I heard the sound of voices at the I lighthouse above me, and I shrieked. They answered, and I shouted again. But no one could come to me. I kept on shouting for a. time, but no help came, and I suppose I must have got unconscious. I think I remember something like a boat far below me on the water, but I can't be sure. That is about all I can remember concerning the whole business until I came to myself on Sunday." SWAM IN HIS SLEEP. Expressions of surprise and thankfulness punctuated Wood's story, and after the recital of his harrowing experience it was not surprising to hear from another source that throughout Saturday night he was delirious and at intervals imitated the actions of a swimmer by striking out his arms and sweeping them through the air. North Devon men who have been accus- tomed to turn out in all weathers to save life declare that Saturday night's rescue was unique in their experience. The first news I of distress was received at Lynmouth by telephone from the Foreland. Mr. Wotton, the smart young chief coastguard at Lynmouth, immediately sought assistance, I a.nd with the aid of the coxswain of the life- boat, Mr. John Crocomb, and two other men, Mr. R. Riddler and Mr. R. Jarvis, a boat was launched shortly after e.¿;ht o'clock. All the information they had received was that a man was either on a rock or in the sea below the Foreland. The ohief coastguard took his part with the boatmen in pulling up to the Foreland, a distance of fully two miles. SAVED BY HIS SHIRT-SLEEVES. Then began a search for the man. Voices were raised, but the only response was from the lighthouse above- The people in the boat shouted again and again, but no reply came from the man who was supposed to be on the cliffs. The eea was very choppy, and it was a matter of no little danger to be in a small boat among the ragged rocks which rise from the sea off the Foreland. The I night, too, was dark, and a thick haze came up and obscured the view of land. What little moonlight there was was quite shut off by the towering cliffs. After futile efforts had been made to obtain a response from the person in distress, something white was discerned near the pointed summit of one of the rocky pinnacles which rise out of the water just off the Foreland. It proved to he Wood's shirt- sleeves, for he was minus his coat. But for this fact it is more than likely he would not have been discovered till too late. The boat drew nearer, and the huddled-up j form of a man was discerned. He was on a ledge about 60ft. or 7C.ft. above the water. His position was one of extreme peril, for the slightest motion to one side might have given him a sheer drcp into the sea below, while if he should chance to move to the other side a fall hardly le6s terrible would be his fate. A DELICATE BUSINESS. To get Wood safely into the boat wns a task which demanded no ordinary ability. Mr. Wotton and Mr. Crocomb scaled the rock, whose surface, washed by every tide, is as smooth as glass, and eventually reached Coxswain JOHN CROCOMB. the man, whom they found unconscious. There really seemed to be no life in hie body, but a slight beating of the heart proved the contrary to be true. Efforts were made to revive him, and a twitching of some of his limbs was the prelude to a partial return to consciousness. Messrs. Wotton and Crocomb were themselves clinging on to the reek for their lives, and their safety depended on whether Wood would remain pas- sive or be active. Ropes were placed around him, a,nd by degrees he was brought do-wn to the boat, but not before the services of another of the boatmen had to be sought. It was not a matter of lowering him simply, but of getting him along the slippery facfc of the steep rock to a point from which he could be taken into the boat. CREW GAVE HIM THEIR CLOTHES. The return journey to Lynmouth was made with all srpeed. 011 the way Wood was divested of his soaked clothing, and every member of the boat's crew took off u. jersey or something else so as to provide him with warm clothes. He was partly conscious at times, and suffered- much pain owing to the benumbed condition of his body. At Lynmouth, which was reached abcout ten o'clock, Wood was handed over to the care of Mr. Cecil N. Bevan, of thg Lyn: Valley Hotel, local a.gent to the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society. Mr. Bevan at once got warm blankets and food for the man, and, discovering that he had a slight cut on the head, sent for Dr. Warren, who dressed the wound and administered restoratives. Wood fully recovered consciousness later, and, not- withstanding the sufferings he had gone through, was sufficiently well on bunday evening to be out of doors. lie was removed from the Lyn Valley Hotel to the house of a 'boatman on Sunday, from which he was escorted home on Monday, as stated.

VIEW OF THE FORELAND LIGHTHOUSE, NEAR LYNMOUTH. The X shows the ledge from which Wood was rescued when in a-n unconscious condition. [Western Mail Photo.

FIVE MEN AND A BOAT. SINGULAR SCENE AT SWANSEA BAY SANDS. An extraordinary scene was witnessed on the Swansea Bay sands at Blackpill on Sunday evening. Five tidily dressed men of the navvy class had apparently taken a boat at the Mumbles in a drunken spree and rowed towards Swansea. The owner of the boat intercepted them at Blackpill and tried to induoe them to leave the boait. Several of them jumped out of the boat into the water and dragged others out of the craft. They were scrimmagims with each other in the water for some time. &nd after, wards lay on the sands and .ven in Black- pill stream endeavouring to get the sand off their clothes.

COLLIERS BURIED, ONE KILLED AND THREE INJURED AT GREAT WYRLEY. On Saturday afternoon at Quinton Cpl- liery, Great Wyrley, four men were buried by a fall of roof whilst engaged in some repairs. Sam Benton, of Bloxwich, a married man with three children, was killed, and his companions, who were more or lees seriously KUreC*' were removed to Walsall Hospital, where on Sunday they were progressing as favoure,bly, as could be expected.

CARDIFF'S LUNG SPACES. Com- present to request ilhat the work ot" develop. Vilthjis soon as iwesible. The agreed to accept the plans srobmitt^Ti^ th^ city engineer for the laying out of Waterlog Gardens, which stand near Boath OhurcT at a cost of £ 1,120. Plans for laying out stripe of land on each side of Roath Brook, from Penylan-road to the site of the old mill near Waterloo Gardens, were also accepted. Lord Tredegar, it should be said, has gene- rously given this land to the city, and has also undertaken to build a 50ft. bridge over the brook. Walks are to be formed on either side of the brook, and trees will make the spot pleasant. The cost is about £ 3,000.

RAPHAEL'S ALMANAC. We are glad to welcome the 1908 edition of this popular almanac. We see that in Mairch j the prophet warns us that there will be many deaths from ptomaine poisoning, also many deaths among members of Parliament. In April the Government wall be in danger of defeat. All other months are full of pre- dictions, besides a host of generaJ informa- tion, but the great feature is the birthday information which is given for every day of tTie year. We can highly recommend this almanac to all our readers, as it is a useful book for the money.

HEROIC WELSH DIVER. INTERVIEW WITH HIS SISTER AT CARDIFF. Particulars were given in our columns the I other day of the gallant rescue by the daunt- less North Walian, Frank Hughes, of the Italian miner, Varisohitti, in a flooded mine at Bonnievale, Western Australia. Mr. Hughes is one of a numerous family, and has in Cardiff a sister, Mrs. Smith, who resides at 163, Cathaye-terrace. The lady was seen on Saturday by one of our representatives. She is naturally extremely proud of her brother, who started his career as a "middy," being from his earliest years of a roving and adventurous disposition. Mrs. Smith said her brother never stopped to think, and was always prompt to aot, never fearing any- thing. When not yet three years of age, and staying at his grandmother's farm, he was found on one occasion engaged in a fearful encounter with a rat, and the rat it was that died. lie is married, and has ohildren. The Italian Government has substantially recognised his heroism. As already announced, the King has been pleased to confer the Albert medal of the second-class upon Mr. Hughes for his gal- lantry on the occasion.

BRITISH OFFICER SHOT. MISTAKEN FOR A ROBBER IN GREECE. Athens newspapers publish telegrams from Patras stating that an officer of the British Naval Squadron TIOW lying off there went for a walk by himself to visit the village of Liefestra, about eight miles away. When nearing the village he was suddenly ordered to stop by three men., and on his continuing his way shots begaji to whistle round him, one of which passed through his hait, and another wounded him slightly in the leg. The officer took refuge in the hut of a neighbouring peasant, who tended him, and took him back to Patras on horseback, where he acquainted the authorities with the occurrence. On Monday three youths, aged from fifteen to eighteen, appeared before the authorities, and stated that towards dusk on the previous day they saw someone with his head covered by a handkerchief making towards the flock of which they were in charge. Thinking that, he wag a robber, they fired upon him to frighten him away. The main fired back 8B he made ofr.-Reuter.

| LOOK OUT | Y For the "FOOTBALL EXPRESS" Y V on Saturday. Y

QUITE REMARKABLE. MERTHYR CHAPEL WHICH HAS NO DEBT. 7 The closing meeting in co-niieetian with the services held to celebrate the centenary of Bet heed a Church, Merthyr. took place on Monday night, when the Rev. Jacob Jones, the present pastor, gave an interesting account of the history of the Welsh Congre- gational cause in the town from the time of its foundation at Blaencanaid in the year 1620. He mentioned aa offshoots of Betheeda! Zion, Ehymney; Bethania, Dowlais; Saron Troedyrhiw; Ebeneser, Oefn; Salem, Penrhed- gerrig, and Gellideg. Betheeda, he said, had also played an important part in the start- ing of Churches at Aberoanaid. Deri and Penydarren, and among those who had been associated with the Church were the late Rev. Dr. Jenkins, the author of the great treatise on the Atonement, and the late Dr. Parry, the eminent Welsh musician. The Church is now in a most flourishing state, and is in the happy position of being free from debt.

MADAME ROSE ETTINGER. ATTEMPTED SUICIDE WHILST TEMPORARILY INSANE. H Mrs. Frances Braun, the well-known operatic vocalist, known as Madame Rose Ettinger, was charged at Kingebridge, Devon on Friday with attempting to commit suicide by shooting herself with a revolver at South :Milton on September 2. Mrs. Johns, the landlady, stated that on the day in question she heard a shot flred in the bedroom above her kitchen. She rushed upstairs and saw a revolver on the floor and the room full of smoke. Witness obtained assistance from next door. Mrs- Braun bad lodged with witness since April 3, and had been in bad health all the time. She was attended by a doctor, and had been confined to her bedroom a good deal. The Bench said they regarded defendant as temporarily insane when the attempt was made and in dismissing the case advised that she be kept free from worry.

DIVED FROM A TRAIN. PASSENGER'S STRUGGLE WITH A DEMENTED IRISHMAN. After a terrible struggle with his solitary fellow-passenger, a man, who had suddenly become demented, dived through the window of an express train at Mousal Vale. His companion caught him by the leg, but failed to hold him, and then pulled the com- munication cord. The ma-n, who now lies at the hospital at Buxton in a precarious condition, has been identified by William H. Brown, his brother- in-law, of Derby, as Viiliam Maodonagh, of Bahara, RosCOmD'

BURGLAR IN A BEDROOM + PEOPLE OF ABERGAVENNY STARTLED. The inhabitants of Abergavenny were startled on Saturday morning by the news that a burglar had been at work in the town the previous night. It appears that the burglar—for it is evident that he worked single-handed—was somewhat of a novioe at the game, for he went about his nefarious task in a very clumsy fashion. Mr. F. Rowe, jeweller, IJevill-street, is the only sufferer. He had retired to bed on Fri- day night, and about half-past twelve he and his wife was startled and awakened by hearing a loud crash. Mr. Rowe immediately jumped out of bed, and ran downstairs into the shop. There he found that a large liole had been made in one of the windows by means of a large stone, whiah had evidently been pickcd up out of an adjacent yard. On looking out he saw a man hurrying some distance down the street. Attired as he was, he was not able to give chase, but as soon as possible he summoned the police. On making an inspection of the window it was at once found that the burglar had taken a large pad of ladies' gold dress rings and a. pad of gold brooches, valued altogether at between jE30 and JE40. Whether any other goods were taken is not yet known. The loaa is not covered by insurance. What added to the alarm of the people of Abergav^niny was the fact that a burglar— whether he was the same one is not known —had broken into the residence of Mr. Mark rme. who keeps a pawnbroker's shop in Frog- more-street. about an hour previously. He had made his entrance through the bath- room window, amd on the servant retiring to oed she heard a noise in her room, and called to Mr. Fine. He, however, said there twas nothing, and told her to go to sleen. She struck a match to satisfy herself, and saw a man's legs protruding from under the bed. It is stated that the man on being discovered presented a revolver at Mr. Fine's head, and then jumped from the bathroom window into the garden. He got into the premises at the I baok of the Butcher's Arms, and on being d covered by the landlady said he had been in a shed and had overslept himself He was allowed to go, and it is thought he after- wards went and committed the burglary at Mr. Rowe'a shop. ARREST MADE BY THE POLICE. The police have made an arrest in connec- tion with the burglary at Abergavenny on Friday night, though they will not at present discioee the man's name or the place where he was arrested. It Is stated, however, that the arrest wafi not made in Abergavenny. The police are still making investigations.

TIN-PLATES AND TARIFF. A SERIOUS OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE. A well-known Welsh tin-plate manufac- turer, in the course of an interview with one of our representatives, struck a very pessi- mistic note in regard to the future of the tin-plate trade in the Principality. I cannot disguise from myself," he eaid, that within the next few years our trade will have to deal with difficulties greater than it has ever yet encountered, even in its chequered career. We have seen com- petition arising on every hand, and by and bye that competition will have reached such an acute and formidable stage that it will be impossible for us to cope with it, unless the Government of this country sees wisdom and puts an end to the reign of out-worn Ccbden ideals." "To be more definite," he continued. "I would refer you to our experience in regard to America. That country was our best customer up to a few years ago, but then came the establishment of a tin-plate industry in that country, which has developed by leaps and bounds. Other countries are fast following suit. Tin-plate works have been erect<d, and are being suc- oessfully carried on, in Italy, in Russia, and in Canada. I may tell you that several I tempting offers have been made to Welsh manufacturers to establish works in Canada, and even more recently similar offers have come from Australia. When it comes to com- petition with foreign countries, we have the handicap of a tariff against us. "What do you suggest should be done?" "In my opinion, the case for an arrange- ment with our Colonies is an overwhelming one. We should aim at being a self-contained Empire, and with the tremendous possibili- ties of new countries like Canada. and America, we should not hesitate to make new fiscal arrangements with them which would to a great extent make us independent of the reet of th« world."

CYCLIST BADLY THROWN. SKULL AND ARM FRACTURED AT CADOXTON-BARRY. Late on Saturday night William Wakeham, a mason, of 3, Newton-street, Oadoxton-Barry, his brother, Watham Wakebam, of Court- road, Oadoxton, and Harry Jones, of Pykc- street, Barry Dock, were returning from a country spin, and were descending Cogan Hill, Oadoxton, when William Wakeham'e machine struck a stone and swerved, throw- ing the rider headlong. He is in a pre- carious condition, suffering from a fractured skull and arm. s PORTHOAWL CYCLING ACCIDENT. A serious cycling accident happened at Porthcawl on Sunday. Mrs. Matthews, an elderly woman, who keeps a grocery shop at Newton, waa returning from Hope Congre- gational Chapel, accompanied by her stater. when three cyclists came around a corner after descending Danygraig Hill. One of them collided with Mrs. Matthews, and she had to be carried to the house suffering from a fractured collarbone. She is in a serious condition.

EISTEDDFOD AT ABERAVON Ideal weather favoured the first annual eisteddfod, whioh was held in a marquee at Aberavon on Saturday. Mr. Cinarlee Jones, J.P., was the chairman, and Mr. R. E. Rees, Margam-terraoe, Port Talbot, secretary. Results.— Soprano solo: 1st, Miss Lizzie Colwill, Aber- gwynfi; 2nd, Mise Proseer, Pontrhydyfen. Tenor solo: 1st, Gwilym Taf, Maesteg; 2nd. John Williams, Bla-engwynfi. Hymn tune: Tholhas Davies, Bryn. Alto eolo: Miss Rachel Lloyd, Neath. Contralto solo: 1st, Madame Thomas Lewis, Cwmavon; 2nd, Miss Rachel Lloyd, Neath. Quartette: J. L. Thomae and friends, Cwmavon. Girls' solo: Miss E. Paeooe, Aberavon. n' Boys' solo: 1st, Master D. Daviee. Aberavon; 2nd, Master Hill, Cwmavon. Base eolo: 1st, W. Stratton, Mac^tegr; W. Daviee, Pontycymmcr. rwrnavon. Pianoforte solo: Master W. Jones. (hMi,. Reoitation: 1st, Mies N. J. 2D<^S- S:BSkeweneac I^r* (con- ductor, Mr. W. Danes). (conductor, Mr. J. JUV'e.nile ohoir: cwmø.von LM™OI^e: Blaengarw (conductor, Mr. W. Butler). -=-

THE GREAT GUIDE TO SUCCESS FOR 1908. If you are a. Farmer and ycur crops fail or if you are in doubt about buying or self ius, RAPHAEL'S ALMANAC will teH you the exacrt times to sow your crops, and when to buy and sell. ir you are a Gardener and your flowers, 4rr A0/ vf?reta'b!f6 fail, RAPHAEL'S ALMANAC will tell you when to sow, plant or transplant, so that your garden will be the wonder and admiration of all. If you are a Lover and your courtsb;P rough and thorny, this ALMANAC will tell you the exact times to court and marry with the greatest felicity. If you are in Doubt and Perplexity regard- ing the future a.nd know not which way to turn, this Almanac contains Birthday Information for every day whereby you may see what Fate has in store for you. It tells you when to buy, eell, employ- ment, travel, remove, speculate, hire ser- wants, bake, brew, fish, Ac-. a,n" contains nuim'erous useful tables, Ac- 123 pages. Pries 6d., post free i<l. Foulsham & Co., 4. Pilfrim-street. Lud- gate Hill, E.C., and at all Stationers and Bookstalls.. W1369

STAFITCOLLAPSED. CYCLONE DISASTER AT A BASE- BALL MATCH. A windstorm of cyclonic force at Pottsville Pennsylvania, on Sunday demolished a grandstand on which 100 p«reons been witnessing a baseball mat/.h + i shelter from the rain. Fmv tak<?n injured, four fatally.-Reuter. were

STHIKE OF THE RHONDDA TEACHERS. I STAND AGAINST EDUCATION AUTHORITY. No arrangements have yet been come to with the teachers in the Pontypridd area who have agreed not to accept service for the evening continuation classes during the forthcoming session until certain grievances have been disposed of, and on Monday even- ing a deputation of teachers waited upon meeting of the Pontypridd Evening Continue tion Classes Committee, held under the presi* dency of Mr. James Roberts, J.P. Mr. Davieo (Lan Wood Schools).' speaking on behalf of the teachers, explained that, whereas there was a definite promise giveO that a portion of the salaries would be paid at Christmastide, and the remainder at the end of the session, the Christmas instalment was not received until May, and the remain* der until September. Then the students were promised the return of their fees pro- vided that a certain number of attendances vere made, but in some cases those fees had not yet been returned. Mr. Amry Lewis (Cilfynydd) said that with regard to the remission of fees he had received a letter from the chief education official that personal application would bave to be made by the students at Cardiff fot the same. (Laughter.) Mr. Moses Jones inquired of the teachers whether they would be prepared accept service if that committee gave its assurance that they would assist th8 teachers, and that the county oouncil would meet the teachers in fourteen days to discus8 the grievances. After deliberation, the teachers that they could not accede to this propose* until thejr had discussed the matter the representatives of the county council-

SOUTHALLS' TOWEI-S STILL FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS, Tho Original and Best, are now sold in Paoketa contatof* half-dozen. Size 1 at Sixpence. Also in Packets one dozen, as follows '•r~^lZZe)l 2s' Size 2, is. 6d. Size 3 and 4 (differing in shapw'^ut by all Ladies' Outfitters, Chemists, &c., tbroU the world. Local Agents: CARDIFF. Winter La tee, 27 and 29, Royal ArcaOe. Miss Griffiths, Charles-strcet-chamber* Henry Griesbach, 4, Duke-street. Collins Bros., 158, Cowbridge-road. ad. Wm. Charles, 120, 122, and 124, City-roao A. F. Heal, 178, City-road kr*a&- Mrs. M. Williams, 28 and 30, Royal Atc^~ Thomas S. Morgan. 144, Clifton-street. Duck's Drug Stores, St. John's-squaic- G Tudor Thomas, 157, Cowbridge-rd., Jabez A. Jones, 2, Four Elms-rd.. Newpor Spencer Fargher. Caroline-street.. J W. Thomson, Chemist, 60. Tudor-roa°- W. H. '1 omas, Chemist, 2, James-street. D. R. Jonee, M.P.S., 160, Cathays-terrace- ^r. H. F. Brown, 17, Morgan Ar. & 17, Higb-^t- Hickis 4 Co., 28. l>uke-st. (also at Barry J. Lee Jones, 96, Albany-road. h E. Edwards, 2, Mackintoeh-road, Roatn- H. Collins, 15-17, Albany-road, Roatb. K L. Joseph, 84, Albany-road. Roath Par i

-= MR. GLYNDWR RICHARDS4 CHOIR GOING TO AMERICA. hi- 5*ync*wr Richards ha« decided to s voice choir to America. The Journey will be made early next year. D. Rees Ford, of Youngstown (Ohio), a native of Dowlais. is making the necessary arrangements for the reception of the choir, and is a.lso attending to the bookings.

STEELWORKEK'S DEATH. 1 SUGGESTED POISONING AT BRITON FERRY. An inquest was held at Briton Ferry on Monday on the body of Christopher Wil- liams, a steelworker, aged 43, of 45, Hunter- street, Briton Ferry, who died suddenly on Friday last. Dr. 1'egge said he saw the deceased before he died on Friday. He was suffering from extreme shock, and died soon after twelve o'clock. Witness and Dr. Martin conducted a post-mortem examination on the previous day. They found the brain quite normal, and the body well nourished. There were no exter- nal marks of violence. They examined the stomach, and found no signs of peritonitis but the stomach was muoii contracted. Tha membranes of the heart were white and dry- Death in his opinion was due to an irritant poison, but he could not say whether it had been self-administered or not. A Juryman asked if it was possible for death to have taken place from lead poi- soning through having partaken of beer which had been drawn from a tap, the first thing in the morning. Dr. Pegge said he did not agree with that. The jury recommended that the contents of the stomach be sent to the Home Office for analysis, and to this the coroner agreed- The inquest was adjourned for a fortnight pending the Home Office analysis.

TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION. APPLICANTS FOR A CARD IFF POST- Eighty-five candidates sent in appli^i tions for the poet of superintendent 0 technical instruction of Cardiff, whic" has a commencing salary of £300. '1'b8 Cardiff Technical Instruction Committee °.\ Monday resolved to ask the following eli candidates to appear before the-next meetirJ of the education committee: Edgar M. Andrews, Gienlynn, Enfield,. (40), now organising secretary for instruction in Edmonton and Wood districts, Middlesex (four years); previoO^j assistant-secretary of the Lancashire Cheshire Union Institutes and eve11111 schools department. j George F. Ohell, Municipal Science ø,JJ Technical School, Wolverhampton, of the science and technical school (tell years); previously assistant-secretary for years. Charles Coles, 29, Moira-terraoe, B.Sc. (Lond.), senior science master 0. Municipal Secondary School, Cardiff. miJc*1 C. L. R. Eclair-Heath, Municipal School, Park-street, Hull, A.M.I.M-j 1'ech- of en.gineering department in the nical School; educated at 0 Devonport (five years), Royal haloed Science, Ix»ndon (three years); ° -rrliibi" Whitworth Exhibition amid a. tion at Oolite of Boiemce.. i Jamea QqIoIk, Tednnic^i Invt&ktcteh. I eton«, lnter.8ci. (1/ond.), M.I.E.E., director of tochnical inptruction at Ashford a.nd Folke- stone, and principal of the Technical Insti- tute, Folkestone (one year), and deo* stra-tor in physics, University Ooll* Bristol.. Robert Toms, 1, Stoke Villaa, Old 'PvT 01 road, Exeter, A.M.I.M.E., organi^jgtf' manual trainin.g and technical in at the Royal Albert Memorial 0°^ Exeter (six years).

BOARDS OF GUARDIANS, MERTHYR. CONTRACTING OUT AN EVIL. The Rev. IJewellyn M. Williams mo^L-prf the meeting of Merthyr Board of on Saturday that the fact of insurance o panics declining to accept risks in the uld ployment of semi-incapacitated men ^t- tend to seriously increase the cost of j. relief, and he, therefore, asked for an aJIl ment of the Compensation Act. „or»lfl' Mr, E. Edwards, J.P., seconded the tion. ^tj Mr. T. Andrews, Trehairis, moved ;it, amendment a direct negative, saying tipg he came from a district where contrac^^ out during the last six or seven years been one of the Baddest phases of ^n. experience. Those people who h'a^d tracted out of the Compensation Act been far more dependent ^11 Q than those in adjoining oollerles, where » ^rTSe^ the ø.mendment, Mr. J. "owle Br" large majority. which was earned mr of expfr71- The clerk 5re^Jf.yea.r ending the J9th cf diture for wie that it would be neees- March, 1908, eh for £40.000 upon the sary to m. h.es various partBCARMARTHEN. ONS OF AN ACT ANTICIPATED. Guardians on Saturday Hecided to ir,flnre their oncers under tha new Workmen's Compensation Act.—The Local Government Board wrote in oonneo* tion with the operation of the Midwives A'1 | of 1902. whereby guardians are empowered to pay for attendance in the oa.ae Q: deserving poor who are not exactly in of parish relief. Mr. W. J. Thomas expl tnat the Carmarthen Guardians 1^,JJfB* cipated eueh Act, and had been^ such expenses in deserving cases.

NEIGHBOURS' SQUABBl^' ttgi° Valencia Harper Penney, a young ^r0C)t teaoher from Ely, dressed in. a green and with long golden hair hanging over at. shoulders, stepped into the witness-bo* Llandaff Police-court on Monday to cute Mrs. Florence Rees, a neighbour, tQt use of threats. Miss Penney, for whom Mr. J. H. appeared, said that defendant threaten to screw her neck, knock her teeth down D throat, and pull her hair off her head- On the other hand, Mrs. Rees said that &K Penney threatened to put a bullet throne her with a revolver which she kept in t bouse. There was the usual troop of women 41 nesees on either side who delight to tee" in these cases.. f One witness for the defendant sent a ^n( of laughter through the court by declap that she saw "The tail end of a smack- 4{J The Beneh bound the defendant over ^kcep^thejpeace^for^fflx^m^Uis^