Evening Express

TRAGIC END OF MR. DAVID DAVIES, OF MERTHYR. Mr. David Davies, of Maesycoed, Merthyr, one Df the aldermen of the Glamorgan County Council, died very suddenly at his residence on Monday night. The deceased gentleman had not beea in very vigorous health during the past two cr three years, having overtaxed his strength by the energy with which he devcted himself to the performance of his public duties, and in the course of that period he had occasionally been laid UII. However, he was in his usual health on Monday, and in the afternoon was with the assembly of the Tabernacle Children's Temperance Society at a tea party at Pontsarn. He returned home between eight and nine o'clock and complained of feeling sick. He retired to bed about ten, and twenty minutes later his only daughter, Miss Nellie Davies, who was downstairs, heard a thud in his room. She immediately went up to see what had happened, and found that he had fallen from the bed to the floor. He was then lifeless. Dr. Ward, his medical attendant, was at once sent for, but his services were, of course, of no avail.

GREAT BLAZE OF FIR TREES AND BUSHES. "LAMES SEEN FROM THE WELSH COAST. ► The hills surrounding the historic castle of Dunster in Somerset have been the scene of one of the biggest firea ever remembered in f the West of England. The spot is well-known to South Walians who have visited Minehead, ( for the village of Dunster some three miles away ia the chief place of interest in the neighbourhood. Dunster Castle is built on one of the many hills in the district, and is surrounded by ? beautiful park. It was here that the Welsh Volunteers encamped last month at Minehead, and were reviewed by Sir George White. Surrounding the park are a number of typical Somerset hills, covered with ferns, heather, and whirtleberry bushes. ? Croydon Hill, which flanks the road leading from Dunster to the smaller village of Tim- bers combe, was where the outbreak commenced. A couple of Dunster lads last Thursday went Whirtleberry picking, and one of them lighted a fire. The boys were too young to know the danger of the act, with the bushes and grass in such a dried up state as they were from the long drought, and very soon they were power- less to prevent the spread of their little fire. In a shorter space of time than it takes to write the flames had enveloped the j surrounding bushes, and the smoke which l: rolled down the hills in dense clouds, attracted the attention of Mr. George Reed, of Broadwood Farm. He rode to Dunster, and the men on the castle estate were quickly on the spot battling with the flames. Their efforts were of little use, for with a strong breeze st blowing the fire sped on its way devouring everything in its patch, and very soon the firs were reached. The whole plantation was enve- >, loped, and an awful sight presented itself. The fire seemed to glory in this more substantial t food, and the huge trees withered and crackled as the flames leapt from one to the other, lighting up the sky for miles around with a wonderful glare that was seen from the sur- rounding counties, and even from across the channel. Meanwhile the fire seriously threatened Broadwood Farm, with its thatched outbuildings, and the Minhead Fire Brigade, which had been sent for, devoted itself to pro- i ^Ctln? the ProPerty' as 50 fire engines would have been unable to cope with the fire itself, which by this time covered an area of over half a. mile. In this way the farm premises were Saved from destruction, but the wood surround. in it was soon completely burnt through. A epiendid plantation of about 80 acres of young j firs was the next to be seized by the all-devour- V ing flames. Here the undergrowth was very r and thick, and in a few minutes the plan- tation was a roaring furnace, huge tongues of flame leaping high above the fir tops—a magnificent but awful sight. An oak plantation near by quickly caught, but the fire obtained very little hold here, the scarcity of scrub considerably retarding it. About ten o'clock the wind subsided, and with it also the flames, but gangs of men were on duty all night. Early the following morning, > however, a fresh breeze sprang up, this time in another direction, and the smoouldering f heath and plantations were quickly fanned in- to flame. The fire attacked and completely burnt through Long Wood, and thence extend. ing over the hills towards Luxborough. Once ? more the wind shifted, and towards evening the flames had got a good grip on the wooded I enclosures leading towards Dunster. Trees were hastily cut down, but the fire did not cross the road. Right around for miles were huge clouds of smoke, through which the flames could be seen bursting at intervals, the fire are by this time being extended to several miles. Every now and then the appa- rently burnt out plantations and heath would burst into flame, throwing a lurid light on the scene, while the charred remains of the fire stood out in grim outline against the sky. The fire continued without cessation right through the night, and on Saturday, judging from the enormous volumes of smoke, it seemed to have obtained a greater hold than ever. On Sun- day, too, the timber was also burning. The damage up to the present is enormous, I amounting to thousands of pounds, the tim. ber destroyed being of a very fine quality. Of the quantity and value of the game destroyed no correct estimate can be formed, but the fire has ruined one of the best pieces of shoot- ing in the district. It was also a favourite lair lor red deer. and it is reported that one at least of these animals was practically roasted during the fire. It first broke from the covert, half-blinded with the smoke, and, seeing the line of beaters, turned back again and was destroyed.

R AH WAY COLLISION. The Central News says:—An alarming colli. sion occurred at Bethnal Green Junction, on the Great Eastern Railway, on Tuesday morn. j ing. Some men were much shaken, but it is not yet known whether any were seriously in- jured. A number of poultry in one of the trains were liberated by the collision, and were flying around the scene for some time j afterward^ t

To-day's Sitting. A Reuter's telegram from Rennes on Tuesday says:—1The court-martial re-assembled at half- past six this morning The first witness called was Lientenant-c310nel Cordier, who is now en the retired list, and was formerly chief of the Intelligence Department at the Ministry of War. He recounted the circumstances under which Colonel Sandherr had shown him a copy of the bordereau, and said he believed that Colonel ilenry had handed the original to Colonel Sandherr.

A DAY OF HANDWRITING EXPERTS. M. BERTILLON'S EVIDENCE REFUTED, A Central News telegram from Rennes on Monday says —To-day has been a day of experts. The interminable talk of handwriting has been particularly weari- some. M. Paraf-Javal resumed his evidence from Saturday. The witness, who is called by the defence to refute M. Ber- tillon, proceeded to do so, illustrating his talk with blackboard sketches. M. Bernard, an engineer, was the next witness, and he, while appreciating the value of M. Bertillon's experiments, held that they proved the exact opposite to M. Bertillon's contentions. He caused some amusement by applying M. Bertil- lon's theories to a page of M. Bertillon's manuscript, and showing that if the theories were correct the writing was un- doubtedly forged. M. Teyssonieres, one of the experts of the 1894 court-martial, gave evidence in favour of his conclusion that Dreyfus wrote the bordereau. M. Charavay, one of the experts who in 1894 decided that the prisoner wrote the bordereau, to-day announced that the admissions of Esterhazy, the suicide of Colonel Henry, and the finding of the Court of Cassation had induced him to acknowledge that he had been mistaken in 1894. M. Pelletier. another expert, adhered to his opinion of 1894 that Dreyfus was not the author of the bordereau. M. Couard and M. Vairnand, two more experts, declared their conviction that the bordereau could not be attributed to Esterhazy, although they were doubtful about Dreyfus being the author. Before the court adjourned Major Carriere, the Government Commissary, called attention to the illness of Colonel Du Paty de Clam, and requested the court to order a commission to take his evidence. This was agreed to, and the sitting, one of the dullest since the court commenced its inquiry, concluded.

WATCHERS WILE AWAY THE TIME WITH CARDS. A Reuter'p telegram from Paris on Tuesday saysAnother uneventful night has passed, and Fort Chabrol still holds out. Throughout the night both ends of the Rue de Chabrol were blocked by troops in ful lmarching order. The officers sat on the doorsteps and fell asleep. The municipal guards, policemen, and gendarmes were quartered in the Cite d'Hautville. They slept on huge cases, placed at their disposal by a friendly packer, who lives next door to the police commissary. Cards were played in the improvised guard-room, and the excitement of "Manille" served to wile away the weary hours. The handful of amateur watchers who have sat up for the last seventeen nights in the hope of witnessing an attack on Fort Chabrol, again spent the night at a neighbour- ing wine merchant's. At six o'clock they took their departure as usual, tired and disap- pointed. M. Gueria made his customary appearance on the roof at four o'clock, peered into every corner, and found nothing. An hour later he was joined by one of his companions. At six o'clock the police on duty were relieved. All the men carried revolvers. At seven o'clock half a dozen policemen went down into the drains and laid down siphon tubes for the purpose of removing the refuse. They made their way as far as the cellars and heard sounds from within. They could not be certain, however, what they were.

THE ACCIDENT AT CHICAGO. A Central News telegram from Chicago on Tuesday morning says:—The loss of life occa- sioned by the collapse of the framework of the Coliseum yesterday afternoon is not quite so serious as was at first reported. Six persons were killed outright, and seven were injured. Of these four have died since their removel to hospital, the total death-roll being thus brought up to ten. Three others are miing, and are known to be buried among the ruins.

SPORT OF THE DAY. The amateur selection for to-day is Nushka. The Eaton and Welbeck yearlings are said to be a promising lot. Comfrey, who will bs remembered as the winner of the Cambridgeshire in 1897, has left W. G. Stevens's stable at Hsley for his owner's place. Royal Emblem will not run for the St. Leger, and may be held in reserve for some of the valuable engagements in which he will take the maiden allowance next year. Simondale is due to run for the Champagne Stakes at Dcfncaster, and his meeting with Democrat will ■effectually settle the question as to the best youngster of the season. Arrangements are being made for Sir R. Waldie Griffith to have first claim on the ser- vices of the American jockey, J. II. Martin, for the remainder of the current season. Senateur has been sold by J. Waugh t A. M. Singer, and goes into H. Chandler's stable at Arundel, but the horse will net be delivered up till after the Derby meeting. The St. Leger was the medium of a little speculation in London yesterday. Odds of 3 to 1 were laid on Flying Fox, and at 100 to 30 Caiman had supporters. Bar this couple 20 to 1 was offered. A recent visitor to John Porter's place at Kingsolere was Mr. S. B. Joel, who has it in contemplation to form a stud and breed his own racers, in view of which he purchased several well-bred brood mares. In trial gallops at Newmarket yesterday, Chaloner's Ma Jeannette beat Chloris (F. All- sopp) over five furlongs, and Chaloner's Eagles- cliff (Allsopp) beat Snow Bunting (0. Madden), Ejector gelding (S. Loates), Brissac, Planudes (T. Loates), and Scout Scar (J. Dalton) over five furlongs. One does not need to refer to the doughty deeds of Iroquois, Parole, Foxhall, &c. (says "Argus") for evidence of the prowess of horses bred in the United States of America. Ample and much more recent proof of their quality has been afforded by the many triumphs achieved by the bearers of Mr. Lorillard's and Lord William Beresford's colours. The part- nership between the gentlemen named was dissolved twelve months since, when ill-health rendered it necessary for the former to retire for a time, and the whole of the yearlings— now two-year-olds—passed into the possession of their present owners, Lord Beresford and "Mr. Agnes." It is well to hear that Mr. Lorillard has recovered, and that his admira- tion for English racing is sufficiently great to induce him to send over another batch of horses to try their luck on our racecourses. Himself a breeder on an extensive soale. a team of some twelve or fourteen yearlings will be selected from his stud, and they, together with two more recently purchased for the large sum of 30000r .151., may be expected to be shortly shipped for Newmarket. Huggins, having his hands already full, will be unable to take them in charge, and Blackwell is spoken of as the probable trainer, though nothing has, perhaps, been definitely decided as yet, the appointment resting with the master of Heath House. It is further said that Sloan has also purohased some yearlings for shipment to this country, but no details have reached me as to WIIOM colours they will oarcjr.

REPORTED MESSAGE OF DEFIANCE. "NO MORE CONCESSIONS." FEELING OF UNEASINESS IN PRETORIA. BOER UNPREPAREDNESS. Generally an ominous silence prevails as to the position of affairs in the Transvaal. Reuter's Cape Town correspondent, however, breaks this reserve with a message fraught with the gravest of issues if it be true. Tele- graphing on Monday, he says: — "Replying to Mr. Chamberlain's last dispatch, the Transvaal Government has notified the British Agent that it adheres to its latest offer, and will make no further concessions." The Cape newspapers do not comment on Mr. Chamberlain's speech at Highbury (accord- ing to the Press Association special representa- tive). By the Progressives it is regarded with great satisfaction, being thought to offer Presi- dent Kruger a last opportunity to grant con- cessions unhampered by restrictions. The Afrikanders consider the tone of the speech warlike, and deprecate this, especially at the present moment. Advices from Pretoria state that the situa- tion there is critical, and in official circles the future is regarded with uneasiness. A Birmingham telegram states that Mr. Chamberlain still remains at Highbury. A Press Association special telegram from Pretoria on Monday says:—Mr. Chamberlain's speech has been calmly received by officials here. The Government still awaits the Colonial Secretary's reply to its alternative proposals for a five years' franchise and representation for the Uitlanders of one-fourth in the Legis- lature. President Kruger, on the subject of Mr. Chamberlain's speech, says: "Let the newspapers bring whatever news they like; I cannot say whether they report Mr. Chamber- lain rightly or wrongly. When he speaks to me direct I will listen, and know what to reply." General Joubert in an interview siid: We will give everything to the Uitlanders that is just and can be done without inter- ference with the independence of the country, but if the latter is assailed the whole Republic will stand like one man." THE COMMAND OF THE BRITISH FORCE. According to the "Westminster Gazette," in the event of hostilities in the Transvaal an officer senior to Lieutenant-general Sir F. W. Forestier-Walker will be sent out to take supreme command in the field. Although it would be invidious at the moment to mention the name of the officer, it may be said that he is at present commanding at one of our Army stations. OBSOLETE TRANSVAAL DEFENCES The Pretoria correspondent of the "St. James's Gazette" tells a strange story of Boer unprepareiness for war. "If the dogs of war were let loose to-morrow," he says, "the Boer forces would be rolled up in a very few weeks because of the rigid deficit that exists in the store of what in ante-Crimean days was known as 'powder and ball. Briefly told, the facts are these:—In Feb- ruary, 1898, huge orders for war materiel- shells, guns, rifles, and ammunition—were placed by Boer agents with various British and Continental firms, with orders for practically immediate delivery. The order included six batteries—thirty-six guns—of the Schneider- Canet quick-firing type. pattern 1896; sixteen thousand melinite shells; one hundred and fifty thousand shrapnel shells; twelve thousand magazine Mausers (Mark n.); twelve thousand Peabody-Henrys; and six thousand long-barrel- led 45-self-extracting revolvers. In May, 1898, twenty-five million Mauser magazine rifle car- tridges were ready for shipment to Delagoa Bay, a substantial instalment of the purchase money having been paid on account by a financial agent of the Boer War Office, through another agent, now dead. And now comes the point of the story. The whole consignment was sold at famine prices by this enterprising agent to a representative of one of the belligerents in the Spanish-American War, then in its initiatory development, the deal being arranged at an office in Chancery-lane belong- ing to one of the Powers concerned. As other cartridges had to be sent to the Transvaal to make up for those sold, some millions of cartridges of an obsolete pattern were purchased by the wily agent and passed off on the unsuspecting Boers, who have only just now discovered that the ammunition on which they had set so much store will not fit rifles for which they were intended. If the story is true, it explains why the Buers are so anxious to obtain the stores stopped at Delagoa I Bay. BOERS PREPARING. A Preis Association special telegram from Johannesburg on Monday says that reports from all parte show that the burghers are everywhere preparing for war. At Carolina they are busy exchanging Martinis for Mausers. A wagon arrived at Utrecht on Friday from Volksrust, bringing a heavy load of ammuni- tion, including 300 Mausers. SENDING OF ARMS TO BLOEMFONTFTN. A Central News telegram from Cape own on Monday says: —In the Assembly to-day Sir Gordon Spring moved the adjournment of the House in order to call attention to the tran- sport of arms and munitions from the Colony to the Free State. He held that the Imperial Government were so near the brink of war, and the tension was so strong, that the Colony should follow the example of Portugal. After Sir Gordon Sprigg's speech there was a, dramatic pause, the House waiting for Mr Schreiner, who, however, did not rise. The silence was broken by Mr. Douglass, who demanded a reply from the Government. Mr. Schreiner eventually replied that everything that had been done had been legally correct. He read a letter from the President of the Free State, in which the President assured him that the Free State would never take up arms against England, except in defence of the rights of that country. The debate gave rise to several dramatic scenes, and feeling ran verj high.

CAPE COLONY AND THE TRANSIT OF ARJMS. Sir Gordon Sprigg's Motion With- drawn. A Reuter's telegram from Cape Town on Monday says:—Replying to Sir Gordon Sprigg's motion in the Cape Assembly regarding the 4 of ammunition through Cape Colony, Mr reiner said he declined to be driven to an ilcó which would be regarded as malad- ministration or hysterical administration. He had just received a telegram from President Steyn denying that the Free State would take up arms against Great Britain. He thought the differences between the Transvaal and Great Britain capable of a peaceful settlement. H& was ready to give every information re- garding the transit of arms. Mr. Rose Innes considered Ir. Schreiner's legal position un- assailable. The motion was eventually with- drawn.

ENGLAND AND DELAGOA BAY A Renter's telegram from Berlin on Monday says:—According to the "Vossische Zeitung," an English diplomatist on the Continent re- cently stated that the treaties with Portugal regarding her East African possessions will shortly be published. The northern portion of the territory is to be transferred to Ger- many and Delagoa Bay to Great Britain. Both agreements are in the form of a ninety-nine years' lease. Mozambique is to remain in the possession of Portugal.

A Reuter's telegram from Bombay on Mon- day says:—From the latest details received re- garding the raid on the Muree Brewery at Quetta, it appears that ten of the native employes were killed and several others badly wcunded. The marauders, who all escaped, are being hotly ^pursued by mounted police, and a reward of 500 rupees has been offered to any person disclosing their hiding-place. It is believed the notorious Jaffer Khan has some connection with the band. A Reuter's telegram from St. Etienne on Monday says:—A terrible acc.dent occurred this morning in the Couchard Mine at Haute Croix. Sixteen men had just got into a skip to go down the shaft when the cable broke, and the men were precipitated to the bottom, where their bodies were afterwards found, shockingly mutilated On Sunday morning James West, labourer, in the employ of the Barry Railway Company, and living at 121, High-street, Barry, was severely injured in the boiler shop of the com- pany's works at Barry ty a crane, which tightly jammed his body, crushing it in various parts. West was removed to the Accident Hospital. Kingsland-oresoent, Barry Dock, and attended by Dr. King, who ordered his detention. The | injured man is 52 years of age, married, and hftB a family, V

IMPORTANT EVIDENCE AT THE LLEST INQUEST. THE MANAGER EXAMINED. FOUR OTHER ACCIDENTS DUE TO GAS. WARNING BY THE GOVERN- MENT INSPECTOR. THE LETTER UNHEEDED BY THE MANAGER. The inquest on the bodies of the men killed in the explosion at the Llest Colliery was resumed at the Braichycymmer Hotel, Ponty- rhyl, on Monday morning. The coroners-j Messrs. S. H. Stockwood (Bridgend) and Howel Cuihbertson (Neath)-sat together, as some of the men killed had lived in the dis- trict of each coroner. Amungst those present were Mr. J. T. Robson (inspector of mines for the district). Mr. F. Grey (assistant inspector), I and Mr. Chester Jones (instructed from the Home Office). Mr. S. T. Evans, M.P. (instructed by Messrs. Moigan Bruce, Pontypridd), represented the men's relatives, and Mr. C. Kenshole (of Messrs. Kenshole, Linton, and Co., Aberdare) represented the uwners. The foreman of the jury was Mr. T. C. Jones. Mr. Treharne Rp0" (the company's consulting engineer), Mr. W. v. Heppeil (agent for the Cwmavon Coal Company), Mr. D. Sims Rees (agent for North's Naviga- tion), Messrs. W. Johnston (Ffaldau Colliery), D. Beynon, and John Thomas (miners' agents),' Mr. Tom Richards (secretary of the South Wales Miners' Federation), and Mr. E. Edwards (treasurer of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain) were also present. Mr. S. T. Evans was instructed at the instance of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, whose president (Mr. Pickard, M.P.) is expected to attend the inquiry to-day (Tuesday). In opening the proceedings Mr. Stockwood explained that Mr. Cuthbertson had asked him to act as the senior coroner, although he was the junior, as the accident happened in his district. There had been a great deal in the papers about the occurrence, but he hoped that they would keep their minds as clar as POII- sible of what they had read. and form their opinions npon the evidence offered. They should try to form their opinions as intelli- gent men as to the cause of the accident after they had heard the witnesses. SYMPATHY WITH THE BEREAVED. Mr. Kenshole said that he had been instructed by the owners to express their sympathy with the relatives of the men who had been killed. Steps had been taken to relieve whatever im- mediate want existed, and the company would do all in their power on their behalf. PRODUCTION OF PLANS. A full set of plans was put in by Mr. Arthur Cecil Harrison, surveyor for the coll ery. In answer to Mr. S. T. Evans, witness said that the last survey was made in June last. The last date set out on the No. 1 East workings was March 15 last, but there had been a survey since that date. Thoma& Lougher, manager of the colliery, said that at the time of the accident a night tur .1 'was being worked at the colliery, and 49 men would be included in the No. 2 Seam, with 24 in the No. 3. The men in charge were David Morgan in No. 2 and Edmond Plummer in No. 3. He produced the firemen's report- book. They used naked lights throughout the colliery. Taking the plans in hand. he pointed out the course of the ventilation shafts. A Schiele fan was used, 5ft. 3in. in diameter, and it ran from 400 to 480 revolutions per minute. The air was measured on the Monday before the accident, and from 9,000 to 10.000 cubic feet were going through per minute in the No. 2 Seam and 11.000 to 12.000 in the No.3 Seam. The water gauge for the two pits varied from 1.5 to 1.7. The engine and fan were in good order. The register (produced) showed that at the time of the accident the fan was going at 416 to 421 revolutions a minute. The air- ways were in good condition. Shot-firing was allowed in the workings by the night turns as well as by the day turns. The men did it themselves, and no inspector was on. Com- pressed powder and gelegnite were used. Mr. Stockwood: Then every man might fire a shot when and where he liked ? Witness: Yes. There were none used on the night of the explosion. Has gas been seen in the No. 2 Seam t Yes. When P The last was reported on the night preceding the explosion. Mr. Cuthbertson: Have there been any other explosions ? Yes; slight. How often? Four to five times this year. Any men injured ? Yes; burnt. Can you give me the dates ? James Baker was burnt on January 6, Thomas Taylor on April 7. Watkin John on April 10, and Albert Hawkins on July 21. Continuing witness sa,id that the explosion was in No. 2 Seam No. 1 East. He was called at ten minutes past two on the morning of the explosion, and went down the pit. He found that the first double doors were all right, but the second doors had been blown away outwards. They reached the place where the explosion occurred about three o'clock. There had not been a fall at that time, but he heard one just afterwards. He thought the explosion took place in one of the stalls. Mr. Chester Jones: What prevents the air from going down the winding shaftP Witness: The heat of the pit. And the whole ventilation would break down if the stettm working were not kept up? Yes; that is the possibility. This is an unusual system of ventilationP Yes. How long have you been manager? I have been manager of No. 2 and No. 3 Seams since June last. What were you before that? Under-manager of the two seams. Did anyone over you ever come down? Mr. Griffiths came to the pit. And he gave directions? Yes. Was the subject of naked lights ever men- tion" I to Mr. Owen, the late manager? I don't recollect. Did you ever hear that Mr. Grey had spoken to him about it? I don't recollect. Have you ever had a communication from Mr. Grey or Mr. Robson about it? Yes; from Mr. Robson. When? On July 24. After the man was burnt on July 21P Yes. Did he say in the letter, "I deem the nee of naked lights in such a place a violation of the rules" ? Yes. You have had four burnings there this year? Yes. Didn't you think it was time to stop working? No. Why not? Because the quantities of gas were 80 very slight. It was sufficient to burn four men? Very slightly. How much gas do you want before you would leave off using naked lights? It must be indicative of danger. Is not all gas dangerous? Not if there is proper ventilation. There was a constant production of gas in the seam? Not constant. Very often, then—four men burnt in six months? Yes. And there are constant reports that gas has been found? Yes. You could not abolish lights without the; consent of Mr. Griffiths? No. Did you ever make any communication upon the subject to him? No. Mr. Stockwood: Did you send that letter from Mr. Robson to him? Witness: No. Mr. Chester Jones: Have you ever thought about this—didn't you think it was dangerous to use naked lights? No. I didn't think it was dangerous to work there with naked lights. There was likely to be an accumulation of gas in any one of the stalls? If the ventilation failed. When did you read Rule 8? I cannot remember; but I know the rule. Didn't you think the mine came under Sec- tion A? No. But you do now? Yes, now there has been an explosion. Was it a dry place? It wa.s dry where the plosion took place. Dry and dusty—very dusty? Not very dusty. The coal was moist there more than anything else. Were these men burnt very much? Not much. It was about their hands and arms. How long did they lay up? Well, a fortnight at most. Don't you think that if a man is ill for a fortnight with burns it indicates danger? No, sir. Do you keep a danger-book? No. Where are these occurrences reported? In the firemen's books. These accumulations of gas occurred very suddenly? Yes. Too quickly for the ventilation to deal with it. Now. do you mean to say that you kent [ this letter back and didn't send it to Mr. I Griffiths ? Yes; I did not think it was an important matter. In answer to Mr. S. T. Evans, witness said that the brattices might be insecurely fas- tened sometimes. Accumulations of gas occurred when the brattices were up as well as when they were down. He did not tell Mr. Griffiths that Hawkins had been burnt. He did not think that shot-firing caused the explosion, but that the naked lights caused it. Examined by Mr. Kenshole, witness said that the explosion was confined entirely to No. 2 Seam, but none of the men there suffered from afterdamp. House coal seams were. so far as he was aware, invariably worked with naked lights. The gas found, as reported in the books, was slight, and was always cleared before the men went in. Mr. Kenshole read several copies of reports sent to Mr. Robson after accidents. Mr. Rob- son objected that they could not be taken as evidence, as they were made by Mr. Lougher's predecessor. Mr. S. T. Evans asked if it could be taken that they gave correct descriptions of the injuries caused by the accidents. After a discussion, The Coroners thought it did not matter. They felt that the fact they had to consider was whether or not there had been an explo- sion of gas sufficient to injure a man. In further examination, witness said that one man used a safety lamp by order of a fireman. When he examined the timber he found it clean, free from dust, and with fungoid growths even in the highest point. From No. 2 Seam they pumped 160 gallons of water a minute, and even a thousand tons of water a day. The coal was working very well, and at the time of the accident did not require firing. From the position of the food boxes it appeared that the me- had gone to the heading and taken their meals. The men at work during the night shift would attend to their own brattice sheets. The percentage of large coal would be 45, and the small would be rubble largely. Questioned by Mr. Robson, especially upon Rule 8, witness said that on the morning after the explosion a powder chest was found unlocked. Some repairers had been working near, and they might have left it open. Several men in certain parts of the workings were sup- plied with safety lamps, and others working with them used naked lights. There was no one stationed at the double doors during the night shift. The doors were opened and shut by the riders. Perhaps eighteen or twenty trams ran along the lines. The effect of leaving the double doors open would be to take the air off No. 2. They worked on the double stall system, but there was an attempt to alter it to the longwall system, but there had been no settlement of the walls before the explo- sion. although there might have been something 1 of the sort, which would cause the escape of more gas. The longwall system made ventila- tion easier. The travel of the current would be about 8,000 yards, and if any of the doors were left open it would make a great diffe- rence in the ventilation. He thought that all the accidents were reported as soon as they happened, but lie remembered that on one occasion Mr. Grey made an inspection, and was told of an accident that had not been reported, and the case was reported under his advice. Some alterations had been made recently. All the old explosives had been taken out and per. mitted explosives substituted, whilst proper supervision would be exercised, safety lamps used, and the rules properly observed. Gas was found in the pit after the explosion. Re-examined by Mr. Kenshole: There would not be so many worked by night as by day. The doors would cloae of their own accord unless propped open. This ended the examination of the manager, which lasted about three hours and a half. Thomas Griffiths, assistant-engineer of the colliery, said that he visited the pit at fre- quent periods, but had no regular visiting day. He was there the day before the explosion, and the next before that was about three weeks previously. He did not inspect the report. books, nor did he know anything of the explo- sion on July 21, nor of Mr. Robson's letter of July 24. The only time upon which he was told that gas was found was in January, when a man was burnt. He never saw anything to induce him to think that safety lamps should be used. It was customary in light collieries to let the men blast when they thought neces- sary. This need not bring down the roof, because if blasting were necessary it would be because the coal was hard. By Mr. Chester Jones: His agreement was with Messrs. Forster Brown and Rees. He did not know the names of the directors of the colliery. It was the duty of a colliery manager to see to the report-books. He should tell a visiting engineer of the accidents that occurred in the colliery of which he was manager, and it would be prudent to show such a letter as Mr Robson had sent. He never saw anything to make him think that safety lamps were necessary. If he had known of thirteen reports of gas in two months and four explo- sions in six months he should have made inquiries. He had known "ix explosions in No. 2 and No 3 Seams during the last 30 years, when men were burnt slightly. Four in six months was a rather large order. If he had thought that safety lamps were necessary he should have ordered them. There was no limit to the expense allowed at the pit. He should have ordered anything that he thought fit for the men's safety, and Fhould not have consulted anyone. Mr. Owen-left the pit because of his health, but he never told wit- ness that there had been gas escapes, except upon the occasion in January. By Mr. S. T. Evans: He did not consider an inspecting engineer's duty included an inspec- tion of the firemen's and other report books. It should be the manager's duty to report to him if there was anything to be reported. The manager had full power to order what he wanted, and he could have ordered safety lamps. If he thought necessary he (witness) would have recommended the lamps. If safety lamps had been used, they would be obliged to make an arrangement with the men about wages. The expense of getting the lamps would be comparatively slight. He had never discussed the question of safety lamps with anyone connected with the pit. Taking the area included in the answer that he had made tha,t he had known six explosions in 30 years. the proportion at the rate of the Llest Col- liery during this year would be 240 instead of six. In answer to Mr. Kenshole, witness said that, considering the circumstances of the accident on July 21. he did not think they called for a general introduction of safety lamps. After looking through the report books he thought that the ventilation would be sufficient to take off the gas escapes. Mr. S. T. Evans: How can he tell, unless he knows how much gas there was? Mr. Chester Jones: He knows nothing at all about that. Witness, under continued examination, spoke as to the water found in the pit, and the absence of dust. By Mr. Chester Jones: Witness thought that safety lamps should be used if they could not get proper air and if there were sudden out- bursts of gas. Sudden outbursts were an indication that it was not a safe colliery to work with naked lights. The explosion in question might have arisen from an outburst of gas and from a derangement of the ventila- tion. He did not think that there was. neces- sarily, a large accumulation of gas in the pit. His opinion was that the explosion was caused by a man working in a stall with a naked light. Probably the gas could not have been reported as slight if there had been no explo- 81 Bv Mr. Robson: It would be possible for a fireman to detect gas without an expiosion^ —If he had known that there had been escapes he would have known that there might have been an explosion. He had seen small coal on some of the props in No. 1 East, but it was not fine dust. He had seen some dust there since the explosion. David Morgan, fireman in No. 2 Seam, on duty during the last six weeks, said that he examined the pit for gas before the shift, but found some in No. 4 Heading only the Jlight before the accident. It was only a small quantity then, and was near the roof. He went back and put the brattice sheets closer together, which tended to clear the gas away, and by the time the men of that particular part went in, and he gave them safety lamps. There was a small quantity of gas on the Tuesday evening in one of the headings, On the Thursday evening he went down at five o'clock, and examined all the working places, but found no gas nor fall. The ventila- ticn was all right. Two men brought safety lamps with them. because they had been obliged to go back for them on the two previous nights. They each had naked lamps as well, but these were not lighted. The men were John Davies and Rees Davies. In further examination, witness (who gave his evidence through an interpreter) explained that they had safety lamps, but carried the gauze in their hands, so that they could convert them. He visited some ptots of the mine, once after the first inspection, and finished at about a quarter to ten o'clock. He knew that the rule required him to visit all the working parts during the shift, and intended to finish after dinner. At ten o'clock he went up to make his report, then had his dinner, and afterwards visited other parts of the colliery. He went with a rider, William Thomas, and a man named Fred Ashton. About ten minutes to two he felt a puff of wind behind him, and thought at once that there was something the matter, so went back to No. 2 Heading. At this point the inquiry was adjourned until this (Tuesday) morning. — —

THE DISASTER AT THE LLEST COLLIERY. VALUE OF THE PERMANENT FUND. To the Editor of the "Western Ma-il." Sir-Since the occurrence of the above deplorable ac-ident numerous mq l have been rece'ved as to what has been done by the Provident Fund in simi ar c • ?oS»8 Orure. «. I thta*. *»«» t..how «r™e' *f\ a—* the sufferers by previous colliery explosions up to the end of the year Dat« No. Funeral Relief to Total Colliery. of explosion. killed. allowances. widows. £ s. d. Risca January 15. 1882 4 35 0 0 456 5 0 37 7 7 11 jjg 12 S^r.eKS:J| J r ™ o o 2,m itl 5^ | National February i8, 1887 37 410 0 0 ••• ig 1Q n g g Llaneroh .February 6,1890 .176 1,995 0 0 o. 7 207 10 4 14,987 li 0 Morfa March 8. 1890 87 7.180 5 8 iQ g 9,557 4 3 Tondu August 26, 1892 110 1,370 0 0 4.^6 20.230 15 6 Albion June 25. 276 3.668 0 0 f.OU U ? 4 Tylorstown..January 27, 1896 57 9 478 5 0 30,028 5 6 32,981 10 4 72,488 0 10 vidual accidents, of which the general public hear nothing. £ g d. „ 21.012 0 0 Funeral allowances 67 560 4 1 Relief of widows 56 278 7 11 Relief of children 307,587 6 4 Relief of disabled members Total Z452,437 18 4 Total Your obedient servant, z- EVAN OWEN. General Secretary of the Monmouthshire and South Walet Autuat 28 Miners' Permanent Provident Society.

LORD BUTE'S ILLNESS. A HOPEFUL REPORT. Our Glasgow correspondent wires on Mon- day morning:—The utmost reticence is ob- served! as to the Marquess of Bute s illness, but I learn to-day that Dr. Ferrier, the eminent London paralysis specialist, saw his lordship on Sunday, and gives hope of ultimate recovery. The family refuse all information, and his lordship's secretary will say nothing. The Bute family are at the moment all resident at Mount Stuart, Rothesay, where his lordship lies. TELEGRAM FROM LADY BUTE. Replying to a telegram of sympathy from the Cardiff Conservative Working Men's Club, Lady Bute wired her thanks, and said that Lord Bute was progressing satisfactorily.

LATE REV. W. B, HUGHES, LIBERALITY AT LLANISHEN. Some time ago the Rev. W. Dovey, B.A., vicar of Llanisnen, and the churchwardens of the parish and those also of Lisvane initiated a movement the object of which was to raise a memorial fund to the late Rev W B. Hughes, the respected curate, by whose sad death Mrs. Hughes was left a widow, with several very young children unprovided for. The move- ment met with the heartiest approval of the parishioners and the public, and so successful was the appeal that the committee are now able to announce that a. sum of £2.32 12s. has been collected. Mrs Hughes, through the com- mittee, wishes to express to the subscribers her most grateful thanks. The hearty response given to the appeal, while it testifies to the great respect in which Mr. Hughes was held in the neighbourhood, illustrates the spirit of Christian liberality which exists in Llanishen and Lisvane.

DEATH OF MISS AUBREY, OF SWANSEA. The death of Miss Aubrey, of Swansea, took place at Ffrwd Vale. Neath (the residence of the late Alderman John Henry Rowland), on Saturday. The deceased lady, who was in her seventy-sixth year, had been in failing health for some time, but she was well enough to take a little walking exercise ten days ago. Miss Aubrey was a lifelong friend of the Row- land family, and the deepest sympathy is felt for Miss Rowland, who in her loneliness has been called upon to suffer a second bereave- ment within so short a. space of time. Miss Aubrey's acts of benevolence to the poor of Neath and Swansea are countless.

DEATH OF A FAMOUS DOCTOR. Dr. James Cuming, for 34 years professor of medicine at Queen's College, Belfast, died some- what suddenly on Monday at Green Island, Belfast, from heart disease, aged 68. Deceased, whose daughter is the Hon. Charles Russell's wife, was the life-long friend of the late Rev. Dr. Hall, New York, and the present Lord Chief Justice. He was an acknowledged authority on heart and chest diseases, and in 1884 was president of the British Medical Association. He was to have been the Right Hon. Mr. Pirie's guest on the Oceanio's first voyage to New York, and intended being present with Lord Russell on Sir Thomas Lipton's yacht Erin during the America Cup Bacefk

THE PLAGUE IN EUROPE. TWO MORE DEATHS AT OPORTO. A Central News telegram from Oporto on Monday at ten a.m. says:—There has been two more .deaths during the night from the plague. PRECAUTIONS IN RUSSIA. A Reuter's telegram from St. Petersburg on Saturday says :-The municipal committee of St. Petersburg has held a special sitting to discuss and adopt a scheme of precautionary measures to be applied in the event of the epidemic breaking out here. This precaution has a direct connection with the alarming rumours of the outbreak of the plague at the Tillage of Molobovki, in the province of Astra- khan. SCHOONER FROM OPORTO AT CARDIFF. The circumstances of the arrival of the schooner Britannia from Oporto at Cardiff on Saturday were somewhat peculiar. The vessel left Oporto on August 11, and at that time there was no plague in the town. The cap- tain and crew, upon arriving at Cardiff, were, consequently, very much surprised at the inte- rest taken in them by the port sanitary autho- rities upon their arrival. Although the vessel had left the port before the outbreak, the medical officer (Dr. Walford) made a thorough examination of both the ship and crew, and, finding everything satisfactory, permitted the ship to enter the docks. SWANSEA. A special meeting of the Swansea Port Sani. tary Authority was held on Monday to confer with the two medical officers of the Local Government Board, Dr. Reece and Dr. Long- staffe, with regard to local precautions against the importation of disease. The neces- sary local information was given to the offi- cers, who afterwards drove, in company with the local authorities, to the borough infectious diseases hospital and to the docks.

TOPPING AND SPINDLER (HARD- 4WAY and TOPPING), Flashing. Holland. Steward! Cup, St. Leger, Cesarewitch, Cam- bridgeshire. I:c. Double and Treble Evens. S.P. Accumu- lators. Ac. The Continental Sportsman," pub- lished twice daily during the season, contain- in Latest Market Movements on above and all Important Races. free on receipt of address. The Oldest-established and Most Extensive Agency of its kind in the World. All letters to be addreseed-TOPPING and SPINDLER, I Flnabinc. Holland. Postage. 2Act .¥ N-

To-day's Programme. DERBY METING. Handicapper: Mr R. K. Mainwaring. Starter: Mr. A. Coventry. Secretary: Mr J. Bostock. Clerk of the Scales: Mr Stanley B. Ford. judge: Mr W. Ford. Clerks of the Course and Stakeholders: Messrs. Ford. •> —The CHADDESDEN SELLING • v-r PLATE of 100 sovs, for two year olds and upwards; weight for age: selling and other allowances. Seven furlongs, straight. aMr Clayton's Sir Michael, aged w P- aMr Powell's Fislierton, 3yrs a«r Mason's Glen Belle filly, 2yrs a:™r Courage's Forsaken. 2yrs aMr i' Jennings, jun's, Miss Mackey. 2yrs *) —The PORTLAND PLATE (a high- • weight handicap of 106 sovs; win- ners extra. Six furlongs, straight. Lord Dunraven's Sea Fog, 4vrs, list Prince Soltykoff's Woolsthorpe, aged, lOst 41b vr Gibb Orris Root, 4yrs, 9st 101b a* iJ' Elsey's Forced March, 4yrs, 9st 101b Mr E Eleey'e Cardonald, aeed, 9st 91b Air I- W Spruce's Knockdon, 6yrs, 9st 81b Mr A Eccles's Archangel, 5yrs, 9st 81b Mr J G Mosenthal's Leap On, aged, 9st 81b Mr G Ridpath s Tovaros, 4yrs, 9st 41b Mr J A Miller's Bridge, 3yrs, 9st 4:b Mr Covington's Wax Toy, 5yrs, 9st 31b Lord Carnarvon's Dark David, 3yrs. 9st 31b Prince Soltykoff's Adini. 3yrs. 9st 31b Mr T A Roberts's Lord Molescroft, 6yrs, 9st 21b Mr A Eccles's Loyal Favourite. 4yrs, 9st Mr J A Miller's Hoylake, 3yrs, 9st Mr L de Rothschild's Allegro, 4yrs. 8st 111b Mr Myburgh's Thurling, 5yrs. 8st lllb Mr E C Clayton's Boy of Egremond, 4yrs, 8st 91b Mr G W Smith's Electric Current, 3yrs, 8st 91b Mr C A Mills's Knickerbocker. 3yrs. 8st 91b Mr J Waugh's Senatenr. 3yrs, 8st 7fb Mr F C G Menzies' Foxhill, 3yrs, 8st 71b Mr T A Roberts's Holt Castle, Svrs, 8st 71b Mr A P Cun:iffe's Galivant, 3yrs. 8st Mr R C Garton's Bonnie Lassie colt. 3yrs, 8st Lord Stanley's Birnam Wood. 3yrs. 7st 121b Mr Huntington's Underbred. 3yrs, 7st 121b Mr C E R Walker's Ladv Eda. 3yrs. 7st 111b Mr R Deplidge's Gold Paint 3yrs, 7st 101b 3 1 X -The CHAMPION BREEDERS' 1 BIENNIAL FOAL STAKES of 1.000 sovs, for two year olds; colts 8st 101b. fillies and geldings 8st 71b; winners extra; maidens allowed SJb; breeding allowance. Five fur- longs. straight. Mr R A Brice's Forfarshire, 9st 21b Mr Arthur James's The Gorgon. 8st 131b Mr Arthur James's O'Donovan Rossa, 8st 131b 3 r 1 Lorillard's Jouvence, 8st 131b Mr L de Rothschild's Cottesloe. 8st 131b Mr vyner s Lumlev Moor. 8st 131b Mr Arthur James's Dum Dam, 8st 131b Mr Russel Swariwick's Sweet Balsam, 8st 101b Mr Ruseei's Bright. Key, 8st 101b Mr P Lorillard's Siloah. 8st 10'ib Mr Wallace Johnstone's Paigle. 8st 101b Lord Hastings's Hobart, Bst 101b Lord Harewood's Free Comuauion, 8st 101b Lord Durham's Orerburv. &:t 101b Mr H Chaplin's Listen cclt, 3st 101b Mr J Best's Jubert, Sst JOlb Mr J S Curtis's Star of Hanover. 8st 71b Mr W R Reid's Riccarton, 8st 71b Mr W Taylor Sharpe's Insulator. 8st 71b Mr J Y\ Smith's Edith Crag. 8st 71b Sir R Affleck's Admiral Dewey. 8st 51b Sir R Affleck's Kilmainham, 8st 51b Mr Douglas Baird's Sospello, 8st 51b Mr J Best's Kinz of the Severn, 8et lib Mr C J Blake's Steinort, 8st 51b Lord Cadogan s Sidus. 8st 51b Duke of Devonshire's Spartacus, 8st 51b Duke of Devonshire's Approver. 86t 51b Duke of Devonshire's Snood colt, fist 5]h Mr J Simons Harrison's Incognita colt, 8st 51b Mr Houldsworth's Helios. 3st 51b Mr Arthur James's Lady Heron col 8st 51b Mr J Porter's Brigadore, 8st 51b Mr J Porter Porter's Bould Derry. 8st 51b Mr J Porter Porter's Tim Hogan, 8st 51b Duke of Portland's Harlech. 8st 51b Mr C D Rose's Darfur. 8st 51b Mr R Sneyd's Tester Morn, 86t 51b Sir Tatton Sykes's Simile, 8st 51b Mr A Taylor's Rougemont, 8st 51b Mr Vyner's Mintstreet, 8st. 51b Mr J. Waugh's Blantyre, Sst, 51b Mr H Chapli i's GaJopin colt. 8st 51b Mr J S Curtis's Lammas. 8st 51b Sir Tatton Sykes's St. Erth, 8st 51b Mr John M'Intyre's Valota. 8st 41b Mr J Simons Harrison's Beverley Buck, 8st 21b Mr Vyner's Crow Tenter. 8st 21b Mr Douglas Baird's Mambrinc, 8st 21b Mr Douglas Baird's Sainte Nitouche. 8st 21b Count de Berteux's Invective, 8st 21b Mr J Cannon's Ways and Means colt, 8st 21b Mr J Cannon's Moyne, 8st 21b Mr H Chaplin's Monkswell, 8st 21b Mr H Chaplin's Mother Superior filly, 8st 21b Lord Durham's Bontemps, 8st 21b Mr Fairie's Charrnazel, 8st 21b Mr Fairie's Mahdi. 8st 21b Lord Falmouth's Crown Equerry, 8st 21b Captain Fife's Hampton Agnes colt, 8st 21b Lord Harewood's Bathing Woman, 8st 21b Lord Harrington's Zodiac. 8st 21b Mr J Simons Harrison's Simonella, 8st 21b Mr J Simons Harrison's Sweet Sounds, 8et 21b Mr J Simons Harrison's Orse-is. 8st 21b Lord Hastings's Casique, 8st 21b Mr R T Hermon Hodge's North Tyne. 8st 21b Mr Houldsworth's Springlieht. 8st 21b Mr Miles I'Anson's Ardbeg. 8st 21b Mr Wallace Johnstone's Ichi Ban. 8st 21b Major Joicey's Allan Water filly, 8st 21b Major Joicey's Windsor Chimes. 8st 21b Mr T Leader's Royal Dance, 8st 21b Mr F W Lambton's Pallinsburn. 8st 21b Lord Londonderry's St. Gall, 8st 21b Lord Londonderry's Nushka, 8st 21b Mr P Lorillard's Blast. 8st 21b Mr John M'Intyre's Oneen Angela. 8st 21b Mr John M'Intyre's Evening II.. 8st 21b Mr John M'Intyre's Merrie Marie, 8st 21b Sir J Blundell Maple's Roval Step, 8st 21b Mr H Moore's Gaililake. 8st 21b Mr D Murphy's Corjuella. 8st 21b Mr T L Plunkett's Testy Tommy. 8st 21b Mr J Porter Porter's Peterina, 8st 21b Duke of Portland's Alt-na-Bea, 8st 21b Mr W R Reid's Kingston Grange. 8st 21b Mr L de Rothschild's Donur, 8st 21b Mr Rns=el's N-att-ie. 8st 21b Lord Scarbrough's Rosalinda colt. 8st 21b Lord Scarbrough's Bachelorland. Sst 21b Lord Scarbrough's Frtone colt. 8st 21b Sir S Scott's Maid of Cash colt, 8st 21b Lord Stanley's Pherenicus, 81rt 21b Mr W Stevenson's Interpreter. 8st 2ib Mr Russel Swanwick's Blavatsky filly. 8st 21b Sir Tatton Sykes's Strong Bow. 8st 21b Sir Tatton Sykes's Zagiga. 8st 21b Sir Tatton Sykes's Wedlock filly, 8st 2lb Mr Vvner's Monkbird. 8st 21b Mr E C Wadlow's Parton. 8st 21b Mr Reid Walker's Hugh the Heron. 8st 21b Lord Farquhar's Glideawav, 7st 131b Mr J Cannon's St Avoya, 7s 131b Mr H Chaplin's Carbinia. 7st 131b Mr H Chaplin's Merry Gal, 7st 131b Mr J Corlett's Nome d'Amour. 7st 131b Lord Derby's Ormskirk, 7st 131b Lord Derby's Collision. 7st 131b C iptain Fife's Gala Rose filly. 7st 131b Mr F V Gcvoch's Madame Rachel. 7st 131b Mr J Gretton's Rupee filly. 7st 131b Mr Arthur James's Duck Gun. 7st 131b Mr P W B Jardine's Sweet Briar filly. 7st 131b Mr Wallace Johnstoup" K.g&. 7st 131b Mr P Lorillard's Corvyhens. 7st 131b Mr John M'Intyre's Coronn Corona, 7st 131b Mr John M'Intyre's Miss FcH"- f. iv 7st 131b Mr .Tdm Osborne's Minuend, 7st 13") Mr T T, Plunkett's Miss Florian.. -t 131b Lord Radnor's Nettlecreener. 7st, 131b Lord Radnor's Chez Moi. 7st 131b Lord Scarbrough's Clarice. 7st 131b Lord Scarbrough's Volte. 7st 131b Sir S Scott's St. Ursula filly. 7st 131b Mr Ruasel Swanwick's (anino Felice 7st 131b Sir Tatton Svkes's Amphibelle. 7st 131b Mr T Tait. inTI.'£< Adelaide fillv. 7st 1311'1 Q KA -The SHIPLEY HAIL SELLING O/ PLATE of 200 sovs. for two yen" olds and unwards; weight for age: winning and other allowances. Five furlongs, straight. aMr Roberts's Holt Castle. 5yrs aMr Fitzgerald's Newmarket, aged aMr Ridnath's Tovaros. 4yrs aMr Wi,hard Erl King. 5yrs pVr Wadlow's Isopod. 3yrs aMr White's Kirbv Hampton. 3vrs aVr W E Eleey's Master Pert. 3vrs aMr Walpole's Westmoreland. Zyrg aMr Craig's Mascara colt. 2vrs aWr R Waldie Griffith'* Cvdaria. 2vrg 4 0 N —THE PEVERIL THE PEAK O U PLATE (a handicap) of 1,000 sovs; winners extra. The Straight Mile. Mr Spencer Gollan's Waiuku. aged. 9st Lord W Beresford's Chinook, 4yrs, 8st 51b Lord Ellesmere's Pheon, 4yrs. 8st Mr Jersey's Uniform. 6yrs, 7st 121b Lord W Beresford's Sibola, 3yrs, 7st 121b Mr W Low's Hermiston, 4yrs. 7st lllb Sir John Thursbv's Trevor, 5yrs, 7st lllb Mr F W Day's Sulks. 6yrs, 7st 101b Mr Douglas Baird's Brio. 4yrs, 7st 81b Mr J B Leigh's The Wyvern. 4yr6. 7»t 81b Sir R Waldie Griffith's St Ia, 4yrs, 7st 81b Mr Theobalds' Phoebus Apollo, 6yrs, 7st 61b Prince Soltykoff's Sati, aged, 7st 6ib Mr E J Percy's Kopely. 6yrs, 7st 51b Mr J A Miller's La Uruguava, 3yrs. 7st 21b Mr Richard Croker's Georgiana, 5yrs, 7st Mr H J King's Schoolgirl, 3yrs. 6st 101b Mr J Daly's Balmory. 3yrs, 6st 51b Mr E Herbert's Illogie, 3yrs. 6st 21b •r (\ —The BELPER MAIDEN PLATE of O# W 106 sovs, with 20 sovs to the second, and 10 sovs to the third, for three year olds and upwards: winners extra; weight for age. One mile and a half. Captain Trower's Red Queen II.. 4yrs, 10st lib Mr C A Smith-Ryland's Ben Trovato, 4yrs, 9st 51b Prince Soltykoff's Ecu d Or. 4yrs, 9st 51b Sir R Waldie Griffith's Sweet Marjorie, 3yrs, 9st 21b Mr J A Miller's Birpham, 3yrs, 9st 21b Mr Fairie's Basuto, 3yrs, Bst 91b Mr R W B Jardine's Menteith, 3yrs, 8st 91b Sir J Blundell Maple's Childwickbury, 3yrs, 8st 51b Mr E Norton's Black Bread, 3yrs, 8st 91b Mr E C Clayton's Flower of Wit, 3yrs, 8st 61b Mr H V Long's Miss Fitz, 3yrs. 8st 61b SCR ATCHIN GS. Sixth Champion Breeders' Charmatel, Mahdi, Gala Rose filly. Rupee filly. Spring- light, Helios. Sweet Briar filly, Allan Water filly, Ballota. Harlech, Alt-na-Bea, Cottlesloe, Donur, Nat tie, Lumley Moor, Monk Bird, Mint Street, Crow Tenter, and Blantyre. Derby engage men te-All Mr D Seymour's horses. ARRIVALS. Aylstone, Birpham, Blue Bonnet. Brigadore, Br:ght Key, Boy of Egremond. Candelaria, Car- donald. Crown Equerry. Cydaria. Ecu d'Or. Erl King, Forsaken. Forfarshire. Glen Belle filly, Havant, Hermiston, Holt Castle, Isaac JX, Isopod, Illogie, Jarrah. Jubert. Kirby Hamn- ton. Kopely. La Uruguaya, Lord Provost, Mafl- cara colt. Madame Rachel. Master Pert, Merry Gal, Miss Fitz, Newmarket. Nuskha, O'Donovan Rtossa, Postula, St Paulas. Sat.i, Senateur. Steinor, Trevor, Tovaro?. Uniform. Windsor Chimes, Wolf's Hope, and Westmoreland. Expected-Wainku. Sulks, Phoebus Apollo, Invective, Jouvence, Siloah, and Simile. YESTERDAY'S LONDON BETTING. A little wagering occurred on the St Leger. odds of 3 to 1 being laid on Flying Fox. and 100 to 30 was offered against Caiman. Prices:- ST. LEGER. 3 to 1 on Flying Fox, laid 100 to 30 agst Caiman, t and o 20 to I Manners, t 20 to 1 — Dominie II., o 33 to 1 any other. C. ici>

HIS SEARCH FOR A PLACE I OF WORSHIP. j) THE CORK MAN MYSTIFIED. I wanted to go to mass on Sunday, and wanted it badly, too, considerin' that I niver wint inside church nor chapel the Sunday afore. Av coorse, there wus nobody about the streets that could direct me to a rale place av wurt- ship only thim Salvashun sojers an' drummer boys an' ricrootin' sawrgints, all av 'em drist in civil dose. Innybody would aisily know the giniral's people av a Sunday. Ye need only see 'em to know 'em, remimbering that nobody „ else have got inny business showin' thimselvet av a Sunday. An' shure, it isn't inny av thim thot I'd be after axin' to tell me where I could hear mass, for they'd only shtart to be cusht- shunin' me about me bein' saved, an' tryin' to run down me raligin. the same as the ould maid did whin the boy axed her to introdjuoe him to a sartin swate sivinteen he had sit his eye on. An' besides. I knew it would be quitM useless to try it on, for they'd niver tell me a wurd where to go. Ye might as well ax a doctor the way to health, or ax a matrimonial agint to tell ye the way to happiness: they'd be only wantin' to offer ye their own rimidies. So thin, ye see, I had to make up me mind to find out the chapel all be meself. It wusn't long when I sees wun, less thin an Irish mile from the curner av St. Mary-street, wid a rale cross on the top from the outside. "Thank the Lord!' sez I. an' walks in. niver gtoppin' to look for the holy water to bliss meself wid, be razon that I wus so overjoyed. The momint I laid me eyes inside I thought I niver in me life seen sich a grand altar wid the most byooti- fullest, statshoes in white an blue an' pink put sittin' down all round it. But all at wanst, afore iver I had time to rise from me knees. behould! I sees all thim statshoes standin' up an' biginin' to sing! "Holy St. Patrick!" sex I, jumpin up meself an' makin' the sign av the Cross, "'Where am I at all, at all? So thim are angels av quite another sort, an' wat I took to be the altar is only a sort av driss- maker's an' milliner's stall. Well, well, I niver could belave!" Anyhow, thinks I, let this place be church or chapel. I niver could do me bit av prayin' here, wid all thim tantulisin', bewitchin', tormentin'. critchurs right before me eyes. An' so I quitted the place, an' wint in Birch av me object anew. Now, thinks I to meself, shure it is no use mopin' about in the blind like that an' puttin' me foot in places where me father's father niver wus. Many a quare place I have been in since I laid me eyes on Cardiff. God forgive me! I have anuff on me poor sowl besides put I in' more on me hack. I must find a manes av discuwerin' a chanoe for to git mass widoot runnin' the risk av indangerin' me sowl inny farther. "I'll turn into Bute-street first av all," sez I. Sumhow, I have a fondniss for Bute- street from the very first day I laid me eyes on it, in spite av all thim naiggtirs an' Italiano McRoonys. It is sich a free an' aisy sort av a place, widout innybody to take nutice av ye, no matter whot ye'd be after doin' or how ye d be behavin 60 it would jisht remme ye av a rale Irish street. So I walks along for meself till I comes to a shpot where I sees a fine iili- gant chapel, wid rale spires, an' shtained win- dies, an' all radlin's all round the place. I felt me heart leapin' sumhow, I knew that I foond the right thing at last. An' yit, I wus afeard to trust meself in, for there's no tellin what suck in ye'd be gittin' in Cardiff. So I thought I'd make me little doubts double an tribble sartin, if I ca nat all, at all. I looked ahout for sumbody to ax, an' after killin meself watchin' for an hour an' a half to see would innywun cum the way, I sees at last a little ould man shawnterin' up the other side av the street. I made a run for him, an', sez I. "Good morrow to ye, Mister Hallelujah," sez I, "it's a fine Lord's Day this; God bliss the Gineral, an' long life to him!" sez I agin, be way av soft-soapin' him an' pavin' the road for meself. Thin, I sez agin to him, in order to git it out av him, for I knew that wus the only way to do it; sez I, "Now, isn't this a quare place for to wurtship the Lord in, this 1 onesome-1 ookin' buildin' wid thim dark win- dies, an' thim towers that would remind ye a* an ould castle—ha' ha! hi! an' sich a funny way thim inside have got av sayin' their prayers, not a bit av a drum or trumpett, nor niver a clap pin' av han's, or otherwise exersisin' thimselves to attract the Lord's attention tc em; nor divil a bit av a sojer's unifarrum, only all plane close. I con tell ye, there is little av that Blood an' Fire about thim people—praze the Lord! Ah! Ow! Hallelujah! I wunder as how the Lord iver could under- — stand a wurd ar their chirpin an' Him sich a distance away—Hallelujah! Bim-Bom! I wunder for meself what do they call this place? I'll ingaige, wurst av all that is goin'—it is wun av thim Paipist chapels wid statshoes candles an' the Blissed Vargun, an' all the like —pra-a-aze the Lord! Ah. me! HfeHelujah! What do ye think, an' I'm But there the ould man turned his back widout iver makin' me answer, an', mind ye, jisht whin I thought I had him all to meself. But mebbe he was affinded because I did not salute him an' give him up his proper title, for he might have been a Maidger or a- Liftinant Curnel; or mebbe because* he wouldn't profane the Lord's Day to talk to an Irish- man; for it is jusht like me luck. the momint I opens me mouth to spake a wurd they all know I am an Irishman. Well. now, sez I, I'll ventshure inside innyhow, an' if I find meself in the wrung box itself, shure it is meself that ought to be used to it by this. So I held me breadth an' stole in on me tapetoo. Me anksiety wus soon over, for the momint I opened the doore I knew I wus in the right place, an' shyed a big shy av rilafe. If iver in me life I wus inside a rale chapel I wus ^^B there now. an' if iver in me life I enjoyed mass I was doin' it now. I felt as I wus in heaven ^^B at last, after all the trouble I had to find the way to it. I jisht came in whin the praste wus ^^B mountin' the shteps to deliver a sarmon. An' a nate. illigant ould praste he wus, God bless him! wid spictacles an' vaste-mints, that re- ^^B minded me at wanst av Father O'Brien at home. I couldn't be lishnin' to the sarmon. ^^B for I had me prayer book out av me pocket, ^^B an' wus havin' a bit av a race to make up for back prayers. But innyhow, he wus the first wun I heard in Cardiff sayin' the "Blissed Vargin." in spakin' av the Mother av God, and that wus sum rilafe to me wunded feelings. innyhow. I wus jusht ready to join the con- :-i?::tion kneelin' down at the Ilivation av the ^^B rt which, av coorse, is the soom an' sub- ^^B ST.. :1B av the Holy Mass. It wus all over soon; •I.l congrigation wint home wun be wun after ^^B blissin' thimselves an' turnin' to kneel to the ^^B altar. But I had to make up for the Sunday ^^B afore, whin I had no mass at all, at all, so I ^^B rimained a while for midditashun. I had been ^^B usin' me own prayer book all along, but now I jisht took up wun that wus left lyin' on the ^^B sate. But whin I looked at the fly lafe it said that it wus meant for the Church of Ingland. Well, sez I to meself, sum ould Protestant must have cum in here be mistake, besides makin' the other mistake to lave his prayer- book here. So, jisht out av idle cyooraosity, I ^^B takes up wun lift on the nixt sate, an', mind ye. it sez the same. Bedad, sez I, two Prote» tants have been here be mistake. Soon I goe« to another sate an' lifts up the Prayer Boo* that wus there, an', as shure as me name i:„ ^^B Con, it sez the same thing. So now, sez I. three Protestants had shtrayed in here, but how is it they all forgit their Prayer Books? Could it be cn purpose to try an' convert us Catholics? So I makes up me mind to find out all about it. I wint over to the big pile ay Prayer Books belongin' to the chapel, an', as ^^B shure as it is me that is talkin' to ye, ivery wun av thim sez the same. "For the Use in the Church av England." Begorra! sez I, where am I. at all, at all? If this is a chapel thin what business have thim Prayer Books here? But, on the left hand, if this is a church, thin what am I to make at all, at all, av thim holy statshoes, an' thim blessed candles, an' thim stashuns av the Cross all over the ^walls, an' the crucifix right over the pulpit, an thim ^B cards near the doore axin' all the faithful to pray for thim poor sufferin' sowls in porgitry, an' thim rale noons that I seen durin' mass wid gould crosses on their chishts, an bisides t ue rule ginooin mass I was after hearin ^B an' bisides whips an' other things too numiros to minshun? All that I missed wus the holy water an' the confis6ion boxes. But I wm tould since they wor goin' to have thim soon, an' it wus lxplaned to me that the place wus first intinded for a church, but they are goin to have it a chapel. An' all I have to say for meself is that it is only right for me as an Irishman to incourige thim. It may happin ^^B yit that wun fine momin' the Holy Father will sind an Irish praste to be Archbi6hip or ^^B Cantirbery. wid a front sate in the House av ^B Lords, an' fifteen thousand a year in his pocket for himself, an' thin, av coorse, th* whole thiiig will be quietly sittled, for he need ^^B only refuse absolution to the Queen or th* Prince av Wales, or Lord Salisbury, an' thin we g>t Home Hule. CON. HEGARTY (from Cork).

BRITISH AND AMERICAN FLAGS. A remarkable incident took place recently at a smoking concert given by the ^B Union in Sydney. Among the guests were & number of British and American man-of-war's ^^B men. and in the course of the evening a ^^B speaker alluded to the sympathy and support ^^B given by England to the United States during the late war with Spain. Thereon an English ^^B sailor jumped on the platform and seised a ^^B Union Jack. He was promptly followed by an ^^B American, who seised the Stars and Stripes, and stood beside him, while another American, ^^B standing beneath the two flags, called oat, "I* ^^B there anything on earth can haul them down?" The audience went wild with excitement, m4 cheered lor fully five minat<t

POST-OFFICE IN FLAMES. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN NORTH WALES. The post-office at Prestatyn, Flintshire, was completely destroyed by fire on Sunday, and a valuable block of buildings was burned to the ground. The fire broke out in a grocer's shop. and spread so rapidly that there was no time to save anything. A quantity of letter-, as well as the post-office stock and accounts, were destroyed, but the officials have arranged to carry on business with as little inconvenience as possible. One fireman was injured.

AMERICA CUP. COLUMBIA MEETS WITH ANOTHER MISHAP. A Central News telegram from New York on Monday morning says:—The defending yacht Columbia had another mishap on Saturday. During the trial of her new spars she bent her club topsail pole. It will necessitate more re- pairs. Many old sailors already regard the 1 American yacht as an unlucky boat ":X,, .}:<,J;

DERBY MEEIN\t. DERBY, Monday. I The programme for the opening day of this popular Midland fixture fully maintains its reputation, and the racing should prove more than usually attractive. Selections:- Chaddesden Plate-SIR MICHAEL. Portland Plate—SENATEUR. Champion Breeders' Foal Slakes—O'DONO- VAN FOSSA. Shipley Hall Plate—KlKJ-iY HAMPTON. Peveril of the Peak Plate-SATI. Belper Maiden Plate-BIRPHAM. VENATOR. OLD SAM S FINALS. DERBY MEETING. 2.0—SIR MICHAEL. 2.30—SENATEUR. i 3.15—O'DONOVAN ROSSA. 3.50—C YD ARIA FILLY (nap). 4.30—ST IA or HERMISTON. 5.0—SWEET MARJORIE (if absent, ECU D'OR). The Champion's one-horse selection for to. day is HOLT CASTLE. ADDITIONAL ARRIVALS THIS MORNING. Boy of Egremond, Dark David, Jouvence, Invective, Chinook, Pheon, The Wyvern, St la, Phoebus Apollo, Balmory, Merry Buck, Umboya, Noumea filly, Musa, Tawthorn, and Nadine gelding. SPORTSMAN-" VIGILANT." 2.0—Sir Michael. 2.30-Senateur. 3.1c—Forfarshire. S.5C-Tovaros or Master Pert. 4.30-Sibola or Chinook. 5.0-Sweet Marjorie or Ecu d'Or. MAN ON THE SPOT. 2.C-Sir Michael. 2.30—Senateur or Cardonald. 3.15—Brigiadore. 3.50—Cydaria. 4.30—Chinook. 5.0—Red Queen II. NEWMARKET CORRESPONDENT. 2.30—Senateur. 3.15—Forfarshire. 4.30—Chinook. 5.0-Sweet Marjorie. SPORTING LIFE—"AUGUR." 2.0-Si-: Michael. 2.30—Senateur or Cardonald. 3.I5-0'Donovan Rossa or Forfarshire. 3.50-TovaroE; or Newmarket. 4.30-Chinook or Trevor. 5.0—Red Queen II. MAN ON THE SPOT. 2.0—Forsaken. 2.30-Senateur. 3.15—O'Donovan Rossa and Forfarshire. 3.50—Cydaria. 14.30-Hermiston. 5.0—Ecu d'Or. NEWMARKET CORRESPONDENT. 2.30-Senateur or Tovaros. 3.lE-Forfarshire or O'DonQvan Rossa. 430-Chinook or Balmory. 5.0—Red Queen II. SPORTING CHRONICLE—"KETTLEDRUM." 2.0-Sir Michael. 2.30—Senateur* 3.I5-0'Donovan Rossa or Forfarshire. 3.50—Tovaros or Holt Castle. 4.30—Chinook or Trevor. 5.0—Red Queen n. or Sweet Marjorie. "CLIFDEN." 2.0—Sir Michael. 2.30-Senateur. 3.1 £ —O'Donovan Rossa. 3.50—Cydaria. 4.30—Chinook or Trevor. 5.0—Red Queen n. TRAVELLING CORRESPONDENT. 2.0—Forsaken. 2.30—Orris Root or Senateur. 3.15—Siloah or Forfarshire. 3.50—Toraros. 5.0—Sweet Marjorie. MORNING LEADER—"UNO." 2.0—Sir Michael. 2.30-Dark David. 3.15—O'Donovan Rossa. 3.50—Master Pert. 4.30-Chinook'" 5.0-Red Queen IL DAILY MAIL—"ROBIN GOODFELLOW." 2.0—Glen Belle filly. 2.30—Senateur. 3.15—Forfarshire. 3.5D- Tovaréis* 4.30—Chinook. 5.0—Red Queen II. LONDON FINALS. The Sun and Star—Sir Michael. The Sun and Star-Senateur. The Sun and Star—O'Donovan Rossa. The Sun—Newmarket; The Star, Tovaros. The Sun-Balmory (nap), Queen Anne a place. Star, Chinook (nap). The Snu-Red Queen II.; The Star, Ecu d'Or. SPECIALS. THE TURFITE SPECIAL. 5.0—Red Queen n. 3.15—Jouvence. 4.-30-Chinook. OOF BIRD SPECIAL. 3.15—O'Donovan Rossa. 4.30-Hermiston. 5.0—Sweet Marjorie. JOCKEY SPECIAL. 2.30—Senateur. 3.15-Siloah. 4.30-St Ia. 5.0—Sweet Marjorie. RACING WORLD SPECIAL. 3.10—O'Donovan Rossa* RACING GAZETTE SPECIAL. 2.30—Senateur. 3.15—O'Donovan Rossa* 4.30—Hermiston. CHILTON'S GUIDE SPECIAL. 2.30-Thurling. 3.15—Forfarshire. 4.30-Sibola (good). 5.0-Red Queen II. MANCHESTER SPORTg^AN SPECIAL. 2.30-Dark David. 3.15—Forfarshire* 4.30—Uniform. 5.0—Birpham. GALE'S SPECIAL. 2.30—Senateur. 3.15—O'Donovan Rossa- 4.30-Chinook. 5.0—Ecu d'Or. SPORTING WORLD SPECIAL. 2.30—Senateur. 3.15—O'Donovan Rossa* 4.30-Trevor or Uniform. 5.0—Red Queen II. DIAMOND SPECIAL. 2.30—Wax Toy. 3.15—Forfarshire. 4.30-8ibola. 5.0-Mecl Queen II. RACING WORLD. 2.30—Cardonald. 3 15—O'Donovan Rossa. 4.30—Pheon. 5.0—Red Queen II. SPORTING WORLD. 2.30-Thurling. 3.15-Jouvence. 4.30-Kopely. 5.0—Sweet Marjorie. SPORTING LUCK. 2.30—Bridge. 3 15—O'Donovan Rosea. 4.30—Trevor. 5.0—Sweet Marjorie. SPORTING HERALD. 2.30—Senateur. 3.15—Siloah. 4.30-Chinook. 5.0-Sweet Marjorie. PADDOCK LIFE. 2.30—Dark David. 3 15—O'Donovan Rossa. 4.30-St. Ia. 5.0—Sweet Marjorie. THE JOCKEY. 2.30-Senateur. 3.15-Siloah. 4.30-St Ia. 5.0-Sweet Marjorie. I