South Wales Daily News

ENGLAND AND AMERICA. THE BEHRING SEA DISPUTE. The Press Association states that important tele- graphic correspondence respecting the dispute with the United States on the Behring Sea question was issued on Sunday evening. The despatches date from February 8th of this year to Saturday last. On the 23rd inst. Sir Julian Pauncefote telegraphed to Lord Salis- bury that on the previous night he had received the reply of the United States Govern- ment to his latest Note, and that the President of the United States had intimated that if Lord Salisbury persisted in refusing to join the Government of the United States in stopping sealing promptly, and insisted upon the maintenance of free sealing for British subjects, the question was no'longer one of pecuniary loss or gain, but one of honour and self- respect, so far as it affected the Government of the United States. Telegraphing to Sir Julian Pauncefote on Saturday Lord Salisbury intimated that notice had been given to owners of ships sail- ing for the Behring Sea that both the agreements which are at present under discussion between Great Britain and the United States, that as to arbitration, and that as to an intermediate arrangement, may affect the liberty of sealing in the Behring Sea. In a later telegraphic despatch on-Saturd-.ty Lord Salisbury expressed his readi- ness to accept reference to arbitration as to damages inflicted since 1885 by the party against whom the award is given.

TO-DAY'S WEATHER. 4.30 A.M. TO-DA Y'S VOILPCAST fO/i KNGLAND, S.W.. AND SOUTH WALES. North-easterly and north-westerly winds, cold and dry at first; perhaps foggy and milder later. GENERAL.—It seems probable that after a cold night the weather will become warmer over England, but no permanent improvement is indicated. GENERAL FORECASTS. The following forecasts were prepared last night at the Meteorological Office at eight o'clock :— DISTRICTS- O.Scotland, N. Westerly and north-westerly L Scotland, F. winds, increasing; very 2. England,N.E.J unsettled, with cold showers 3. England, F. > North-easterly and north- Mid. Counties I westerly winds, cold and 5. Eng. S. (Lon. j dry at first,"perhaps foggy, and Channel). J milder later. 6. Scotland, W. 7. Engl., N.W., fSame as Nos. 1 and 2. & North Wales. J 9. Ireland, N. \Northerly winds; cold 10. Ireland,'S. some showers.

As the keeper of the Keene Edge Ferry, near Wallingford, was returning from the village of Shillingford to his home on Friday with his wife, the latter fell into the river at a dangerous spot where the banks are high and the water deep. The husband jumped into the river to rescue her, but lvth were drowued

ANOTHER DYNAMITE EXPLO- SION IN PARIS. SEVEN PERSONS INJURED. (SPECIAL TELEGRAM FROM OUR CORRE8PONDENT.] PARIS, Sunday. About eight o'clock this morning the inhabi- tants of the Rue De Ciichy were startled by a tremendous explosion, which occurred at No. 39 in that street. The detonation was immediately followed by the crash of falling masonry, and the shrieks of men and women who were overwhelmed by the ruins. The house, a four-storey one, with shops and business premises on the ground floor, was reduced to an almost total wreck. Most of those resident in the building were in bed at the time, and many of them had an extremely narrow escape. Half naked women with children in their arms ran out into the street calling Help, help." The neigh- bours also left their bouses in terror. News of the occurrence was communicated to the police and to the fire brigade by some young men who were returning from a ball. It was seen at once that the principal staircase had been totally wrecked, and the iron bars of the balustrade twisted or torn from their sockets. The ground all around was strewn with pieces of furniture, broken glass, clothes, and a great variety of other objects. Fortunately, theservants' staircase was not entirely destroyed, and most of the occupants succeeded in making their escape by it. When the firemen arrived they directed their attention to extinguish ing a small fire which had broken out among the debris, while two of their number forced their way into the room of Madame Fournier, the wife of a chemist, and rescued her and her child. No one in the house was killed outright, but seven sustained msre or less serious injuries. The explosion caused great consterna- tion, not only in the neighbourhood but through- out the city, and a large crowd, which the police had some difficulty in controlling, soon began to collect. Great indignation at the out- rage was expressed on every side. As soon as the chief authorities of the Prefecture were on the scene, the concierge of the house was in- terrogated. He said he had seen nothing of a suspicious character. He had just got out of bed and was washing when the explosion occurred. He was thrown violently against a couch on which his wife was sleeping. Nobody had been seen to enter the house. At that hour there were usually many millJwomen, newsvendors, and other small traders in the street. An examination of the adjacent houses showed that serious damage had been caused to No. 41, and also to No. 4, Rue de Berlin, at the corner of which No. 39, Rue de Ciichy, is situated, doors having been smashed and windows shattered. PARIS, Sunday Night. To-night a gendarme found on the window sill of the Gendarmerie Barracks at Ivry, near Paris, a, tube containing a powerful explosive. Attached was a fuse, half of which was burned when the gendarme saw it, and which he imme-, diately extinguished. PAnIS, Sunday, 11 p.m. The scene of the explosion in the Rue de Ciichy has been visited by M.Ponbelle, Prefect of the Seine, who made an inspection of the house and by M. Lozie, Prefect of Police M. Rouhier, Public Prosecutor M. Girard, Director of the Laboratory and M. Goron, Chief of the Detec- tive Police. In the opinion of M. Girard, fully seven to eleven pounds of dynamite were used. He thinks it probable that the concussion requisite to produce the explosion of dyna- mite was brought about by the firing of fulminating powder, connected with a fuse. The perpetrator of the outrage was, it is assumed, able to place the box of dynamite in the required position, set fire to the fuse, and then escape without being observed over a wall. Opposite to the scene of the explosion was found a portion of the box which contained the dynamite, and there are traces of smoke. No part of the engine of destruction has, however, been discovered. M. Goron is persuaded that no other than Leon Ravacbol, for whom the police are already. diligently searching, is the author of the new outrage.

GREAT FIRE AT BARCELONA. SEVEN VESSELS DESTROYED. [REUTER'S TELEGRAM.] BARCELONA, Sunday. Barcelona Harbour to-day was the scene of a remarkable conflagration, which resulted in the destruction of no less than seven vessels. The disaster originated on board a large lighter, to which a cargo of petroleum was being transhipped from a vessel recently arrived from the United States. By some mischance a lighted match was dropped by one of the lightermen upon one of the barrels containing the oil, and in an instant the inflammable fluid was alight and pouring over the other barrels, which also caught fire. In a few moments the lighter was aflame from stem to stem, and the men scarcely had time to escape before the vessel alongside was itself in- volved in the conflagration. The hatches being off the hold for the purpose of unloading, it was not long before the cargo itself ignited, and flames poured from the port-holes of the vessel. The timbers of the hull soon began to break away, and tons of blazing petroleum poured forth over the still waters of the harbour, which was thus transformed into a veritable sea of fire. Meanwhile tha greatest excitement and alarm prevailed on boaVd the vessels moored in the vicinity, and all haste was made to get the vessels out of harbour before they should be reached by the flames. Several managed to save themselves, but the oil spread with such rapidity that six vessels were surrounded by fire before they could escapo. The corvette Thyra was first to catch alight, and four steamers, the Casilla, Abono, Wallar, and another, were overtaken by the flames in rapid succession. The war vessel Lepanto, which was lying at anchor not far off was also soon in- volved in the general conflagration. The Caiman was also burned, and all seven had to be sunk, there being no hope of extinguishing the flames in any other way. The spectacle from the shore was grandly terrible, the wide expanse being covered with fire, and the blazing vessels re- sembling columns of flames, while over all hung a canopy of thick brown smoke. The loss is enormous, but, fortunately, the catastrophe was unattended by any injury to person.

DEATH OF WALT WHITMAN, [REUTER S TELEGRAM.] PHILADELPHIA, Sunday. Walt Whitman, the American author and poet, died yesterday at the age of 74.

CARDIFF BYE ELECTION. A LIBERAL TRIUMPH. The polling took place on Saturday for the ♦lection of a representative for the Park Ward on the Cardiff County Council to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement of Mr Charles Shepherd. The candidates were Mr Morgan Morgan .(Liberal), and Mr Charles E. Waring (Conserva- tive). The party machinery on both sides was put into full operation, and considerable interest was centred in the keenly fought contest. At one time towards evening—it looked as if the Con- servatives would win, but they fell suddenly away, and had. evidently polled their last man nearly and had. evidently polled their last man nearly two hottrs before the close of the poll. The Lils," on the contrary, ooutrnxied to tyine up supporters, and in increasing numbers, up to 8 o'clook, when a pretty confident feeling was entertained that they had beaten Mr Waring. And so it proved. Shortly after nine o'clock, Alderman T. W. Jacobs, who acted for Alderman Fulton as returning officer, made the following declaration to a large crowd which was waiting in front of the Albany-road School, where the'polling had taken place Morgan Morgan (L.) 815 Waring (C.) 745 Majority for Morgan 70 There were six spoilt votes. A scene of the greatest enthusiasm ensued upon the poll being declared, the effect being greatly heightened by the burning of red fire on the scaffolding of a new building opposite the schools. The customary speeches were made, and then the victorious Liberal candidate was accompanied into the town by a band of cheering supporters as far as the Reform Club. Mr Morgan Morgan received hearty congratulations at the club. In response to cries for a speech, Councillor MORGAN MORGAN described the result of the contest as a glorious victory for Liberalism, which had triumphed against all the elements that Toryism could produce, including the "boozy" element. (Hear, hear.) He had to acknowledge, in the warmest possible manner, the services of JVlr B* N. Hall, the Liberal agent, and his chief assistant, Mr Henry Jones. (Ap- plause.) To his Irish friends, also, he expressed his great indebtedness. They had been true to their promises and their principles. (Applause.) The result of the contest should afford every en- couragement to the member for Cardiff, Sir Edward Reed—(cheers)—who might take it for granted that he had nothing to fear from Mr John Gann. He (Mr Morgan) had had the advantage ofa band of earnest and zealous workers in the Park Ward, of whom any candidate might be proud—Liberal working men, who had let the Tories see that they need not come there to try to woo them from their political allegiance. (Ap- plause.) Short congratulatory addresses were de- livered by Alderman David Jones, J.P., Mr R. Davies (one of Mr Morgan Morgan's working men supporters), Mr Collins (of the Charles Kickham" Branch of the Irish National League), Mr Fred J. Jotham, and Mr Joseph Henry Jones.—An enthusiastic vote of thanks was passed, on the motion of Mr Triggs, seconded by Mr D. E. Davies, to Mr R. N. Hall and Mr Henry Jones for the indefatigable services they had rendered to Mr Morgan Morgan and the cause of Liberalism.-Among those present to offer their congratulations to Mr Morgan Morgan were Councillor E. Thomas, Councillor Shackell, and Councillor Jenkins. Saturday's poll was a heavy one, totalling no fewer than 1,566 votes recorded out of a register of 2,040.' On a register of 1,878 in November, 1890, 1,449 votes were cast, Mr Charles Shepherd (L) receiving 747 Sir Morgan Morgan (C), 649 a.nd Mr Rees Enoch (I), 36. There were 17 spoilt votes on that occasion.

THE WORK OF SPANISH ANARCHISTS. [REUTER'S TELEGRAM. ( BARCELONA Sunday. Another dynamite outrage was perpetrated here last night. A hairdresser was walking along the street when he observed two mysterious-looking packages on the ground, which on examination proved to be dynamite cartridges. One of them exploded in hi3 hand, and seriously injured him.

MORE BRAWLING IN CHURCH [REUTER'S TELEGRAM.] PARIS, Sunday. Another disturbance took place in a church this evening. A controversial discussion took place between two preachers at Belleville, and the congregation included a number of Socialists and Anarchists of the Quarter, who interrupted with shouts of Long Live the Ccmmune" and Down with the Jesuits." The Catholic members of the congregation responded by sing- ing hymns and canticles. After a time fighting began, and the police were called in. Some disturbers were ejected, and the gaS then turned out. The disturbance, however, continued, and the priest in charge at last persuaded the people to go away.

— THE ENGLISH CRICKETERS IN AUSTRALIA. [RBOTER'A TELEGRAM.] ADELAIDE, Saturday, The cricket match between Lord Sheffield's team and a representative Australian eleven was continued to-day in disagreeable weather. The English innings closed for the splendid total of 499. The Australians then went in, but were all disposed of for 100. Following on they fared little better, and when stumps were drawn had lost eight wickets for 124.

PARIS CAB DRIVERS' STRIKE. [RECTER'S TELEGRAM.] PARIS, Saturday, A thousand cab drivers here, employed by six different companies, have decided to come out on strike this morning.

CRICKrtT. -Secretaries of Cricket Clubs will oblige by forwarding fixture lists to T. Page Wood and Co., GUll Makers, Cardiff, for insertion in "Cricketers' Companion. 8565 LIVER COMPLAINTS.—Dr King's Dandelion and Quinine Liver Pills,without Mercury, removes all Liver and Stomach Complaints, Hilliousness, Headache, Sickness indigestion, Complaints 234

RAINHILL TRAGEDY. DEEMING'S CRIMES. ALLEGED IDENTITY WITH JACK THE RIPPER." A SENSATIONAL CON- FESSION." A Reuter's telegram from Melbourne of Satur- day's date says .-—The Argus to-day states that Deeming has confessed to a. Perth official that he guilty of the Rainhill murders, and that he also committed the two last Whitechapel murders. He is reticent, however, with regard to the murder charged against him at Windsor, and in this case appears to rely for his defence upon the statement that his wife was seen alive in Melbourne on December 29, whereas the date of the Windsor crime is alleged to have been December 24. Deeming asserts that the uufortu- nate woman eloped with another man. THE CONFESSION DISCREDITED. The date of the first of the Whitechapel murders to which Deeming is alleged to have con- fessed was Wednesday, July 17, 1889. The victim was Alice McKenzie, a woman of about forty years of age. The woman's throat was cut and the body was mutilated. The mutilation had not been carried out so savagely as in the preceding tragedies, and it was believed the murderer had been disturbed. The scene of the crime was one of the lowest quarters in the whole of East London—Castle- alley, withm a quarter of a mile from the spot where former victims lost their lives, and the place had always borne an evil reputation. It was a remarkable circumstance that the police officers passed and repas ed the spot within a few moments of the perpetration of the crime; but in this, as in other cases, the murderer left no trace behind. The second of these two tragedies was on the 13th of February, 1891. The victim was a woman named Frances Coles, and her body was discovered under an archway of the Great Eastern Railway leading from Swallow- gardens to Orman-street. The character of the pointed to its having been committed by the same hand. A policeman came on the scene while the victim was still conscious, and he heard a sound of retreating footsteps, so that it was evident that the murderer had a narrow escape. The work of mutilation had not been so extensively carried out as in the case of the unfortunate woman McKenzie; but in cutting the throat of his victim the assassin had used such terrible force as to completely sever the spinal cord. Even if the state- ment that Deeming confessed to the two murders prove to be true, it will easily be seen that he is not telling the truth in regard to, at least, the murder of Coles. In October, 1890, Deeming was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment for obtaining jewellery under false pretences at Hull, and on the day of the murder in February, 1891, he was therefore still in prison. SCOTLAND YARD AND THE CONFES- SION. A representative of the Press Association, who called at Scotland Yard, was informed that the English police authorities had heard nothing from Melbourne, and did not attach any importance to the confession so far as the Whitechapel murders are concerned. The Superintendent of the Criminal Investigation Department states that it is his belief that the prisoner is endeavouring to bring about a remand at Melbourne in order that he may be brought over to England for trial. He feels confident that Deeming did not commit the "Jack the Ripper" murders. It is now pointed out that Deeming mav not have heard of the last Whitechapel murder owing to his being in prison, and that be may be under the impression that the last murder was one which took plape in September, 1889, following the one which was perpetrated in the previous July. As regards these murders, the superintendent, while not believing that they were committed by Deeming, said he saw no reason why it was not possible that he may really be the culprit. LIVERPOOL AND THE TRAGEDIES. Snow and sleet prevented the usual rush of the sightseers to Rainhill on Sunday, and the village, for the time being, had resumed its usual quietude. The announcement of Deeming's con- fession as to Whitechapel murders and tragedies at Rainhill caused a great sensation on Saturday, and the evening newspapers containing the announcements were eagerly bought and perused. The truth of the confession as to the "Ripper atrocities is generally discredited. It is pointed out that "Jack the Ripper" rather gloried in leaving his handiwork to be discovered by the police, while Deeming buried his in cement. Supt. Keichley, of Widnes, who has charge of the case, is still without any official intimation of the reported confession. The Mather family also are without any official intimation on the subject. DEEMING AS A HOUSE-HUNTER. It has transpired that before he took Dinham Villa, Deeming was in treaty for a villa at Nerquis, a secluded village about three miles from Mold, Flintshire. Deeming visited the place and made a careful inspection of the neighbourhood being apparently pleased with what h e saw. He went away, however, and soon afterwards a letter was received, dated from Dinham Villa, stating that he had made other arrangements and would not require the Welsh villa. After the marriage Mr Deeming and Miss Mather appear to have spent four days in the Lake district, putting up at one of the Keswick hotels, where Deeming's lavish- ness in money matters attracted considerable attention. When they left there after a four days' stay their luggage was labelled for Rainhill. DEEMING ALIAS LEVY." Telegram from South Africa leave the opinion that Deeming in 1889 left in a British India vessel trading on the East Coast, but from this point all trace of his movements until he turned up in Liverpool in October of the same year had been lost. The following information has now been obtained. At Aden a man who gave the name of "Levy" embarked on board the British steamer Jumna, which arrived in England September, 1889. The man throughout the voyage talked of his great adven- tures in South Africa. He wore jewellery and diamonds, and was most lavish in spend- ing money. It will be remembered that a personage named Levy, who it is believed was Deeming, has been mentioned in connection with the crimes in Africa, and the fact of the person referred to having travelled under thatnamemakes his identity almost clear. Levy brought with him a lion cub, and he and his pet" landed at Plymouth. The man boasted that he was the owner of a large yacht, and offered the command to Mr Bartram, the chief officer. After landing at Plymouth, the latter never heard again from "Levy." At Liverpool the murderer is known to have kept a lion cub, which he subsequently sold to Mr Cross, the well-known naturalist. At Hull,, the prisoner said he was having a large yacht built. These incidents indicate that the passenger was Deem- ing. The adjourned inquest on the bodies found in Dinham Villa will be opened in Liverpool to-day (Monday).

FEELING IN AUSTRALIA. DEEMING'S JOURNEY TO ALBANY. SCENES OF GREAT EXCITEMENT. [SPECIAL TELEGRAM FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.] ALBANY, WESTHRN AUSTRALIA, Sunday, Swanston's," alias Deeming's journey from Perth to this port yesterday was attended by scenes of great excitement. Large crowds awaited the arrival of the train at every station. At York a particularly hostile demonstration against the prisoner took place. A rush was made for the carriage in which he was travelling, and in the tumult the windows were broken. During the whole time the train was drawn up at the station the air was filled with hisses and groans, and loud cries of Lynch him" were raised again and again. A large number of women were present in the crowd, and it was noted that they formed by far the most violent section of the mob. They made no attempt to restrain their feelings, and it was evident that if they could have got at the prisoner they would have torn him limb from limb. Deeming, who heard all this uproar and was well aware that it was directed against self, exhibited great alarm and was intensely relieved when the train steamed out of the station. Similar demonstrations on a. smaller scale occurred at pther stations along the route. Shortly after leaving Beverly Deeming fainted. The train was stopped, and bucketsful of water were thrown over him, When he recovered consciousness he kicked and writhed like a mad- man, and the detectives in charge of him found it necessary to put on the handcuffs. At subsequent stages of the journey he was seized with fresh fits, during which four men were reawired to hold him down. So viQl&Pt were his struggles that his wrists were terribly bruised by the handcuffs. They were covered with blood, and became greatly swollen. The detective Cawsey expresses the belief that these fits were nothing more nor less than extremely clever pieces of acting. Towards the end of the journey, Deeming became more composed. When the train arrived here, it was stopped at Parade-street, where there is a crossing leading to the prison. A large crowd had collected, but there was no demonstration, and perfect order was maintained. Prisoner was taken into the jail. where he was searched. To this process he submitted quietly, remarking that he liked to give the authorities all the assistance in his power. I thought," he added, I was going to peg out (die) last night." Subsequently in his cell, where two policemen had been told off to keep a constant watch upon him, the prisoner had another fit, and two doctors had to be called in to attend to him. He will be taken on board the Ballart with the least possible delay. Detective Cawsey will be accompanied on the voyage to Melbourne by Detective Smythe, of this City. An extraordinary story is current to the effect that when the handcuffs were removed from Swanston in the gaol here, he smashed a bottle and shaved off his moustache with the broken glass. By this means he so altered his appearance as to look 20 years younger. Another account of the matter is that in conpliance with the regula- tions the prisoner agreed to be photographed on condition that he was allowed to shave, and this singular request having been granted, a barber was called in and shaved off the moustache. Deeming tried very hard to obtain possession of a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles which had been taken away from him before leaving Perth, pretending that without them he was unable to read. In this attempt he was unsuccessful, though he repeatedly renewed his request during the journey in the train. Since his arrival here, however, Cawsey, in order to keep the prisoner quiet, acceded to the request, knowing that he could take the spectacles from him again at any time before their arrival at Melbourne. It is believed that Deeming's object in desiring to wear the glasses is to prevent his identification by tradesmen and others who knew him in Melbourne. The fits with which he was seized during the railway journey Deeming attributed to wounds in the head which he received while in Zululand, The doctors, however, have carefully examined his cranium, without being able to find any trace of such injuries. They have prescribed for him a dose of brandy everv four hours. Mr Budd, a well-known barrister in Melbourne, has been invited to undertake the prisoner's defence. There is every reason to believe that the so-called confession of "Swanston," that he was the author of two of the Whitachapel murders, if it was ever made at all, was a mere empty boast. Mr Haynes, the prisoner's solicitor, has positively de- clared that no such confession wf.s ever made to him. During the remainder of the journey to Melbourne, Deeming will be handcuffed to another man. He was taken on board the Ballarat at six o clock this morning, and securely 'lodged in a cabin, which will be carefully guarded night and day, so as to guard against the possi- bility of suicide or escape.

CARDINAL MANNING'S SUCCESSOR. IREOTEH'A TELEGRAM.] ROME, Sunday. The congregation of Cardinals for the formal choice of a successor to the late Cardinal Manning in the Archbishopric of Westminster will assemble to-morrow. Secrecy as to their choice will be imposed upon all Cardinals until the appointment has been approved by the Pope and communicated to the Chapter of the Archbisboprio diocese of Westminster. It is still believed that Dr. Vaughan will be selected. Delay in summoning the congregation is due to the receipt of Dr. Vaughan's letter urging that he might not be removed from his present diocese.

AN EARTHQUAKE SHOCK AT ABERCARN. The neighbourhood of Abercarn was thrown into a state of excitement at about 1.30 on Satur- day morning by what has since transpired to be an earthquake shook. The shock was felt more forcibly in the Omcarn Valley. In an inter- view vith soni.-> of the residents in that particular district, our Abercarn correspondent learns that the movement took place at as near 2.45 as possible, and was followed by the crashing of ornaments and pictures, which were thrown from the walls of the houses in the neighbourhood. The shock was such as generally follows a mine explosion, and naturally the first impression in the minds of the people at the moment was that an explosion had occurred. Great excitement consequently prevailed until the real nature of the disturbance was made known.

CARMARTHEN BOROUGHS. —— Mr D. R. Williams, secretary of the Llanelly Liberal Association, received a communication on Saturday from Mr Arnold Morley, stating that Sir Charles Russell, Q.C., M.P., had consented to act as arbitrator in the dispute between the Llanelly and Carmarthen Liberals with reference to the Liberal candidates before the constituency. Mr Morley expressed gratification that the respective boroughs had so loyally agreed to the terms, and hoped that the arbi- tration would end to the satisfaction of the Liberal party in the boroughs, and that the seat would beheld by a Liberal. A copy of Mr Gladstone's letter to Sir Charles Russell was also enclosed, in which the illustrious leader observed that his aid had been sought in the dispute to in- dicate an arbitrator, and hoping that Sir Charles would consent to act. The eminent counsel replied that he would willingly do so. It is very probable that the communications will be laid before the Llanelly executive some time this week. while another letter is ex- pected from head-quarters with reference to the arbitration and the mode of procedure.

CROWN ROYALTIES. Mr Pritchard Morgan has given notice on the second reading of the Crown Lands Bill to move That in the opinion of this Houae no legislation will be satisfactory that does not deal fully with the administration of the Mines Royal of the United Kingdom of Grea.t Britain and Ireland."

CLEVER CAFrURE BY THE POLICE AT MORRISTON. As Police-constables Johns and Thomas, of the Borough Police, were on their night patrol on Friday morning, and when going through the yard of the Dyffryn Works about 1 a.m., they heard some money falling. They made a search, and crouched in a corner near the Midland entrance of the works they found a young man concealing himself. When questioned as to the money, which was some 10s in coppers, he did not give a satisfactory reply, and they arrested him. Thinking of the Market Potato Stores as the place where probably the money had been ab- stracted they examined the place, and found the desk broken open, and some £3 missing. The prisoner gave information to the police regarding an accomplice, who was employed at the stores, and he was consequently arrested, and both will be charged on Monday morning on the charge of breaking and entering the Market Stores, and stealing therefrom £3 in money.

THE BARRY RAILWAYMEN'S GRIEVANCES. Mr Richard Evans, general manager of the Barry Railway Company, waited at the Barry Offices on Saturday for the purpose of receiving the men's deputation in reference to the grievances which are alleged to exist. It appears that the men were not notified as to the time of the conference until Friday, and the Hafod and Barry representatives state that the short notico prevented them from having a preliminary conference, consequently they were unable to wait upon Mr Evans. Another reason why they did not wait upon the general manager is that the latter has refused to permit Mr Harford to accompany the deputation. A mass meeting of the men is to be held next Sunday, at which Mr Harford will be present. Wo understand that unless the com- pany accede to the men's desire in referenoc to the Mabon's Day point, the trainmen will take Mr Harford's advice and refuse to work upon that day, taking their holiday with the colliers.

"LATE SHIPPING. [LLOYD'S CAODALTY TELEORAMO.J The steamer Adria, of and from London for St Naz are, stranded in Bertheaiune Bay, near Brest. She is leaking, and ber bow is completely submerged. The Glyndwr, for Fishguard,(has (locked at Liverpool, bein^ damaged through collision in the jVIer/soy >vith the steamer Ottoman, for Boston. The steam collier Durham, outward bound, grounded on Blyth Sand on Sunday. Floated unassisted, and The steamer Shagbrook, of London, grounded at Tilbury. Backed off unassisted, and pioceeaed up Thames. _———————

OADBTJBY8 COCOA. — "A Cocoa possessing valuable fleshJonning qualities and iinn^rtiugstrengtn and paying "powr.-r £ t«ai(h 126?

THE THREATENED STRIKE. 4- ATTITUDE OF THE MINERS. ENGINEMEN ASKED TO RECONSIDER THEIR DECISION. The following reports of meetings and of interviews with leaders of different sections of workmen suggest the conclusion that a stoppage of work may be averted. So far as miners' representatives have expressed opinions on the question at issue, there is apparent a desire to assist in avoiding a strike. Inasmuch as the Executive Committee of the enginemen's organisation will meet in Cardiff on Tuesday next, and as the Sliding scale Committee will meet on Wednesday in order to receive the report of the auditor, there is a possibility of direct negotiation taking place between the enginemen and the employers' section of that committee.

INTERVIEW WITH THE ENGINEMEN'S AGENT. HISTORY OF THE DISPUTE. On Saturday our Pontypridd representative in- terviewed Mr W. Whitcombe, the agent to the Enginemen's, Stokers' and Outside Fitters' Asso- ciation, and, as will be seen, obtained from him a full statement of the case from the point of view of the men. On what do you base your claim, Mr Whit- combe, our representative asked, for retaining the 7% per cent, which was taken away by the recent revision of the scale?"—"On several grounds," replied the enginemen's agent, but chiefly for the reason that we, as a class, were not dealt with at all with the general body of the men at the time the revision took place." That is to say, the enginemen, stokers, and outside fitters were not consulted in the matter at all?"—" Just s). We were not consulted in respect to the agreement, nor were we noticed as all other classes of workmen were." Not noticed ? How so ? I do not quite follow yon."—" Well, individual notices to terminate contracts on the last day of December, 1891, were tendered to every other class of workmen in order that the scale agreement might be reversed, but uo such notices were served upon us. We were ignored." "But is it not a fact that it was at your own re- quest that you were allowed to withdraw from the scale It is a fact that we did withdraw from the scale of 1890." When was that?"—" In June, 1890." If I remember rightly, a deputation from your Association waited upon the Sliding-scale Joint Committee at that time, as a result of which you severed your connection with the Sliding-scale?"— Yes. It was in this way. We had at that time what we called the hill district dispute on, and notices to terminate agreements served by our men upon the employers were about running out. We were claiming advanced wages and general levelling up. This hill district extends, let me tell you, from Cyfarthfa to Blaenavon. We were invited to meet the Sliding-scale Com- mittee to endeavour to settle the dispute. We were then told by the chairman of the committee, SirWm. Thomas Lewis, that if we accepted the Sliding-scale we must accept it in its entirety, which meant, of course, that we would have to withdraw those notices and accept the rates of 1879, which were the bases of the scale: or, if we failed to do that, that we must consider our- selves outside the Sliding-scale. We, therefore, accepted the alternative, and considered ourselves outside the selJe." And yet your earnings continued as before to be governed by the scale ?"—"Yes." "What, then, was the effect of your with- drawal? I don't quite seethe difference."—"It made this difference, that, being outside the scale, we had a free hand to deal with the dis- putes then pending, and we succeeded in gaining an advance of 10 per cent. for our men, and a levelling up in the standard." Did you secure that advance at the time?"— "Y as. Look at this agreement. A meeting between the'employers and ourselves was held at the Castle Hotel, Merthyr, on the 25th of June, 1890, when it was agreed that the standard rate of 1879 for enginemen, stokers, and outside fitters should be, from the advanced 10 per cent. The agreement, you see, goes on to state—' That the advances and reductions that have governed their wages since 1879 shall apply to the new standard rate from the 1st of June, 1890. It was also further agreed that for the future the outside fitters shall be advanced and reduced the same as the enginemen and stokers, but no reduction in their wages shall exceed in amount the advances received by them since 1879 until the standard rate of June 1st, 1890, is reached, it being expressly understood that any reductions below the rates of June 1st, 1890, in the outside fitters' wages shall be in propor- tion of as the sum of the advances since 1879 is to 46% per cent.' This agree- ment was signed by the representatives of Crawshay Brothers, the Blaenavon Company, Limited, the Dowlais Iron Company, and the Tredegar Iron and Coal Company and on behalf of the men by myself and seveial others. Then again, three months afterwards, we made a similar agreement which was signed by Messrs Vivian aud Sons, Aberavon; the Graigola Merthyr Company, Limited Messrs R. B. Byass andCompauy Messrs Glasbrook Brothers and the Main Colliery Company, Limited. Therefore, as the result of our withdrawal from the scale, we secured an advance of 10 per cent. for all these workmen, and which we could not have secured had we remained within the scale." But, Mr Whitcombe, how do you explain this fact, that so long as the scale continued to move upwards there was no dissatisfaction pre- vailing among your men, but immediately there is a downward tendency you turn round and re- fuse to follow it ?"—Not at all. We did not refuse to follow the then existing scale. We were quite as prepared to go down with it as we were to go up; and as evidence of our good faith, we took the first reduction in the fall of last year of 3% per cent. without any demur. And we should have accepted subsequent reductions in the same way had the old scale continued. In fact, it was stipulated in the second agreement I have re- ferred to that the advances and reductions in our wages should be made as authonscd by the Association on the Sliding-scale basis, one month :>.fter the colliers, as before." "And now you object to the 7 per cent. reduction because you were not consulted about it, although it was owing to your own act that you withdrew from the scale, and so placed yourselves in a position in which you could not be consulted ?"—" Why not? Why could we not have been consulted as a class irrespective of the miners ?" Was such a thing done with any other class of workmen?"—"Of course not. No other class of workmen are organised as we are." Are there any special reasons why enginemen, stokers, and outside fitters should have an organi- sation apart from that of the miners?"—"Yes. The miners, together with the employers, have made us a special class in previous agreements by placing us one month after all other classes of workmen. If, therefore, it is to their advantage to make us a special class in one instance we claim equal right to be treated as a special class all through. Then, again, there is the new scale agreement adopted last December. The very first clause in that agreement distinctly excludes us from its operation, and the new agreement, therefore, does not affect us. This being -so, why should the employers now endeavour to thrust the most obnoxious part of it upon us? I Do you speak now on behalf of the men in your Association, or on behalf of enginemen and stokers generally?"—"My arguments apply to the whole of these classes of workmen through- out South Wales and Monmouthshire. What is a grievance to those within our Association is a grievance also to like workmen outside." How many enginemen, stokers, and outside fitters are there throughout South Wales and Monmouthshire ?—Well, approximately, there are 3,000, and according to the returns now in hand, though not certified as yet, as it is now the end of our quarter, we have some 2,300 of these in our Association, so that practically we cover the whole field." And have the whole of these 2,300 men handed in their notices?"—"Generally speaking, yes." "You cannot give me the figure?"—"I could not exactly. There are abojit half-a-dozen collieries where no notices have been given." What about the Ebbw Vale, and other col- lieries in Monmouthshire, are they acting with you ?''—" Well the 'Ebbw Vale men did hand in their notices, but they have been frightened out of it, and they do not, I understand, intend acting upon them." Then again take the seven collieries of the Ocean Coal Company. They are not in your Association, are they, and they will not strike ? —Well you will see the winding enginemen of that Company are under a special agreement, and it was, therefore, deemed advisable that the other classes of enginemen and stokers under the Ocean Company should not under the cir- cumstances take part in this movement." So that, therefore, whatever happens in the dispute next week, work at those pits will be carried on as usual ? "—" I could not say that in respect to all of them. Some of their stokers are with us, but I dare say that in their ease the dififculty will be tided over." Do these special agreements preclude the men from handing in one month s notice ? Yes, and under this agreement, their winding enginemen arc bound for a. period." Doos not the same state of things prevail at the Cymmer Colliery, in theRhondda? —"Well, to our great surprise, we discovered the other day that there was a special agreement in exist- ence at the Oymmer. Mr Griffiths, the manager, alleged that it had been in existence since 1882. and he says that the men there must give six months' notice. Wo never heard of this agree- uumfl hl\lhrA. P I Are you disposed to doubt the existence 0(. this agreement?"—"Well, personally, I must say it is very strange that we have never heard any- I thing of it before, and, unfortunately tho men have not seen a copy of it. They were prevailed upon by Mr Griffiths not to tender notices, upon the strength of his assertion that thsre was such an agreement in existence. You must bear in mind, also, that in all these cases where there are special agreements the 7/ per cent. reduction has not been insisted upon, and at Cymmer Mr Griffiths has given his word of honour that the reduction shall not be forced upon the men for some timejto come." "Are there any other collieries unaffected by this dispute ?"—" The winding enginemen at Messrs Nixon's pits, and the Penrhiwceiber Collieries in the Aberdare Valley are prevented in a similar way from striking, they serving under agreements for a period." And there also the 7% per cent. reduction hat not been carried into effect ?"—"Quiteso. In all these cases there are fixed rates for the periods, and the Sliding-scale rates do not apply." Has any attempt been made by you to meoo the employers in conference with a view of getting this dispute settled ?"—" Oh yes. As soon as we discovered from the newspapers on the 23rd of January last that the employers had met as an Association and had passed a resolution to enforce the reduction upon the enginemen and stokers as from the 1st of February, I was instructed by my Association to put myself in communication with the employers through their. secretary, Mr Dalziel. I did so, and on the 28th of January I made our case quite clear to Mr Dalziel, and he agreed to lay the matter at the earliest opportunity before the employers' asso- ciation, or at least their chairman. I have here the reply I received. You can read it." Mr Whitcombe thereupon handed our repre- sentative Mr Dalziel's letter, which was as follows 1st February, 1892. Dear Sir,—1 have consulted the chairman of the association on the subject of your letter to me of tbe 28th ult., and he instructs me to say in reply thereto that as the members of the association have already been instructed to make a reduction in the firemen's and stokers' wages as from the 1st of February to the extent of 7% per cent., and as this is merely followi the previous custom of making the reduc- tions, one month later than the reductions, or advances of the colliers and other workmen whose wages are included in the operation of th slidioK scale (and who were reduced 7*4 per cent. on the 1st of January last), the chairman cannot see any reason for departing from the usual custom.—Yours faithfully, W. GASCOTNE DALZIEL. And since then there has been no communica- tion whatever between the employers and your- selves ? "— None whatever." "Is there any likelihood of a meeting at present?"—"Not that I am aware of." "So the men are determined therefore to let the notices expire, and to strike work on Friday next?"—"Just so." Then there are no hopes a settlement?"— "{Not unless the employers intend making over- tures. We shall not approach them again. Our men regard their action as a deliberate attempt to smash up our organisation, and are determined to resist it. j Well, in the event of your striking, that will involve complete suspension of work in the pits 1" —"Certainly, and a very effectual stoppage, too." Have you any reason to believe that you have the sympathy of the colliers on your side in this movement ?"—" Generally speaking, we have." But is it not within the power of the miners to vitiate your action, and by replacing your men keep the pits going?"—" Well, in our opinion, it is not in their power to do so, because our men are skilled workmen, and there would be very great difficulty indeed in finding a sufficient number of men to replace them, even if there was a desire to do so. But I can scarcely credit that the miners would be so ill-advised as to pursue such a policy. We should certainly not throw any such obstacles in their way." The interview then terminated, and Mr Whit. combe, after gathering up his papers and exchanging compliments with the inquisitive Pressman, hurried away to consult his legal advisers and to prepare for the impending struggle.

MEETING OF COLLIERS' DELEGATES AT SWANSEA. SPEECH BY MR ISAAC EVANS. The annual meeting of the Amalgamated Association of Miners for the Iseath, Swansea, and Llanelly district was held at the Working Men's Club, Swansea, on Saturday, Mr J. Clement presiding, and there being also present Mr J. D. Morris (secretary), Mr Isaac Evans (miners' agent), and delegates representing 3,300 members. Mr ISAAC EVANS presented his monthly report, and at its close, referring to the enginemen's question, said it was a pity if this question could not be amicably settled between the engineers, stokers, and themselves. There was no earthly necessity for the dispute; and if any of the enginemen said they had been refused a seat on the Sliding-scale Committee he maintained it was not so. The fact that the enginemen had not the privilege of sending a representative to the Sliding-scale Committee had been discussed time after time; and, there, he would like this to be made clear—the house-coal men to-day held the peat of the enginemen; and whenever the engineers were prepared to send a representative to it on the Sliding-scale Committee, the house- coal men were prepared to vacate that seat for the enginemen. When Ihe Sliding-scale was revised in 1890 an appeal was made by the enginemen for a member of their (fWU to sit on the committee, and it was agreed that they shoidd have one, as the preamble of the agreement showed by the in- elusion of the words "engineers and stokers. Very shortly after that Mr Whitcombe attended one of the general meetings at Aberdare, and told them distinctly they were not going to accept the Sliding-scale or a seat on it till such time as they had advanced their wapes as they thought essential and necessary, and consequently the seat became vacant. Eleven members were. to sit on the colliers' side and eleven for the employers, and it was arranged that the steam coal men should have seven sea ^s, the house coal men three, and the enginemen one, but when the seat was refused by the engmemer the house coal men claimed the seat, and they had held the four seats up to to-day. It wa quite true the enginemen were not consulted during the last revision of the scale, but he did not know who was to blame. The engineers had accepted from the first scale to the last the reductions and advances up to the last 7% which the colliers had had but they said now, because they were not consulted, they were going to refuse the last 7% per cent. He did not find fault with them for refusing the but if the report he had had was correct, that air Whitcombe, their agent, had told Mr Dalziel that if the employers would only consult them ana give them the 7% for one month they would settle the question, he would ask, with all air- ness, if it meant the 71z per cent. for only one month, was it worth lighting for and throwing thousands of men out for the sake of that montn t He must sav conscientiously it was not wortn it. If they were fighting for refusing the reduction wholesale he would not raise a single wora against them for doing so but they dozens and scores of enginemen in bouth wa e, and Monmouthshire had accepted and were worn ing to-day on the reduction without a murmur. He believed if the enginemen would sit with them they could materially help each other, and till that was done he was afraid the interests oi both parties will suffer. He would like a reso tion to be framed at that meeting, askin th6 enginemen to reconsider the steps they had tken and the resolution arrived at on Friday. The CHAIRMAN agreed with Mr Evans, il would not like to do anything to prevent the enginemen getting what was right and just out considering the influence their action would a on the colliers' position and the coal trade, he believed they had a right to ask them to consider their decision, and meet them as te workmen in a free and open discussion of the question, with the object of seeing whether an amicable settlement could not be arrived at.■ Mr MORRIS thought, seeing so many fam were dependent for their daily bread on the action of the enginemen, everything P° should be done to avoid a strike, and he, '« fore, proposed a resolution to the effect •- meeting urged the enginemen and sto reconsider their resolution and try to so arranf, matters to the satisfaction of all ^oncer^, i:ne the meantime working from day to day. Fa. mg this the enginemen and stokers were a to meet the colliers and discuss the question. Mr DANIEL HUGHES (Gorseinon) secon the motion was carried unanimously.

INTERVIEW WITH COUN- CILLOR DARONWY ISAAC. Our Rhondda correspondent on Saturday called on Mr Daronwy Isaac, and in the course of an in terview with him on the subject of the rea enea strike asked :— Well, do you think Mr Isaac that the engine. men's claims are fair and just I shan't express an opinion upon ,1 A If they can obtain what the demand all well and good. But, I must say that we faIled, though wa fought and fought, day after day. „ at last rather than allow a strike o p "Well," I rejoined, "I from your re- marks that you are dead, against strike. But the enginemen have receivecluiv ..ieallv obtainld by the miners so the have practically been croverned bv the Sliding-scale "Yes thevhave benefited by the advances just like the'miners and in 1390 a sectfon of the men obtained a levelling up, and their hours were r<?-UHas the enginemen's organisation ever caused ^Tdon?ttrrea.l'ect a single great strike caused by the action of the enginemen, but the engine men are very well organised now.

WHAT THE COLLIERS SAY. -,J I then says our correspondent, waitedupon repSntive of Association of Miners, which JQ meetings in the Rhondda, to ask what he na say^regarding s< me allegat.ons coined ,n the enginemen's communication I called hi? Having read the letter aloud » "The- particular atte*ntion to holiday' and masters argue that i represented ar. its effect was a loss them, an^ r p^ extra cost on output to t as 15Q per and in some 1m adopting this monthly r'"hv 'Then, should we be punished hohday why, We say that the mmera haveUbrought this on themselves because of their ad°,Whattdo yoTthhXof'that?" I asked gravely, "One of the principal objects of adopting a monthlv holiday, replied he, somewhat indig nantly after hearing that was to restrict the output, and, therefore,, obtain a higher rate of 1 wages. If a restriction has been the means of

to pose as one of the greatest monsters | of modern times. It will be remembered that Lefroy, who committed the murder on the Brighton line, a day or two before his execution stated that it was he who shot Lieutenant Roper, but careful investigation showed that he could vict possibly have had anything to do wirn that still unexplained crime. In the same wav the Scotland Yard authorities now are satisfied that Williams could not have been Jack the Ripper on the eccasions mentioned by him. THE SALE OF THE GREAT PEARLS. The Hargreave jewels have drawn an immense number of people to see them, and on the day of sale it is expected that the room, unless precautions are taken, will be crammed to suffocation. It is believed, I am told, that the jewels will fetch at least a thousand pounds, but it must be taken into consideration that the feminine portion of the higher classes is very superstitious, and although they may be curious to see, they will be afraid to wear ornaments to which ill-luck seems to attach. Beside that, drop earrings are out of fashion, and no lady would think of wearing them. Some remarks have been made in reference to their dis- posal so soon after Mrs Osborne's convic- tion, but it is generally agreed that it was I the proper step to get rid of them while she was ignorant of the sensation they have caused, than have deferred the sale until after her release, when she was bound to read of the event. CRICKET IN AUSTRALIA. Cricketers, as they ought to be, are very well satisfied with the progress of the final game by Lord Sheffield's team in Australia. From private letters it appears there was a time when Lord Sheffield was so much annoyed at the loss of the two previous matches against the combined Australians, that he threatened to come home, but he got over that, and the con- templated victory will, it is hoped, wipe out the two defeats. After all, only two matches lost in a tour extending over the period, and against the teams to which the Englishmen have been opposed, is a record to be proud of.