The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

NEWTOWN BANKRUPTCY COULZT. THREE HUNDRED PER CENT!! At the Newtown Bankruptcy Court, on Thursday, before Mr Registrar Talbot, and the Official Receiver (Mr John D. Daviee, Llanidloes), David Evans, a larmer, of Celen, Meifod, came up for his public ex. amination. The gross liabilities were .£840 413 lOd with assets estimated to produce .£305 16s lOd. The unsecured creditors amounted to .£528 8s, while t54 6s lOd ranked as preferential claims. Mr Thomas Jones, from the office of Mr W. A. Pugb, of Lianfyllin, appeared for the petitioning creditors. The Bankrupt, examined by the Official Receiver, said he commenced business as a farmer 40 years ago, and in his present form 35 years back. His father-in-law partly stocked his farm. He had some money and borrowed a little. He never kept books with the exception of a small diary. He borrowed .£100 from a Mr Paine about threo years ago, and had paid it back twice over. Do you mean to say you paid him 100 per cent. Did you pay him = £ 200?—I should think I did. How long did it take to pay him back?—[ cannot say. I was paying £ 5 in instalments every month, and every six or seven months, I was paying.412 or .£15. And you still owe him £ 70 ?—I suppose so. You borrowed a sum of .£50 from Mr Henry Jones, a money-lender of Birmingham ?—Yes, sir. You had no transaction with him until you bor- rowed that sum ?—Never, sir. When you borrowed that money you signed a docu- m?nt?-Yes. What was it about ?—Well, sir, there was a little boy telling me how to spell when I wrote, but I really don't know, indeed, what it war. The document states that you declare all the answers which you give to the questions are true, and on the faith of that Mr Jones lends you the .£50, for which you agree to pay £ 15 interest. You are to pay back two instalments of X5 per month lor two months, aud the balance of .£55 on the 14th August, 1893?—I really can't remembel all that. Your furniture, stock-in-trade and fixtures is worth £ 500 ?—No, sir, .£300, and I could have made that if I had sold it myself. If you had told me that you should have sold it then. Oa the document signed at Mr Jones's you state that your total debts, exclusive of rent, amounted to X20. As a matter of fact they amounted to .£840. How do you reconcile those statements ?— —I cannot remember. Do you say you signed the statement without knowing what it meant ?-No, sir. The Registrar: Did you declare that your only debts amounted to < £ 20 ?—I did not, sir. The Official Receiver You remembpr you are on oath at present time?—Yes, and I will speak the truth. Do you tell me seriously that you did not put your name to the paper stating you only owed £ 20 on the 4th May last, in addition to your rent ?-I am certain I did not, sir. And if you did you made a mistake?—I think I can explain it. He did not ask me particularly as to what I owed, but I said I owed .£20 to the bank, in addition to my rent, and I wanted the money to pay off the bank people, who were pressing me for pay. ment. Very well. That was what you thought your were signing ?-I thought I was signing a statement as to what I owed the bank and not to other people. What stock had you then in all ?—I cannot tell you exactly. You told him when he advanced the money, accord- ing to your signed statement, that you gave him as security two horses, 45 sheep, six yearlings, a bull, and other farming implements, ?—Yea, sir. At the end of this document is the following decla- ration. Mind, this is after you had signed, saying yuu really owed £ 20 in the world. "I hereby declare the above statements to be correct, and that I have carefully read through the answers and perfectly understand them, and on the faith of these Mr Henry Jones advances me the money." Did you write the answers or were they written for you ?-I am Welsh and can speak a bit of English, but I cannot spell, and a boy was telling me how to spell the words I put down. > Have you ever calculated the rate of interest you have to pay for this i>50?—No, I cannot tell you ex- actly about it. Mr Thomas Jones said it was nearly 300 per cent. The Official Receiver:1 Comment is needless, I I think. = Evans said he was told that Mr Jones would lend him money at very little interest for three years, and he said that was just the man he wanted. Mr Jones said he would only lend it for three months at a time, but it could be renewed every quarter for three years. As far as I understand it, you were to pay .£15 for three months.—I thought I was to pay X15 for three years. He sued you in a month for the iJ5 ?—Yes. sir. How did you receive the i;50 ?-I only got .£49. I suppose the .£1 was stopped as a preliminary premium, or something of that sort. Perhaps that is as much as he deserves to get back as dividend. You also borrowed .£42 from a Miss Pugh, of London. Is she a money lender?-No, she is a friend. How long ago was it lent?—About 10 years, but I paid interest. Continuing the debtor said a Mrs Williams had lent him .£60 twelve or fourteen ago, and that Christopher Gittins had advanced £30, some of which was lent 20 years ago. He bought a house at Meifod for J2180, his stock in trade realised X220. His book debts came to .£26. He owed a half-year's rent and tithe. Mr Jones, of Birmingham, had got the Sheriff in possession of your goods when the petition was filed against you, and he was going to sell you up for .£49 at 300 per cent. interest ?-Yes, sir. Has your wife got any propertv of her own ?-No, ZZZZZZZT.f SMEB32ZZ3 ^jNim j.'o what uo you uLtwOuie your miiure? To bad times and depression in agriculture ?-Hardly that. What then ?-By going bond for one and another was the beginning of getting into difficulties, and having to pay a lot of money for them. How much money have you lost by becoming surety ? -1 can't hardly say. I should say over X400, which with bad times and the payment of heavy interest on borrowed money, and heavy law costs has been the cause of my misfortune. blefto When did you first become insolvent to your knowledge ?-For some years. With that knowledge in your possession, have you favoured one creditor more than another ?—No, but I would now if I had the chance. I am very sorry for Mr Paine, and I hope I shall pay him yet. You need not be sorry for Mr Paine. You have paid him handsomely, .£200, and still owe .£66. and originally only borrowing JglOO. The Registrar; There is no need for regret, I know Mr Paine welL The Official Receiver Paiuetul recollections. I think the debtor's statement is clear enough, and I do not think the examination need be prolonged. The Registrar then declared the examination closed. A CAERSWS BANKRUPTCY CASE. At the Newtown Bankruptcy Court on Thursday before Mr Registrar Taibot, Richtrd Jones, a tailor, of Caersws, came up for examination. Messrs Bennett and Davies, creditors for .£68, were also present. ( The bankrupt, who was examined by Mr J. D. Davies, the Official Receiver, said he commenced business as a tailor 15 years ago. He had no money whatever, and began on credit. He had paid full attention to his business, and had never neglected it. He had kept a day-book and ledger. He owed .£246 4 2d, his stock in trade was worth .£6, furniture X12, and book debts X14 4s lOJ, showing an estate of £ 26 4s lOd. With regard to the account owing to Messrs Applevard, of Worcester, you had goods from them last June to the amount of £ 7. How is it you only put down your stcck in trade as being worth £ 6? What has become of it.-I paid other claims. How much did you pay Messrs Applevard?—I don't know just now. Well, you must send me an account. Messrs Harrison & Son, of Worc, ster, wrote expressing their surprise at the extate being so small. They say you assured the'u that there was enough to pay everybody, and that the sole reasons you could not pay them was because the farmers had failed to meet their claims. Itiey also say you had got a clock value £ 3, and ah»rmonium?—I never recollect saying anything of the kind, because I knew well enough I had no goods, and was getting into debt a little every year. Did you or did you not say that ?—I did not say it. With regard to Messrs Bennett and Davies, of Newtown, did vou ever tell Mr Davies that you were going wrong, and that he had better not trust you? —No, I did not. The .£60 is balance due from an old account. But knowing what you owed, you could look round your shop and premises and know you were in a thoroughly ttad b nd hopeless condition?—Yes, it vexed me very much. Then why did you go on living at the expense of your creditors, for that is what you did ?—1 thought that times might be better. Your wife c aims some furniture ?- Yes, the chairs and sofa were given tier by her mother, and she bought a chest ot drawers with money which she got from lodging her brother. Have you removed or taken any goods away?-No, everything I had is with me still. Is your life insured?—Yes, in the Prudential for .£50. Is it an industrial claim ?—Yes. Then it is worthless to the creditors, but please send it me. You have been living on your creditors for some years in the hope of better times F-Yes. You found yourself in this state three or four years ago ?-Yeg. To what do you attribute your failure ?—To bad times, and I have had a lot of illness with my family. How much has that cost you ?—About X100. I shall want an account of that. Have you any idea to how much you lived up to per week ?—About 25s, I should say. The examination was then adjourned.

BOWLLiNtt MATCH. On Wednesday the return match between the Bishop's Castle Club and a team of bowlers from Newtown was played off at Plasybryn, Mr Powell again allowing the use of his excellent green for the purpose. Ttie weather was of course hot, very hot, but no flagging was shown right up to the finish. The last rubber to ne played off was that of Norton and Owen versus Bowen and Greenhouse, and when each side had soared a gaine and 5 each the excite- ment was manirest. A couple of bowls quite near the jack setti d tne game in lavour of the first-named players. Play commenced early in the afternoon, and the same conditions were observed as in previous matches, viz., each pair of bowlers bad to play a rubber against the three opposing pairs of bovlers. The result was not declared until neatly seven o'clock, when the score read as follows FIRST BOUND. Powell and Jones against Fletcher and Pugh, 7-11,8—11 0—2 Norton and Owen against Roberts and Newill 11-10, 11-10 2-0 Phillips and Buckley against Bowen and Green- houde, 10-11, 9-11 0—2 SECOND BOUND. Powell and Jones against Bowen and Green- house 7-11. 11- 5, 10-11, 1—2 Norton and Owen against Fletcher and Pugh, 11-9,11-4, 2-0 Phillips and Buckley against Roberts and Newill, 11-9. 11-2 2-0 THIRD ROUND. Powell and Jones against Roberts and Newill, 7-6, 7-4, 2-0 Norton and Owen against Bowen and Green- bonse, 11-1, 10-11, 1-5 2-1 Phillips and Buckley against Fletcher and Pugh, 11-9, 11-5, 2-0 13-7 The home team thus won by six rubbers to three, or thirteen games to seven. The absence of two Newtown players, (Messrs Danily and Lucas) who generaliy render yeoman service was contidered to seriously weaken their side, but the lesult proved that the substitutes were fully worthy to occupy their positions. Th-i previous mitch was a win for the Castle." During the afternoon Mr Edward Powell most hospitably provided lefr-.shments at the green, and his kindness was appreciated and acknowledged. After the match, dinner was partaken of at the Elephant Hotel, when Mies Turner provided an excellent menu. This, interspersed with a few CI)Dg'ratu'atory speeches fittingly terminated a capital day's enjoyment.

THE WELSH ME JIB EUS AND MR. GLADSTONE. Mr Stuart Rendel presided over a meeting of the Welsh Parliamentary Party held on Tuesday, when eighteen members were present, including Messrs T. E. Ellis, J. H rbert Lewis, and D. Lloyd George. It was decided LO I ublish the correspondence that had taken place with Mr Gladstone. Writing on June 26th the Wel,h Members say t he increasing anxiety of their countrymen respecting the prospects of the measure for Di-esiablishment and Disendowment in Wales must be their justification for troubling Mr Gladstone at that moment. The Newcastle pro gramme conceded to the Welph demand a second place in the schedule of grievances calling for treat- ment, and Liberal candidates in Wales at the last election appealed for support on the specific ground of the pledge thus given. That view was embodied in a resolution adopted by the Welsh members and forwarded to r Gladstone before tht. division on the confidence amendment; and subsequently Mr Majoribanks attended a meeting of the Welsh mem- bers, and afforded substantial confirmation of their views, and allayed their fears by stating his be ief that nothing would be allowed to intervene to the de- triment of Disestablishment. The introduction of the Suspensory Bill they regarded as the official com- mital of the Government. There were, at that moment, however, rumours abroad, which had caused them some di-qaietuie, as to efforts being made to induce the Government to depart from the Liberal policy procl,iind at the general election by postpon- ing the Wei, h Church question until such measures as the Parish Councils and some London Bills had been disposed of. They did not for a moment presume to dictate to the Government, but with a full sense of their responsibility uot only to Wales but to the Liberal party they desired to point out that such a displacement of their cause would be productive of the gravest consequences. From their acquaintance with the sentiments of the Welsh electorate and the Welsh party in the House they apprehended that such a policy would result in the loss of several seats in Wales, aud in defection in their own ranks. They had also reason to believe it would induce a sense of discouragement amongst Nonconformists in England, and so imperil the prospects of Liberalism in several English constituencies. They therefore ventured to ask for assurances which would set at rest all their concern on that question. The letter was signed by thirty members, including Mr Rer-del, Sir G. O. Morgan, Messrs W. Rathbone, T. E. Ellis, T). Lloyd George, F. Edwards, S. Smith, T. Lewis, J. Herbert Roberts, and J. Herbert Lewis. Mr Gladstone, replying on July 5th, says the Welsh members will ptobbly ieel that in the midst of the struggle in Committee on the Irish Government Bill the time had hardly arrivtd for his making a reply to the memorial. "But when (he continues) that Bill shall have substantially escaped from the battle-field with security I shall be happy to make a further communication. In the meantime I ought to say a word on the declarations at Newc-istle. I have never heard, certainly I never considered, that they an. nounced any plan with regard to the order of busi- ness beyond the express declarations which may have been contained in them. On the other hand I think the Government have, even in the present over. crowded Session, given some evidence of their desire to go as far as they are able in securing a forward place for Welsh Disestablishment. I can also assure you that nothing has been decided or even meditated by us which could tend to deprive the question of the position which it now holds." On July 28th, Mr Rendel writing on behalf of the thirty signatories to the memorial, asks if Mr Glad- atone can give a further and definite reply now that he has been relieved of the pret-sure on his energies ) involved in the pagsage of the Home Rule Bill through Committee. As to the Newcastle declara- tions. they submit that the Natiunal Liberal Federa- tion at Newcastle expressly declared that Welsh Disestablishment ought to receive legislative treat- ment immediately after Heme Rule. This was the position given to Welsh Disestabliehment in 1890, and confirmed in 1891 and 1892, and Welsh electors were led to believe that these declarations were an authoritative proclamation of the intentions of the I Liberal party. The loyalty of Wales to the Liberal party had hitherto been unswerving, and they trusted that as leader of the Liberal party Mr Gladstone might see his way to avert any misunderstanding by placing in the lorefront of his programme tor next session, not a preliminary, but a final and complete, measure for the Disestablishment aDd Disendowment of the Church iu Wales. Replying on Aug. 8th, Mr Gladstone says :—" Dear Mr Kendel,—I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter on the posicion of the Welsh Disestab- lishment question. Without entering upon any dis- cussion of particulars, I can neither complain nor be surprised to find that the representatives of Wales insist upon all such advantages as the reports drawn by the Execative of the National Liberal Federation may have given them. Over and above this independent and non-official testimony they have the further advantage as compared with the advo- cates of many other important Liberal measures of the emphatic affirmation in their favour which has been secured by the division on the introduction of the preparatory Bill. I can therefore sincerely con- gratulate them on the position which the question of Welsh Disestablishment, considered as a whole, has attained. The identity of sentiment which pre- vails between the Liberal party and the people of Wales makes it certain by evidence far stronger than any words of mine could supply, that when the time arrives for the ultimate decision of questions of priority, the leadexs of the party for whom as well as for myself I can undertake to state, will do the utmost that the general situation may admit in urging the claims of Wales, not merely for a provi- sional measure but for a full and effective pian of Disestablishment to be carried through with a steady hand. At the present moment we are painfully aware that the decisions which the Cabinet may form, even as to the business of the present year, are by no means independent of the effects which may be produced by any obstruction made for the first time both general and systematic by a party of at least 315 gentlemen. The order of business in a future session manifestly will be affected by the degree, and the particulars of our success in com- bating the present mooes of opposition, especially as to the position in which the Session of 1893 may leave the great Irish controversy but the important and enlightened body of gentlemen on whose behalf you write may rest assured that at tba first moment when deliberation of reasonable solidity on the subject of Drioritv beenmns no" hlA TOO ,hAJI A nnpr.h fVia question with the firm inteniion so to handle it, as amidst competing or conflicting claims, to avert whatever may threaten to deprive Wales of the advantage which I have described as attaching to the position she has acquired." The meeting occupied about two hours, and at its close the debate was adjourned until the day of the t iird reading of the Home Rule Bill, in order to secure as large an attendance of members as possible.

RIOT AT FERNDALE. On Tuesday an alarming riot took at Ferndale in connection with the affairs of the Co-operative Society. It has been rumoured for some time that the society was in serious difficulties, large liabilities having been discovered of the existence of which the directors, it is alleged, had been previously ignorant. Rightly or wrongly, the shareholders saddle the responsibility for all this upon the manager, but it is only fair to him to point out that so far no criminal charge has been made against him and that an effort made to secure a warrant for his arrest has been unsuccessful for the want of sufficient evidence to support such a proceeding. A few days ago, the rumour spread that the manager was about removing to Cardiff, there to conduct a business of his own. When this became known the excitement increased. A close watch was kept day and night npcn his house, and the progress of the pneking-ur) process inside was followed with interest. On Monday night two furniture vans appeared in the town. This was the signal for aggressive operations. A huge crowd congregated aroung the manager's residence soon after midnight, and kept their vigil through the weary hours of the niht. Soon after four o'clock on Tuesday morning the house was literally stoimed. Showers of stones were hurled at it and so n every window pane in the front of the building were smashed to pieces. Despite the close watch kept, the manager succeeded in making good his escape, for in the early hours before dawn he was met tramping along the road in the direction of Pontypridd. Extra police were sent for, and over twenty men arrived. With such a display of force at command, the men in charge of the vans conjiuded that the removal of the furniture could be accomplished. But the crowd, now rein. forced by the miners who had stopped work, had reached vast dimensions, and things looked decidedly threatening. The vans were brought in front of the manager's door, a force of three mounted constables clearing the way. A loud cry of execration burst forth, and in a moment the air became darkened with huge stones, which came flying from all directions. The poor horses received cruel blows in this way, and several constables had their helmets knocked off. The crowd gave a cheer and then the shower was repeated, the stone-throwers being for the most part women and ohildren. The constables repeatedly plunged into the crowd in an attempt to catch the stone-throwers, but so well was the assault managed and so carefully were the offenders shielded that not a single capture was made. The vans were subsequently ordered away, the crowd hailing the victory with a series of frantic cheers.

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TERRIBLE RAILWAY DISASTER IN WALES. THIRTEEN KILLED AND FIFTY INJURED. A terrible accident has happened on the Taff Railway, about three miles from Pontypridd. At half past, four on Saturday afternoon a passenger train to Cardiff was proceading over a s-harp curve at Llantrissatit Junction. when several carriages were by some means thrown off the metals and hurled down a steep embankment. Terrible screams and groans followed, and the scene presented was most heartrending. Scores had sustained injuries, and a hurried search among the dtbris resulting in tlie finding of three bodies, but it was feared there were more victims beneath the shattered carriages. The compartments were full, and it being Saturday, people were then returning from work. Three coaches of the train belonged to the Cambrian Railway Company, and were running through from Aberystwith to Pontypridd, conveying holiday- makers. Amongst those who escaped with slight injuries was Mr W. Brace, agent to the Miners' Federation, who was returning to Cardiff after attending a miners' meeting. The injured were attended to by a large staff of local doctors and ambulance men, some of whom drove to the scene, while others arrived by special train from Cardiff. Those seriously hurt were removed to Cardiff Infirmary. ANOTHER ACCOUNT. A Cardiff correspondent says:—It appears that the train that met with such a serious disaster was timed to leave Pontypridd Junction at 4.15; but, in consequence of the large amount of holiday traffic, its departure was delayed something like a quarter of an hour, and it was, tnerefore, about 4.30 when the train lett for Cardiff. In the fore part of the train were three or four carriages belonging to the Cam- brian Railway Company, these being through cars from Aborystwith and other seaside resorts in Wales. These carriages were coupled on to the Taff Vale train. Most of the occupants of the foremost car- riages appeared to be holiday-makers returning home, and it is stated that when the train lett Pontypridd there was not a single vacant seat in these cars. The train cleared Treforest all right, and then proceeded along the curve at the top of the embankment near Llantrissant Junction at what is alleged to have been a very high rate of speed. On one side of the track there is a hill of considerable height, whiie on the opposite side an embankment slopes away for a distance of some fifty yards. It is stated that even before the accident occurred the passengers felt considerable alarm at the high rate of speed at which the train was proceeding, apparently with the object of making up lost time. The whole affair occurred so suddenly, however, that hardly nad tne danger been realised when the first three carriages left the rails, and rolled down the embank- ment, turning over and over as they went. The engine kept the metals, and it is, therefore, clear that either the couplings broke or became detached. The carriages following the Cambrian Railway coaches also left the metals, but providentially they did not follow the others down the embankment. Strange to say, the first of these coaches rushed to the opposite side of the track, and there remained. Three or four other carriages were also dashed to the side farthest from the embankment. When the pas- sengers in the uninjured portion of the train alighted a most appalling sight met their view. One of the carriages that had gone down the slope was dashed to splinters, while others had their wheels uppermost, the unfortunate passengers being buried beneath the wreckage. Some were so firmly fixed that it was impossible to extricate them till help arrived from a neighbouring station, the screams of the injured and the groans of the dying being most heartrending meanwhile. The permanent way for over 100 yards in front of the exact spot where the cars left the track was torn up, showing apparently that the car- riages left the metals some distance before they actually plunged down the embankment. Some place the number of killed at nine, and others at fifteen. The dead comprise, however, one old man, an olo woman, and a baby (whose mother is not expected to survive). A large number of ambulances were obtained, including those from the Rhymney Rail- way, the drill hall, and street fire alarms. The cyclists of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Welsh Regiment Ambulance Corps came to the Taff ale station at Cardiff to receive the wounded, and ren- dered very valuable assistance. A number cf doctors were also at the station superintending the removal of the injured. The station was thronged with anxiously-waiting relatives, and many woman became hysterical. The scene was one of a most painful character. A remarkable story is told by two local commercial travellers, Mr T. Evans and Mr Beard, of Ponty- pridd, who were spending the afternoon walking through the field below Treforest. They were in the act of gathering blackberries from the bushes on the lower side of the Taff Vale Railway when Mr Beard noticed the 4.30 train approaching. A moment after. wards he saw that several carriages had left the line, and shouted to his companion, Run for your life; the carriages are coming down." Both had got well clear of the embankment, but they were almost para- lysed as they hear! the noise caused by the carriages falling over the side of the line and rolling down the embankment. As the carriages toppled one on ti the other they appeared to part asunder, and people were either jerked out or jumped out. The carriages were literally reduced to matchwood. Among the first of the unfortunate passengers was a boy, about fourteen years of age, who stood amid the wreckage with a portmanteau in one hand and a rug in the other. They spoke to him, and finding he was unhurt, Eut some questions to him, in reply to which he said e had come from Aberystwith, and then began to cry, and exclaimed, Oh, my mother." Asked if his mother was in the train he answered no. she was at Aberystwith, and added that he wanted to go to Cardiff. It was found that he was able to walk, and his mother and friends were at once telegraphed to. The commercial travellers were then joined by others and the crowds of rescuers increased to hundreds, and some almost indiscribable scenes were witnessed. One of the most pathetic incidents reported was that of the little baby, aged seventeen months, whose mother was killed, and who was found alive, surrounded by wreckage and biscuits, as if the mother was in the act of feeding the children when the accident happened. The child was tenderly picked up, and to stop its cries some of the biscuits were given to it by a bystander, in return for which the infant smiled upon its newly-found friends. Volunteers for the work of rescue were easily obtained, and when the carriage were half turned over there were scores of volunteers to go under. So daring were they that a number of them were seriously injured, and one man named William Jdnea met his death, for while scores of people were helping to turn over one of the wrecked carriages he failed to leave in time, and the over. turning carriage caught him and crushed him, so that in a few minutes he succumbed to his injuries. The first person rescued from beneath the carriages was Mr Samuel B. Murphy, Castle Knock, Dublin, and now of MeithyrVale. He was uninjured, and states that he noticed during the last mile they went that the coaches shook very much, and just as it had passed tha crossing the carriage gave two or three big jumps. What happened immediately afterwards he does not know. The only thing he remembers -is that he found himself under the carriages. There were two ladies, strangers to him, in the compartment, and his impression was that one was dead. Alto- gether the number of killed amounted to 13, and the injured to 50. A PASSENGER'S NARRATIVE. Mr. William Brace, the representative in South Wales of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, was a passenger in the ill-fated train, and had what may literally be pronounced a hairbreadth escape When seen after the occurrence, Mr. Brace, who was then bearing the outward and visible signs of the extreme peril through which he had passed, said he thankful to say that, beyond a slight scratch on the back of the hand and a severe shaking, he had escaped unhurt. Asked to give his own account of the ter. rible occurrence, Mr. Brace said :—I looked into the Cambrian Railway carriages when the train was at the Pontypridd Station, and saw that they were full up, so that I had to go on till I came to a vacant place in one of the middle carriages. Had the first carriages been only partly filled, I should undoubtedly have got into one of them. After we left Treforest, and perhaps half a mile this side of the station, and the train going at tremendous speed-we were travelling quite as fast as if wa were in an express train-presently one of the party in the same compartment as myself said in an alarmed manner, "I believe this train is going off the line." In a moment we felt that the train was off the metals, and I then realised that we were being carried along towards the edge of the embankment. I made frantic efforts to get out of the carriage on the opposite side, but found that the door on that side was locked We came to a standstill, and when I sprang out I saw that the first three or four carriages had gone down the embankment, and were lying in a confused mass of wreckage at the bottom, the wheels of some being up in the air, and the poor unfortunate passengers buried beneath its ruins; There were clouds of dust in the air, and the whole scene waa one of the most terrible and indescribable confusion. I never in my life witnessed a scene so appalling, and I trust I never may again. The air was rent with the shrieks of despair of women and ohildren. I saw at a glance by the awful manner in which the woodwork of the carriage4 had been smashed up that the Ion of life aMat be deplorable. It seemed to me r"J that in some of the overturned carriages the per go- were so wedged in that even those around thsm conl<3 ■ render no assistance until the iieces-ai-y appliances had been brought to the spot, and gangs of the com- pany's workmen put oil. I saw four of the dea<2 while I was on the spot, but I do not know how many more there may be. Some terrible tor nriDg scenes were witnessed. There were thomaud" of people on the scene in an incredibly short sl)i,.ce of time and they, of course, lent every assistance in their power, but the carriages had been sma-hed in wlth hatchets, in order that the poor people might be iilv erated. It was plain to my mind that the carriages must have turned over three or four times on the ear be.nkment. The cause of the accident appears to me to be the breaking of the couplings cf the fir carriage and the speed at which we were travelling. The uninjured passengers were brought on later by special train from Walnut Tree Bridge Station. I never before had so narrow an escape, and it is only now, when I have a little time to collect my thoughts that IiulJy realise what a remarkable deliverance from death I have had. The inquest was concluded on Thursday, and a verdict was returned to the effect that the accident had resulted from the breakage of a central haLger, and that no blame attached to anyone. A letter was read from Major Marandin, expressing the ¡¡aJDO opinion.

THE COAL CRISIS. Several hundred strikers, armed with cudgels, marched on Wednesday morning to Ci!eli Colliery, and by threats of violence induced 200 collier* to leave work, and then proceeded to Olydach Vale Colliery on a similar mission. Only the Aberdare Merthyr Company's pits are working in the Aberdare Valley. The managers of Ferndale Colliery, enir- ployitg 7,000 men, announces that unless the men return at once, the horses will be withdrawn from the pits and a lockout declared. Thousands of strikers, headed by brass bands, b-awo poured into Blaenavon. The whole of the Blaenavon Company's men are now idle, and have joined in the demand for a rise of 20 per cent. The attitude of the Blaenavon men was loudly applauded at a great mass meeting, while the action of the Ebbwvale woikeis in asking for military protection was warmly condemned. Toe meeting passed a resolniaca pledging the men to abstain from acts of violence during the struggle. Ten thousand colliers are now idle in Abcrdare Valley, the number of men at work being less thas a thousand. In consequence of the coal trade crisis the ship- ments of coal on the Tyne during the present and last week have been unprecedently large, and no many as seventy steamers are sailing with one tide. The strike in South Wales. which has now become- general, affects the position of London Bteamsbip owners. Some of them last wef-k refused to siga charters which were negotiated, and decline at present to entertain any terms. At the offices of the steamship companies the position is regarded as difficult. The manager of a large Transatlantic steamship company stated to a reporter that their respective companies had been able to manage so far, but if affairs did not improve the matter would be critical. The General Steam Navigation Company is an exception, their journeys, as a rule, being abort- ones. They burn very little South Wales coal, and as they are under large contracts from Northumber- land, where no strike exists, they are more favourably situated. A report from the London Coal Exchange states that the railway companies are becoming anxious, and have commenced buying at all quarters, and at increased prices. Second-class hard household coals are now being bought up for manufacturing purposes. This will decrease the general stock new in London. The situation on Thursday in South Wales and Monmouth&hire coalfields showed no prospect of a settlement being arrh ed at. In the Rhondda Valley, a mass meeting, attended, it is estimated, by 15,000 -trikers, was held around the Druidical RockiDir Stone, where the Welsh bards recently met to declare peace throughout the kingdom. The meeting was opened with a prayer for peace and goodwill," and then speeches and resolutions followed in quick succession. The strikers called upon all colliers wbo had been offered 20 per cent. advance to decline to resume operations until the concession had become general; declared the "legally appointed Committee" the only body authorised to call meetings; urged their followers to refrain from disturbing the peace or manifesting party feelings in their demonstration# and invited the co-operation of enginemen, stokers, and outside firemen" in domanding an advance of 20 per cent. At Ebbw Vale a serious collision' took place between the strikers and the colliers and other classes of workmen who are opposed to a stoppage. A large force of military and police was in the district, but did not intervene. Ciuba were freely used, and one of the strikers fired a revolver-, happily without fatal effect. About a dozen of the strikers were seriously injured, and had to be attended to by an ambulance staff which wAs itt rasdiuess. The result of the ballot in Durham hae not been officially declared, but no doubt is enter- tained that the men have decided against a strike. A daily paper for Saturday has the following Judging from the reports of yesterday's proceedings the reign of terror" in South Wales is still main- tained. About a third of the Ebbw Vale Company colliers resumed work, being escorted to the pits by forces of military and police, without any mol-.gtutivis from the strikers in the adjoining valleys. The latf er were expected to make a raid upon Ebbw Vale, but these fears were not realized. A sharp conflict js 0 reported to have taken place on the Sirbowtry mountains. A body of strikers were observed on the summit armed with clubs, and apparently taking note of tho movements in the valley. A band of the colliers' friends was formed for the purpose of dig- closing the spies. The attack upon them succeeded, but not befoie several persons engaging in the fray had been seriouslv wounded. The Ebhw Vale Co annonr.A their intention to support the men at any cost. Two hundred men of the 2nd Devonshire Regiment, together with a police force 100 st"ong. are stationed at Ebbw Vale, and elaborate precautious are b, ing taken for the protection of all whose liberty is threatened. Orders were yesterday received ia Devonport asking that soldiers should be despatched immediately to Cardiff. The men were called up a9 speedily as possible, and conveyed by special trains during the night. The Sliding Scale Commit, ee met yesterday, and a manifesto to the miners was issued appealing to them to return to work, and not to violate h3 agreement entered into on their behalf and at their request by their representatives. A huge midnight procession marched through the- Rhondda Valley, had a conflict with a small body of police, extracted assurances from a number of colliers that they would not resume work, and hreatened to make a general attack OH Ebbw Val» unless the colliers come out.

SLAV SUPERSTITION. A number of women, chiefly the wives of peasants, have been cited before one of the district justiciary courts of Saratoff, on the charge of creating a noc- turnal disturbance of the peace. The indictment goes to show that a certain village was being deci- mated by the spotted typhus, an epidemic disease scarcely less dreaded in Russia than the cholera. The women of another and neighbouring village, wishing to protect themselves from infection, ar- ranged a midnight rendezvous. They first cut, with a plough, a furrow completely round the village. After this a procession was formed, which traversed I the inner edge of the furrow. First camn a woman carrying a domestic iron and chanting a prayer. The next carried the decorated skull and horns of an ox. The third came astride an oak sapling-as a boy would ride-cock-horse. Behind, in long single file, f< llowed a number of women, singing a half-heathot"' ish exorcist doggerel. The aceused, who will prob* ably be punished with merely nominal fines, stoutly maintain the efficacy of their preventive rites. It is noticeable that whenever the women of a Russian village perform any of these superstitious nocturnal ceremonies, the male inhabitants lie very close, and have an instinctive dread of interfering or even wit- nessing the mysterious orgies. But the next day, some recalcitrant husband generally sneaks away clandestinely to inform the Yuriadnik. The Bohemian Slav kindred of the Russians are equally superstitious. Some days ago, at a small place in the comitat of Arad, there were publicly rejoicing after the funeral of a reputed witch. These were shadowed by the starling intelligence that one of the merry-maker's cows was bewitched, thus proving the posthumous evil power of the deceased. A stallion horse and rider were immediately hunted up to deø- stroy the dead witch's further machinations by jump- ing across her grave. The horse shied, and could not be induced to leap. Some of the village elders were then consulted, who advised the opening of the grave, and Lhe piercing of the woman's body with red hot hr.y forks, and this was accordingly done.

4- RAINFALL AT DOLFOR, MONTGOMERYSHIRE 1892 1893 January 2 51 312 February 1*91 4-76 March 1*41 0'50 April 1'26 0-52 May 2'23 2*26 June 2'29 1-75 July 2 09 2 97 1370 15*88 ■» 1 t ir. n r AS reooraea oy mr XJ. Jones. Up to August then? has been more rain in 1893 than 1892, March nptf April being aiBoh drier. W. B. Pvøa.

THE GREAT HEAT. The spell of hot weather is not only exceptional in comparison with past summers, but it is also quite exceptional when considered in connection with the warm and dry weather which has prevailed over England throughout the spring and the early summer. Friday was the tenth day in succession that the ther- mometer in the shade has indicated 80 degrees or above at Greenwich, which is not only the longest sped of such high temperature during the present summer, but it is quite remarkable tor August, and so far as the records atGreenwica Observatory show, it is the longest spell of such warm weather in August during the last fifty years. A temperature of 90 degrees in the shade is certainly a degree of heat seldom attained in England; and, so far as London is concerned, it haa only been reached in fifteen years during the last half-century, while 1887, the year of the Queen's Jubilee, is the only year with so high a reading from 1886 to 1892, a period of seven years. During the present year 90 deg. has been practically attained in each of the summer months, the reading at Greenwich being 91.0 deg.<on|June 19, 89.9 deg. on July 7 and 8; and now we have for Wednesday last a temperature in the shade of 93 deg. The heat of last week interfered with the production of iron goods in Scotland, and some of the works were obliged to stop. The Coatbridge tinplate workers were compelled to suspend operations because of the excessive heat. A flying column, consisting of infantry regiments of the Plymouth Garrison, en route to Okehampton for field firing, reached Bridestowe on Tuesday from Roborough, a distance of about sixteen miles. Owing to the almost tropical heat over 100 men fell out, and there were several cases of sunstroke. The intense heat of the past few weeks has effectu- ally driven the London City man out of his" chimney. pot," and that sign and seal of respectability having been relinquished, other changes in attire are being made withou t any difficulty. One of the most striking of these changes has been the total abolition of the waistcoat, wifich has been replaced by a broad scarf of coloured siik tied round the waist at the top of the trousers, very much after the Mexican fashion. It goes without saying that the taste which can be exer- cised and the colours which can be adopted for this scarf are almost unlimited, and striking combinations may be built up with the help of the silk baud, the almost universal Btraw hat, and reddish, yellow, or brown shoes. Excessive heat prevailed throughout Spain last week. On Wednesday the thermometer registered 112Fahr. in the shade. In certain districts in Aragon whole herds of cattle must perish unless rain falls soon. Extensive tracts of forest and mountain pastures have burned up owing, it is believed, to the spontaneous ignition of the griss. In many villages the inhabitants are actually wetting their winnowing floors with wine owing to lack of water.