The Western Mail

STKANUE TALE FROM THE SOUDAN. FRENCH EXPLORER REPORTED IN CAPTIVITY. A Reuters Paris telegram on Wednesday gay*:—Se\tral newspapers this morning pub- lish an account of an interview with all t: plorei- who ha..< rectntly returned from the Central Soudan, aud who rc|>orts that four, }:ljroPhH( are llt-Id prisoners b. one <■; the Tuareg tribes, and that one of the eaptl\e i* the- French explorer Colonel Flatter, who was 1',rtKi to have been murdered in February, 1:91 while .ki. i. the Tua¡; ('t: for the proic?t(d Ct?ntial Soudan rail, road ii um Algeria.

JABEZ JJALFOUli. THE LOCAL CRIMINAL CHARGES. A "Pall Mall Gazettf telegram from PiM-noc, Ay res »avs:—The Argentine Attor. h. reeommHided the Govem- ircn* to alVra the criminal charges preferred t B.1f.!?? t,. proceed at Salta be- k- h,- ,'xtrWIW'" to Ei,glad i? etiette<l.

THE HOUSE OF LORDS BELATIONS OF THE LIBERALS WITH THE UPPER CHAMBEE. MR, ASQUITH AND THE PEERS. Mt, Asquith. speaking on Wedneay even- in at a meeting of the Bir. mu.„-lkim Liberal Ajaociation in tile Town-hall, dealt in detsil with the I*nous of tlic Liberal party to the House of l,,rds. He denied the charge that tlte Liix.i'-tls ha-d M»ntonly raised the issue to e,p" horn d()mtk diftkulti..s of their o\n, H- next spoke of "?, Util.ti?., by the r'" ¡'t H¡tu::d i:ttii):te;. 'l "t.: .erenœ tuthe laud question 'Ii Ireland, ifl Mit/h which strong committee ha-i I. d1 sitting, presided over by )11'. )lorley. h th ianil.rd, .ull assert their old 8U¡"'III;I.y in the House of Lords, and that tl Hi:1 would fail to pass into law. They t: ■ !iii>«ri representatives of the people. « i«-d to mark time, tn <»ol their heels, tliev oould. to keep their temper, 1, tiiat bv its composition +1," Lords (".1 iot safely be entrusted with the ftinc- t1".¡. that it possessed, and he questioned *1 1. the intcUicent Tories wete .nt,:Mied -uch a groqul' party as a Second ( .r The Liberals believed that, to 1- FIII!Ja.lld a gINt ElIglantl it must be h,v h-i-overmnem, a OVdm\h:l\t .? the iiu' not of ihis or that class, but cf all c!S..s.

A ROYAL BIRTHDAY. A Beuter's telegram from Berlin on Wednesday says: The Kmporor William ut.fMnvt' lly arrived at the ca>tlo oi" 1\:1 ;jtJ:lJ\i!1 thí morning frem Pots* 11. a vi-it to hi" mother, the Kmpress ■ F vho is spending her birthday, which IS I I uy. with the Prinze and l'Tince8.Frcdrick Charles of Hes'se. ilis Majesty leaves to-morrow fcr hiki ahootiog-box at Latziingeuo.

THE NEW CZAR. I I HIS FIRST DISPLAY OF I COURAGE. IEXCITING SCENE AT THE FUNERAL. I A Renter's Darmstadt telegram states that it ia officially announced that the Czar s marriage will be celebrated at St. Petersburg on the 26th inst. Thr "Standards" correspondent describes a i-tartlinir incident whirh he witnessed TO Sun. day afternoon as he rode out to see the crowds around the Fortress Cathedral: — "The Mirroundins? streets and squares pre- wiitaxl thw apjK'araiKv of a vast oanip. 011 the d;vy of tlie arrival of the coffin order was kept by taount* gendanne^, but the duty \v;w now undertaken by (\v--saoks, who, with knouts and tho ineroiU\ss heels of their wild horses, kept tla., roadway clear foi- tlie ear-

bis space is reserved or any nuportaut item of ? b?. P--? ? f," ?.. y ?,.Portaut itoin of ?, ?k i'l, ."y .i?, ft,,r 9.?', to I

I DEATH OF RUBINSTEIN. SAD END OF THE GREAT PIANIST. A Reuters telegram from St. Petersburg says: —-The death of Rubinstein wa" very sudden. On Monday evening he was playing cards with aorae frianda until eleven o'elock, being through- I out in 1he best- spirits. He then retired to his room, ladame Rubinstein went in to bid good- night to her husband towards midnight, and he then appeared in his usual health. About two o'clock in the morning she heard cries, and, hastening into her hucband's room, found him standing up near the door with the bed coverlet round his shoulders, crying out with pain. He gasped out, "Dootor. doctor, I am ohoking." Two medical men were summoned in haste, but their aid was unavailable, and the great piauist died in their pre¡;enœ,

I DUTCH AT LOMBOK. I CAPTURE OF THE RAJAH AND HIS SON. I A Central New. telegram from The Hague on Wednesday says :-An officialdiopatoh to the I Minister for the Colonies states that the Rajah of Lombok has been captured, together with his "on and S(r..ud,on, and treasure to a rery 1arr;01 amount. The Rajah was wounded. All the pri- soners hare been brought to Ampenau. Tke Poeng Awas have offered subjection to the Dutch.

CRICKET IN AUSTRALIA. A Reuter's Melbourne telegram on Wednes- day states that Stoddart's eleven have won the cricket match which has been proceeding for three days by 145 runs.

ARCTIC EXPLORATION. LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT PEARY. The Press Association telegraphs that the whaler Eclipse, which arrived at Dundee on Wednesday from Davis Straits, brings.. letter from Lieutenant Peary, of the American Arctic expedition. Tho letter, whioh is dated Cape York, May 29, saysAlthough it is very likely the ship will come to my headquarters this summer I still take advantage of this oppor- tunity of communicating with the world. I have completed a suocessful search for the meteoric stones mentioned by Captain John Nogs 18.18. and start north to Whale Sound to. night. Hugh Leigh is my companion. My party is in good condition. The long journey norta. I ward over the ice ?ap was terminated by a ;tblv:ro: itbcarhe wthe=:d..tb'ïÔ I degrees below zero, which froze a number of my dogs and temporarily disabled some of my party, necessitating my return aftHr penetrating into the interior 124 miles. I shall repeat the attempt next spring. If on your arrival home next fall no nows has been received in regard to my party, please transmit this letter to the nearest United States consul, who will cahle it to New York.—YourH very truly, R. E. Peary." TI, ,,rly f l,qi,,u, w 1, delivered the tee}r{e di:ud t¡:t' p;e:a;e had suffered greatly from frost bite, and that the long homeward journey from the interior was accomplished amid much difficulty.

VESUVIUS IN ERUPTION. A Naples dispatch states that the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius increase daily, and tho scone witnessed from the city is superb.

CLOSING OF ALKALI WORKS SEVERAL THOUSAND WORKMEN I AFFECTED. Notices wero posted on Wednesday at the work,? of the United Alkali company in Kun- corn. Widnes. and other districts that the bleach and caustic departments will be closed a week lienor for an indefinite period. Several thousand workmen, in addition to those a fleeted by the notice, will be thrown idle, and many others in the ohemical works will have to cease operations, The outlook is thus very nerious.

Why do viu continue to suffer from Sick Head- •dies, tiiliouxiicK. Liver an 1 Nervous Disotders, when 8uch a siieeiHc Jur th,?? sHD1entd .? (.,Wily. !?'f ?'?m?i't?rJ'm.Y'????i)y?t.i?? In bot,le., 1,. ]?.. 2e. M.. ?"J 4. 6d. -.h. i[ijItSJ.U12 The "Ie of the "Ewuing Express i., t:ou? up. Some Conservatives arø begi, nning to take it,

THE EASTERN WAR. BRITISH INFLUENCE I INCREASING. SCOTSMAN MADE VICE-ADMIRAL I OF CHINESE FLEET. A BIBLE FOR THE EMPRESS I DOWAGER THE EMPEROR BUYS A I COPY, FIGHTING ROUND PORT I ARTHUR. CHINESE KILLING CHRISTIANS I A CWr;tl News telegram from Tientsin on Wednesday says:—Among the birthday gifts presented to the Dowager Empress, upon the oocasion of her sixtieth birthdav waR" Bible in the Chinese language, for which her Majesty very graciously expressed her thanks, at the same time promising to read the Holy Bonk. It now transpires that the Emperor last week nent one of the chief officers of his Household to the Bible Socity's depot here to purchase a copy of the Scriptures similar to that presented to the Empress. This proceeding is regarded in the foreign settlements here as affording an additional proof of the steady growth of British influence hero Mnù in Pekin, one result of ",h;ch haa been the 1)1?iiig of large Government mi- tntd" in London. On the other hand, German influence i* perceptibly weakening, in wnse- quenœ of ? belief that (?,erm?y refused to join the other Powers in bringing pressure to be., ?up,,n ,hpan to -z?- h.,tiliti??. INTERVIEW WITH A JAPANESE I Mr:T"t"1\ A Central News telegram from New York on Wednesday says: —The "New York Recorder" publishes from a Washington correspondent an amytmt of an interview with Count Kiviens, the Japanese Minister to this country. The Minister explained that the real object of the war now brin '0 effectively wa by .1 apau was to pooure permanent peace in th" East. If, naid his Excellency, the proposed negotia- tions should come to !lothing. the .Japanese would push on to Pekin, If the Chinese should retire into the interior wifl, the intention of carrying on tho war to the bitter end, the Japanese would surely follow. Questioned as to what would happen if any European Power- Great Britain, for instanoe-.hould place a nto upou the further continuance of the war, the Minister cautiously replied that "he doubted whether England would attack Japan." He admitted, however, that England was most anxious to see an early termination of the War. I THE FIGHTING ROUND rOKT ARTHUR. TI1E RIVAL FLEETS. A Central News telegram fNu Hwang Ju on November 20 sa.y. ;Auoto,'1' dispatch boat arrived here last night from Taleinwan Bay. vShe hring* news from the Secwid Expeditionary Army down to Sunday. Heavy and i-ontinuous firing had hee.11 heard through- out the day southward of Taleinwan. No details of the lighting were, however, obtain- able when the dispatch boat left. The. total available strength of the Japanese forces waa then steadily advancing upon Port Arthur. A portiou of the Japanese fleet, with a number of transport?, Wa. in Taleinwan Hay ou Sun- day. A MISSION STATION THRE \TENED. A Central News telegram from Shanghai on Wednesday sa,y" -A steamer which reached Chefoo early this morning iv|3ort!> tl,,¡,t Oil Monday the Japanese forces captured a fort situated about two miles to the west of Port Arthur, and it was exptvted that the attack on the main position would take phc almost immediately. According to the name report the Chinese troops had taken up a position on the highest ground in the path of the advancing Japanese. Some of tho latter had apparently turned that position, for the Chinese were reported to be in bad straits for fooci and water. It is confirmed that the Japanese aro advancing down th peninsula in two divisions. Owjng- to the paralysis of authority and the indiscipline of the Chinese solÔiery the American mission station at Tung Chois is in danger of attack and pillage. The United States cruiser Baltimore has, in consequence, left for Tung Chow. I LI HUNG CHANG'S POSITION. A Central News telegram from New York OJl Wednesday says :-The "Herald" this momin publishes the following special tele- gram, dated Shanghai, November 20:—"The question is openly diaou»sed here whether Li Hllni: Chang, who is at the iiead of the wholt) Army, will refnse \0 obey orders from Pekin, Meanwhile Hunan troops are retained at Tientsin in order to keep a check upon him should he rebel. Many of his advisers Slip. port him in his attitude of independence. CHINESE KILLING CHRISTIANS. A Reuters, telegram from Lyolls on Tues- day says:—A telegram was received to-day by the .secretary of the Catholic Minions here from the Bishop of Hoo re, a province of Central China to the north of Lake Tung Ting and the west of the provinces of Chen Si and Si Chou-an. The bishop announces that the Christians at Si Chou-an are being persecuted by the Chinese and that" number of them have been killed. CHINESE FLEET AFRAID. A Central News telegrum from Hiroshima says: —Count it. telegraphs that he cruised two days off Wei-Hai-Wei in an unsuccessful effort to induce the Chinese Fleet to tight. BRITISH SOLDIERS FOR CHINA. The Central New* ^ays :—Orders have been receive d at Chutham for 57 non-i oimnissioned officers au,1 men of the Royal Marines to he held in immediate readiness to tmbark for China. On Tuesday further orders were re- oeived that a detachment should embark at Tilbury to-day (Thuredav) in the P. and O. steamer :Ia:x,3D1ng Kong. Captaiu Strwbrick is in comman d It i? believed at Chatham that th, detachment i6 going )Ut htI:t7: \fj B¡:ielI(:ut:t.:¡!:II&e(:ï THE PEACE OVERTURES. A Keuters telegram troUl Washington says: —Tlie Japaneae Government have now sent their reply to the note of the United Slates Minister at Tokio aeking whether the tender by President Cleveland of his good ffic. in the interest of the restoration of peace in the East would be agreeable to Japan. Before coming to a decision, the Japanese Cabinet gave the matter ævernJ days' consideration, and finally stated to the American Minister that, dthough the friendly sentiments which prompted tho Government and the people of the United States were deeply appreciated the success of the Japanese arms had been such that the Mikado's Government considered that China should approach Japan dirtly on the subjMt. PROMOTION FOR A SCOTSMAN. The Press Association state# that Captain M'Chire, who has bee« appointed Vice-admiral "f the Chinese Fleet, is a son of the lato Mr. John M'Clure, architect on Lord Galln. way's estate# in Wigtownshire. Captain M'Clure, who i. in the prime of life, has had a log and intimate acquaintance with the Chinese Coasts. He was for many years em* ployed an -ptain by Messrs. J., d i,,?, Mftttheeon, -d Co" and took out from Barrow, and iled for two or three y?.r, th, Kow Shing. When hostilities ?)m-.(,d th" Chines# authorities ,oug-ht the services of Captain M'Clure for transport and despatch work. He has long possessed the confidence of many leading men in China, and to his friends in Scotland his appointment to the new position is accepted as an indication that stirring events may be anticipated in ooneotioci with the movements of the Chinese and Japanese Fleets.

CLUB RAID IN LONDON NEARLY THIRTY ARRESTS- The Press Association telegraphs that the City of London police on Wednesday afternoon made", raid on an alleged betting club situated over a etationer's bW in Patcrnoster-row. The premises, which wer previoutty occupied by the Junior Gre?b&m Club, bad only been in possession of the present occupants for about a fortnight. Between twenty and 30 men, many of whom were well-dressed, were arrested and taken te the police-station.

The sale of the "Evening Express" is going up. Some Cooservittwee are beginning to take it.

PUT TO ROUT. -1 Arohdeacon GRIFFITHS I think this should clear the way for a proper eleotion next Eisteddfod."

THE NEXT SESSION. r PROGRAMME OF THE I GOVERNMENT. DISCUSSION AT THE I CABINET MEETING. NO ROOM FOR PAYMENT OF MEMBERS, Tii- Press Association says: —W ednesday'« Cabinet Council was attended by Lurd Rost- herv and the cither members of the Ministry. The meeting was held at the unusually early hour of eleven o'clonk, partly because the business was heavy, hut also because the Home Secretary had all e!i«a4?enlent to speak at Birmingham. It is understood that the Pre- mier redeemed his prouii.se made to the depu- tation which waited on him on Tuesday eve- rintf with ruR'ird to the question of payment of members and hid tho views of the depu- tation before his colleagues, who agreed with his lordship tl-t, as tho legislative demands of tho coming esi,ion.are already hIJavy, aud the matter could be only dealt with in the form of a Bill, there is little hope of effectively dealing with the question at pre- sent. It is further understood that the Cabinet discussed the programme of the Government for the ensuing suasion, and on this point the Press Association it. able to say that, though the meeting lasted nearly two and a. half houns, no definite decision was arrived at. and the matters under dis- cussion stand over tin a future meeting.

TIRED OF ROSEBERY- PREMIER ONLY SPEAKS TO BEFOG HIS PARTY. MR. LABOUCHERE WANTS GLAD. STONE BACK. I SUGGESTED PILGRIMAGE TO HAWARDEN Mr. Labouohero in this week's "Truth'' savs;—The I)rmoun?-ment against the Lords has fallen flat. The party organs in vain beat the bip drum. Instead of all Radicals uniting to wil, the great issue on which the future of democracy depends, they have to pass their time discussing what their leader mean. The oftener he speaks the mora hopelessly does he fog them. He began his career as Minister by contradicting himse'.f iii e1ch successive speech that he made; he has now improved upon this, and contradicts himself in each succwsive phrase of the saIne, speech. At ono moment he appears to be with m, at another he appears to be against us, In one part of a speech he denounces our opi^.nents in another he argues with the 111 against us, Is it possible that any enthusiasm ":In be aroused, whell onthusiaSln is wd-blawht(ll ill this fa"hiùn? If Minis-- ters cannot inake up their private squabbles and ohoose one of themselves—I care not whom, provided that he neither looks baclc towards the politi".11 Sodom that we would destroy, nor dreams of building up a new olle-then let tlieim go u* suppliants to Ha warden, and on their bended knees implore Mr, Gladstone once ir.ore, to rally our host, and to lead It on to viotory. What morc ,p1œdid climax could there be to his lifelong devotion to the peopEe's cause than for him to obtain for us a majority pledged to vest all legislative func- tions in the elected representatives of the nation alone and to carry a measure in tlie next Parliament giving effeet to the nation's verdict? That same Parliament might ritly celebrate its emancipation from lordly leading- strings by g-iving Home Rulo to Ireland, disestablishment to Scotland, and electoral reform to the United Kingdom.

TRADES UNIONISM, NEW RULES FOR THE CARDIFF CONGRESS. I KEEPING OUT POLITICAL ADVEN- TURERS. The Press Association states that as the result of full meetings of the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades' Union Congress which were held on Tuesday and Wednesday new rules have been approved for the Trades' Union Congress, which are expected to take effect at the next congress at Cardiff, One of the objects in view is to keep outside the congress bogus members, or other political adventurers. It is provided that in future all societies should return to the congress and pay in proportion to their full numerical strength, whioh, it is understood, has in the, past been somewha evaded; that the votes at the congress should be in proportion to the numbers represented, and that the resolu- tions to be proposed at tfie congress should be better classified. Arrangements are proposed with a view to a deputation to the Home Secre- tary and other Ministers in December, with reference chiefly to the alleged en.ions of the House of Commons resolution of February, 1891, against sweating, &e., in Government contracts. With reference to the delegation of Mr. Burns, M.P., and Mr. Holmes to attend the forthcoming American Labour Convention at Denver, a letter was read by Mr. Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labour, expressing a cordial liont- that the two nations would keep up a mutual and friendly correspon- deuce upon labour <¡ l1eHtions.

FORFARSHIRE ELECTION- ACTION OF MR. J. E. WEIR, M.P. Mr. J. E. Weir, AI.P., has pointed the iroral of the Government defeat in Forfarshire in hio own way. He has addressed a letter to each member of the Cabinet, deolaring that the reverse is the result of the indifferent and neg- lect with whioh the grievances of the ploughmen and fishermen were treated when the Local Government Bill for Soot-land was before the Grand Committer last session.

Indigestion, Biliousness, Xeuralpia, SlecplessneM, and otber N, Disordem tpMdHy disappear un- der course of G?ily. Fvam'g Quinine Bitten. The VegetAble Tonic. Iu boWes, Is. lid., 9d., Md 4,. M. eb. 2= )

THE ANARCHISTS. I EXEOUTION OF THE BARCELONA. I MISCREANT. SCENE ON THE SCAFFOLD. I THE CONVICT CALLOUS TO THE LAST, A Central News telegram from Barcelona says-Salvador Franch, the Anarchist, ex- pinted here on Wednesday morning his terrible crimc of twelve months ago, when he threw a bomb from the gallery of the Licoo Theatre, and caused the death of a considerable number of the oocupants of the dress circle. The delay in carrying out the sentence was due to the facilities afforded by Spanish law for condemned oriminals to appeal from tribunal to tribunal until the Council of Stato is reachcil. Thb body rejected the petition last week, presented on behalf of the culprit, but it was not until Monday last that his lawyer informed him of the failure of the last resource. From that moment Salvador displayed his real disposition. Ho cast aside the cloak of hypocrisy which he had worn for months. He became offensive to all around him; he rejected the ministrations of the priest, who thought he had effectcl the culprit's conversion, and, finally, he attacked the members of the Society of Peace and Charity (who invariably tend criminals about. to die) in such horrible terms that they were con- strained to withdraw in disgust. On Tuesday morning, when the officials of the court before which he was condemned entered his cell to inform him of his impending doom, and to formally read the death sentence, Salvador turned his back toward them, and it was nothing, short of mockery to have compelled him to spend his last 24 hours of life chained to the wall of an improvised oratory, on the altar of which six candles burned, while soldiers, with fixed bayonets, kept watch over the prisoner, who gave full play to a ribald tongue, and openly declared that his conversion was all a comedy. During the day he ate and orank almost rave- nously, partaking in turns of lobster, fresh meat, fruit, and wine, and occupied the in- tervals with discussing executions, and more especially the working of the instrument of death, known hero as the "garrote vile." This "vile (raxrote" is simply a straight-backed chair, to which the culprit is firmly secured. Then from behind a steel collar is placed in half sections on either side of the neck, and, at a given moment, the collar is quickly closed by means of a powerful screw, and in this way strangulation takes place. Formerly, execu- tions were carried out in open pl-ees, and as the corpse, with distorted face, bared after death, is allowed to remain until well into the :,ft?.??.n the ghastUneeB of the exh*ujtion can readily be imagined. The rule now is to garrotte culprits within the walls of the prison, but with the scaffold so elevated that the public can still see what takes place, and further satisfy their morbid tastes by viewing the body after death, but only from the outside of the building. The explanation of Salvador being strangled instead of being shot-as were several other Anarchists convicted of com- plicity in the Liceo Theatre and other out- rages and conspiracies-is that at the time of his Arrest martial law had not been pro- claimed in Barcelona, so that he had to be tried before the ordinary civil tribunal. Al- though oalvador waa brutally offensive towards the priest who visited him in the cell-chapel on Tuesday, and his good offices were repelled, in accordance with custom, tho prieat accom- panied the culprit to the scaffold. riian during the process of strapping to the chair, the clergyman, crucifix in hand, recited the usual prayers for the dying, concluding with a recital of the Creed. With the completion of the phrase, "And in Jesus Christ, his only Son," tho executioner operated the screw, the collar gripped the culprit's neck, the ma j esty of the law was vindicated, ,.d 8 haa e:/cl a: more diabolical .f.i: factor. A Central New* telegram from Barcelona says:—Tlie condemned man displayed the utmost callousness. At the last moment he shouted, "Long live Anarchy, and down with Ireligi"U," and d ed with the words of a song on nis bps. I HIS LAST MOMENTS. A Heuter's telegram from Barcelona says: During tho night Franch slept twice for about an hour. He was visited in the chapel by his wife and children, and alsu by thu priests, but he remained obdurate to, and wolfing at. the stapplicatioOH of the priest* that he should re- pent. An enorm"lJ. crowd a*«embled to wit- ness the execution. The people were kept at a distance of 101 metres from the scaffold by a double line of troops and gendarmes. Franch walked tremblingly to the scaffold, and on mounffhg the began to shout against re- ligion. His ribald cries were interrupted by the executioner, who forced him into the diair, and strapped him down. Franch renewed his nJ' tried to i?ing an AnareW?it song, but he stopped to implore the c?xecutioner, in a feeble voioe, to make haste. The screw was applied to the garrote in about a minute and a half from the time the condemned mac mounted the scaffold, and death ensued almost instantaneously. The remains are to be ex- posed to public view until sundown, and the people are flocking from all parts to see the spectacle.

SHIPPING DISASTERS. THE WRECK OF THE ZADNE. I ALLEGATIONS AGAINST A LIFEBOAT CREW. Mr. Cunningham Graham, deputy-ohief in- spector of the Royal National Lifeboat In- stitution, hold a public inquiry at Worthing on Wednesday to determine whether there had been any neglect on tho part of the local life- boatmen in connection with the wreck of the steamer Zadne. All the evidence tended to show that a good look out was kept, and that the crew were ready to go out if required at a moment's notioe. The Inspector, while insist- ing that it was the dnty of the coastguards, and not the lifeboatmen, to watch the coast, d ecided that no possible blame was attached to the Worthing crew in this matter- NEWPORT VESSEL MISSING. The following vessel, previously reported as overdue, wiLB on Wednesday posted at Lloyd's as missing:—The Catherine Morris, of Newport (Man,), ofBoiaJ number 76,315 (Bridle, m?ter), whioh left Taloahuano for Queens' <wn with a cargo of w h eat on A'pril 26 I?Bt, sud hM not since been heard of. FARO T.IGHT DESTROYED. A Dalziel's telegram from Rome says — According to a Messina dispatch. Faro Light has been destroyed by the earthquake. It has been temporarily re-placed by a torpedo- boat, with a searoh-light. The town of Messina is almost completely deserted.

The Queen has sent to the Emperor William a large and magnificent carpet made by 28 native conviots in the prison of Agra. It ia said to oontain 59 million stitches.

TRAIN WRECKE, RS. I ATTEMPT TO WRECK THE BOURNE- I MOUTH EXPRESS. NARROW ESCAPE OF PASSENGERS. THREE LABOURERS ARRESTED. The Aldershot correspondent of the Central News telegraphs that it has just transpired that a dastardly attempt was made on Monday afternoon to wreck the Bournemouth express, which left Waterloo at 4.55 p.m. Three-quarters of an hour later, when nearing Fleet Pond, Hampshire, at a speed of nearly 60 miles an hour, it camo in contact with a massive sleeper which had been maliciously placed across the down rails. The driver succeeded in bringing his train to a standstill within a very short space, and found a new and heavy sleaper lying on the inside of the guard irons of the bogie engine and imme- diately in front of the foremost wheels. The guard irons were very much bent, but b'vond that no damage had been done, H*d*the engine left the rails the loss of lives would have, been very great. As the result of inquiries, a labourer named Charles Wyatt, who, it is alleged, had been loafing a bout the neighbourhood of Fleet Pond since Sun- day night, and who was unable to give a satisfactory account of his movements, was arrested on Tuesday. The police arrested on Wednesday two young labourers lodging near Fleet, and the three prisoners have now been charged with conspiracy to wreck the Bournemouth express. They will be charged before tho Aldershot magistrates this (Thursday) morning.

CHELTENHAM MURDER. IJUSBAND CONVICTED OF A DOUBLE CJSIME. SENTENCED TO DEATH. Job Hartland, aged 57, a greengrocer, was indioted at Gloucester Assizes on Wednesday for the mnrder of his wife and son at Chelten- ham on September 4. Alra. Hartland and her boy left the prisoner some days prerious te the tragedy owing to his drunken and violent habits, but ultimately returned ta him. The next morning they were both found dead in bed with their throats cut and their heads terribly battered, the injuries having evidently been inflicted with a blood-stained knife and a coal- hammer which were found on the premises. The jury found the prisoner guilty, with a recom- mendation to meroy, and be was sentenced to death.

ROBBERY BY GIRLS. EXTRAORDINARY ESCAPADE AT DOWLAIS. AN OLD WOMAN'S HOARD TAKEN. At Merthyr Police-court on Wednesday Annie Jones and Mary Davies, little girls, were charged with stealing from the dwelling- house of au old woman named Margaret Bad¡¡e,r, at Dowlais, a bag containing 1-7. Only sufficient evidence was tendered to justify a remand.—Acting-sergeant Evans put in a statement made by Daviee, in which she implicated her dock companion in the theft, and said ahe had given «mall suuis to Jones and to other girls, for whom she had aUo made purchase., She added that ,he had been to Swansea, the Mumbles, Treorky, and other places, and had spent the whole of the money she had kept for herself, with the exception of three halfpence-her adventures, as detailed, in the statement, being of a most extraordinary character.—The wisoiiers were remanded for a week, Jones being released from custody upon the recognisances of her father, whilst Davie*, whom her father was afraid to take home lent t-he should run awny. was ordered to be detained in the workhouse.

ALLEGED GAME TRESPASS AT SWANSEA- CHARGE AGAINST A BARONET'S BROTHER. DEFENDANT COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. At Swansea Polioe-court on Wednesday afternoon Hertiert Morris, of Sketfcy, brother to Sir Robert Morris, was committed for trial to the quarter sessions on a charge of killing a deer on land belonging to Mr. Graham Vivian, Clyne Castle. The defendant, who has appeared in court on more than one occasion, was alleged to have been found shooting two pheasants when the worse for drink, and that he told the gamekeepers that he had shot a deer, the deer being subse- quently found dead on the land.—The game- keeper, in cross-examination, admitted that defendant had previously been drinking in his house.—Bail was accepted for defendant's appearance.

DISTURBANCE AT GOWER EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN LLAN. DEWI CHURCH. Summohsen were applied for and obtained at Swansea Police-court on Wednesday by Messrs. G. Hughes and Philip Guv, church- wardens of Llaodewi Church, Gower, against William Howells, said to be a labourer of Horton, who, it is alleged, seriously assaulted thtm whilst they were preventing his attempt to rash into the church after another man. He entered the church, however, and, wa, ;t is stated, only ejected after a terrific struggle. The injury sustained by Mr, Hughes is said to be of a serious nature. The caee will probably come on at Gower Petty-sessions to-morrow (Friday).

Why be ill and miserable and out of wrts when a ccune 01 Owilym Evans's Quinine Bitten w ill -et you right? Bottles, 2.. 3d. -d 4.. 6d. each. 8 .1. boMtt.la.ljd. 2m The sale of the "Evening Express" is going up. Some Conservatives we beginning to. uke it..

TIN-PLATE TRADE. I EFFECT OF THE LLANELLY I MEETING. THE POSITION OF MASTERS I AND MEN. OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS- j INTERVIEWS WITH REPRESEN- TATIVES OF BOTH SIDE. The fudden ("mohMion of the meeting between tiii-|il:ito i'i;inuf;ict!irei"ti and men at Llaimlly <m Tuesday evening and the prospective closing of vorks have naturally excited a good deal of interest, not only in Llanelly, but in Swansea and other tin-plates centres, where the masters and men are not slow to recognise that their interests are vitally aifected by the outbreak of hostilities on their •■frontier," as it may bo termed. At present the struggle is at Llanelty simply, but in any case if it goes on it must affect the whole of the western industry. Our Swansea representative on Wednesday had a conversation with more than one representative of the masters and men respectively, I he roasters' position is not easily definable. it is only Llauelly manufacturers who are forcing oil the crisis at present, but it is pretty dear that, although thev are not very wimil iiielnbem-li members at aH-of the ManufMtu?' A-?-,i-- S the general body of ?t -.X"?ltimi aie 2d to "J the matter being dealt with by them -if t, ?,y on the %-stem of the monkey and the '.rlje 'LlanellY Bm,ilufactumm, it is ?ted out, are w?tby men, but it i. they who C suffering ctueay from lack of -rd- just no? Mak? in other places are managing to .1, .nt do a little business even uuiing f* ?er. d-pre?on-but to ?nu <aoture P?te. a_t ? wesenJt ?om.nt at the ri(? ruling result*, l liie in no ?ht_ the ? n?? t-r?ay U ey are bf?ui to b-? a reduph<m, and the men must make conce?ions ?nd beM Ihi, 111" the bmden, 'ro?y.Mtheydid?L?ty. ttiJat they will not do so was not acting fairy or set- Wthing* as they should be seen, and there was lIothillg tor the masters to do but withdraw. The masters complained also that the men were very reticent at the meeting on Saturday, and would not give expression to their views, and unless they are frank they say it is useless attempting to go to business. The position of the men, Ifelt by the pulse of the tin-plate union, is this, that tlr: Tuesday's action (of the Llanelly men and not .)f the Union, as they contend) was emphatically what it purported to be-a refusal to submit to a reduction in wages. With regard to their alleged retieeuce, it was distinctly understood previous to that meeting, that the men's representatives wrrp, to assemble to hear the masters' views and have a proposition made to them for submission to a general meeting of the men, who would then authorise their delegates to act- Under the circumstances, therefore, they could not speak with authority. The Union officials have had to face a great many difficulties in the past, but they, we believe, recocjnise that none have been more serious tlwn the one at present before them. They are in a dilemma. If they support or initiate a strike they will have to pay tho piper; the mell come at once on funds which have been attenuated by so many partial stoppages of a s mi l ar kind. They. Aere f ore. let th, Llanelly (1(,id,? the 0 uet } for thmelve8. know- mtf that no bdy of en hIl- b^en "?h regular employment or have such private resources as those at Llanelly- The Union, during the pa-t three years, have had to combat the ''flank attack" by the masters at Gravesend and Gorsoinon, and if prices had improwd in?t??ii of ltOin down thev would possibly have effectually sohed this .-d the other qUf1¡;\tion of "concessions" which assailed then, on the other hand. But the tariff re- adjnstment has not had th. tmod effect intended, and the difficulty of the position has increased. On the Nvliol,, there appears to be a (considerable want of unify amongst- the men :it the. present lImotme, and there is not too much sympathy ,expres.eO ,ith the Llanellv men. although thir prompt action may have the effe( of keen- incj np waes 25 per ?t. throughout the trade. OFFICIAL REPORT. We have received an official report of the pro- ceedings at the conference on Tuesday, which is appended:- "The joint conference was held at the Llanelly Town-hall. Mr. Ernest Trubshaw (Western Works) presiding. On the masters' side, there were also present Meters. Rowland Iaclaren (Dafen), Joseph Maybery (Old C?t]p?. 'R. P?Nrine (Old Le), H. C. Bond (South Wales), Evan Evans (Ashburn- ham), and J. S. TTegoning, jun. (Morfo). Thoro was a full attendance of the men's dele- gates, The Chairman opened the proceedings by reminding the meeting that they had dis- oupsed the situation exhaustively on the pre- vious Tuesday, and that meeting was adjourned in order that the men's delegates might consult their different lodges with a. view of their making an offer to the masters, or of saying '?e' or 'nay' to the propœal laid before them, an d whether they were r red to go in for a nJed:e¡nt::SEe'T¡; Benjamin, then, on behalf of the men, said that he was instructed to say that they were unable to accept any reduction in wages at the present time. They suggested, however, that there should be a stoppage of one week per month in order to reduce stocks, and thus raise prices and maintain the present standard of wages. —The masters then retired to consider th-nr reply to the men, and, after a short delibera- tion, returned to the meeting.—The Chaircian (Mr. Tnihshaw) expressed the regret ot s collaugue# and of himself that the men did not look at the matter in a different light, and lo"t it was clear that they did not realise the serious- ness of the position. The masters felt that the rMponsibitity of the future restM "1™ their "houlderR, The suggestion of the sto?p woutdnot meet the diaicult?.andtheywfre, therefore, unable to aœøpt it. THE ARGUMENTS OF THE MEN. I What reason do the men give tor not con- senting to 1? reduction ?" askc?d a reporter of ?? pmn,inent member of the men's Union on Wed- n,?d.,v. 'Oh. they claim that there is no pressing necessity for it. We don't believe that we have iritic-li to fear fro. America yet, "But the masters say that they must take immediate steps to check* the growth of the indvstrv in America?" "That is 00, but the men wont believe that, and acting upon that opinion, they have refused to concede to the demand for a reduction. When the time comes they say they will be quite prepared to join hands with the masters and go in for io^int action. At the close of the conference on Tuesday we had a long meeting, au,1 the secretaries of our Union put the matter strongly before us, He asked if we were aware that there was in America a large and a growing body af men who were doing all they could to take the trade away from us. The men said tl.y all knew that. 'Then," continued the see. ,t,,ry, do wo ?nt to keep the ::i7' in dOour We ow:anthan ':d t of the hands of the Yankees?' There waS" unanimous 'Yes* to this proposition. 'Well, then.' was the next question, 'how axe you going to help towards it?' There was no reply to this, but I know there i a strong feeling that we should unite with our employers to tide over the present crisis." WHAT WILL THE MASTERS DO? lTie question agitating aU minds now is, What will the -at- do? It is as yet ipo.- .iblo to ,.y what will happen. Without e.??p- tion, all the masters observe a reticence which is not to he broken through. Our correspon- dent waited upon several of the manufacturers on Wednesday, but was met with the same reply, "It is not yet certain," However, this mufh is certain, a meeting of the maetera will be held on Monday next to consider the posi- tion. A plan of action will then be decided i pon. in which all thA works in the Llanelly district, with the exoeption of Burry, will join. It i, significant of what will hapmn that on Tuesday night, ?ii after the conference had ended, a well-known manufacturer remarked t.) a group of Union officials. "r am afraid the IlóW are going to have a long holiday." THE MAGNITUDE OF THE STRUGGLE. How -¡ous the position is may be gauged from the fact that the present dilute affects 11Iore tlian 1,500 men, irre5?peotive of the boys and girls engaged at the various works. To these a surn of EIS,000 is paid in wages mcnthfly. The proposed reduction would reduce this figure by £ 4,000. THE POSITION OF THE MEN. I "1 am sorry tor the men, a well-known i manager was heard to remark on Tuesday 'night. "Evidently they have not realised the gravity of the position. It simply comes to this, that wo cannot keep our works going under the present conditions- What will happen, then, will be that-, .It., completing our urgent and imperative orders, we will close the works. rrhe men are not in T?iti(-m to hold out long, for they havo DO money, and it will mean starvation to them. The end of it will be that they muat come to terms, and the matters will be in a posi- tion to dictate those terms at their own plea- sure. It is a pity that the men don't :0<1 wke their present line of action is leading them to." BALLOT AT THE SOUTH WALES WORKS. I It is stated tb;¡t the men engaged at the South Walra Wtrks will hold a Mot to decide whether they will work on the terms proposed by tho masters. It is announced that ?ti? Mabel Love, after rejeclin many proteMion?t overtures, has been captured at last by a French manager, and "will spend the better part of next epnmg at .the Eoliea Bereerea-"

BORTH MURDER. PRISONER INFORMED OF THE DATE OF EXECUTION. FINAL VISIT FROM HIS RELATIVES. THE STEPS TO OBTAIN A REPRIEVE- Wednesday must have been a day of consider- able anguish to the condemned man, (Thomas Richards. In the morning the high-sheriff of Cardiganshire (Major Price Lewes) paid a ",it to the prison at Larmarthen, where the pri- soner is awaitin" execution, and officially made known that the death sentence Í8 to be carried out on Thursday next, the 29th inst. This information was duly communicated to the unfortunate man, who received it with a good deal of emotion. Ail necessary arrangements were made by the liieh-sheriif. Questioned subsequently as to whether the prees were to be admitted, Major t'rice Lewes said he had not yet made up his mind, but added, with some degree of significance, that it was very unlikely that reporters would be allowed to witness the execution. I PRISONER' S LAST INTERVIEW WITH HIS WIFETCSn SON. The mid-day train from Aberystwith brought into Carmarthen a small body of mourners- the mourners of a maji who, though living, is yet practically dead to all the world. They were the prisoner's wife. whose sister he had deprived of life, his Ron David Hughes Richards, Mrs. Mag" 1 1 dalene Theophuus, an aunt ot Mrs. Kionarcw, and an aunt, therefore, of the deceased, aud Mr. David Hughes, Aberystwith. cousin to Mrs. Richards. Armed with the requisite --it from the visiting justice. (Mr. C. W. Jones), they visited the prison about two o'clock, and remained inside for about threequarters of an hour. By the prison regulations only those can see the prisoner whose names have been men- tioned by him. Thus only Mrs. Richards and her son were able to see the condemned man on this occasion, for he had not expressed a desire to see either Mrs. Theopliilus or Mr. Hughes. When seen by his wife and son Richards, it seems, was under great emotion. Nor could the wife be otherwise she was in the presence of one who, at one time at any rate, muse have been nearest and dearest to her In him she now beheld the man who murdered her sista, and was condemned to die a felon's death. In spite of it all, Sirs. Richards, how- ever, stood the ordeal exceedingly well; she afterwards said she wa." surprised that II<) much strength was piven her. As for the son. he displayed great and poignant ptrief. He had with him a Welsh hymn-book, which his unfortunate father lmd exprissed a wish to have. The lad found, however, that, the prison chaplain had already provided him with a hvmn-bcok. illi interview between the con- demned man and his wife and son was con- ducted in Wesli, nd seems to have been of an exceedingly melancholy character, being pain- fully broken now and again by the weeping of the parties. On Srst seeing Mrs. Richards and her son the unfortunate man. who was sepa- rated from them bv iron bars, hurst into tears -teftrs which were also copiously shed by the mother and "011, Richards asked for his aged father, and Mrs. Richards was bound to say that yince the murder he had not been much in her house. The prisoner also asked for his other two children—a boy and girl, aged thir- teen and eleven years respectively. Again was Mr., Richards obliged to tell him that they could not see him, implying thereby that the trial would be too great for ones of their tender age. Richards mournfully said that that, no doubt, would be tlie last oceMion on which he would see anyone. The conversation, it appears, then took a religious turn. His wife admonished the prisoner to pray, and pray incessantly, for forgiveness, and he replied with assurances that he always did so, adding that on Tuesday especially he felt he was in communion with the Almighty. His wife informed him that the letter which he had sent her had been shown to the minister and to the deacons of the chapel at Borth. and that the minister liad prayed for him. When the final parting came the grief of Richards became pitiable. He bade his wife and son a very affec- tionate farewell, holding the farmer long bv the ha.nd, and finally subsiding into a. state of the greatest grief. The condemned man asked his son what he was going to do for a living. The lad replied that he thought of going to sea. The father evidently disliked the idea, and advised him not to go to sea,, urging him to keep a home for his mother. TESTING THE SCAFFOLD. The high. sheriff on Wednesday tested the gallows, trying the efficacy of the drop with a bag containing a hundredweight and a half of sand. The machinery, it seems, worked satisfactorily. The prisoner when first ad. mitted into the prison weighed 1481b., but has not been weighed since. STEPS FOR A REPRIEVE. Hopes of a reprieve have not been alto- gether abandoned by some of these who sym- pathme with the prisoner, though in the larger circle of the general public not the slightest expectations have been formed that the death sentence will be commuted. Everything points the other way, for the jury did not recommend th-i prisoner to mercy, and the judge went so far as to publicly express his agreement with tleir verdict. What hopes can be built on such a state of thmge? The grand jury, and, it is believed, slso, tho petty jury who tried the case have received a copy of the following letter:— BORTH MURDER CASE. Dear Sir,-At the request of a large number of people resident in thia neighbourhood, where the whole of the facts of this tragic (use are well known, I have prepared a petition to her Majcstv to obtain a reprieve (1. behalf of thn unfortunate privxier. Without impugnin in the least the justice of the verdict, I still hope the jury will agr? in stating that they beUet? lhtre was an absence of ou&oient eviden? of premeditation on the part of the prisoner. If thia is your opinion, as one of the jury, may I ask you to authorise me, should time not ptrmit )f t) e petiti? being sent to you, to ?, your "gnature to a petition fo- a reprie?? As time is short, I feel sure that you will favour me with an early reply, aud I sincerely trust it will be a favourable ora. Y ourA truly. 1-' m W. P. OWEN.

THE ARDLAMONT CASE. MONSON'S ACTION AGAINST TOT- TENHAM. ALLEGED FRAUD BY THE DEFENDANT. The case in which Alfred John MonllOt charged Beresford Loftus Tottenham, financia agent, of Coc"pur-street, London, with fraudu- lently appropriating fnmt2 t' .11Y t??.i- J :fr-îfc:f on wJI!yr; Stipendiary inti*atea his intention to commit the defendant for trial at the assiies, but de- ferred doing so until this (Thursday) morning in order that he mUi:ht 'f8 an opportunity .1 finding bil,

THE SUICIDE AT SWANSEA INQUEST ON THE BODY. An inquest was hla on Wednes day ?ftet- n:: an:a; Hotel, S-ansm before lir. Edward Striok, borough coroner, on the body of Mr. W. J. Stephens, coal agent, who wm found dead at his residence, 68, Manael-terraoe. on Tuesday morning under very sad crrcum* stanoeg.-The first witness was Mr. Henry St?phenw, who identified the body as that of 11 brother, who wa? aged Ganz. brother-in-law of the deceased, said he had tried to settle the case against tne deceased, but he understood £ 160 was the amount required, and nothing more was done. Deceased was quite cheerful the night before he died. Last Thurs- day he told witness he had bought poison, but he did not believe hi-Ta.. Alfred Lim- brick, chemist, stated tfcat deceased on Monday week purchased three drachma of pnJMic acid, whioh he said was to poison a dOlr,-Dr. ,J, K, Couch proved that deceased had died from the effects of poison, and the jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insajie.

1 WFAR TZW& F-i- NeW BOXOK-

riage*. rtx«tHee« of tho limbs and lives of th people. From the Fortress tfate for more than a mile in all directions, ill every street leading thereto, was* a qeohiiw, struggling, sutfocatiiK mass of human lyings whom cvan the C,-Wk- proved to keep back. Then were brought, tho suction-hose dipped in the Neva, and a powerful jet turned on the inob, who scattered like chaff, orlv to \x> forced back by the wessure behind. The Co^i-acks struck tho people across the faces with thoir great whips. In th-s scrimmage* one man wa" killed by a kick and a boy was suffocated. Having with some difficulty fought my way out. I went round to th" Mitinsky Bridge, near the Bourse* and upon this narrow wooden struc- ture took my place on the right hand, slightly in advance of the crowd, Upon my light, in the front rank* stood a nimi of about 4S veara, dressed a a \8ant) and wearing: a long brown beard. At II (juarter helore threo o'clock a clow'd State carriage pa."od, and was immediately followed by the v r«ir and the Urand Duke Michael in an open victoria. A, they passed at a gentle trot, the peasant with a couple of bounds sprang into the road, and, thru>ting his hand into the breast of his coat, withdrew a |>acket, wllid. he threw the Czar* at whose feet it fell. Tho Czar started back, thni coolly picked up the packet. The excitement among those stand- ins iiroutid w, at the highest point, every- !Iv bel ieving that an attempt had been made on the Sovereign's life, Instantly a dozen bystauders seized tho offender* who was hustled off by the gendarmes to th guaid- house. The entire occurrence occupied less time than it takes to write. The carnage drove on amidst the munnurs of the crowd, It was subsequently announced that the Czar had accepted the petition. Whether it was an ordinary petition is open to doubt, the extraordinary coolness and adroitness of the man having raised a suspicion whether the peasant> dress was not a disguise. Although man" jhtsou^ witnessed the occurrence, there is not a WOlX{ about It in any of the papers."