The Cardiff Times

Middlesbro' and Member. SYMPATHY WITH MR WILSON. Town's Meeting Held. Tremendous interest was manifested on Tee- j side in the appearance before his Middlesbrough constituents of Mr Joseph Havelock Wilson, and on Tuesday night the spacious Town Hall was crowded to its utmost capacity, and bun- dreds were unabie to obtain seats long before the proceedings commenced. Mr Joseph Wa'ton. member for Barnsley, presided, sup- ported by many influential Liberals of the con. stituency. Numerous telegrams of apology were received, and a letter was read irom Mr Arthur Henderson, M.P. for Barnard Castle, hoping that the people oF Middlesbrough would roll up in considerable numbers to mark their strong disapproval of the un- English tactics Mr Wilson has been subjected to by officials of the Shipping Federation," and adding that did the attempt to siience him succeed men who wentdown to the sea in ships would suffer an irreparable loss. He enclosed his mite towards the lund for frustrating the belated attempt to disqualify Mr Wilson irom sitting in the Commons. The Chairman paid high tribute to the labours in the last Session of the seamen's re- presentative, and said their sympathy went out to him. He had a gigantic task in keeping the Union together. He was not there to refer to the merits of the libel action,but if it was in- tended to enforce the judgment it was their duty to enforce it there and then. He did not believe the great majority of the best ship- owners of the country had the slightest sym- pathy with the present proceedings (Ap- plause ) He had not the slightest doubt that the attempt to drive Mr Wilson out of Parlia- ment would be defeated,and that he would con- tinue as member for Middlesbrough Somebody had got to find this £ 8T1 of blackmail. (Applause.) He hoped Middlesbrough would lead the way in finding the money, and he was pleased to subscribe £50. (Applause.) Eternal disgrace would rest upon the people who re- ceived the money. (Applause.) This ill-judged attempt either to force him out of public life or get blackmail out of the Liberal and Labour party would duly raise Mr Wilson to a higher position than ever before. (Applause,) Round after round of cheers greeted the rising of Mr Havelock Wilson, who, at the out- set, said be desired to raise the question to a higher platform than that of personality, or whether he should be bankrupt and cease to act as member of Parliament. Thioughout his career he had aimed at the protection of the life and limb of the seaman, and he could sav with confide ce that since hisadvant into thIs public work loss of life on board ship bad decreased to less than 1,403. (Ap- J plause.) He didn't claim all the credit, but he claImed his work had some effect in bringing about the very large and substantial reduct on in the annual death ruli at sea. ( Applause.) j What he had a ways sought was justice for the men he represented They had won in the courts, but the solicitors for the Federation always entered appeal for no other purpose than hat they knew tuey were tying up the Union's money and that there would be no earthly chance of meeting the demands of Mr Scott, who was squeezing hina for his pound of flesh-and blood along with it. He had been accused of telling lies.ancf that night he simply desired to put the facts before the public. The Shipping Federation might come down and say they did not do this, that they were not in it, and somebody else had done this. He was going to prove bis case with documentary evi- dence. Mr Wilson then read the following from a document:— "In the High Court of Justice in Bank- ruptcy, re .>osepb Havelock Wilson, ex parte James Scott, creditor of the Shipping Federation, Glasgow." He received that interesting document which was dated 3rd July. Up to that no creditor had started banki uptcy proceedings. On the th July he received creditor No. 2." It came the day after" Scotty." But he had I' better evidence than that. His solicitors Ie- ceived this letter on July 17th :— Scott versus Wilson. As we have not heard from you as promised we have heen forced to act on instructions to issue a notice in bankruptcy against your client. I How could Mr Raeburn tell the publ c that they did not do anything with iegara to bank- ruptcy when fiist of all the; e was a notice of bankruptcy, and in the second place there was this letter from Southgate and Newson, the solicitors of Mr Scott, informing that bank- ruptcy proceedings had been instituted. Up to that time no credit or had commenced bank- ruptcy proceedings. Yes, but," said Mr Rae- burn, there is another ghost in the locker. There is somebody else behind this." He said it was another creditor, and rang the changes on other creditor." Mr Wilson went on to say that the amount was not jE80 but £65, a nd the debt was not his. It was the Union's for money obtained to pay the legal costs of defending seamen and firemen for which he was responsi- ble- (Applause.) He hoped Mr Scott and Mr Raeburn would enjoy themselves after this statement Thev could shake hands with that creditor if they liked. Mr Scott had not enforced payment forthwith, but had played the part of assassin and waited in ambush ior years He received no intimation of proceed- ings against him until alter he spoke in the Commons on the Shipping Bill and Workmen's Compensat.on The best shipowners on bolh sidc-s of the House repudiated such tactics. There were only one or two leading officials of the Federation responsible for this latest action, backed up by men of the type of Rae- burn, who did not pursue the policy fore. shadowed by Sir Walter Runciman. The best shipowneis did their very best to stop this mean, dirty trick being played. (Applause.) After he was dead and gone he hoped his work tor a most useful and badly treated class of men.would live as a humble monument of what he had done for them. (Applause.) Resolutions were unanimously carried ex- pressing appreciation of Mr Wilson's service!! I to seamen, confidence in him, and condemning the recent attack on his position. SHIPPING FEDERATION'S COSTS. Chairman Repels Allegations. Mr T. L. Devitt, president of the Shipping Federation, writes as follows to the Press Association under Wednesday's date :— I regret to be under the necessity of asking 1 you for further space in connection with Mr J. H. Wilson's affairs, but a statement made by Mr Joseph Walton, M.P., at a meeting held in Middlesbrough Town Hall last niaht requires some notice. As reported, he pointed out that The debt for which Mr Scott was pressing included costs of tbe Shipping Federation, It was absurd, therefore, to say that Mr Scott was not plaintiff in h is own interests, and also in the interests of the Slipping Federa- tion. Until they could repudiate this they would have to judge them as pursuing a course which was un-English. unworthy, and nothing more or less than levying blackmail on the Liberal and Labour party. I Mr Scott's judgment, which was registered in his own name. naturally included the costs of the action, and to an unbiassed mind there would appear to be nothing unreasonable in I Mr Wilson being required to satisty the full amount of judgment given against him. Mr Walton, however appears to have overlooked the statement contained in my letter of the 11th inst., in which I pomted out that Mr Scott had offered to accept some hundreds less than the sum to which he is entitled. I should be glad if you would now allow me to amplify this statement by adding that Mr Scott was enabled to make this offer in con- sequence of the Shipping Federation taking Drecisely the opposite coarse to that which Mr Walton attributes to them. Mr Scott intimated to the Federation that he had received an offer from the debtor and asked whether he was at liberty to compromise with regard to the costs of the action. He was then officially informed that the Federation did not intend to require repayment of costs. The present position therefore is that Mr Scott has offered to accept £500 in convenient payments in satisfaction of his claim, that the Shipping Federation does not stand to benefit to the amount of one penny of su<h payments, and that Mr J. H. Wilson's Defence Committee have stated that he will be made a bankrupt for a certainty if we are not able to raise A meeting of the Cardiff branch of the National Sailors and Firemen's Union was held at South Loudoun place onTiiesday, Mr Jack- son pres:ding. Representatives were present from Newport. Barry, Penarth, Bristol. Port Talbot, and Swansea. The secretary read re- ports and correspondence, which were of a satisfactory nat ure. A resolution was unani- mously passed thanking Sir Wal er Runciman, M P., for his kindness towards seamen in general, and the Union in particular, and for the assistance he had given Mr J. Havelock Vv ilson, M.P in the House of Commons in the interests of seamen. The hope was also ex pre-aed that the sima good feeling which ex- isted at present between Sir Walter Runciman and the Seamen's Union would continue. At a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Newport Liberal Association on Tuesday it was reported that Mr Haslam, M.P., had sub- scribed £25 to Mr J. H. W ilson's fund. In the report of the speech of Mr Havelock Wi'son M.P., delivered at Middlesbrough on Tuesday evening, it should have been stated that the amount offered by Mr Wilson in full settlement of Mr Scott's action was £550, not £50. The mistake was due to a telegraphic error,

A meeting of the inhabitants of Bryn was held on Saturday, Professor Henry \Valters presiding, to consider what steps should be taken to recognise the gallant rescue by P.C. Thomas of a child from drowning in the River Avon. A committee was elected, with Mr William Martell as secretary, and it was decided to lay the facts before the Royal I Humane Society and the Chief Constable of Glamorganshixe. t

STATE OF RUSSIA. Death of a Tyrant. GEN. TREPOF_SUDDEN END. Many Attempts on His Life. St. Petersburg. Saturday.—General Trepoff died this evening at Peterhof. He was resting in his villa just before dinner, when he had an apoplectic seizure, to which he succumbed St. Petersburg, Sunday-The immediate cause of the death of General Trepoff is given as angina pectoris. from 'which he had long been suffering He was alone in his private house in his private apartment when the end j came, and when a member of his staff entered the room he found the general lying dead. General Trepoff had a bad seizure during the recent manoeuvres at Krasnoye Selo. and be entertained no illusions as b the possibility of a sudden and fatal termination of the malady. It is stated that when he heard that General Kozloff had been assassinated m mistake for himself be smiled bitterly and said, They really need not give themselves trouble the end will come quickly enough without that." —Reuter. General Trepoff, who was appointed head of the Government of St. Petersburg, and made responsible for its good order after the tragic events of January. 1905, was dismissed from his post and placed on the retired list at the beginning of this month. A fortnilZht beiore this closing episode of his official career a report was circulated in St. Petersburg that an attempt had been made to poison the General, and that his cook-and three other servants had been .ested. Whatever truth there may have been in this. it is certain that at the time he was dismissed his health had thoroughly broken down. his illness being of the nature of angina pectoris. Shadowed by the Assassin. Several attempts had been made at various tirres on his life. Whilst he was chic! of police in Moscow a youth named Poltoratsky, who was a student at the Commercial College, fired three revolver shots at him as he arrived at the Nicholas Station to see the Grand Duke Sergius off to St. Petersburg None ofthem took effect, I though one bullet passed through his overcoat. Poltoratsky, who was at once placed under arrest, had been exasperated to the point of desperation by the General's brutal measures lor the suppression oi the students' demonstr- tions, and it was significant of the depth of iteling aroused by his iron policy that the day beiore the attack wau made on him he bad been officially relieved of his post. and his ser- vices placed at the disposal of General Kuro- patkin in Manchuria. On six other occasions his life as threatened by the victims of his own harsh rule. In ona week alone in 1902 three of these attempts were made, the first by a governor, who placed the muzzle of a pistol against his breast and pulled the trigger, but the weapon misfired the second by a man armed with a dagger, who tried to loice his way into his p esence; and the thi'd by a rusticated student, who sprang upon the step of his carriage and tried to stab him. Trepoff however, bore at this time a charmed lite, and these unfruitful attempts at assassination only left him with the greater !e- termination to continue that policy that gained for him the reputation among the people of Russia of a tyrant. [nappealance the General was a strikingly handsome man. and looked as fearless and as heedless of the bomb and dagger by which be was constantly threatened as he undoubtedly was. Was Trepoff Poisoned P The London Letter writer of the Birming- ham Daily Post says :—Although General Trepoff died at Peterhof on Sunday evening in his bed—according to the account officially given—from an apoplectic seizure inssead of from the bomh, knife, or revolver with which he bad so often been threatened, it is rumoured here in circles which are in close touch with the Russianrevoluiionarymovementthat his death: was due to poison administerel some weeks ago that caused the illness from which he never recovered, though his naturally robust constitution enabled him to throw off the immediate effect intended. Since the official attempt was originally made, nearly a score of years since, to describe the death of the Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria, who shot himself after shooting his mistress, asdue to apoplexy, there has been considerable public doubt when that has been assigned as the caUSd of a distinguished person's suspicious death; but in the case of General Trepoff the poison rumour is particularly strong. His removal, however, does not promise to make any particular difference in the course of the; insurrectionary events in Russia, concerning tbe development of which prophecy is as futile as ever. j Trepoft's Successor. St. Petersburg, Sunday.—General Deduilin, Commander of Gendarmerie, has been ap- pointed Commandant of the Palace in succes- sion to General Trepoff by order of the Czar.— Reuter. Reported Attempt to Murder Count Witte. Berlin, Saturday.—The Berlin evening papers report that an attempt has been made to murder Count Witte at the inland health resort of Bad Soden, in the Tannus Mountains i in Central Germany. The would be assassin is stated to be a Rnssian Jew named Rosen berg, who was arrested when on the point of perpetrating the crime.—Central News. Remarkable Story From Berlin. Berlin, Monday Evening.—The National Zeitung states that a special Royal train passed through Berlin at 3 o'clock this morning under mysterious circumstances. Tbe whole staff of all the railway stations in and near Berlin turned out' and guarded the approaches to the railway during the progress of the train through the capital. The train came from the Russian frontier, and it was travelling un the main line to Cologne. The National Zeitung adds that the train contained several Grand Dukes ot the Imperial Family who have found the soil of Russia too hot for them. The Berliner Zeitung tells a similar strik- ing story, but adds that there were no fewer than 10 Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses on board the mysterious train, which was en route to Brussels and Pins.—Central News. Russian Jews Appeal to Britain. The London Committee of Deputies of the British Jews. 19, Finsbury Circus, E.G., has just received the following telegram from [ Russia :—" During the pogrom at Siedice more than 200 persons were arrested haphazard and are being brought before a Court Martial, whose sentences will be carried out within 48 hours. The same officers who have taken an active part in the pogrom are sitting as judges at the Court Martial. The gravest danger exists that in order to justify the massacre the in- nocently arrested will be declared revolu- tionaries and sentenced to death. Assistance from abroad.is urgently invoked." Upon receipt of this telegram the committea immediately issued the following appeal :— As the representatives of the Jews of the United Kingdom, we protest against the threatened farther slaughter of our hapless co-religionists in Poland. We protest that it is contrary to the laws of justice which obtain throughout the civilised world that those who have committed terrible outrages upon the Jews of Siedice should sit in judg ment upon persons whom they, to shield them- selves. have summarily arrested. We plead with sorrowing hearts that such persons may be allowed to have a fair trial. From the tele- gram it is evident that 200 souls have been arrested haphazard, and their fate at the hands of their military judges is a foregone conclusion. We trust that the voice of this civilised country will prevent this terrible crime." The appeal is signed by David L. Alexander (president of the Jewish Board of Deputies), Claude G. Montefiore (president of the Anglo- Jewish Association), Leopold de Rothschild I (vice-president of both bodies). TARTAR COMMUNITY ATTACKED. Tifl. Wednesday—The Governor General of the Caucasus reports from Erivan that four Tartar villages in the district of Sangesur have beeD laid in ashes. The inhabitants who escaped the massacre have taken to flight. The bodies of the slain lie unburied among the ruins. I Crops have been bornt and cattle driven off. The mhabitants of seven Armenian villages took part in the work of destruction. I When troops arrived on the scene the Ar- menians had already left the neighbourhood. Reuter. Serious Agrarian Riots. Odessa, Wednesday -At the village of Lyssa Gora an extensive agrarian riot has broken oat. Local officials were attacked, and nearly ail of them were injured. The notors set fire to th* neighbouring estate. Cossacks were hurriedly despatched to the scene, and 220 peasants were arrested Reuter. The Jews in Russia. Reuter s Agency states, with reference to the I reported action of the British Government in connection with the Jewish situation in Russia. that it is extremely improbable that ther? has t been any attempted interference in affairs which the Russian Government would consider as internal. Fresh Chapter of Outrages. Warsaw. Wednesday, 12 30 p.m.—At ten o clock this morning a band of Terrorists sur- rounded Colonel Nicolaieff, of the Artillery, as he was walking along Wielka-street. He was shot at and killed. The band succeeded in making good their escape.—Reuter. St. Petersburg, Wedne3day.-A. train on the Vologda Railway was yesteriay derailed 22 miles from St. Petersburg. Fifteen passengers were injured. The derailment was due to some unknown person placing an obstacle on tho metals. Thirty Revolutionists on Monday I made an attack on the arsenal at Mokotono. The attack was unsuccessful and all were arrested.—Central News. St. Petersburg. Wednesday.—Details are pub- lished here of the brutal maltreatment of M. Ostrowsky, a former member of the Duma, by Dragoons in the government of Radam. The ex Deputy was battered almost to death by the butt ends of the troopers' carbines,- Reuter. Trepoft's Funeral. St. Petersburg, Wednesday.—The funeral of General Trepoff took place to-day at Peterhof, Contrary to general expectation the Czar was not present His Majesty is still yachting in Finnish waters.— Reuter.

CAMMELL, LAIRD & CO. Crumlin Burrows Project. IMPORTANT OFFICIAL STATEMENT. At a meeting of the Neath Board of Guard- ians on Wednesday (Mr Hopkin Jones pre siding) the clerk read the following important letter from Mr D. W. James, solicitor. Swan- sea*— 24, Goat-street, Swansea, 18th Sept., 1906. Dear Sir,-—I am acting on behalf of Messrs Cammell, Laird and Co., Ltd in various ne- gotiations connected with their contemplated building of large iron and steel works on Crum- lin Burrows. There are a great many pre- liminary matters that have to be arranged, but if these are arranged then Messrs t am- mell, Laird and Co. will immediately pro- ceed with the erection of works. Amongst matters that I am asked to negotiate for them is the exemption from payment of rates for a period of years. It will take at least five years, and possibly seven, before the whole of the works are completed, although they may be manu- facturing pig iron within perhaps two years. The period that I ask for exemption is seven years. In support of this application I wish to bring before your Board the fact that a great many towns in the kingdom are granting these exemptions in favour 01 newindusSries, and Messrs Cammel!, Laird and Compan have been offered such exemptions already at other places. I wish also to say that Messrs Cammell, Laird and Company will not derive any bene- fit Irom the rates that they will be hereafter paying inasmuch as all tbeir traffic will come and go by either railway or sea. Their works will be lighted by their own system of lighting and they will also have their own system of drainage and sewers 1 understand there is a meeting of Lhe Guardians to-morrow and I hope that you will bring this matter forward. I have to meet the directors of Cammell, Laird and Company at Sheffield on Tuesday, and I should be very glad to be able to tell them that the Guardians agree to their wishes. The clerk suggested it was a matter for the Assessment Committee. Mr William Howell agreed. It was. he said, a matter of such importance that they could not deal with it that day. He moved that it be referred to the Assessment Committee. Mr E. Law, in seconding, said that the mem- bers of the Asseesment Committee were men of ability, and they could be relied upon to find a satisfactory .solution Mr J. H. Moore thought that a matter of such importance should be dealt with by the whole body of guardians. He wished to know whether the Assessment Committee were to have plenary powers or were only to report to the whole board. Mr William Howell at once said he would amend his motion and would moye that the matter be referred to the Assessment Com- mittee to report to the Board. I Rev. Henry Hughes seconded. Mr E. E. Sevan The clerk will write in. forming Mr James of what is being done. The Clerk Yas. It was decided to immediately call a special meeting of the Assessment Committee to deal with the matter.

Hostilities Suspended. o SITUATION IN CUBA. I Washington, Monday.—The Cuban Legation have rece.ved tbe following telegram from the Cuban Secretary of 'State :—" Hostilities are suspended on both sides. It is believed that peace is at hand."—•Reuter. I Havana, Sunday—After consulting the lead- ing conspirators now under arrest, and with emissaries from the revolutionaries, the Govern- ment has announced its indefinite suspension of hostilities with the object of making peace before the arrival of Mr Taft or before the United States intervene Reuter Havana. Monday.—After the issue of the decree suspending hostilities, Government emissaries set out in motor-cars to confer with the Revolutionaries. General Menacal, accom- panied by two Congressman, went to a spot near Santiago de Las Vegas, where Senor Zayas. the Liberal leader, is enenmped with Castillo's forces while the Government representatives proceeded to Guanajay, which has just been occupied by a large force of in- surgents under Congressman Marquetti. The Government has liberated 30 of those indicted for conspiracy.—Reuter. The Times New York correspondent, telegraphing in reference to the Cuban rismg. says Mr Taft should arrive at Havana on Wednesday. It is understood that if a week after then peace is not restored, the United States will send troops. In the meantime all the resources of the Navy are bemg utilised, If the United States were at war the activity at the naval station could not be greater. Every available war vessel is being sent south. If the United States again sends an army to Cuba it is likely to stay there. The extraordinary feature of the situation, however, is that this apparently is exactly what the Cubans want.

LIME WANTED. ABERA VON SLAUGHTER-HOUSE. Reply to Doctor's Criticism. Aberavon Town Council met on Wednesday night, the Mayor (Alderman A. James) preid- ing. The slaughter-house keeper was called upon to "eply to the charges made by the medical officer at the Highways Committee that the slaughter-house was filthy and in- sanitary. Mr Phillips, the keeper, said the doctor's report was exaggerated very much. On the day the doctor visited the place there were several beasts in the slaughter-house, and the manure waggon had broken down. There was no gutter there, and they could not sweep the floors too otten on account of its bad state. Mr F. K- Smith How can the keeper explain why the slaughtering chamber is kept dirty ? Mr Phillips said he couJd not secure lime to whitewash the place, It was leit for three weeks without being limed. With regard to the table his assistant generally attended to this, and he could not say why it had been neg- lected on this day. It was generally kept clean. In reply to Mr Rhys Davies, he said that re- cently he had taken lime from his own home to whitewash the place. Discussion ensued as to providing lime, and it was eventually decided to refer the question to a sub-committee. Councillor Rbvs Davies moved that the clause in the Markets Committee's report requesting the slaughter-house keeper to report on the number of cattle brought in for sale be deleted. The Chairman said the motion was out of order. Discussion ensued as to who was re- sponsible for the slaughter-house. Mr Pearce (market inspector) said he had told the slaughter-house keeper that he was to carry out the orders of the Council, and make the report, but Mr Phillips had not answered him like a gentleman, and told him that he got his orders from the town clerk. Mr Phillips, keeper of the slaughter-house, denied this, and both officials had a heated argument. Coun. cillor F. B. Smith said it was resolved at the last meeting that the town clerk should write the slaughter-house keeper informing him that he was to report on the sales. Why had the town clerk not done so • The Town Clerk said he gave the message to the market inspec- tor, and he told the slaughter-house keeper. The matter was allowed to drop.

FORESTS ON FIRE. Forty Thousand Acres of Flame. Cannes, Tuesday A great fire, driven by a violent mistral, is raging in the Bois de Catlas Var. It has travelled over a distance of 50 kilometres, crossing the forests of Callas, Feil. lanf, Montauronx, gj.gnfls, Fanneron, and Leg Adrets, and is threatenipg t be ioiesta of Esterel and the woods of Pegoma and Mardelieu. Over 40,000 acres are stated to have been burnt. Troops are on the spot- At Bagnol two women have been burnt. The inhabitants of the village were obliged to flee. In the woods of moljnnsartoux, near Cannes, an area of 100 hectares has been burnt. Fire- men and troops have been sent to the scene of the fire from Grasse.— Reuter.

COMIC BOMBARDMENT. Paris, Tuesday,, telegram from Melilla states that the Moorish Government steamer Turki has been bombarding the Beni Bugafar tribe since an earlv hour tbis rnornmg. The message adds the "cannonade has no otaer effect than to impede the coasting trade.— Reuter.

--=- HOUSEKEEPING ADVICE FROM THE HING S PHYSICIAN. Sir Francis Lakingftbe Kind's physician) sxpresses the opinion that dried currants are so full of brain and body building properties that they should be used daily. Curraj>ts are'ftlmost ebief amoiiL'sD tlae mote valuable foods at men's COlllmand. as the- con- tain so ranch grape ancar as to be all actual nutri- menti, and when introduced into bread form an all Bufacient article of diet

TRAIN IN A RIVER. Collapse of a Bridge. 100 REPORTED KILLED. Oklahoma City, Tuesday.—A despatch from Enid states that; fully 100 persons were drowned as the result of a railway disaster this morning. A north-bound passenger train on the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad fell into the Cimarron river at Dover, 27 miles south of Enid. The engine and ail the cars, with the excep- tion of a Pullman car, went into the stream, which was at an unusually high level owing to a terrific storm which raged last night. It is reported that there were 100 passengers in chair cars, and that they were all drowned with the exception of one man. Four men were seen to fall from the top of one of the cars into the water and drown It is reported that many of the passengers of the ill-fated tram were rescued by a relief train which has arrived at Kingfisher from the scene of the disaster. Many of the survivors were more dead than alive as the result of their terrible experiences, and are being attended to in the hotels at Kingfisher, while a number of the bodies of the victims have been taken to the morgue there.—Reuter. Guthrie, Oklahoma, Tuesday—The Post- master 01 Kingfisher, on reaching Guthrie from the scene of the wreck, stated that all but six passengers of the ill-fated train have been accounted for.—Reuter. Only a Handful Escape. Wichita (Kansas), Tuesday.—A telephone message from Hennessey, Oklahoma, states that only six passengers escaped from the disaster on the Rock Island Railroad. All the cars with the exception of the last, a Pullman car, are reported to have gone into the river. Hennessey is eight miles from the scene of the disaster. Later.—A despatch from from the scene of the catastrophe asserts that only three pas- sengers were saved and that the telegaph wires were carried down with the bridge. A similar accident is reported to have occurred on the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroads, midway between Okenne and Ames, a heavy freight, train having gone through a bridge over the Cimarron River. It is stated that the engine-driver and fireman cannot be, found.—Reuter. Official Information. Topeka (Kansas), Tuesday.—At the Rock Island Kailroad general offices here informa- tion has been received that the engine, baggage car, mail car, and one coach of a north-bound passenger train have been buried in the bed of the Cimarron River as the result of an acci- dent just south of Dover, Oklahoma. A smoking car is partly in the river, while two Pullman cars, a chair car, and a coach, composing the | rest of ths train remained on the track. The engine-driver, fireman, express messenger, and postal clerks escaped from the river. The offices are unable to state howmany passengers were travelling in the coach or whether any escaped The general manager's office regards 150 as a high estimate of the number on board. —Reuter. Thrilling Narrative. Kansas City (Later).—A telegram from Hennessey says it was stated at 3.30 this afternoon that 100 persous were ascertained to have perished in the disaster. Mr Clyde Guest, the only person known to have escaped from the cars which fell into the river, says, "The train was running slowly and carefully when I felt the track give way. and heard the eng.ne-driver whistle tor the brakes- man to apply the emergency brakes. I started w.th the sar porter for the door, and just as I alighted from the tra'n the track gave way altogether, and I fell into the river. The porter and I managed to climb on top of a smoking-car and floated down the stream for several hundred yards, when i he wares and drift wood dislodged us and threw uo into the main current. In the meantime we had taken off our clothes, and this relief aided me considerably in getting to the bank. The porter went down a few minutes after- we were dislodged. As soon as 1 reached the bank I started for the railroad station, and notified the agent of the disaster The station agent was the first to reach the scene. All he could see of the cars in the water was the top of one coach a foot or two above the surface of the water. Four persons were on top of the car, but the agent was unable to assist them Suddenly a large piece of drift wood brushed them off, and in a second they had gone down."—Reuter. Bodies in a Temporary Morgue. Kansas City, Tuesday.—A private message received here from Dover states that 47 bodies have already been placed in a temporary morgue there. The break in the telegraph wire pretcntfd the dispatch of further intelligence. —Reuter.

Lord Rosebery. TILT AT SPELLING REFORM. "A Blow to Morality." Lord Rosebery was one or the principal guests at a banquet held in Hawick Town Hall on Tuesday in celebration of the jubilee of the Hawick Archaeolagical Society, of which Dr. Jas. A. H. Murray, the editor of the Oxford New English Dictionary, is president, and one of the original members. Interest was added to the occasion by the presentation of the freedom of the burgh to Dr. Murray, who is a native of Denholm, near Hawick. After the induction of Dr. Murray as an hon. burgess of Hawick—a ceremony which was followed by the presentation to the veteran philological of a joint address from the Border Counties Association and the Edinburgh Borderers' Unioh, paying tribute to his ser- vices to literature—a heavy toast list was carried through. Rising at ll o'clock to respond to the toast of" Kindred Societies," Lord Rosebery. who was received with great enthusiasm, the com- pany singing For he's a jolly good fellow." said that when he came there he knew that he should hear a great deal that would interest him, and that ho had not been disappointed, but he wanted particularly to know—and it was worth coming home 60 milea in a motor car at the legal rate of speed—(laughter)— and under all the moral and legal obligations laid down in an Act of Parliament, to hear Dr. Murray's opinion of President Roosevelt. (Hear, hear.) He had heard the Lord Advocate s opinion he had heard the proposer's opinion- they had given them without stint or measure—but he ■ should like to have beard Dr. Murray, and he was afraid that he did not propose to give them it that evening. (Laughter.) Might he offer one observation with regard to the con- troversy, and it was this, tbat the blow struck at the recognised spelling of the English race was a blow struck at morality itself. (Applause and laughter.) As a weil-known statesman said on a lamous occasion, he heard a smile. (Laughter.) But he thought he could prove his case. Who was it who were hampered by the laws of spellingT It was only the conscientious and the virtuous. The unscrupulous and intrepid spelled ahead according to phonetic rules of their own— (laughter)—and produced a result full ol accep- tation to themselves and sometimes understood by others (Laughter.) But the man of con- science puzzled over his spelling,and he was not at all sure that their archaic rules of spelling, laid down strictly as they were from tradition, and as stereotyped by the dictionaries, had not filled half the lunatic asylums of the country. (Laughter). The unscrupulous man spelled ahead, but the conscientious man pondered until his brain got addled, tried the word on paper in half a dozen different forms before he ventured to commit it to his final manuscript, and in that way his intelligence reeled. Think of those words that were spelt "believe" and conceive," and those analogous words What miseries had men and women and children under- gone in studying to spell those words aright. It was strictly true. as they would be told, that there was a very simple rule for spelling those words, and that they could be guided by their derivation from the Latin. But if you knew no Latin what was the use of the rule ? (Laughter.) And so he mght claim that it was the man who tried conscientiously to w. its those words aright was apt to to be dis- tressed in his conscience, and to be relegated to a lunatic scene of repose, whereas the man who had no nerves, no conscience, no bowels— (laughter)—spe led on without regard to cor- rectness, and preserved his intelligence, such as it was, intact, and might in the last moments of his life bo honoured by the homage of the President of the United States. (Laugh- ter,)

STRIPPING ROATH PARK SHRUBS. Wm. Evans and Frederick W. Davies, both under sixteen, were charged with damaging a shrub in the Roath Park Recreation Ground. nt the Cardiff Juvenile Court on Tuesday. Mr W. W. Pettigrew, parks superintendent, stated that on September 5th he was walking along the Ninian road when he saw the defendants near the shrubbery. Both had branches of willows in their bands stripping the leaves from them, while a third youth was inside the shrubbery. Witness only managed to catch Evans, who, when asked his name and address, gave 77illie Thomas, of 23, Malefant-street." Both the defendants went into the box and stated that they picked the branches off the ground and not from the shrubs. The magis- trates (Messrs J. Howard and Lambert) fined Jpvans who. the former said, had told lies £ §*nn'ng to end, 5s, and Davies 2s 6d. 3ir ±i. w. Ensor appeared to prosecute.

On Sunday morning there was an outbreak ornre at a lock-up shop, 78a, High street. a. The polico were promptlv on the 5?.e^e' S,nd followed by the Naniyglo and Blama Fire Brigade. The latter, however, had li ttle to do, the tire having been got under by the pohcn. and neighbours. Damage to the extent of about £50 was sustained. This is the third fire which has occurred on business I premises at Blaina within a fortnight.

T.V.R. Improvements. EXTENSIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RHONDDA. The directors of the Taff Vale Railway Com- pany made their annual inspection of the line on Tuesday, and advantage was taken of the visit to devote particular attention to the two Rhoncfda Valleys, where for some time past owing to tne increasing traffic, the difficulties of working have every day become more for- midable The question of how best to relieve the congestion has been under consideration for some little time, and owing to the confor- mation of the ground in the district it will be readily understood that the problem was not easy of solution. Certain schemes were placed before the Board, amongst them being one for constructing loop or passing lines at different points on their system, and this appearing the most feasible it was unanimously adopted, and the work was ordered to be proceeded with as soon as possible. By this mears the two lines in the Rhondela Fawr and the Rhondda Fach (shown on the accompan ing plan) will be so far as the length of the loon extends practic- ally doubled, and this should afford consider- abte relief to the congestion which at times has been unavoidable in the past. The undertaking of these improvements would enable the directors to give effect to a decision arrived at some years ago to improve the passenger service in fhe Khondda Valleys by running a service of motor coaches and erecting special platforms at which passengers can be taken up and set down. It will be re- membered that motor-car platforms have been already constructed by the company m the Rhondda Fawr at Tylaroch, Pentre, and Gelli but the directors have not seen their way clear to start a service of coaches owing to the diffi- culties above referred to. Of course, in the Rhondda Fach, between Maerdy and Porth,, a motor-car service has been provided with satisfactory results, not. withstanding the severe gradients that had to be encountered. On Tuesdav the Board gave instructions for a motor-car platform to be placed at Dunraven, at the top of the Rhondda Fawr, and there will likewise be either a platform or station at Trealaw. close to the goods department there. The population in the neighbourhood of Trealaw is rapidly increasing, and many repre- sentations have been made to the Taff Vale Company as to the necessity of constructing a station there, but for various reasons, partly owing to the circumscribed area of the Taff Vale property, and partly because of the difficulty of acquiring land in the district at a moderate cost—it has hitherto been found impossible to accede to the re- quests of the inhabitants. Now, however, it is contemplated to erect either a motor car platform or an ordinary passenger station. Altogether it is proposed to have eleven stationk; or platforms in the eightmiles between Porth and Dunraven, at an average distance of three-quarters of a mile apart, and therefore the Company are of opinion that there will be very few residents in the Valley who will not be well within half a mile of a station. It is also intended, so as to save the present delay occasioned to passengers travelling between the two Valleys by the wait that now occurs at Porth, to run motor cars from Duaraven to the Rhondda Fach, without necessitating any change. The directors have decided to place orders for several additional motor coaches, and these wiil be practically of the same type as those last built for the Taff Co., and now run- ning between Cathays and the Docks, and on the Penarth branch. Each coach will carry about 75 passengers, and will be capable of drawing a trailer. If needs be, the cars will travel at a speed of 40 miles an hour, and it is contended by the Railway Co. that they will be able to cover the journey from one end of the Valley to the other, in about a third of the time that an ordinary electrical tram car could accomplish it. It should be here stated that the proposed new tramway system in the two Rhonddas is shown on the map in dotted lines. This last named project is, as stated in a pre- vious issue, now being started in earnest, and consequently in the future the travelling public may look forward to being efficiently and con- j veniently served. Taff Vale Railway is shown with a plain line. Dotted lines indicate the authorised Tramway, j

Schoolboys' Revolt. POLICE CALLED IN AT TREDEGAR. Manager Relates His Experiences. A remarkable story of a revolt of schoolboys was toid at a meeting of the managers of the Tredegar Valley Group of Council Schools on Wednesday. Mr T. J. Price stated that the County Committee were continually writing requesting him to find teachers for Tredegar; Roman Catholic School, which it was very diffi- cult to. staff. He now suggested that two teachers, one male and one female. whose names had been removed from the Council's school staff because they had failed on two occasions to pass the King's scholarship examin- ation, be offered the vacant positions. He had suggested this to the correspondent 01 the Roman Catholic school, with the proviso, of course, that there should be no religious test applied. He had told the correspondent that if he dared put any questions to those teachers as to their faith, he (Mr Price) would make no further effort to provide staff. An undertaking had been given by the correspondent that no religious test should be put. Mr Price said he wag anxious that a male teacher should be ap. pointed because the school was attended by a very rough lot of boys. During the absence of the headmistress recently the youngsters rose in revolt, and the police had to be cal!ed in. He (Mr Price) also went in to quell the dis- turbance. A very warm time took place be- tween him and the Rev. Father Mackesy. The suggestion as to the appointment of the two teachers referred to was adopted by tfee mana- gers. The Rev. J. Llewellyn called attention to the need of proceeding without delay with th e erection of a new school at Cwmfelinvach. The district round Ynysddu was developing very rapidly, and the school in that district was already crowded, although additions were being made- Dr. H. T. Evans said there was urgent need for additional accommodation right through the Sirhowy Valley. It was decided to urge the county authority to proceed with the Cwmfelinvach school as early as pos. sible.

I ELEVEN NAVVIES CHARGED. ALLEGED BURGLARY AT GARNANT. Defendants Discharged. The circumstances of the aileged daring robbery at Garnant early on Tuesday formed the subject of a magisterial inquiry at Llandilo on Wednesday, when 11 navvies were brought up in custody charged with being in unlawful possession of groceries, value 25s, the property of W. Morgan Jefferies, Garna.nt. Mr Jeffreys said he identified the articles as his property. P.S. Roberts said that early on Tuesday morn- ing he found that the premises had been broken into by means of a crowbar. Be found the goods In a shed where the defendants were sleeping at 2 a.rn. on Tuesday. A collier spoke to seeing a fire in the shed as he was going home, and the men were having a jollification. Defendants pleaded not guilty, stating they bad not been from the shed during the time the property was stolen. Defendants were dis. charged.

TRAGIC DEATH AT ABERCANAID Soon after 9 am. on Wednesday a young man named xiarris Thomas, residing at Quay- row, Upper Abercanaid, an assistant surveyor at the Hill's Plymouth Collieries, was found ead in his house under painful circumstances. It appears that Thomas got up as usual to pro- ceed to his work. Before he had compieted dressing it is supposed he had a fit, from the effects of which he fell against the fireplace, with the result that he received a terrible cut acrcss the forehead. He had lost a large quan- tity of blood. His siatcr. with whom he stayed, found her brother lifeless. It is supposed that Thomas fell against the bandle of a fryingpan which was sticking out of the oven door.

Xema and Her Rival. RACE FOR DIAMOND ISLE." Capetown, Wednesday.—The o0g Xema, bound for Diamond Vave »r- the Guano Islands, is rumoured W rived at Swakopmund, German Sou Africa. Her Capetown rival, the Au *oa9# reached Cape Nolloth, on the north-we of Cape Colony. issued The Cape Government have again ^af stringent warning against unauthorised P landing on the Guano Islands. ínúi- People who know the island groT"> jjjjeli* ma#?ly assert that there is not the leas hood of diamonds being found upon Daily Mail." "The Xema will by now have reached the mood island, and the prospectors wil nAagC work," said Air E. Keuyon Collis, the of the Collis Diamond Syndicate to 01 News representative on Wednesday- ilircra hat Yes, I notice that the steamer Aurora jøJi. left Cape Town bound, so it is said, on The lar mission." continued Mr Collis- Beerf Aurora, I believe, is a De e0jog steamer, and I think they are S oUf to chase us, or at least discover i whereabouts. If we are first at the I. "iU however, and we put up our licences. take more than the Aurora to prevent is ceeding to business. The diamond isla^ quite snail—only about a mile by a m'le a quarter. We have made provision for 1 he P specting to extend over a mouth, or Per ^jjj 6ix weeks, but we do not anticipate that1 take more than a fortnight to locate diamondiferous strata If Captain *Ljt« tale is true, there are marvellously rich dep existing. He only washed* ahmial sou secured the famous stones which he hro » j. back to Mr Griffiths. If we get only s diamonds to fill an ordinary medicine en the expenses of the expedition will have more than paid. Another Treasure Story. Captain Norman, who 15 years ago command of a barque which used to touch the Guano islands off the south-west coas* South Africa, tells a Morning Leader presentative that the only hint which he ev had of precious stones in the neighourn came from the man who was then in charge Procession Island. One day, after he the been talking to Captain Norman about the most ordinary subjects, cabbages and kin^j etc., he suddenly became very mysterious. said he had something to show the caPjjLo Ho disappeared for a little while, a-nd tn came back with an ordinary glass fruit bc> in his hands, which he jealously gnarJ\ He would not aliow the captain to the cork out, but through the sides the cap could see that it was filled with curious-100 stones, or crystals.. t'kfl They looked," said Captain Norman, t pieces of smooth, frozen glass, and some reddish appearance. 1 could not tell him wr^1. they were of any value without exafflU1 tbem more closely, and the man said he taking them to Capetown on the first tunity to get an expert's verdict. He f frank about the whereabouts of the parti island on which he had picked them nP» Qi before we parted he volunteered the naOlÐ the island in confidence. It so happened that that turned out the captain s last voyage, and he never saW man again. So he is unable to say whether man is now a rolling Croesus, or just aa appointed human like the rest of us. 1 he captain, however, still ke«p3 the se<^j of the name of the island, and would only the Leader representative that it was further south than Seal Island. The captae opinion is that Seal Island is too far off •< beaten track of stray diamonds. One tbe°^ of his is that the diamond-studded (mp1" less) banks of the Orange river would, i° y course of centuries, be gradually washed when the river was in spate and that water, finding an outlet in the sea, w° caught by the current, which runs at the P™ of ten knots to twelve thereabouts, and 0f would carry any deposit in the direction' such islands as Sinclair, Pomona, Albatross Rocks. etc.

BREEZE AT ABERYSTWYTH. Solicitor and Magistrates Wrangle* During the hearing of a cruelty toaniB*^ case at the Aberystwyth Sessions on We1 ^^9 day, Mr W. P. Owen, who appeared foj R S.P.C. A-, and was cross-examining a for the defence, who gave a flat contradictiool to the other side's evidence, complained bitterly of the continued interruptions, \ff the Bench after a remark had been made tbe Mayor. t Fhe Mayor Do you mean from the Ben„r* Mr Owen (warmly) Yes, from you; yol c not. help showing your side. The Mayor You cannot object to any qø tion from the Bench. Mr Owen I object to you putting an? tion during the course of my cross- It tion. There is a time at the end for that. 1 is within my recollection that the lasttiO* appeared before vou a remark was you which ought never to have come Ljog any magistrate. You cannot help your side. You have made up your m'o £ l this case aq in the other. the Councillor Hopkins, who was also on Bench, said the witness did not understand que,tion. Ott Mr Owen You are not on the rota. should not be here. Councillor Hopkins I can come here than you. Mr Owen If I am not allowed to 8?ofJx without interruptions I shall withdraw 1 the case and proceed no further. ut. The Mayor We know how to conduct 0 selves on this Bench without being taught you. the Mr Owen proceeded to speak, when re. Mayor said they did not want any more marks. mink Mr Owen I shall make any remarks I proper. The Mayor So will the Bench.. 0a Mr Owen I thoroughly understand that 7 have made up your minds. Councillor Hopkins I only want a qness that the man can understand. Mr Owen He s allowed to answer in bis o way, and if he is in any difficulty he gets J* 9 from the Mayor or Mr Hopkins. I have <1 my duty, and you must take the responsible upon your shoulders. The Mayor So we will. Either go on your case or withdraw. Captain James, the other magistrate now said I hope as long as I am on this BeD it will not be turned into a Town Council* The Mayor That remark i; uncalled for* -g Captain James If this is the way thing9 sit going to be carried out, I shall be sorry to here. ø The Mayor You take your choice. You 0" do as you like. Mr Owen then proceeded with examination of the witness. The Bench dismissed the case.

LABOUR CO-PARTNERSHIP- Miners to Buy Colliery. t6 One of the most interesting developme 1, known in the history of the Lancashire t' itJ, mining industry is pending at Blackr £ >a» » Central Lancashire. The Blackrod MIsidØ Association, with the assistance of °u 0{ financial »id, is negot ating lor the PurC^*oaU* the Anderton Hall Mines, near Blackrod way Station, which have been closed for a the time. The association intends to restart mines.

DISASTROUSEXPLOSION. Six People Killed. Havana, Monday.—A violent expl°s'0lXgjj: day wrecked two brick buildings here* ^0 persons were killed and many injured-. affair is believed to be the work of incendi After tbe explosion tho buildings The dead and injured are being taken out the ruins.-Retiter.

NATAL GENERAL ELECTION. ——— 11 the Pietermaritzburg, Wednesday. A re, members of the Government have be turned, the Prem:er at the top of the P°ijy t>0 special Session of Parliament will shor "UMM olled. -Reuter.

PARALYSIS OF TIID NERVES. UNABLE TO WALK FOR FOUR MIRACULOUSLY CURED► RY DR. HASKELL'S TABLE-L I Mr O. ABBOTT. TT t'- Mr O. ABPOvIi8«ioIJ* Police Court ary), 35, Leicester, 1905 • Mar eh 23r^ jU {0at "I was years ago w,i £ rTeS. ais of the „nabie have been walk for S<P" and Bince n con tember bej, fined to iny j doctor tolfv agftin- never walk y0tir decided tablets^^Pjesol* to ssy tl1 miracul00!. has been JP treat Alter ten day ftbl0 ta ment I wa3 my bed, walk across of room with m ,viv stick- Arett gradually improved, until now I a tv,ank myself an'l walk in the gardbn. a tbe %roi what you have done for me, min J n#e case known in this town, and I cann t0 toy treatment too hi»blv. Statement attes J. BATSMAN. 37, G DR. CASSBLL'S FtBSH-FCW^eTS 0 and STRENGTHENING TAK create NF.EVE, BbOOD, SoryeNT 1>K»cc0- STRENGTH, VITALITY. Appe&r- TURE GKEYNESf-, and delaj- OldS tbe V & The remedy of doctors and senentitle nerveB fection ot medicine for woak d 7 body in yonn™ or old. f^mim»aDdStrang by Ask for Dr. CasseU'a Fieah-forru. jjr, ins Tablets, price 1CJ I a.n^0 the nil Chemists, or post free Ironi jjanchegL Cnssell's Co., Ltd., King-street WW. Advice free by letter.