Evening Express

FICKLE BELLONA. I If reports to hand are to be trusted the fortunes of war have, for the moment, turned against the Japanese. In an attempt to cork up Port Arthur they have been themselves surprised and repulsed, though it is unlikely that their losses are anything like so serious as stated in the Russian dispatch. This reverse may do Japan good by rendering her more wary. Victory has a demoralising effect, and our gallant allies may be all the better for being put on their mettle. After all, neither Russia nor Japan need have any difficulty about carrying on the war. All they have to do is to follow the advice so freely tendered by the various experts who contribute to the London press. This would have the pleasant result of ensur- ing victory for both belligerents.

We are able to announce, under all reserve, that in the event of any Power coming to the aid of Russia Councillor Frank Beavan will place his services at the disposal of Japan.

Cardiff's death-rate last week was equal to that of Swansea—not a pleasant state 'bf things. The rate was 19. Rbondda's rate was 18, and Newport's 16. Merthyr —25—is still high, but improving.

In the course of a case heard at Caer- philly yesterday, it was stated that a woman had told her husband he could go to h-, but that another man could stay. This usurpation of the functions usually assigned to Saint Peter so astonished the magistrates that they dismissed the case.

There see trouble brewing on the Llanishen Yalu. At a meeting on Tues- day night in connection with the county council candidature a speaker from Lis- vane was told he would have his teeth knocked down his throat." These un- Christian sentiments were aroused over the education controversy. Be it added that the shocking anatomical threat was not made by a Llanishenite, so there is no need for the feelings of any member of the parish council to be disturbed.

We are glad to hear from the city fathers that Cardiff water is all right; still, the nervous had better not drink it (or, indeed, any water) unless boiled or filtered. We notice that a bacteriological examination made in January revealed an organism called B. Coli in several speci- mens, and another called B. Enteritidis (so spelt in the printed minutes, at any rate) in one of them. We have no objection to B. Coli except that we have no desire to drink him uncooked; but B. Enteritidis reminds us of the Tugela and Buller's advance. However, Alderman Jones says it's all right, so we suppose there is no cause for alarm.

I Mainly About People, I Lord Kitchener has so far recovered from his accident that he hae been able to dis- pense with the use of a stick. Only a very slight lameness is apparent, tue result of the bone fracture; and he can move about with freedom. Lord Ampthill, popularly nominated as tem- porary Viceroy of India during Lord Curzon's absence, is a young peer of 54, and a son of the first baron, so many years our Ambassa- dor at Berlin. He was born at Rome in 1869, and was educated at Eton and New College, Oxford. He succeeded to the title in 1884. At Oxford Lord Ampthill was president of the Union Debating Society, bnt he was better known as rowing No. 6 in the 'varsity boat than as a debater. Tall, handsome, and of fine physique, the young peer wae one of the most popular members of the university. In 1894 Lord Ampthill married Lady Margaret Lyson, daughter of the sixth Earl Beauchamp. It is a tale that is told that Sir William FraMer advised the first Lord AmpthiM, who was, perhaps, better known as Lord Odo Eussell, to tell his brother Ambassadors that the reason for choosing this particular title was that he had never permitted himself to be sat upon. The renovation of the private chapel within Buckingham Palace, which is now completed, has been undertaken by the Office of Works. At first a music chamber, this phase of its history was not entirely obliterated when it was turned into a worship-room by the late Queen. The ecclesiastical "note" of the apartment has been intensified, and in cer- j tain directions the private chapel now presents a close resemblance to the Chapel Royal. St. James's, being furnished with anti- phonal stalls and with a haut pas. Signora Eleonora Duse, the great Italian actress, who is lying ill with bronchial pneu- monia. was born at Vigevano, a small town of Venetia, in 1859-the offspring of im- poverished actors, whose days were spent in wandering from town to town, veritable Ishmaels of the desert, with lives inured to the endurance of every kind of difficulty and privation. Even from earliest babyhood the small Eleonora would accompany her father and mother on their various pilgrimages of toil; and in after years she would carry about with her, almost as a fetish, the little antique coffer in which she used to lie whilst her mother was occupying the stage. At Verona, when she was but fifteen, her moment came—when she enacted "Juliet" for the first time in the very city of the love tragedy. Perhaps the knowledge that she was revivifying the story on the scene of its hap- pening gave inspiration. Certain it is that Salvini then prophesied a giant future for the pale-faced girl. Duse's first real opening came in Zola's "Therese Raquin." It hap- pened one evening that Giacinta Fe?zana. then Italy's leading star, was unable to play, and the invitation to take her place was given to the young Venetian. The notice was of the briefest, but, given her chance, La Duse was not slow in seizing upon it. and in making a splendid success of her opportunity. In the year 1886 more triumph awaited her in Milan, when she settled for all time the question of her supremacy. Signora Duse's conquest of London some years ago was all the more remarkable in that few Londoners could pro- nounce her name with certainty, and still fewer could understand the language she spoke. A man of many enthusiasms is Mr. Mor- timer Menpes, who has just celebrated another birthday. He has, on occasions, des- cribed himself as painter, raconteur, and rifle I shot. He is, however, a good deal more than these. for he is an author who, aa an adjunct II' to the making of books. has added printing works and the necessary plant for reproduc- ing his drawings in colour. Mr. Mienpes was, as he saya, "inartistically born" in Australia, a fact which one day gave Whistler the oppor- tunity for remarking that he "could only liken Mr. Menpes to the kangaroo of his native country, which was born with a pocket into which be put peach which Mr. Menpes himself has re-called in the most good-humoured manner possible. In Australia Mr. Menpes began his artistio career when be was a very small boy indeed. Eventually, he found his way to the art schools ait South Kensington, and shortly afterwards met Whistler, who, assuring the young man that he would "save him from artistic degradation," induced him to leave South Kensington and took him as a pupil. It was while he was at South Kensington that Mr. Menpes became celebrated as a rifle shot. I Within two months of handling a rifle he was selected to represent Middlesex. It was while shooting for Middlesex with a Martini rifle that he made what was at that time, and probably still remains, the record score of 27 bulls out of 28 shots at 200 yards. As an authority on Japan Mr. Merpes Is well known the world over. Indeed, some people actually suppose his name is Japanese, and he often receives letters addressed "Men-Pes." He possesses also what is un- doubtedly the only real Japanese house in London. It was made in Japan, where for a year Mr. Menpes kept some hundred skilled artists at work carrying out the designs he had made. In the House of Commons the new member is regarded by the old stagers with a tender interest similar to that extended by comfort- able matrons to a timid, blushing bride (says "S. L. H." in an amusing Parliamentary article in the "Bystander"). It is pretty to see the old greybeards and bald pates listen- ing with smiles of encouragement and com- miseration to the maiden speech of the novice. And the novice, just before he takes the plunge, is worth watching, too. How he puffs I and pants, how he shifts about, passes his hand over his brow, looks furtively at his notes to be sure of that first sentence that he has been mumbling night and day for a week! It has always seemed to me that the few minutes before the delivery of a maiden speech in the House must rival in uneasy sensation that acute moment when a man finally decides that he is going to be sea-sick. The Earl of Strathmore, who died the other day at Bordighera, Italy, was in his eightieth year. A grandson of the eleventh earl, he succeeded his brother in the title in 1865. He married a granduiece of the first Lord Carrington. He came of a family famous in Scottish history. Founded by Sir John Lyon, who married Lady Jean Stewart, daughter of King Robert II., its heads were at the right hand of the Scottish monarchs for centuries. The principal seat of the family, Glamis Castle, once belonged to Macbeth, and is the traditional soene of the murder of Duncan. Glamis Castle is a gloomy pile, and has some gloomy stories connected with it. They show a traditional scene of the murder of Duncan (Macbeth was Thane of GI..i: as well as of Cawdor) near the crypt, and there is more authentic record of Malcolm II. treacherously wounded to death by Kenneth, and brought here to die. Also of beautiful Lady Glamis, falsely accused by a rejected lover of practising witchcraft against the life of James V., and burned at the stake in 1557 on Edinburgh Castle Hill. Then there is the grim hereditary mystery of the house of Strathmore, the secret terror that each earl is said to transmit to his eldest son, calling in but one trusted witness lest the secret be for- gotten.

SIBERIAN GOLD. Summons Asked for Against Mr. Hooley. I At Marlborough-street Police-court, London. I to-day, application was made for a summons I against Mr. E. T. Hooley, for obtaining large sums of money by faJse pretences from, a Mr. Paine. Counsel said that the sums amounted to £ 30,000. Mr. Hooley represented to Mr. Paine that he was interested in the Siberrian Gold Fields Company, which had obtained large goldflelds by ooncession from the Rus- sian Government, that the company was work- ing the fields, and that over 94,000,000 worth of gold had been extracted. On the strength of these statements Mr. Paine bought a num- ber of shares. The counsel said he had no information," and asked for a summons on the magistrates discretion. The magistrate thought an information desirable,and counsel stated one would be prepared and submitted to the magistrate.

MISHAP TO WEDDING PARTY I Singular Accident at Pontypool An exciting occurrence happened yester- day to a Pontypool wedding party. The horses attached to a coruveyanice containing Mr. iMlls (the bridegroom) and Miss Pitt (the bride) boLted in Merthyr-street, and dashing down Clarence Hill the pole snapped at the -bottle of the hill, the vehicle turned into a bank, and one of the wheels was shattered to pieces. The wedding party, however, escaped un- hurt, and proceeded to the chapel, where the nuptial ceremony was performed by the Rev. D. J. Nioholls, Pontypool. — in Ii

PAUPERS' MEDICINE. I t Local Government Board Order j  an Inquiry at Cardiff. I Mr. Harold IAloyd, solicitor, Cardiff, to-day ) receive da letter from the Local Government Board intimating that Mr. Birdsajm, their inspector, had been instructe dto hold an I inquiry into the charges preferred by the Cardiff Board of Guardians agains Mr. Taylor, who was formerly in charge of the union I dispentary in Charles-street. The date of the inquiry has not been fixed.

UNSUCCESSFUL ADMIRALTY SUIT. I To-dayta the Admiralty-court the owners of the Southampton tug Hector claimed salvage remuneration in respect of certain pumping operations rendered by the tug in connection with the salivng of the Cardiff steamship Cassia, which, after colliding with the quay wall in Granville Harbour, sank. Justice Barnes held that services were ren- dered under contract with Messrs Mordey, Carney, who undertook the salvage opera- tions for a. specific sum, and his suit against the owners of the Cassia was, therefore, dis- missed with costs.

PONTYEATES MAN SENT TO GAOL At Llanelly Police-court on Wednesday David Bowen, formerly of Pontyeates, was charged with obtaining lewt. of lard from Messrs. Kilbert and Co.. Manchester, and a quantity of butter and cheese from Messrs. J. J. Wright and Co. (Limited), the Creameries, Taunton, value 8s. 7d., under false pre- tence&-Prisoner. a labourer, ordered the goods, pretending that he was in business, when he was not.—He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to four months' hard labour on each of the two charges, the sentences to run concurrently.

Billy Morgan, a Swansea pugilist, waa again I charged at Swansea on Wednesday with preaching his art whilst drunk in the street, and he was fined 20s. or fourteen days' hard labour.

Bcrtimg Clothes I is a wasteful way to wash. There is no excuse for it ,iow; Fels-Nap&ha is better Atthout it. Go by the book. FcbPitoptha-tt Wteoo-street London E 0

COLLIERS CAPTUREDI BRITISH STEAMERS TAKEN BY THE RUSSIANS. Laden with (WelshP) Coal for Japan. SUAKIN, Wednesday. I The captain of the steamer Luristan, bound from London to Bombay, which has arrived here, reports that the vessel was stopped and examined by Russian destroyers a few miles south of the Daedalus, and that the Russians informed him that three British steamers, laden with coal for Japan, had been captured by them. The steamers mentioned in the above message were, no doubt, Cardiff-laden. Below we give a list of steamers which left Cardiff (Penarth or Barry) between January 17 and February 10, and also the latest place at which those steamers have been reported. The majority of the steamers for Hong-kong are for the British Admiralty. Many of the steamers to Singapore and other destinations are for orders, but it is hardly to be expected that any of these would be liable to capture. The Milton and other steamers for Port Arthur have been diverted. The steamers most likely to have been captured are those marked with an asterisk. The cargo is coal in each case where it is not patent fuel: — Destination. Steamer. Cargo. Hong Kon.g-Strathnevis-5,QOO tons Singapore—Labuan—5,000 tons patent fuel Shanghai or Hong Kong—St. Irene—5,50Q tons Port Arthnr-Milton-3.500 tons patent fuel •Japan (Sabang for orders)—St. Dunctan-5,900 tons Hong Kong-St. Niolas-5,OOO tona Hong Kon,-Asania-5,100 tons *Sasebo—Mathilda—5,000 tons *Sabang (for orders)—Ettriekdale—5,150 tons Hong Kong—Eva—4,000 tons Japan—Willowdene—6,000 tons Sabang-Ltizon-5.900 tons Hong Kong—Cymbeline—5,000 tons *SaBebo-Sandyford-5,00Q tons Hong Kong-Warriar-.E,)00 tons Japan—Caithness—5,200 tons Port Arthur—Java—6,500 tons Singapore—Katanaga—4,000 tons Singapore—Calliope—5,700 tons Singapore (for orders)—Fonar—4,000 tons Hong Kong-Frankby-6,300 tons Singapore (for orders)-Oriel-4,600 tons Hong Kong—Evandale—5,QC0 tons *Sa6ebo-Rœeley-6.200 tons Japan—Jerseymoor—6,000 tons Singapore (for orders)-Newholm-5,OOO tons Singapore (options;—Swanley—5,500 tons The latest reports of these steamers are I as follow:- Left Cardiff. Strathnevis .Jan. 27 At Port Said Feb. 6 Labnan .Jan. 30 .At Port Said Feb. 15 St. Irene 28.At Suez Feb. 14 Milton .Jan. 19 Passed Perim Feb. 10 *St. Dunstan Feb. 4. Passed Suez Feb. 18 St. Nicholas .Jan. 20 Passed Suez Feb. 3 Asama Jan. 28 At Port Said Feb. 11 -Mathilda .Jan. 30 .At Port Said Feb. 16 •Ettrickdale .Feb. 3.At Malta Feb. 15 Eva Jan. 20 At Port Said Feb. 5 Willowdene .Jan. 21 At Port Said Feb. 4 Luzon Feb. 11. —————— Cymbeline .Jan. 27.At Port Said Feb. 18 *Sandyford .J an. 22.Left Suez Feb. 8 Warrior .Jan. 22. Left Suez Feb. 8 Caithness .Feb. 10. —————— Katanaga .Jan. 27.At Port Said Feb. 13 Calliope Feb. 17. —————— Fonar -Jan. 30 At Port Said Feb. 15 Frankby -Feb. 3.At Port Said Feb. 17 Oriel Jan. 30 At Port Said Feb. 14 [Evandale Feb. 13. •Roseley Feb. 4 Passed Malta Feb. 17 •Jerseymioor Feb. 4.Passed P't Said Feb 21 Newholm Feb. 12. —————— Swa-nley.Feb. 10 Pas'd Peniche Feb. 16

THE CONCILIATION BOARD CHAIRMAN. The Lord Chief Justice will make the Appointment. Messrs. Dalziel and Richards on Wednesday evening saw the Lord Chief Justice in refer- ence to the independent chairmanship of the Conciliation Board. His lordship under- I took to make an appointment at as early a date as possible.

I GRAVE ILLNESS OF LORD SHAND I Lord Shand, who is suffering from pneu- monia, had rather a bad night. Hi.s lordship's condition is somewhat serious.

I NAVY AND SMOKELESS COAL I I In reply to a question. Mr. Pretyman, the I Secretary of the Admiralty, indirectly fur- nished an argument in favour of our conten- tion (says the "Morning Post") that either the whole or a considerable proportion of the supply of smokeless coal should be in the control of the Admiralty. A port had been offered in South Wales as a Government coal- ing station and store depot. It lies within a few miles of several collieries on the? Admi- ralty list: it was offered on terms which Would prevent it from being a burden on the country, and it possessed facilities for the storage of from 300,00C to 500,000 tons of smoke- less coal. At first sight it appears aa if it would be a priceless advantage to have this accumulation ready for an emergency, but Mr. Pretyman pointed out that it was not desirable that the coal for the Navy &hould be kept long in stock. This is perfectly true. I Coal deteriorates rapidly if exposed to atmo- spheric influences. In fact, at some places in the Far East it will, it is said, fall off in quality to the extent of 50 per cent. in six months if allowed to be freely exposed to the air. But, surely, the remedy is not to store coal to any greater extent than is required for average current needs, but to have at hand the means of producing it in large quan- tities at short notice if required. Of course, this means delay, but that is better than fill- ing the bunkers of our ships on the eve of going into action with deteriorated coal, whose impaired qualities must have a material effect on their speed.

CARDIFF PISCATORIAL SOCIETY I The annual dinner of the Oardiff Piscatorial Society was inem a.t the Alexander Hotel, Cardiff, on Wednesday night, when Mr. W. J. Watkins presided over a good muster of mem- bers, in the absence of the president, Sir Francis Price. Mr. T. J. Williams occupied the vios-chair. An excellent repast was par- taken of. after which an enjoyable miscel- laneoue programme waa gone through.

ACCIDENTS AT CARDIFF Ambrit Joseph, 33, a steward on board the stea.mahip Campinas, now lying at the East Dock, Cardiff, met with a singular accident on Wednesday. He was opening a bottle of wine when the bottle burst, and a pieoe of the glass lodged in his right thigh, inflicting a severe wound. The ship's medical officer, Dr. VaJett, attended the injured man, and sub- sequently advised his removal to the hospital ship. Mastin Ollasou, 30, a seaman on board the Norwegian steamer Sjoguntten, now lying at the east side of the East Dock, Car- diff, fell down the hold through the bunker hatch, a distance of 15ft. He was conveyed to the hospital ship, where it was found he had sustained two scalp wounds, a wound on the right ear, and a sprained wrist.

CANCER RESEARCH Speaking on Wednesday at the annual meet- ing of the Cancer HospitaJ, Brampton* London, Dr. Herbert Snow, the senior sur- geon, said that at that hospital they had studied oancer as it had been studied nowhere else in the world, and had laboured to put cancer science on a sure foundation for future research. In that they had utterly and miserably failed. All schemes of cancer research, even under the most august patron- age, must of necessity fail unless some step was taken to clear away ail the traditional lumber of past centuries. In his judgment, the thing needed was a world's congress on the subject.

The annual Tivyaide ploughing matches were held at Newcastle Emlyn on a field kindly lent by Mr. B. Da visa. Ivy Bush. There was a l&rge attendance, and the matches joroved very. suocese/ol, J

SCHOONER SUNK. I CUT IN TWO BY A JAPANESE I STEAMER. Survivor Relates His Thrilling Experience The small coasting schooner Edward Wind us, of Portmadoc, was run down on Mon- day night off Hastings by the Japanese mail steamer Bingo Mara. So severe was the collision that the mail steamer struck the schooner in the stern and split her as far as the forecastle. The only survivor of the coasting schooner was a German, named Matare. The captain and the others were below when the accident occurred, but the former arrived on deck ajid fell down the hatchway owing to the impact. Three of the men were not seen, and must have gone down with the ship. Matare Baw an able seaman named Owen Jones clinging to a plank behind him in the water just before he (Matare) was picked up. Appended are the names of those who lost their lives:- John Williams, master, Portmadoc. Gus. Jones, chief officer, Portmadoc. Ellis Oliver, cook, Aberystwyth. Owen Jones, A.B., Portmadoc. Herman Prahl, A.B., Hamburg. The Bingo Mara arrived in Cardiff yester- day, and reported the casualty. Interview with the Survivor I It was a thrilling experience which young Matare, the only survivor of the catastrophe, underwent. He stated to our reporter in the course of an interview that the Edward Windus was a small coasting schooner of about 400 tons, and on her fatal voyage was bound from Hull to Portsmouth with coal. Asked to give an accurate description, as far aa he could, of what happened on Monday night, he said:— "I was on the look-out for'ard when the collision occurred, and Owen Jones was at the wheel. It was a very black night, but not stormy. Although we had side lights showing we had no light aft, as we should have had, and that, no doubt, brought about the accident. The Japanese steamer struck us dead on the stern, and cut right away through amidships to the bows, causing the schooner to part in two halves and immediately sink." "Could you not see the Bingo Maru approaching?" "No, I could not, because of the Bails; neither could Owen Jones." "Whose watch was it-the captain's or the mate's?" "The captain's, but he was down below." "He may have been looking at the chart?" "No; I don't think so. He was not often on deck during his watch." "What happened after the schooner sank?" "No doubt all those below went down with her. I was swimming in the water for about four hours, but during the latter part of the time I had a table to support me. At last I got to the steamer's side, and was thrown a rope. I saw Owen Jones swimming about until a quarter of an hour before I was rescued, but I suppose he must have gone down then, as he disappeared. He had a plank to support him. It's a pity he couldn't have held on just a little longer." Matare, who, of course, lost all his belong- ings, joined the schooner a few months ago. According to Lloyd's register, the Edward Windus was a wooden barquentine of 156 tons register. She was built in 1864, and was owned by Mr. J. H. Williams, of Portmadoc, where she was constructed.

I BARRY RITUALISM, Rector's Further Reply to Parishioners. Further correspondence has taken place between the Rev. J. S. Longdon, M.A., rector of Cadoxton-Barry, and a section of his parishioners, who have taken exception to certain alleged unauthorised Ritualistic practices at St. Maury's Church, Barry I Dock. The objectors, in a letter reply- ing to the rector's previous explanation of the charges, reiterated their grounds of com- plaint, amongst other practices those of prayers for the dead and auricular confession. In connection with the latter, the objectors protested against the practice of inviting young boys and girls and children of tender years to come to the clergyman and confess to him, and this, they alleged, was taught at St. Mary's Church. The Rector, in his further reply, states that his reason for sending the correspondence to the press is the fact that statements respect- ing the teaching of the clergy of the parish have appeared in the press in a perverted form on more than one occasion, and the' clergy have been represented as teaching things which they would be the first to repudiate. He, therefore, considered it his duty to publish the whole correspondence in the matter. The rector then proceeds to reply in further detail to the several questions raised by the objectors, amongst others the alleged elevation of the consecrated elements; lights on the Communion table; wearing of vestments; bowing down. genuflecting, and prostration before the consecrated ele- ments; ceremonially washing or rinsing, drinking the rinsings, and wiping the chalice during the service before the final benedic- tion; using the eastward position so as to hide the manual acts, or so standing as to prevent their being seen; making the sign of the cross; mixing water with wine during the Communion service; using prayers for the dead; and auricular confession. To the majo- rity of the allegations of the aggrieved parishioners the rector gives a complete denial. As to prayers for the dead, Mr. Longdon maintains that only prayers from the Prayer Book are, or have been, used in the public services of the Church at St. Mary's. With regard to auricular confession, he points out that 94 candidates from the parish of Oadoxton were confirmed last November, after careful preparation extending over eight weeks, ajnd a further preparation of six weeks before first Oommimion, with a, class every week, and also a private interview weekly. Every child was told to learn a home-lesson, amd to tell their parents what they were being taught. No child was withdrawn, and no parent had up to now said one single word to the rector except words of thanks. The rector further calls attention to the fact that amongst the signatories to the objections were those of several youths, who could not be expected to have the knowledge or expe- rience to enable them to dictate to the clergy what was right or wrong, authorised or un- authorised, in matters of Church doctrine or practice. The rector regrete to find that the objectors charge him and his assistant olergy with very serious offenoea, namely, that they break the laws of their country, their ordina- tion vows, and are wilfully disobedient to the bishop. While he is fully prepared to ex- plain any point arising in connection with the service of the Church, he cannot continue I a. correspondence with anyope who makes such serious personal attacks upon himself and his clergy.

WORKMEN'S TRAINS. j In 1883 only 111 workmen's trains were run on the railway lines of London, covering a distance of 745 miles. At the end of last year there were 1,007 trains covering 7,526 miles on the sixteen lines of London. A Blue-book giv- ing these facts was published yesterday.

ASK ANYBODY Who has tried HOLDBOYD'S GRAVEL PILLS whit they think of them. They're bound to eay they are a Positive Cure for Lumbago, Gravel, Pains in the Back, Wind, Dropsy, Gout, Sciatica, Kidney Diseases, 4c. Try One Box, U. lid., at Chemists. Post Free 12 Stamps.- noldmydo Mart leal Hall, Cleckfcealon, Yorks. eU8H-4

SEVEN LIVES LOST. DISASTROUS FIRE IN LONDON THIS MORNING. A fire in which seven persons lost their lives broke out about one o'clock this morning at a small coffee shop situate in Duke's Head Passage, Paternoster-row, London. The pas- sage is one of the many narrow little thoroughfares with which the City abounds, and the firemen had the utmost difficulty in dealing with the conflagration, very limited though it was in area, the whole premises being completely burnt out within twenty minutes. Seven employes—five women and two men —were sleeping on the premises, and when the outbreak was discovered one of them was hoard shouting, "We are making for the roof," the usual means of egress, apparently, having already been destroyed. The firemen found it quite impossible to use the ordinary fire escape, and when entrance to the building was effected the bodies of the seven inmates were found on the top floor. They had evidently been overcome in attempting to reach the skylight opening on to the roof. A later message says that the remains of the following have eo far been identified: — Ada Faulkner, cook, 32. Florence Faulkner, 17. Daisy Simmons, 19. Sarah Anderson, 26. William Fordham, 22. Two other persons-one man and one woman -who lost their lives remain for the present unidentified. The bodies were discovered huddled almost in a heap. The shop had been passed only a very few minutes before the disaster, when it presented its usual appearance, and the first intimation the people living around had that there was any- thing wrong was the loud banging at the shop front of a constable, who had noticed smoke curling through the holes in the tops of the shutters, and heard an ominous crackling within. By his instrumentality the sleepers must have been apprised of their danger, for it was at this point that voices were ftrsti heard. Almost simultaneously the whole lower part of the building burst out into a mass of flame, and it was seen at once that the pre- mises were doomed. By the time the firemen arrived the place was a roaring furnace, which it was quite impossible to enter at any point, and the little knot of onlookers, who stood half-clad and shivering in the alley, knew that the unfortunate inmates were beyond human aid. At last, when the firemen were able to enter, they at once saw that the entrapped occupants had tried to reach a skylight opening on the roof, and had perished in their despairing efforts, not a soul surviving to tell the tale. It is under- stood that Fordham was a son of the pro- prietor, Mr. A. G. Fordham, who was away through ill-health.

I. A DEFIANT BOY. Taken Back to Dinas Powis Industrial School. The case of the boy Alfred Gaylord, who has given so much trouble to the school board and its officials, was again called at Cardiff Police-court to-day (before Messrs. T. H. Stevens and Joseph Howard. The lad was described as defiant and refractory. He had been sent to Dijaas Powis Industrial School, amd was allowed out on probation, but his attendance at school was so irregular that the permission given to him was withdrawn. Then he became defiant, and eluded the vigilance both of the scihool board officers and of the police, none of whom could lay hands on him, much lees send him back to the Dinas Powis school. The father was summoned for har- bouring," which he denied, and at the last hearing the summons was adjourned for the production, of positive proof that the urchin had lived continuously 'under his father's roof. It was now stated that the urchin had been taken by force back to Dinas Powis, and the justices severely censured the parent for his laxity.

NEATH BURNING FATALITY. Miss Swash, daughter of Mr. Swash, boot and shoe maker, Neath, who was severely burnt on Tuesday whilst engaged in lighting a fire, died this morning.

DEFIED THE BLAvK LIST. An old woman who was fined at Bow-street Fblice-court, London, yesterday for being drunk and disorderly was stated to have been convicted seven times since she was placed on the black list.

FOOTBALL ENGLAND V. WALES. The secretary of the Welsh Foot- ball Association to day informed a Llangollen correspondent that, respect- ing next Monday's international en- counter between England and Wales, at Wrexham, he had received intimation from the majority ot the Welsh players selected promising attendance. From other sources it is stated that Morris (Derby County) and Jones (Tottenham) are the only doubtful starters, through cup ties. As the emer- gency oommittee have several available reserves, the Principality confidently anticipate being victorious, as the whole of the selected team are prominently associated with noted English league organisations. IRELAND V. SCOTLAND. CHANGE IN THE SCOTTISH TEAM. A change in the Scottish team to play against Ireland was announced this forenoon, Turnbull withdrawing from the forwards, His place will be taken by Bell (Edinburgh Academicals), one of the deposed Scottish for- wards who played at Swansea. The change materially weakens the Scottish front line, as Turnbull was physically the strongest man on the Scottish side, and the leading forward after Mark Marrison. LONDON WELSH CLUB'S CONCERT. The London Welsh Football Club held last night a pleasant little concert at St. George's- hall, Aldersgate-street, London. Since the autumn the club has not only added largely to its membership, but also won many honours in the playing field. Of some 21 matches it has won eleven, especially priding itself on victories over the strong teams of Leicester and Bristol, which were both beaten on their own home grounds. It has met with varying success most of the beet provincial clubs, and stands high among Metropolitan associations of the kind, with a muster of 70 playing members. The concert was well attended, and a full programme of songs, sen- timental and humorous, gone through. Dr. Pryce Jenkins recited, and Mr. Ernest Cherry gave some character sketches from Dickens.

GRAND ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL MATCH. SEMI-FINAL CUP TIE (JTTNIOB), PONTLCWTYN V. HAFOD, AT COFFEE TAVERN FIELD, QUAKER'S YARD, ON SATURDAY NEXT, FEBRUARY 27th, KICK-OFF &3>. ADMISSION 6d. •izne

SHOOTING MATCH AT CAERLEON Considerable interest was taken in a shoot- ing match between the Caerleon Rifle Club v. the 2nd Volunteer Battalion South Wales Borderers last night at Caerleon. The club won a most exciting match. Scores:— CSaarleon Riflle Club:—T. Oakley, 29; 0. Tataiage, 31; W. H. Dean, 33; J. Evans, 27: J. W. Monk, 33; S. Andrews, 34; T. Ablart, 22: J. Davies, 22--total, 231. 2nd V.B. S.W.B. :-s.ergant E. R. Wall, 26; Corporal H. Batt, 33; Private R. Bennett, 30; Private E. Brewer, 29; Private W. Stewart, 26: Private A. Reece, 32; Private J. Gannon, 27; Private A. Young, 26-total, 229.

CLARKE'S BLOOD UIXTURE. This Famous Medicine will cleanse the Blood from all impu- rities from whatever cause arising. A safe Remedy for Eczema., Bad Legs; Scrofula, Blood Poison, Sores of all kinds, Boil" Erup- tions, Ulc?-s, Gindui;? Eml)" lings, &c. Of all Stores, &c. Forty years' success. Beware at Im1 STOP PRESS Latest Telegrams. "EXPRESS" OFFICE, 4.45 p.m.  RUSSIAN SAILORS AT COLOMBO. "Earl Percy, in the House of Commons to- day, in answer to Mr. Gibson Bowles, said the Russian sailers rescued from the naval action at Chemulpo, were taken on board a British man-of-war and taken to Co- lombo. His Majesty's Government believed they would be best fulfilling their obliga- tions as a neutral Power by interning thsesr men on British territory until the conclusion of the war. The Japanese Government had intimated, however, that the men might return to "Russia on their parole to take no further part in the war; and t'h^British Government were in communication with the Russian Govern- ment on the matter. 3.45-MINISTRE, 1; DERMOT ASTEORE, 2; MISS TOTO, 3. 3,45-Also ran: St Moiits. 3.15-Betting-5 to 1 apt Red Hand. The PINK EDITION of the "Evening Express," on Sale at 6.15 p.m., contains all the news of the day up to that time, includ- ing latest movements on London and Cardiff Stock Exchanges, Special Market Reports, Local Charterings and Arrivals.

THREE PERSONS MURDERED. A Ghastly Discovery at Maidstone A shocking tragedy was discovered on Wed- nesday at the residence of Mr Charles Tootell, Maidstone. Mrs. Tootell and her two daughter: did not make their appearance at the usual hour in the morning, and on the servants entering their bedrooms they found all three dead, with their throa-ts cut. Mr. Tootell, whose whereabouts are unknown, is in part- nership with his brother as land surveyor and auctioneer, and he also holds the appoint- ment of surveyor to the Maidstone Trustees of the Poor, for which body he has just made out a fresh valuation list, on which he has been engaged nearly two years. He has long been connected with the Maidstone Volunteer companies of the Royal W3st Kent Regiment, and little more than twelve months ago retired from the corps with the honorary Tank of major. Mr. Tootell was engaged at his office in King-street on Tuesday. Up to the present the affair is shrouded in mystery. A later telegram adds that the police found two blood-stained razors in one of the pockets of Mr. Tootell's dressing-gown. The doors of the bedrooma of the deceased were found locked. Mr. Tootell appeared in a cheerful frame of mind on Tuesday night. His sister spent the evening with the family, and left about ten o'clock. Mrs. TooteJl was a prepos- sessing lady of medium height, and about 45 years of age. There were ghastly wounds in the throats of all three. The police have obtained a warrant for the arrest of Mr, Tootell. The two murdered girls a.re the eldest and youngest of the family, and are aged twenty and thirteen years. A telegram received this morning from Maidstone says the police have discovered no trace of Mr. Tootell. The River Medway has been dragged, but up to the present without result. It was at first believed that the missing man had gone to Folkestone, where another daughter is at school, but the chief-constable of that town has wired that he has not been seen there. The three bodies remain at the house exactly in the positions in which they were found by the police. An inquest on the deceased will be held to- .t morrow. i

I INQUEST AT CARDIFF At Cardiff Police-court on Wednesday an inquest was held on the body of Ellen Nor- man, of Newtown. According to the evidenoe the deceased was about 61 years of age, and had been living with her son, William Nor- man, a dock labourer. She had been ailing for some time, and had been attended by Dr. Millward. Replying to the coroner, Norman said that the last time Dr. Millward saw Ms mother was on January 27, and she died on February 122. The Coroner remarked that the woman must have been very ill between the 27th of January and the 22nd of February, and could not understand why in the world the parish doctor bad not been c&Ued in during this period. The jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural caus"

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DANGERS OF DOCKSl RESUMPTION OF INQUIRY AT CARDIFF. Mr. Commissioner Chester Jones, sitting at the Engineers' Institute, Cardiff, to-day, re- sumed the inquiry into the regulations pro- posed to be introduced by the Home Office for the prevention of accidents at docks. The various interests connected with the docks of ports in the Bristol Channel were represented as yesterday. Mr. Ben Tillett called further evidence on behalf of the Dockers' Union. William Gor- man, of Bristol, said the most dangerous thing in connection with ships was the access to the hold. He had no objection to the class of ladder suggested in the regulations, and of which a model was produced. Witness was questioned by Mr. Francis-Wil- liams as to one of the accidents in the list which he produced, where the man had anthrax poisoning. Mr. Fran cis-Williaim I do not know which of the suggested rules would prevent anthrax poisonkig? Witness: I am not so certain that the rules would touch that. The Commissioner: I am quite sure they won't. (Laughter.) The witness explained that the case was one in which a barley corn dropped on the man's rteck, and in the country the barley came from the corn was trodden out by bullocks. Walter Jackson, another Bristol docker, said the exhaust steam was very dangerous. He knew of a case where a man carrying a sack of wheat fell on the plank owing to the foot- way being made greasy by condensed steam.

THE KISHINEFF RIOTS. Sentence on Prisoners. Sixty-eight persons are now on trial at Kishineff in connection with the anti-Semetic excesses there last April. Two of the prisoners, named Rotar and Kuiban, accused of the mur- der o fa man named Kolian, were acquitted on the capital charge, but Kuiban was ordered to be drafted into a disciplinary com- pany for one year, for having been implicated in the disturbances. The civil action brought against the two men was dismissed. The pro- ceedings against the persons accused of the murder of the Jewess Koaa. have been post- poned on aooount of the non-appearance of important witnesses. Two of the three pri- soners accused of the murder of the Jew Ulman were found guilty, and one was sen- tenced to a year's imprisonment, while the ether was ordered to undergo two and a half years' service in a disciplinary company and to pay 5,000 roubles a compensation to Ulmann's widow. The third prisoner was acquitted.-Reu-ter.

STORM OF GLASS TUMBLERS Thomas Wood's record in throwing glass tumblers will not be broken so easily as the glasses were. Wood threw three glasses at Miss Butler, daughter of the landlady of the Pigott Arms, East Indian-road, London, and as she ran out of the bar for help he began throwing at bottles and a cabinet. In this way he threw over twenty glasses, and broke also five bottles of whisky, and two bottles of brandy. It was not a competition. Wood was simply enraged because Miss Butler refused to serve him with drink. When Mrs. Butler appeared Wood threatened to kill her. At the Thames Police-court yesterday he was fined L3, and £ 4 damages, or five weeks' hard labour in default. It was explained on his behalf that he fell into the river, and after- wards took too much rum. Daniel Collins, who tried to rescue Wood from custody, was fined 12s., or six days' hard labour.

MURDER PLOT IN ATHENS A. plot, in which several discontented monks' are concerned, has been discovered, which had for its object the murder of the Metropolitan of Athens, the chief ecclesiastical authority in the kingdom of Greece. The present Metropolitan, Theokletos, who was educated in Germany, and won golden opinions when he was Archbishop of Sparta, is a man of more culture than is usually found among the Greek clergy, and has shown a desire to reform the monasteries, and to do something for the education of the priests, at present woefully deficient. His action towards the monastery of Pentele, on the slopes of the marble mountain of Pentelikos, near Athens. seems to have provoked various monks, who have attacked him in the press and in threatening letters. The police are investigating the matter.

BARRY FLOUR MILLS As soon as the contract for the erection of the new flour mills at Barry Dock for Messrs. Joseph Rank (Limited), of Hull, was let to Messrs. Turner and Sons, of Cardiff, a fortnight ago, a rumour was set on foot that a hitch had occurred between the Barry Railway Company, the owners of the land, and Messrs. Rank with reference to the terms of lease of the site. We are authorised to state that there is no ground whatever for the rumour. The negotiations were carried on in a concessional and business-like manner, and the conditions of lease decided upon were quite satisfactory to both sides. Both lease and contract have been concluded, and the work of erection will be in hand before April.

JILTED BY A BLUEJACKET. I A domestic servant, named Ada. Miartin, was yesterday awarded 169 damages for 4rewh of promise, the defendant being Charles Lamkin, a carpenter on his Majesty's cutter Victoria. The conrtship had gone smoothly right up to the time when the couple commenced furnish- ing a house, when, for some reason which was not explained, Ada told her lover to take his furniture and go. Had he acted upon this order he would have been a richer man to-day. As it was, the quarrel was made up. and soon afterwards Ada found that her faith* less sweetheart had deserted her.

SMALL ARMS EXPERT DEAD. I Mr. James Paris Lee, the famous small arms expert, has died at Newhaven, Conn. Mr. Lee, who was the inventor of the Lee- Metford, Lee Enfield, straight pull, and other types of magazine rifle, was born in Hawick in 1831. A few years later his family emigrated to the United States, where the greater part of Mr. Lee's life was spent. He I had lately lived at Gait, OntaTiO.-Reuter.

I MYSTERY OF THE SEA SOLVED i Mr. George Dixon de Reynolds, the WortMn? I gentleman who pat out to aea last TI=Y on a shooting expedition, and who was thougbt to have been drowned, aa his sailing boat was discovered next day, is safe- Mrs. Reynolds received a telegram this morning from Gravesend stating that her husband was picked up by a barge and taken to that port. He has been ill, but is returning home.

FLAGSHIP FOR THE CAPE I His Majesty's ship Crescent waa commis- sioned at Portsmouth to-day for service qn the Oape Station as the flagship of Rear-Ad m iral Durnford, who is leaving the Admiralty to take over the Oape command.

I STOCK MARKETS DULL I A dull tone prevailed in the London* Stock Markets to-day. Consols declined è, and Japa- nese Sterling Loan J. Russians are un- j changed.

A grand concert was held at Peoylan Chapel, St. Bride'e-Major, last evening, under the chairmanship of Mr. Bullymore. The fol- lowing well-known artistes were enraged:- Miss Annie Bell (Cardiff), Miss Margaxet Sam- brook (Newport,) Mr. Harry Lewis (Nelson), and Mr. T. Oliver Williams (Pontypridd). Miaa James, Black Mill, accompanied on the pi-ofort-

[STARTLING STORY. KING EDWARD'S HINT TO RUSSIA. Count Benckendorffs Mission to the Czar. The London "Daily News" to-day prints ri statement from a correspondent, who, it states, is in a position to know the reasons for the Russian Ambassador's visit to St. Petersburg at the present juncture. In the course of his statement, the correspondent says:- "The sudden departure of Count Bencken- dorff, the Russian Ambassador to the Courts of St. James', last Saturday was one of the causes of the panic on the Paris and Madrid bourses. It was at first stated that the count had gone to St. Petersburg solely to see his son before the latter left to join the Russian army now fighting in the Far East. Later it was averred that the count had gone to see the Czar at the personal wish of King Edward himself. "I am, however, in the position to state that, though the King took, of course, a special interest in the present journey of the Ambassador, his wish was, after all, not the only motive for the count's hasty visit to the Russian capital. The real reason wa& his own position as legitimate representative of the Russian Empire in Great Britain. "For some time past there have been other Russian representatives in London besides the Ambassador, whose powerful influence with the monarch of All the Ruesias has recently made the task of Count Benckendorff a very difficult one. indeed-I speak of the agents of the Panslavists—Madame de Novikoff, who ia very well known in London y her articles oa Russian politics, published in The Fortr nightly.' and Baron Wessilitzky, formerly belonging to the diplomatic service of the Russian Empire, and now London correspon- dent of the 'Novoye Vremya. Count Benckendorff and his predecessor, Baron de Staal, were the Ambassadors of the Czar, but Madame de Novikoff and Baron de Wessilitzky are the Ambassadors of M. Pobie- donostzeff, who has, as everybody knows, perhaps a greater power in Russia than the Czar himself. Their duty is to watch the Rus- sian Ambassador at the Court of St. James'. Madame de Novikoff, who has a very great influence with the Czar, and Baron Wessi- litzky made the position of Count Bencken- dorff's predecessor sometimes very difficult indeed, though Baron de Staal, a very shrewd diplomatist, appeared always ready to listen to their advice. They made the diplomatic path of Count Benckendorff in London equally thorny. The official reports of the Russian Ambas- sador in London and the non-official reports of Wessilitzky became so contradictory that Count Lamsdorff, Foreign Secretary of the Russian Empire, was not always able to persuade the Czar that the baron and his political Egeria were in the wrong. Neither Baron Wessilitzky nor Madame de Novikoff believed that Great Britain would fulfil her pledges to Japan, in case of a war with Russia. At the same time, their political friends in Paris and elsewhere who had the ear of the Czar all assured him that the Government of the Mikado were only bluffing. One of the first consequences of these Pan. slavist intrigues was the public assurance of Mr. Balfour that Great Britain would fulfil her obligations to Japan, if her treaty with the latter Power should demand it. These intrigues were brought to the know- ledge of King Edward by a very high French politician. The King, therefore, asked Count Benckendorff to make it thoroughly under- stood in St. Petersburg that every move or action of France outside the limits of the strictest neutrality would bring England into the field as the ally of Japan. Up to this moment the success of Count BenckeudorfTs mission, upon which may depend not only a limitation of the war in the Far East, but also European complica- tions in the Balkans, remains doubtful. There are even shrewd observers of the political game who believe that the count will have to give up his position in London after a short time if M. Pobiedonoetzeff and his clique maintain their influence over the Emperor Nicholas, and if Madame de Novikoff and Baron Wessilitzky continue in the posi- tion of political guardians over the legitimate representative of the Russian Empire in the British Metropolis."

DIVORCE MADE CHEAP. Proposal to Give County Courts Jurisdiction. The Society for Promoting Reforms in the Marriage and Divorce Laws has now embarked upon its crusade in earnest. Its policy was endorsed last night at the first annual meet- ing held in Clifford's Inn-hall, London, and presided over by Earl Russell. The society's aims may thus be summa- rised:- Extension of grounds of divorce to three years' desertion, lunacy, or a long sentence of imprisonment. Justice to women-that is, women to have the same rights in the Divorce Court as men. Local and inexpensive tribunals, such as the county-courts throughout the country. Actions for the restitution of conjugaj rights to be abolished. The removal of the stain of illegitimacy from the children of parents who subae- quently marry.

AN OLD WELL IN THE STREET While excavating for laying the light rail- ways at Gloucester yesterday the workmen discovered in Southgate-street, in the middle of the roadway, a large stone well, in an excellent state of preservation. It was about three feet below the surface of the road, and was covered by a stout piece of timber and a; large stone. Very many years ago, it is be- lieved, the market place of old Gloucester was held at this spot, and the supposition is that the well was used in connection with it. The height of the present roadway above it is proof of its antiquity. The well has now been filled in. It was 37ft. deep, and contained 27ft, of water.

CARDIFF BOROUGH ENGINEER HONOU RED. At a. meeting of the public works committee of the Cardiff County Council, held at the Town-ha,ll to-day. Alderman Ramsdale, who presided, said that, as the members all knew. their borough engineer was well-known throughout the engineering world. Mr. Har- pur had been invited to act as chairman of the engineering section of the Public Health Congress, 1904. The alderman thought this was a compliment to the borough engineer and also to the council, and had very grea.1; pleasure in moving that they acquiesce in this selection on the same conditions and terms as granted to Dr. Walford by the health oom- mittee, viz., allow the borough engineer to go, and pay his expenees.-Thia was agreed to unanimously.

PENARTH HARBOUR COMPANY. At a meeting of the Penarth Harbour, Dock, and Railway Company, held at Cardiff to-day, Lieutenant-colonel the Hon. G. H. W. Windsor Olive presided, and there were also present Messrs. T. G. Caxtwright, Ed. Davies, H. E. Gray, and G. 0. Williams (directors), and W. H. Lewis (secretary). The half-yearly report and statement of abcoounts was adopted, and the usual dividend at the rate of .£5 58.. per oeott. per annum was approved of.

BURIAL WITHOUT A CORPSE. There is an Irish undertaker who is apparently suffering from Joes of memory. He received an order to bury a child at Mohill, a remote Dart of Oounty Donegal, and the ooffln was ma/te aaW amy interred, but five daya later the ohild's body was discovered in the workhouse morgue. The matter has been reported, and the Local Government Board Jum mwastad that an uuzuixy win be ImM,