CLIPPINGS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8593, 21 September 1893, Page 4

CLIPPINGS.

The Daily News correspondent in Rome reports a strange railway accident which happened at the Bologna station recently. The stoker of an engine which was stopping at the station of Gallieres, on the FerrarsBologna line, in the engine-driver's absence, and apparently in a sudden fit of madness, set the engine going at full speed, running towards Bologna. The telegraph was immediately set xn motion, warning Bologna and the four intermediate stations. Fortunately the line was clear, and the engine was shunted on to a side line, where there were only six empty carriages, and into these the engine dashed at full speed. The stoker had during the whole time continued to heap coals on the fire. The engine and carriages were of course telescoped, and the unfortunate stoker was so badly hurt that he died after an hour.

Afc the annual meeting of the London County Council on July 25th, the Chairman Stated that during the year £195,500 was expended for BlackwaU Tunnel, £185,000 on the Boundary street area aud other artisans' dwellings schemes, £150,000 on main drainage, £100,000 ou Claybury and other lunatic asylums, £58,000 on acquiring and laying out parks, £36,000 on fire brigade stations, £39,000 on street improvements, £112,000 on bridges, £10,000 on weights and measures testing station, and for other purposes £2000.

Exactly half a century has passed away since the Queen and Prince Albert visited Bruges, and devoted a whole day to inspecting the historical abode of the Guild of St. Sebastian in the Rue dcs Cannes, which has undergone scarcely any perceptible change since Charles IT. and the Duke of 'Xork enrolled themselves the bowmen during their exile. The portrait of the " Merry Monarch" (who proved a very expert marksman) and a cup he sent to his former {comrades after the Restoration are (says the World) still preserved among the most cherished belongings of the confraternity, which boasts an unbroken existence of over 600 years. In 1843 her Majesty became an honorary member of the society, and is now its doyenne. To celebrate this the Queen gives a costly work of art to be competed for by her brother-archers at a f6te which will be held next month. Sir Francis Plunkett will probably represent her Majesty on this interesting occasion. At the banquet, a silver goblet, presented by the Queen to the brethren of St. Sebastian in 1845, will do duty as a loving-cup, togeiher with Charles IL's tankard.

The gentlemen who were induced to accept the thankless task of judges at a baby show recently held at St. Louis, felt so intimidated at the idea of the scorn and anger of the mothers of unsuccessful candidates for prizes that they made the Chairman of the Committee promise to let them get clear away from the place before announcing the result. They bargained for time to get clear across the bridge and away from the river, and this was granted them. The result went far to justify their apprehensions, for some ot the mothers were very angry at the decisions, and went to look for the judges in the Committee rooms. Had they found them, it is difficult to gueas what would have happened, each mother being firmly persuaded that her own baby was the finest, the fattest, and the best in the whole show.

Lieutenant Peary, the American explorer, is to be accompanied on his Arctic expedition by five other men, his wife, and her maid—the latter an elderly Philadelphia woman. The stores they take with them are calculated to last the party for two years. Among other items are 40 barrels of flour, 32 of meal, 35 barrels and 32 cases of sugar, 12001b of tea and 24001b of coffee. There are 40 barrels of kerosene oil. One of the objects of the expedition is to endeavour to solve the problem of the disappearance of John M. Verhoef, the geologist, who was last seen on the morning of August 11th. 1892, jii3t north of McCormick Bay. Another purpose 33 to determine the size of the Archipelago which Lieutenant Peary found lying North of the mainland, and to survey the unknown coast between Independence Bay and Cape Bismarck, the most Northern known point on the East. The cabin in which the explorer aed his wife will pass the winter is to be made of stone about a foot thick, lined on the inside with red flannel. The height will be only 7£ feet from floor to roof. It Is to be lighted by electiicity, the engine of their little steam launch running the dynamo, while the boiler of the launch will be utilised for cooking. Lieut. Peary proposes to try the novel experiment of supplementing his dog teams with ponies or donkeys shod with snow-shoes. Mrs Peary's outfit comprises a deerskin cloak, with a thick fur-lined hood attached, knickerbockers of the thickest, softest, and warmest reindeer skin, and Esquimaux moccasins. ' for. sleeping gear she has another reindeer skin garment with a hood. She returned from her previous Arctic expedition with her husband ! in excellent health. They are taking with them a phonograph with : about 100 rolls of music, and 300 blank rolls on which Lieutenant Peary hopes to secure specimens of languages hitherto unknown to civilised ears. They take with them many books and a sewing machine designed for fastening together the tough reindeer hides. The larder will be supplied with musk oxen and probably with Arctic hare and seaL