ON THE KLONDIKE FIELD.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10132, 3 September 1898, Page 7

ON THE KLONDIKE FIELD.

On page 8 of this issue will be found another of the graphic letters written by our special correspondent on the Klondike goldfields. In this one Mr Hiskens narrates in vivid language incidents of life at Lake Bennett while waiting for the ice to break up, and the perils of the journey by lake and river to the goldfields. The passage necessitated the shooting of Miles Canyon and the far-famed White Horse Rapids, and for successfully negotiating these dangerous points Mr Hiskens gives great praise to the skill of his mate, Mr Sinclair. Lyttelton people in particular cannot fail to be deeplyinterested in this recital of the adventures of two well-known Lyttelton men. A further instalment of the letter will be published on Monday.

AN OFFICER AND DYING MAN PRAY TOGETHER.

The reason which impelled Alfred Pickernell, a young married man who committed suicide by cutting his throat at Tooting to take his life was the knowledge that a warrant had been issued at the instance of his employers for his arrest. Inspector Hobson, of the London City police, executed the warrant, but before taking the prisoner away he allowed him to have something to eat. After he had kissed his wife and said good-bye, Pickernell made a bolt up-stairs to the bathroom, and locking the door, cut his throat. Efforts were made to burst the door, but the man himself opened it and admitted the inspector, when a very pathetic incident occurred. Pickernell, who, though he realised that he must die, was perfectly cool, turned to the inspector and asked him to pray with him. Seldom has a stranger prayer been offered, for police official and pri&oner went down upon their knees and asked for Divine * mercy. Mrs Pickernell had run for the doctor, but when he arrived it was apparent that, though Inspector Hobson had bound the man's throat with his handkerchief, nothing could save Pickernell's life, and he died in about an hour and a half.

ACTION AGAINST THE " NEW YORK WORLD."

A ludicrous mistake in the " New York World" has resulted in an action for £1,000,000 damages being brought against that paper. The "World" printed an article in which it alleged that the Government had seized the yacht Buccaneer, belonging to Mr Hearst, the proprietor of the " New York Journal," aud had placed a guard aboard it, because the Government had learned that the " Journal" reporters had stolen the official plans oi campaign, and were coming north with them to publish them in the paper. The real facts of the case, it is said, are that Mr Hearst presented the Buccaneer to the Government as an auxiliary gunboat, and that the Government accepted the offer and sent marines to take possession of the vessel. Mr Hearst publishes the correspondence himself. It is also asserted that Mr Long, Secretary of the Navy, is bringing an action against the " World" simultaneously.

THE WALTZ PROHIBITED,

.In the Court of Berlin, as well as at most of the Courts of the minor rulers in Ger. many," the waltz is prohibited. The polka and a slow sort of galop are the'only round dances tolerated, the waltz having been forbidden ever since one of the young royal princesses was tripped up by her partner, and fell at the very feet of the late Empress Augusta while in the act of waltzing, The Empress, who was a terrible despot on the score of etiquette, oould not bear the idea pf a dance which could have the effect bf placing a princess of the blood in such an undignified position, and therefore at once vetoed the waltz from appearing on the programmes of Court balls. The ban against the waltz has only recently been removed, s5 far as the Court of Wurtemburg is concerned. This is due to the influence of the .young Queen, a woman of great beauty, who is passionately fond of dancing.

REMARKABLE STORY OF A BOOK,

Mr Henry B. Wheafcley, in " Prices of Books" in the Library series just issued, tells & very interesting story of Fitzgerald's version of the "Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam," the first edition of which was published by Quaritoh, in 1859. Though the number printed was few, nobody bought, and eight years afterwards the publisher, in disgust, threw the whole remainder into a box outside his door, and marked all these Id each. It is said that Dante Roasetti found them there, and soon the remainder was exhausted. Early this year a copy of this penny book, with the original wrappers, was sold at Sothebys for £21, and Mr Quaritch, the original publisher, was the buyer I

THE CYCLISTS AND THE BULL.

. On Sunday morning (says the Dannevirke "Advocate") while nine cyclists were riding on the Weber road near the Mana T watu bridge, a bull got on the read aud trotted along in front of them. It was funny to watch the animal going at the double and making pace for the cyclists, but it was ever so much funnier a few moments later, for the bull did a right about turn and made straight for the wheelmen. Some left their machines on the road and fled to the woods, while others carried their wheels with them. All got safely away.

GREAT BRITAIN AND THE EAST.

" Black and White " makes the following statement:—We hear on authority which .commands respect that the various Government offices concerned are exerting their energies in order to place both the army and navy in a state of preparation for active service. It is whispered that it is more likely than not that there will be war in the Far East during the coming autumn, the rumour being based on the fact that it is believed the Government is about to cry " Hands off" to Russia, and to take steps to compel that country, if need be, to refrain from fnrther aggression in China. There can be no question, if this rumour proves correct, that the action suggested will meet with universal approval throughout the country. H this rumour be true, it may account for the extraordinary conduct of the Ministers all leaving London at the present juncture, with the exception of Mr Balfour. Everything is in train ; when the proper time comes Lord Salisbury will cry "Stop, enough I" Only his past career hardly suggests the nerve" to do this. In the meantime nearly 70,000 men are exercising on Salisbury Plain, and the general officers are learning the art of handling masses. When Khartoum falls, the ball may open in* the Far East.

THE WELLINGTON MAGISTRACY.

In reply to the memorial, forwarded by the Wellington Law Society, respecting the necessity for a reform in the local Magis-. trate's Court, the Justice Department points out that as no specific charges have been formulated, it cannot take any steps in the direction indicated.

EELS FOR THE LONDON MARKET.

It was suggested at a meeting of the Otago Acclimatisation Society (says a Press Association telegram) that a new industry, giving employment to a number of men,* might be established by catching and shipping eels to the London market. It waa pointed out that such a step would protect trout. Eels of from 21b to 2_lb, the'only kind saleable in London, could, it was stated, be secured eauly. Mr Begg under*

took to get the eeb frozen if sent to him, and Mr Farqnhar undertook to secure eels for the experiment.

DISTINGUISHED LINGUISTS.

Like Cato, who in his eightieth year began to learn Greek, Lord Dafferin, who has passed the limits of threescore years and ten, thinks it is really time he knew something about Persian. He has accordingly set himself the task of adding that poetic and figurative language to his already large store of linguistic accomplishment. The latest parallel to the case is Mr Gladstone, 'who, when he went out to the oDening of the Kiel Canal in the historic trip of the Tantallon Castle, straightway began to learn Danish. The Queen's recently acquired mastery of Hindustani will also be remembered.

ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS AND STREET LIGHTING.

An Auckland telegram states that the Waitamata County Council has approved of Mr Paul Hansen's scheme for on, electrio tram system between Devouport and Lake Takapuna, also for an electric lighting company. The proposal it. to spend £50,000 on the work if the concession is granted, and it is proposed to commence work on tbe tram line on October Ist, 1899. Devouport is the thriving borough on the north shore of the Auckland harbour, and is one of the most popular residential suburbs of th* city. Lake Takapuna, a favourite holiday resort, is about four miles distant from Deyonport.

AN APPEAL HANDSOMELY REWARDED.

At a recent meeting of the Poor Clergy I Relief Society, tho Bon, George Waldegrave Leslie told a good story of Bishop ' Waldegrave of Carlisle and the "wicked" Lord Lonsdale. The Aishop rode well, and on his going up to Lowther Castle xiord Lonsdale admired his horse and his management of it. Tho Bishop pleaded the cause of a clergyman passing rich on £40 a year, whose well-educated wife took in tourists' washing to add to ■ their scanty inconie. Lord Lonsdale said: "Everybody looks on roe as a most sinful man, beyond all possible hope of salvation. You have spoken to mc as a gentleman, you Jiave spoken to mc like a good servant of the great head of the Church;, you have spoken to mc encouragingly about the salvation of even my poor soul; you have pleaded the cause very_ nobly for that young clergyman. Here is my cheque-book; put down what you,.like, and I will sign it." The Bishop said: "No, that is a matter between God and you." Lord Lonsdale gave the Bishop a cheque for £10,000, and afterwards two further cheques of £20,000, for the poor clergy of the diocese of Carlisle.

NEW USE FOR A CHURCH STEEPLE.

- A singular use for the steeple of the parish church at Long Sutton, in Lincolnshire, has been the subject of correspondence between the Long Sutton Urban -District Council and the Rev. G. S. Leigh Bennett, the vicar of the parish. The counoil, in order to dry the canvas hose belonging to their fire brigade, proposed to suspend it from the steeple of the parish church, but the vicar hesitated to grant his consent, regarding it as an unprecedented use of a' church steeple. Definite arrangements have) been deferred pending an interview between the vicar and the superintendent of the fire brigade. (

A TITLED TRUMPETER'S FORTUNE.

The Hon. Robert Charles Sinclair de Courcy, only brother of Baron Kingsale, premier baron of Ireland, was, up till a few, days ago (says a London paper), * a first saloon steward and trumpeter on board the P. and 0. mail steamer Britannia. He has now left the service of the company, having been left an annuity which is said to bo worth £900 a year. He first heard of his good fortune when the Britannia called ab Plymouth on her homeward voyage from Australia. The news of the windfall quickly reached the ears of the other members ot the crew, and also many of the passengera. Curiously enough, Mr ,de Courcy was making his last voyage as trumpeter, as the P. and 0. Company lately decided not to carry a band on any of their ships, so that in any case it is probable he would have left the company's service. /

AN ISLAND IN DANGER.

The inhabitants of Montserrat, one of the British West Indian islands, are apprehensive of some natural catastrophe. Fully a year ago the island was visited by a great flood, which, among other disasters, caused an extensive landslip, and the displaced material completely filled up the mouth of a "crater." Since then the earthquake shocks have been frequent, some of them so severe as to completely shatter buildings and create great alarm. These the inhabi* - tants believe to be the result of the filling up of the crater, and they fear that the efforts of the subterranean forces to get vend will culminate in some volcanic explosion of the Krakatoa kind, which may blow the island tj» pieces. AM thjere are sevencraters in Montserrat,. as well as sulphur springs, the island is probably of volcanic origin. It is celebrated for its plantations of lime-fruit trees. •

ENGAGED TO SEVENTEEN WOMEtt AT ONCE.

The little town of Whiting, in Monona County, is (says the St. Louis " Globe Democrat") quite excited over the discovery that Rev. C. T. Atwood, pastor of the Christian church of that place, was engaged to seventeen young women at the same time. Everything went along smoothly until a few days ago, when came the publio announcement of his engagement to Miss Bigelow. Sixteen other, damsels nearly fainted when they heard thd news. Finally, one by one they confided that he was also engaged to them; at.least he had promised to marry each one. This came to the ears of the trustees of the church, and a publio investigation was ordered, but, the young man resigned. His only defence is that he loved them all because they were members of the Christian Church, and he says when he talked of marrying them it was to someone else.

A TOUR OF THE WORLD ON WHEELS. Another cyclist who has been round the wiorld, Dr. McHrait-, correspondent of the' "Inter-Ocean," has already arrived in Vienna with .his wife. In 1895 he had orders to . trace the doings and remains of the cyclist Lenz, who was murdered in Armenia. He left Chicago on the 10th of April in that year with his wife. They cycied through Illinois, lowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California, sailed from San Francisco to Japan, then after crossing the Mikado's dominions took passage from Yokohama to Hong Kong. They cycled from Hong Kong to Shanghai, and along the Yang Tse Valley to Upper Burma, which they reached in September, 1896. Mrs McIlraith was the first lady on a cycle to visit the interior of China, but of 4700 miles, only 1000 could be ridden. The' rest had to be dlone on foot. Both suffered much from rain and snow, as well as from heat. After visiting Calcutta, Agra, Delhi, Lahore and Karachi, they reached Persia, and lost their way at the foot of the Kur- . heed Mountain in December, 1897. They spent a night'in deep snow, and in.t-i morning Mrs Mnlkaitb's feet were so frostbitten that the doctor had to amputate two - toes and take her to Teheran in a cart,. In March she was quite arid ihey continued their journey through Russia, Armenia, Turkey, Roumania, and Hungary. Each carries 351b on the cycle, including Hook-, mtedicine box, and mediaaL mßiiu% ments. They "have up tb'rthe prese_t co-ered 26,000 miles in ffcreo year, and three months. They, will now oontimw their journey 1» ; Munich, Paris, London, Now" York, and Chicago. They do not ride for a wager, and-are not paid for the excuraion, ' but they send weekly letters to tihe "Inter*

THE POPULATION OF.THE TBANS* VAAL.

Napoleon L, in Ms rude, way, toli Madame de S'tael that the greatest* woman was she who gave most sons to the State.. They seem to have somewhat similar noUoai . in the Transvaal, where a l_W^l»i)f

just been introduced providing a bonus of £100 to every burgher who is the father of twelve boys. It is (says the "St. James's Gazette") a rude task for a small guerdon, but the South African Boer comes of a prolific race, and, no doubt, a good number of twelve-times parented burghers can be found. But the bonus ia intended to be something more than a reward for the domestic virtues. The Boers are in imrninemt danger of being outnumbered by the European population, and if they are not. careful there will presently not be enough of them to fight and vote. However, the new law. when it is passed, cannot produce any tangible effect for twenty years, and by that time who knows what may have happened to the Trans* aul Free State?

SWALLOWING A BANK NOTE.

The ordinary bank note of commerce has its virtues; but in its usual dirty" and redolent condition it is scarcely adapted to edible purposes. In the course of some evidence given at the North Sydney Police Court in connection with a charge of thclt, the accused, a servant girl, was shown to have eaten a £5-note in the vain endeavour to evade detection. First, however, she tried to dispose of it by other means, and this was natural enough. By a little sleight of hand Bhe managed to baffle the comparatively inexperienced searcher who was employed at the outset. But the vigilance of a second and more skiltul searcher drove the girl to a more drastic resort. " The accused," so the magistrate was told, "put something suddenly in her mouth, and put her head down, and ran about the cell chewing. I chased her round the cell, but in two or three gulps she swallowed whatever she had in her mouth." Mr Delohery decided that the " something " in question was the banknote, and not a handful of cloves, as was suggested gravely by the solicitor for tho defence.