NEWS BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIX, Issue 6874, 12 March 1883, Page 5

NEWS BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

w COLONIAL ITEMS. Dr John H. Scott, Professor of Anatomy in the University of Otago, has been married at Cheltenham to Helen, daughter of the late Mr John Bealoy, of Canterbury, New Zealand. A scheme has been for same time under the consideration of the War Office, drawn up by the military authorities in British North America, by which the Dominion of Canada would be able to supply 10,000 men, fully trained and equipped, to the Home army in case of national emergency. The men would all be enrolled in and (rained with the active militia of the Dominion, and would, it is believed, undertake any duties imposed upon them. Hitherto, unforeseen difficulties have arisen to prevent the carrying out of the proposal j but pressure is likely to be brought to bear on Lord Harrington to induce him to re-open the question, in deference to the wishes of all classes of the Canadian community. The Austral, with the sinking of which in Australia all are familiar, is shown by photographs arrived in this country to be entirely under water, with her mast only just visible. The underwriters on the steamer have been re-insuring their lines on her at from £4O to £SO per cent, which looks like prospective total loss. To the Company the loss of the ship is a great misfortune, which is not to be measured by the money loss alone, whatever that may be, and in any esse it must be severe. We must assume that the Directors have fully insured her, because there has not been time to form an insurance fund out of earnings sufficient to caver such a heavy loss; bnt we do not know how this matter really stands. It is one which vitally interests shareholders. The Cophalonia, which sailed from flymouth on Jan. 13, has taken the place of the Austral in the Orient Company’s fleet.

The now direct steam service to New Zealand is attracting considerable attention at Home. Tenders, it may be remembered, are not to be sent in until March 16 next, so that shipowners have plenty of time to moke their calculations. If report be true some of them mean to cut it very fine. None but first-class steamers, however, can bo employed, as one of the conditions of the contract is that the voyage is to be performed within 1200 hours, though tenders may contain an alternative offer to perform the outward voyage within 1300 hours for a lessor subsidy. Those who have invested in the Shaw, Savill and Albion Oompsny are, of course, in a nervous state of excitement, as the now lino must injure the sailing trade considerably. The New Zealand Shipping Company see this, and are arranging for the dispatch of steamers while their now vessels are being built. The British King, a fine full-powered magnificent screw steamer, is down on the berth to sail on Jan. 24, and other steamers of similar size and power, we are informed, will follow at regular intervals. Vanity Fair, referring to the now contract, sarcastically remarks:—“The effect of this novel procedure must bo to enhance the value of the goodwill of the venerable fleet of sailing ships recently offered to the public on such favourable terms, and for the purchase of wbiih the capital, as we were informed by the papers, was subscribed twice over." What do Messre Donald Currie and Co. intend to do with the new boat the Hawarden Castle, which was christened by Mrs Gladstone on Jan. 11 ? Although several vessels are down on the company’s list as building for the Capo mail service, this doe# not figure amongst them, j nd Mr Pearce, the manager of the firm of John Elder and Co., in proposing success to the vessel, ratherij astonished the audieneo by speaking of her as having been adapted for " a much longer service and more exacting trade than that of the Capo.” Can it bo that the redoubtable Donald ie going in ’or the Australian trade, or doee bo think of putting m a tender for the New Zealand service already alluded to P Time, no doubt, will show. Meanwhile it is satielaotory to say that the launch of the vessel wae in every way successful. When Mr Murdoohand his team were carrying all before them in England, numberless were the jeremiad* that appeared here, bmenting the decadence of English cricket. The Britisher has, therefore, some tight to indulge in a little cook-crowing, now that Mr Ivo Bligh s eleven has signally defeated, for the second time, the Murdoch invincibles. A correspondent complains of the apathy shown by the public and the pres* to the victorious career of the English cricketer* in Au*tralia. It is only too true that the English papers made the most of our defeats «the summer, and heartily abused our own players, whereas they now take no nstio* of their triumphs. "Bnt nothing,” observe* tho Wobe, "Is no dear to a genuine Englishman u eeW-

depreciation | and, cricketers, when they are out of sight, must not be hurt to find themselves out of mind as well.” EXPLOSICNS AT GLASGOW. On Jan. 20 an alarming explosion took place in a gasometer measuring 160 ft in diameter by 100 ft in depth at the Tradeston Qa* Works of the Glasgow Corporation. Attention was first attracted by a large volume of flame towering high in the air, which was followed immediately by an explosion, the effects of which wero felt for miles round. On investigation it was found that the holder had exploded on the south-west side, a portion of the plaiting measuring 12ft square being tom and twisted and thrown outwards, while several large aperture* wero discovered in the roof, from which the gac blazed fiercely. Fortunately no one inside the works was hurt, but a number of single storey houses which immediately adjoin wore almoit totally wrecked and scarcely one of the inmates escaped injury. In one bouse where the full force of the explosion seemed to have been felt, the walls wore cracked, the plaster of the roof all thrown down, and the windows in the front blown out, while the five inmates, who formed one family, were all burnt about the head, neck, and hands, the father and a girl suffering severely. The windows in a largo number of houses at a considerable distance were blown in, and as an instance of the furious effects of the concussion, one gentleman who was walking along the street was observed to sway backward* and forwards and than to be violently thrown on his face. Various theories have been started as to the cause of the explosion, but the only one which finds any favour with those acquainted with such matters is that some explosive substance must have been applied to the outer frame of the holder, and thorough examination of the holder cannot be made until the lank is emptied. The same night a coal-shed at the Buchanan street station of the Caledonian railway, Glasgow, was blown up. On the watchmen and a number of policemen running to the place, the shed was found to be a total wreck. There wero no signs of fire about the place, and as no gas was used in the shed, the explosion must have been caused by dynamite, gunpowder, or some similar substance. A few hours later, as a number of people were returning from Glasgow to Springburn, one of the suburbs of that city, they discovered on the Keppooh hill bridge, which carries the Forth .and Clyde Canal over the highway, a small oval tin box lying on the parapet. One of the company, a gunner belonging to the Koyal Artillery, opened the lid of the box, which he found was full of sand. He poshed his hand in among the sand, when the contents exploded and began to burn. Four persons wero injured, though not seriously. As the box was destroyed by the fire, it is not known what the explosive substance was. It may be mentioned that, had the bridge been destroyed, the canal for a distance ot sixteen miles would have been drained into the city. The outrages have been attributed to the Fenians. CALEDONIAN RAILWAY STRIKE, -• A, serious strike has taken place among the Caledonian Railway servants, which has assumed something like colossal dimensions. The disaffection has spread to the remoter districts east, north and south, and unless a compromise of some kind be speedily arrived at, the next few days will witness the complete withdrawal of the company’s present servants. On Jan. 16 the Leith men came out on strike, and no passenger traffic was run on the branch line. The Berth men have agreed to abide by the decision of the Glasgow meeting ; the Stirling men have been holding on idle day ; the Dundee men left work at midnight, and the Forfar men resolved that if (he Dundee and Berth servants came out they would also strike this week. An official statement has appeared in the newspapers controverting, on behalf of the company, the allegations of the men as to long hours and insufficient remuneration for overtime. On Jan. 18 there was hardly a movement at the Central elation in Glasgow, &nd few trains left* Newspaper parcels were undispatohed, and in many towns along the Caledonian lino the inhabitants, from the want of newspapers, are ignorant of what is going on. At Carstairs, an important junction for trains for the south, all the men are now out on strike. Deputations are in Glasgow from all the strike districts, and another mass meeting will be held to-day. This strike, which is for a reduction of the working day to nine hours on the Caledonian Railway, threatens to assume serious dimensions. A nine hours’ movement has long been talked about among the railway servants, and if the demand is conceded in Scotland it will be pressed with vigour south of the Tweed, it should be borne in mind, however, that the real dispute turns, as in all short time movements, upon the point at which payment for overtime should begin. There i» seldom much objection to long hours if long hours mean a commensurate increase of pay. The Caledonian men demand double pay for Sunday duty, and 60 per cent extra for overtime. The strike is now at an end. The Company appear to have conceded some portion of the men’s demand, and the head officials have undertaken to receive deputations to discuss other points, and on this understanding work has been lesumed. VYhen the doors of the Glasgow Caledonian Central Station opened on Jan. 20, the men who had struck work wished to resume, but, out of sixty-six, the stationmaster could engage only twelve. The men who did not strike have been promoted, and many of those who have resumed work bare been placed in lower posts than those they held before the strike. Only a few men were taken on at the Glasgow Buchanan street Station, the strike there having boon only partial. TERRIBLE DISASTER AT SEA. SINKING OF THB OBBMAN MAIL STEAMER OXMBBIA. A horrible piece of news comes from Hamburg. On Jan. 19 the mail steamer Oimbria, with a crew of UO hands and 380 pssssngers from Hamburg to New York, was run into by the English steamer Sultan, hailing, it should seem, from Hull, and almost immediately sank. The disaster occurred near the island of Borkum, which lies off the coast of Bast Friesland, opposite the frontier between Holland and Germany. The Sultan, which was likewise seriously damaged by (he collision, has arrived in the Elbe, and a boat belonging to the lost ship, with a rescued freight of thirty-nine persons, has also reached Ouxkavon. What was the fate of the other passengers and orew on board the Oimbria ha* not yet been ascertained ; they may have all gone down with the vessel, or they may still be boating about in her other boats. Six tug* have loft Hamburg to search for them. The Cimbria, like roost of the Ham burg- American steamers, wae built at Glasgow by Messrs Caird ana Go., and ha* ever sinoe been almost always inconstant use. She was 360 ft long, 42ft broad, and 35ft deep, and had a registered burden of 3000 ton* and 2000 h.-p. Her passenger* and orew together numbered nearly 500 souls, of whom, it aeemi, the greater portion were emigrants with iteerage passages for America. It is also known that there wero on board ;hall>a-dozen Ohippeway Indians from the State of Michigan, who were returning home after having been exhibited in Berlin ae ethnologic cariosities for the last month or two. The Indians wore to have loft by an earlier steamer, but the tllnese of one of their number delayed their embarkation. It appear* that the Oimbria left Hamburg on Jan. 18, and gave omen of the disaster which was to overtake her by running aground in the Elbe, but she was ultimately floated with the aid of another steamer, and continued her voyage. The next morning, being then off the island of Borkum, she encountered a heavy log, and was then run into and sunk by the Saltan. Captain Ontlill, of the Sultan, who was placed under arrest, has made a statement to the following effect regarding the collision;— He left Hull at midnight on Jan. 17, and with strong, fair wind, made good way across the North Sea. Soon afterwards, on their coming into dense fog, theAngine* were eased to dead slow, and the steam whistle blown every lew seconds. A steamer was passed which was supposed to be bound for London, and shortly after the masthead and port lights of another vessel wese seen on the Saltan's starboard

bow, •boot two point* away, Captain Cuttill expected the steamer would keep her couree, M she WIU not, and had not been, founding hef (team whiitlo. The next minute the iteamer wee teen coming rapidly round on the port helm, but they were ao cioie that all Captain Cuttill could do wae to atop and go fullspeed Mtern,whichwas done. Nextminute another steamer, which proved to be the Cimbria, caught the SulUn’s bow»prit in her port forerigging, crashing away her figurehead and cutting her down nearly to the water’a edge. So great wae the force of the blow that the Sultan'e figurehead and hawse-pipes were driron through the colliilon bulkhead into the forecastle, the crew, who had been aleeping there, haring very narrowly eaoaped. It wae feared by the crew of the Bultantbat ahe waa •inking, and the other steamer wae hailed to etand by, but no reply wae received. She pasted away into the darkness and, it was thought, had proceeded on her voyage. Next moment the chief officer taw her coming on the other tide of the Sultan, and he called out to the captain, “ For God’s take go aatern | ahe will be into ut again.” The engines were put full speed aatern, and the Cimbria once more waa loat to view. Captain Cuttill in his own mind reflected on the German captain for not stopping to ascertain the Sultan’s damage. Ue remained on the spot fire hours, clearing away wreckage and shoring up the bulkhead, before proceeding up the Elbe, and for tereral hours after he arrived at Hamburg, which port he reached on Jen. 20, he had no idea that the Cimbria had foundered. During the whole five hours in which the Saltan lay to before proceeding on her voyage, the crew never heard a cry for help nor any other sound, dll her boats were launched after the collision, and had any sound been beard, they were available to render assistance. The Sultan could not. of course, anchor, as her hawse-pipes had been carried away. She would, therefore, drift with the tide. Hambcbo, Jan. 25.—-The irritation against the Captain of the steamer Sultan is rapidly abating. The Germans who were on board the Sultan at the time of the disaster hare been examined before a magistrate, and they fully osnfirm the statement of the Captain of that steamer. The Sultan is detained by order of the Court and not by the police, as at first reported. Her Captain and crew are perfectly free. It is stated that the owners of the Sultan will not deposit the large amount of caution money demanded by the Court, the vessel not being worth it. LoNjBON, Jan. 26.—The crew of the Wilson Line steamer Argo which has arrived at Hull, state that on the night before the collision between the steamers Cimbria and Sultan they passed, while on tbs voyage from London to Bremen, a large maif iteamer. They first perceived through the fog her masthead and green lights on the port bow. She was coming at an angle toward them. They immediately starboarded her helm, and so passed clear. They all declare that she wa* the Cimbria, and that she was not sounding her whistle. This occurred three hour* before the collision. Another captain of a Wilson Line steamer declares that he has seen the chief engineer of the Saltan, who says he was not on duty at the time of the collision. He was on deck in the after part of the vessel for an hour and a half afterwards. He beard no cries. Every person on board the Sultan believed that the Cimbria had steamed away. The passengers en the Cimbria were chiefly Hungarians, East Prussians, and Bussians. Only two were Americans— Christian Boehm and Joseph Guots—whoso names do not appear among those of the saved.' Among the missing is a rising young German writer, Herr Leo Habennann, of Vienna, who is well known for his excellent descriptions of Bussian life. Ha was a contributor to several Berlin journals. The Bisters Bomnee, who were professional singers, well known as the "Swabian Nightingales,” who had recently been performing with great success in Berlin, also appear to bo among the victims. Of the women on board, only three are saved. One was a young Polish girl who was on her way to join her parenta in America with her aunt, who was drowned before her eyes. Another young girl saved herself by holding fast to the edge of the boat j but she could only be dragged into it after an hour and a half’s immersion and suffering. All those rescued agree in stating that they heard cries for help and shrieks of despair about their boat the whole night. Gradually the cries grew fainter and fewer, and finally ceased. Dp to the last moment the survivors endeavoured to rescue all they could, but as the silence came on they found no more alive, but only met occasionally with the bodies of the drowned. The two sisters who are amongst the rescued have written a letter from Hamburg to their relatives, belonging to a village near Berlin, in which they lament that they have lost everything they had with them, even to their shoes; but, 1 in spite of all their sufferings, they mean to try their luck in the next vessel, and 11 hope soon to be able to send their photographs from Omaha.” Six families at least in Berlin hare been left without bread by the loss of the “bread winners,” who had determined to go out first alone to improve their fortunes, and to send fur their families as soon as they could find them a home. A public subscription has been opened for the benefit of these sufferers by the wreck of the Cimbria. OATABTBOPHE IN A BOSUN CIRCUS. While a performance was being given at a circus at Berditsoheff (a commercial town of Bussian Poland, Government of Kieff), on the night of Jan. 13, a fire broke out. Before the spectators could escape the whole building was in flames, and 300 persona perished. Berditsoheff is a commercial town of some 60,000 inhabitants. Per the last fortnight an itinerant circus company had been performing in a large wooden building constructed ad hoc in a field about a quarter of an hour’s walk from the town. For the night of the disaster was announced the benefit of Mdlle. Lciseet, probably a relative of the unfortunate young lady of that name who met with a fatal accident at Paris some months ago. The building was crammed, and out of the 600 spectators no less than 400 were Jews. Just after the filth number of the programme had terminated, one of the clowns rushed into the ring and called out " Fire!” At first the audience thought he was jesting, and greeted him with laughter. But he was immediately followed by three grooms, who announced that the circus was burning. An indescribable panic then took place, and many of the terrible incidents of the Bing Theatre catastrophe were renewed. People jumped over the galleries, injuring themselves and those below in their fall. Th« ring, which happened to be covered with a thick carpet, was soon crowded by men, women, and children, many of the latter being suffocated and trampled upon in the melee. Presently ten horses that had escaped from the stables came galloping furiously into the ring, and, prancing and kicking amongst the crowd, increased the general terror and confusion. Within twenty minutes the whole structure was ablaze, and hundreds who had not contrived to effect their exit were lost beyond ell rescue. Those who managed to escape give fearful accounts of the scenes enacted inside during the life-and-death struggle that followed the first alarm. Unfortunately, as the Fire Brigade wae on its way to the circus, the ice broke while it was crossing the river Berdivicza, and when at last, with the aid of forty men, it wss extricated, there was a great scarcity of water, the ice being more than a foot thick. It is estimated that 90 men, 120 women, and 60 children perished in the flames. Many of them are supposed to be strangers, as a large fair was being held in the town at the time. The Colonel of the Police Corps, who was a cripple, and the Vice-President of the Bourse, are among the victims. The origin of the fire has been discovered. One of tee circus people threw a lighted cigarette on the etraw in the stables, which at once took Are. One of his companions tried to stamp it out, while another ran for a bucket of water. The door wae open, which caused a strong draught, and the flames * ero vend control. The author of the oonllagration is amongst the victims. believed to be Englishmen, also lost their Governor of Kirff has arrived at Ber-

ditscheff. He was shown, it is said, 203 dead bodies which were found among the ruins of the burned circus. Many of them are burned beyond recognition. The circus had doable wooden planks, between which straw was inserted, The great majority of the victims are women and children, who, being weaker than the men, were pushed aside and crushed. The circus managers were arrested because they had nailed up two of the entrances an hour previous to the catastrophe, on the plea that there was a great draught in the house. The town has no room large enough to hold the dead, who are placed side by side in a field covered with snow. When the nailed-up entrance* were opened, upright corpses fell to the ground in one huge mass. Of the thirty-one homo four were saved. The official report give* the number of killed a* 263. THE ASSASSINATION PLOL Dublin wae startled from its repose on Jan. 13 by the report that a night attack bad been made by the police, supported by the marines, upon the position of the enemy, snd that a coneiderablo number of prisoners had been taken. It bad been planned with great care and secrecy, so that no one had the least expectation that any coup was intended, and the result was a complete success. Toe proceedings were the practical result of the inquiry which has been recently held at Dublin Castle, under the statutory powers given by the Crimes Act, of examining witnesses without bringing any specific chargee against individual*, and so eliciting information which could not otherwise be obtained. A number of warrants were issued, in oonsequence of disclosures made in the inquiry, which was held by Mr Onmn, Q 0, t and on Jan. 13 they were executed by the police, and seventeen persons were taken into custody. Borne of these had been examined at the private inquiry. The most important arrest was that of Mr Carey, a contractor and builder, who has recently been elected a member of the Corporation, his ehief claim to the distinction being that ho wae an ex • suspect, Mr Carey, on entering the Council, ass arced a moderate tone, but be has long been suspected of being concerned in some of the worst proceedings of the revolutionary party. Several other warrants have been issued but have not been executed, although some of the persons named in them are known to be in town and have been seem by the police. They are afforded an opportunity of leaving the city if they think it prudent to do so! Among the other prisoners of any note, besides Carey, are two brother* named Mnllett, one of them a publican and the other a clerk, and a compositor named Martin, whoso name was connected some tune ago with the case of the van man who was shot dead in a publichouse in Dorset street. Nearly all the persons in custody are of the artisan class, and, with few exceptions, are young men of between £2 and 30 year* of age. The prisoner* were brought up before Mr Keys, Q. 0., and Mr Woodlock, police magistrates, and, after being formally charged with conspiring to murder certain public officials, were remanded for a week, bail being refused. 6 The magisterial examination wae commenced on, Jan. 20. Mr Murphy, Crown Prosecutor, eaid they would at once proceed to call clear legal evidence, establishing the existence of an organisation which had produced the terrible assassinations in Dublin, and that the prisoners were connected with it. Bobert Farrell, who had turned Queen’s evidence, gave the first testimony. Bin was the first link in the chain, successively added to by Cavanagh and Carey. He deposed that he had been born and reared in Dublin. About seven years ago ho was a worn in as a member of the Fenian Brotherhood. He had a form of oath administered to him to the effect that he would " Obey tha lawful orders of his officers in the true spirit of a soldier.” He was sworn by Joaeyh Hood, The meeting piece was in Cook street, afterwards in Hague’s Place, 40, York street. In those different places of meeting there was money collected for the purohaie of arms. He knew the prisoner James Carey, and had seen him attend meetings in Peter street. Ho had seen him present at meetings where drillings were being carried on. He knew the prisoner Joseph Brady, and had seen him at those meetings. He knew Peter Carey, but had not seen him at any meetings. He had seen Daniel Corley at several meetings, and had seen Daniel Delaney at centres meetings. He knew Doyle, bat had not seen him at any of the meetings. He identified the other prisoners whom he had seen at meetings, except M'Caffrey. A subscription was levied amongst the members of the organisation of 3d per week for arms, which were periodically supplied to members. Snider breech-loading rifles and revolvers were supplied. The subscriptions were handed to the “ C’s,” and a "0 ” was an officer elected by the rank and file. The next rank was " B,” of which there were eight or nine. Daniel Curley was the “B” of the centra of his branch, and he had a secretary named Lynch, who was succeeded by the prisoner Brady. A man named Edward Bourke, and also a man named George Witsett, drilled the members at the Peter street branch. They had two circles in Cuff lane, of which Daniel Curley was oae centre, and Daniel Cullen the other. Curley’s circle met in Peter street cn Sundays and sometimes on week nights. Cullen’s circle, to which witness was attached, met for twelve months in Peter street. A civil inspection was held ia Peter street about three and a-balf years ago, and James Muller was the chairman of the meeting which was held ia Bolton street. A military inspection was afterwards held in Peter street, when the members were inspected by a "General” Miller. At the civil inspection a man named John Devoy told the members that ho bad come' from America to see how the Stephenito party and the Council party stood in Dublin. The Council party were supposed to be composed of a number of men, and the Stepbenite party were under the direction of Mr Stephens himself. While Curley was Centre, ho asked the witness to become a member of the Inner Circle, who, he eaid, would be the chosen men out of the organisation. The employment was chiefly intended to be the assassination of public officials, for which purpose men were to be chosen who farmed the Inner Circle. This was about eighteen months ago. Curley told witness the members were not to know one another; each one would only know who was to be his right, and who his left. Witness was chosen as Curley’s left. The witness further deposed that on one occasion he went by appointment to Ellis’ Quay, when he met Timot&y Kelly, Joseph Brady, Daniel Curley, William Mooney, John Dwyer, and Thomas Dwyer. Curley directed him to slop the Chief Secretary's carriage on the bridge. Witness understood there was * cab coming in front of the Chief Secretary’s carriage, and the cab, which would have a white horse iu it, would turn into John’s T&ne. The Chief Secretary (Mr Forster) was then to be attacked on the quay. The cab came along, and iu it were a man named Bandie and another. Bandlo said the cab with the Chief Secretary had gone on through a mistake in signalling. Witness recollected the Phumix Park murders, and oa that day he met Lawrence Hanlon, who add that Joe Brady and the remainder of ihe boys were at Wreun’e in Dame street. Witness went there and found Brady, who asked him when ho would have finished work. Witness said ho would be until halfpast seven that opening.* Brady then said it would be too late. Witness further said he saw Patrick Delaney on the day on which the attempt wae mode on Judge Uwson,- that he took part in a conspiracy for which everything was prepared to murder Mr Barrett, a speefal juror, in Westland Bow ; and he further described a conversation between Lawrence Hanlon and himself after the attack on Mr Field, in which Banlon said Joe Brady had knocked Field down and thou stabbed him. The witness made some important statement* on the organisation of the "Assassination Committee,” which a severe cross-examination failed to shake. After taking copious evidence from the witness, the prisoners were remanded for another week, to enable the Crown to complete the deposition* of the other witnesses. [The sequel to the examination of Farrell has already been gives in our telegraphic util summary.!)