GENERAL NEWS ITEMS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2241, 19 February 1921, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS ITEMS

One of America’s nnilriinoninl recordbreakers is Dr. R. L. Maxwell, of Little Rock, Although lie lias had only two wives he has married four times. He accomplished this feat by a system of .divorce and remarriage. The first wife became the third after he lmd once divorced her, and married a second woman and divorced the latter as well. Early in December, having divorced his third wife, he took his fourth by remarrying his second..

A cross-country golf match, unique in the annals of the game in South Wales, has just been completed, the players being Mr D. Rupert Lewis and Mr W. Raymond Thomas, both well-known figures on Wefsh links. The course ran over 20 'miles, from Badyr, near Cardiff, to Soutlierndown, on the Glamorgan coast. Doubt had been expressed whether itcould be covered in less than .1,200 strokes, one of the conditions being that the rules of golf were to lie strictly observed. There were many wagers that at least 1,000 strokes would be necessary. Messrs Lewis and Thomas won handsomely, doing the course, with alternate strokes, in 008. There were, of course, a number of adventures, including visits to two woods and at least one morass. At one time the players had lo wade knee-deep in water to ford a river. At another they were chased by a hull, and saved themselves by jumping a hedge. Twenty balls were lost in the 20 mij.es, and the proper penalty was paid. The distance was covered in 10 hours, including intervals for refreshments.

Dr. i\ S. Burns, surgeon in the Layland Line steamer WiuiCredian, told a. remarkable story of wirek\s surgery at sea. The steamer Medapicr, Royal Beige Line, of Antwerp, while on the'homeward voyage to Belgium from Mew ’Orleans, ciic>itnleml a heavy gale, which resulted in the captain sending out a wireless message for surgical assistance, several of the crew, including officers, suffering from broken arms and legs, and internal injuries. The wireless was responded to by Gaplam A. W. V. Traut, of the Winifrediau. who immediately communicated wit'll Dr. Burns in his ship. Dr. Burns offered to go to the assist-

ance of the disabled men. and every effort was made by the crew of Hid Winifretlian to reach the vessel as quickly as possible while heavy seas were running. Another wireless message was received, asking for surgical instructions for the men, and stating that it was not necessary for the Winifrediau to go to their aid, as it would be impossible lo launch a boat in such a sea. Dr Burns sent instructions how to set the limbs, and to treat the injuries, and he kept in constant commnnicatfon with the Medapier for two days, A report was received later to the effect that all the men in the Medapier were out id danger.

Ejected from a collage last August under- an order made by the Llanfair (Montgomeryshire) magistrates, John Morris, a farm labourer, and tiis wife have ever since lived in an open field, their bed being placed under a hedge. The man is in regular work, but cannot get another cottage, although there are said l(> he some in the parish vacant. The rector, the Rev. T. D. James, lias written to the Ministry of Health, staling that the man’s wife is in a “dreadful plight, and unless something is. done soon sin l will certainly perish of cold." IT, has communicated with the police, magistrates and poor-law guardian-. and appeals to the .Ministry ah a last resort.

j An accidental explosion at the i Woolwich Borough Council's clcci tricity generating station resulted 1 in Ihe death of a lli-year-old hoy, who was silting on the top of a ’bus across the River Thames, threequarters of a mile away from Iho explosion. A piece ol metal which struck him had been hurled that distance. The workmen at the electricity station were injured, hut only cue of them was detained in hospital. Extensive damage was done in i the works, and wreckage was liurl--1 ed great distances in all directions. . Officials at the works slate that a 3,750 kilowatt turbo-alternator was having its load placed on it when, for some unexpected reason the 1 overs peed governor tailed to act, and the alternator “raced away” at a terrific speed and burst, The piece of metal which struck the hoy weighed about 2011).