GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9040, 19 November 1892, Page 2 (Supplement)

GENERAL NEWS.

EXCITING ACCIDENT AT NIAGARA.

One of the most exciting accidents that* have ever occurred at the Niagara Falls baa just taken place. An excursion party from Toronto, consisting of Mrs. Grim&son, her two daughters, the Rev. John Ramsay, of Ballymoney, Ireland, and two other gentlemen, were crossing the new suspension bridge just below the Falls, when Mrs. Grimason slipped over the edge of the bridge. It seemed as though nothing short) of a miracle could have saved her from falling into the whirlpool below. Yeb strange to relate her feet were caught between the lower girder and gaspipe which crosses the bridge, and there she hung head downwards 160 ft from the rocks below. Mr. Ramsay, comprehending the situation at a glance, sprang over the railing and descended on the cables to the place where the lady was hanging. Locking his legs firmly round the girder he seized Mrs. Grimason with his arms, lifted her from her perilous place, and held her until the people were able to lower ropes and pull both up in safety. Mr. Kamsay was in Toronto attending the Pan-Presbyterian Conference.

AN IMMORAL POLL PARROT. An old woman walked into the rooms of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals the other day with a parrot in a basket. Polly took a perch on a corner of the superintendent's desk. Cocking one eye at bis mistress he said, " You're a fool!" She paid no attention to this remark, but went on to say that the bird was sick and that she wanted him destroyed. At this Polly exclaimed, " You're a d— liar !" He followed this up with a string of oaths and vile phrases such as are nob commonly heard far away from Hesterstreet and the Bowery. Then the old woman burst into tears. Her brother was a sea captain, and he had brought the parrot from South America. It was the old story. The sailors had taught it to swear and use abominable language. Being an exceptionally apt pupil, its repertoire of "cuss words" and improper expressions became surprisingly large. The old woman received the gift of the bird with delight, but presently it assailed her with the most outrageous and abusive epithets. Unfortunately she lived in a house where there were many other lodgers, and Polly did not hesitate to swear at and villify them as well, calling them all sorts of unprintable names. Thus he made such a disturbance and occasioned so many complaints that his mistress finally decided that he must be killed, and brought him to the society for that purpose. However, Supt Hankinson refused to accede to the request.—Philadelphia Times.

\j* A BOY KILLED BY BEAXDY. ' An inquest was held at Hastings on the body of a boy named Biosted, aged four years. The boy fell into the sea, and on being rescued hot milk was given to him containing brandy, the dose of alcohol being so strong that the little fellow soon afterwards died. A mortem examination showed that death was from alcoholic poison. The jury returned a verdict of " Death through an overdose of brandy given in error."

THE QUEEN OF SPAIN" AND HER "TRADE."

Queen Christina of Spain has greatly added to her popularity with the working classes' of Spain by a seemingly unpremeditated little act of cleverness. She was visiting the other day the famous manufactory of mosaics at Orio, near San Sebastian. Passing through one of the shops the Queen Regent suddenly stopped, and after watching one of the workmen for a few minutes asked him to let her finish his job. She took the workman's seat, and completed in the most deft and skilful manner the mosaic which he had commenced. Her Majesty learned the trade while an archduchess, it being the rule in Austria as in Germany that all members of the imperial family, whether girls or boys, acquire a trade.

A CURIOUS RACE TRACK ROW. There was a curious row at the race-track at St. Ouen, near Paris, a few days ago. The typesetter of the official programme made a mistake in the weight the horse Bougie was to carry. The horse is a great favourite, and at that weight everybody plunged on him, especially the cheap crowd in the field. He won, of course. Then the judges discovered the mistake in the figures of the programme and that, the horse had carried too little weight, and they decided to give the race to another horse. At this there was a wild riot. The people broke through the barriers in a rush, howled down the judges and demanded their money back. They made wild threats and tried to set fire to the brush hurdles. The authorities tried to start another race, but the people refused to leave the track, and there was a wild time. Finally all bets were declared off, the field quieted down and the money was returned.

THE DUST OF COLUMBUS FOR SALE. A queer story is told by one of the World's Fair commissioners, who claims to have learned during a recent visit to the State Department that the remains of Christopher Columbus have been offered to the United States as security for a $100,000 loan at 6 per cent, interest. The offer was made by President Heureaux of San Domingo. The commissioner states that, although the proposition was that the remains should be taken in security for the loan, ib is the general belief about the State Department that this is merely a delicate way of proposing absolute sale. The proposition was rejected, as the officials in Washington have no authority bo make such purchases or loans. JiODIES FOUND. A startling discovery was made on October 7 at Whitechapel. London, near the scene of numerous "Jack the Ripper" murders. Workmen, while tearing down an old building, discovered a box containing the skeleton of three adults, and everything pointed to a crime at some remote period. The discovery has created much excitement.

A PROTEST TO THE CHURCH CONGRESS. The Anglican Church Congress opened at Folkestone on October 4. After the address of welcome a procession was formed, headed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, which marched through the crowded streets to the church. A number of low churchmen took position near the passing procession with a banner inscribed : " We represent Ridley and Latimer at the stake, exhorting churchmen bo withstand idolatry, priestcraft, ritualism, and Popish processions." They tried to follow the procession, but the spectators Ret upon them and tore the banner to ribbons.,.

GROWTH OF YOUNG PEOPLE. . The year of greatest growth in boys is the seventeenth ; in girls the fourteenth. While girls reach full height in their fifteenth year, they acquire full weight at the' ago of twenty. Boys arc stronger than girls from birth to the eleventh year; then girls become superior physically to the seventeenth year, when the tables are agair. turned and remain so. From November to April children grow very little and gain nc weight; from April to July they gain in height, but lose in weight, and from July to November they increase greatly in weight, but not in height.

THE LAST WOKDS OF KENAN. . Joseph Ernest Kenan, the distinguished French aaibor and philologist, died October 2, in Paris. Kenan suffered from a complication of diseases, including rheumatism and gout. Four hours before his death he turned to his wife and asked : " Why are you sad ?" " Because I see you suffer," she replied. "Be calm and resigned," be responded. '' We undergo the laws of that nature whereof we are a manifestation. We perish ; we disappear; but heaven and earth remain, and the march of time goes on for ever."

APVISED TO DROWN HIMSELF. A. Mortenson, of ,Mortenson & Co., shipping agents, has been sued for $50,000 damages by Mrs. Mary E. Christianson. Mr. Mortenson says the plaintiffs husband was his cashier. Christianson took to drinking and remonstrances and repeated discharges failed to cure him. "Finally," said Mr. Mortenson, " I concluded that I could pub up with him no. longer, and, calling him into my office, told him so. I gave him a severe lecture. I told him he should be ashamed of himself and wound up by saying. * You are so worthless that if I were in your place I would go drown myself. My advice to you is to go jump into the river.' I then discharged him. Christianson went home, changed bis clothes and came down here to the river and jumped in. His body was not found till next day. I did not for a moment suppose that he would be foolish enough .to lump into the river simply because I advised him to."