HOME AND FOREIGN

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1685, 15 June 1904, Page 20

HOME AND FOREIGN

LADY SHOT BY HER SON. Meldretli, a fruit-growing and residential village of Cambrideshire, has been the scene of a remarkable tragedy. Twelve months, ago a Mr Rogers, a London solicitor, took a picturesque house named The Gables as a country residence for his wife and family of six. whom he joined each week-end. On Tuesday (April 19), the eldest daughter, Winifred, aged 18, was playing the piano in the drawing-room, when the door was opened by her brother Frank, who is 15 years old. The boy had a smoking revolver in his hand, and said, ‘ I’ve shot mother. I thought it best.” The horrified daughter ran into the hall just in time to see her mother stagger from the breakfast-room and fall to the floor. Dr Ennion, who was sent for, found Mrs Rogers quite dead. On Thursday the county coroner, Mr Lyon, and a jury sat in the bar parlour of the village public-house, known as the British Queen, to inquire into the tragedy. The hoy accused of murder sat in one corner of the parlour wearing his school cap with a crest on it. He had been driven in a trap from Melbourne police-court, where after being formally charged with the murder of his mother, he was remanded for eight days.

The first witness at the inquest was Mr W. A. Rogers, who said his wife was 42. He was followed by his daughter Winifred, who described how her brother entered the drawing-room with the revolver in his hand, and said he had shot their mother. She afterwards saw her mother in the hall, leaning against the soft. She was apparently dead. There was blood in front of her. Later on she saw Frank, and said, “Why did you do it?” He' said, “For Queenie’s sake. She could not be brought up to* the life we have led for the last few years.” Then he cried a little. “When he said he had done it for Queenie’s sake, did you understand what he meant?” the coroner asked.—“ Yes,” was the answer. “For the last few years we have been very unhappy, because my mother had given way to drink.” There were tears in her eyes as she made this statement.

“After hearing medical evidence the jury found a verdict of “Wilful murder” against Frank Rogers.

THE HARCOURT ESTATES.

Mr Aubrey Harcourt, of Nuneham park, Oxford, lord of the manors of Nuneham, Stanton Harcourt, Hinksey, Northmoor. Coggs, and Shifford, Avho died at Monte Carlo recently, appointed as executors of his will his uncle, the Right. Hon Sir William George Granville Venables Vernon Harcourt—-to whom probate has been granted—and Mr Henry Edward Harcourt Rice. Mr Aubrey Harcourt settled the Nuneham park estate «and all his other real estate, which is to be called the Harcourt estates, in favour of his uncle, Sir William, during his life, with remainder to his son, Mr Lewis Vernon Harcourt, M.P., and his first and other sons successively, and with other remainders but the tenant for life is to bear the surname and arms cf Harcourt only.

He made some bequests, and he left the residue of his property to his uncle absolutely. His estate has been valued, so far as at present can be ascertained, at £130,188 2s gross, and at £121,304 net.

PERILS OF THE ALPS.

A terrible accident happened on Sunday (April 24), says a Geneva telegram, at a place known as Grand Varappe, on tlie Saleve mountain, to* a young man named Klein. Mr Klein, who was 22 years of age, and a practised mountain climber, slipped and fell over a precipice to a distanceof 700 ft below, and was in- - ■ stantly killed. ' At Brieg (Switzerland) an avalanche broke away from the Spitzhcrn between one and two o’clock in the morning, and swept the whole hamlet of Muhlbach, consisting .of three houses and three mills. Out of twenty inhabitants, who were surprised in . their beds, thirteen perished.. ~ Three houses in the village of Grengiols, on the. left bank of the Rhone, near Brieg, have been swept away by an avalanche. Of the twenty inhabitants of the houses, seven were killed and six ■ reported missing.' ■y ,In the commune of PragQlaco (Turin) an avalanche destroyed some huts occupied by miners, of whom 100 were overwhelmed. Twenty-five managed to save v V themselves. In a heavy storm on Wednesday inhabitants and troops were making every effort to reach the spot where the men lay buried. % MJDSHIPMAN’S STORY. '. According to a telegram from Port Arthur received at St. Petersburg recently, eye-witnesses of the sinking of the Petropavlovsk state that, when the

flagship took her place at the head of the squadron, which was drawn up in line of battle, a cloud of smoke burst from the vessel, and a report was heard, to which, however, no particular attention was paid. Then a column of smoke and a gigantic flame belched forth between the ship’s funnels and a violent explosion followed. The stern of the battleship suddenly rose but began to* sink rapidly, the screws revolving all the time, and almost in a moment the vessel had disappeared beneath the water. According to a statement made by a midshipman named Yakovleff, who Avas rescued, the bridge on which he was standing was under water before lie could make an effort to save himself. All of those who stood on the other side of the bridge, including Admiral Makaroff, were injured evidently by the explosion and perished. Although all was over in two minutes, an amateur photographer succeeded in taking a photograph of the sinking vessel. The torpedo* gunboat Gaidamak and the other torpedo-boats which were near hastened to the scene of the disaster in order to rescue the crew. The catastrophe created profound dismay, and the terrible news spread with great rapidity through the town, everybody rushing to the harbour. People could not realise the death of Admiral Makaroff, and all hoped that, he had been saved. persons assert that a Japanese, cruiser went down off Port Arthur on the 15th inst., and that the Japanese cruisers Nichin and Kasuga were damaged below and above the water line respectively by the Russian indirect fire.

FAMINE AT VLADIVOSTOK. A St. Petersburg telegram states that the population of Vladivostock Avas in want of the most necessary provisions, which it was impossible to procure, owing to communications being interrupted by flooded rivers. There was also scarcity of money. Many of the inhabitants, particularly women and children, were leaving the town, abandoning their property, which they were unable to sell, and half of the houses were empty. This exodus had reduced the civil population to about 5000 souls.

ARRESTED OFFICERS. Details are to hand concei’ning the arrest of Japanese officers who were on a mission to blow up a railway bridge near Fouliardi. A patrol on the frontier discovered a caravan of Mongols, with camels. They were searched, and it was found that two Japanese were among them, disguised as Mongolian merchants. They had made a detour of over 1000 kilometres in order to reach the railway, and had explosive bombs and a quantity of instruments to he used for destroying the bridge.’ SHOT FOR TREACHERY.

The Tokio correspondent of the “NeAv York Evening Post,” writing on March 30. says that the chief reason for the slowness with. Avhich the Japanese land campaign is being developed is the discovery that Lieut.-Colonel Hanzoku, a veteran of the Chinese Avar and a member of the General Staff, had sold the details of each important plan to Russia, in accordance with an agreement made with a Russian attache at Tokio. who was a felloAv-student of the Japanese officer in Germany. Colonel Hanzoku was secretly courtmartialled. shot by the Imperial Guard, and buried Avithin the palace grounds. Outside the Elder Statesmen and the General Staff no one Avas cognisant ‘ of the plans made, but the Russians met and foiled all preliminary moves without a failure. It Avas discovered that Colonel Hanzoku was living like a prince, whereas he had been before that time a bankrupt gambler. The War Office was compelled to devise a remodelled plan of campaign.

THE DISASTER ON THE MISSOURI

Dispatches from Pensacola, Florida, reached the Navy-Department at Washington announcing a terrible gun explosion on board the United Stages battleship Missouri. The loss of life was at first given as amounting to 14, but later advices raised the death roll to 29 killed and others wounded, three of whom have since suecumber. The disaster occurred during target practice. A telegram from Washington said there were two explosions, the first occurring in the 12-inch port after-turret gun, while it was being charged, and the second almost immediately afterwards in the handling room underneath, where four exposed charges blew up. Altogether 2000 pounds of powder exploded. The entire turret and handling room crews perished. The accident occurred about noon. Several shots had already been fired from the port gun, and while the, second half of a front charge was being rammed home either the gases from the previous charge or a smouldering portion of the canvas cover.of the cartridge ignited the powder, causing the explosion. The breech of the gun was still open, and the

report was hot loud. In an instant- the turret was filled with flames, and almost simultaneously a second and fiercer explosion occurred. Two streams of water were immediately turned on, and the handling room and magazine were flooded. Officers and men with handkerchiefs over their faces brought out the dead and dying. Capt. Cowles himself led the rescuers, many of whom became unconscious and were suffocated. Twentyfive bodies were found in a heap near the exit of the turret, the body of Lieut. Davidson, who was in charge of the turret, lying on the top. This officer had evidently allowed the men to pass him before all were overwhelmed by the second explosion. It appears that the chief gunner’s mate, a man named Monson, . saved the Missouri and the lives of 600 men by jumping into the magazine after the first explosion and slamming the door behind him. Meanwhile the officers, regarding an explosion of the magazine as certain, ordered the ship to.be beached. When 250 yards from the beach the order was countermanded.

According to the New York correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” the accident took place during a competition in rapid firing, and there is too much ground to fear that in the desire to make a record safety was thrown to the winds. In the turret dead and dying were piled in a heap. None escaped alive fromvthe turret. But three men were taken from the handling-room still breathing. The dead were, frightfully injured. Their clothes were reduced to streds and blown from their bodies, their faces were burnt, and their limbs were so mangled that the flesh - hung in tatters.

For a minute it seemed that the great ship and her complement of hundreds of men hung on the brink of destruction. No cue can describe the awfulness of the fate that threatened them. Yet there was no panic. Once the officers had realised the needs of the moment everything was in order. Every hose available aft and amidships was led to the turret, from which flames spurted and the 'black smoke of framing wood and cloth curled. The officers from the quarterdeck and the -warrant officers and sailors attempted to* enter the turret, hut the heat was too intense until water had been playing on the fire for a few moments.

Below decks the crew who were fighting the fire stood in a heat that made their flesh smart and their garments smoke within a yard or two of hundreds of tons of powder that might have exploded at any second and reduced the splendid ship to atoms. The situation lasted for a quarter of an hour, while the flames yielded very slowly before the floods of water poured into the handlingroom, and the Avails of the magazine cooled slowly. It is impossible to* ascertain the exact cause of the disaster, as none of those in the after-turret at the time of the explosion have surA'ived. Experts believe it was duo to the wind bloAving doAvn the muzzle of the gun through the open breech and igniting the powder as it AA'as being hoisted up. THE MACKENZIE ROMANCE. On Tuesday (April 19), Lady Constance Mackenzie Avas married in the little Episcopal Chapel at Tain to Sir Edward Austin SteAvart Richardson, Bart., of Pitfour, Perthshire. The engagement only became known recently, and many of the guests to the wedding Avere invited by telegram. The sister of Lady Constance, the Countess of Cromartie, is at present in Italy, and although the ceremony took place Avithin view of Dunrobin Castle, none of the bride’s relatives associated Avith the ducal home of the Sutherlands were present. Lady Constance, who is in her 23rd year, delights in outdoor amusements. She is an excellent horseAvoman and a crack shot. A champion swimmer, she held for tAvo or three years the Bath Club Challenge Shield. Recently she travelled round the world, paying a visit to Somaliland, and going some distance inland, habited in an unconventional costume, Avhich included a ccAA’hoy’s hat. When forbidden to proceed further, she returned in the admirals’ ship to Aden, and thence Avent to Bombay on a shooting expedition. Her ladyship is heiress presumptive to the Countess of Cromartie, one of the largest lady landowners in the three kingdoms. The earldom of Cromartie lapsed on account of the family’s connection Avith the ’45 rebellion, but the title Avas bestowed on their grandmother, the late Duchess of Sutherland, by Queen Victoria. DYNAMITE EXPLOSION IN ST. PETERSBURG. A mysterious explosion occurred in St. Petersburg on April 13 at the Hotel Nerd, which is situated on the Navsky Prospekt opposite the Moscow railway station. ’ The explosion completely wrecked a great part of the premises, and was followed by a fire. When the smoke had cleared the firemen discovered near the door, which had been shattered

in the explosion, some half-charred and unrecognisable remains of a corpse. The head, arms and trunk* together with all the fingers of one hand, had been bloivn away. It was an hour and & half before the fire Avas extinguished, when the civil and police authorities entered the rooms. A search was made among the ruins, Avliich resulted in the discovery of the victim’s legs, one Avith a sock still on. Half of the other legj was missing. The lower part of the boot, containing the victim’s toes. Avas also found. There was no further trace of the explosion, but a grained leather portfolio containing letters and A r isiting cards of several different persons was discovered intact. On inquiry it was ascertained that the room had been occupied by M. Kazanoff, the son of an acting State Councillor, without profession, and aged 33. M. Kazanoff on April 13 arrived in St. Petersburg from Gitimir in Volhynia.

From the damage done to* the room and the mutilation of the body, military experts concluded that the explosion Avas caused by the firing of a highly ex« plosive substance with a nitre-glycerine base, the sale or possession of which is prohibited. It is supposed that M. Kazanoff accidentally knocked oA r er an infernal machine or a reoeptable containing an explosive. A later message on Thursday said the room in the hotel which was wrecked by an explosion Avas rented by two persons. The mutilated remains of one of them was found in the room. The other has disappeared. . GREAT RAILWAY STRIKE IN HUNGARY. A great strike of railway servants broke out in Hungary on Wednesday (April 20), and by midnight it was stated that no feAver than 60,000 employees had stopped work. Not only did the men immediately connected with the working of the lines come out, such an enginedrivers, watchmen and signalmen, but the superior clerks and traffic clerks folloAved their example. The result Avas that all trains ceased running, and the postal system Avas disorganised. It seems that the railway sen-ants had intended to hold a congi'ess at BudaPesth, at which they Avere to discuss the demands to be made on the Government with regard to the amelioration of their position. The Government, however, forbade the meeting to take place, and suspended the promoters. This led directly to the strike. It was reported that the President of the State Railways asked the Rector of the Polytechnic to place at the disposal of the railways a number of engine-driv-ers Avho had passed their examinations. Prior to the opening of the sitting of the Lower House of the Hungarian Diet at Buda-Pesili, a large number of deputies of all parties assembled in the President’s private room for the purpose of discussing the situation created by the raißvay strike. Among those present were Count Tisza the Premier, and the Ministers of Finance and Commerce. Count Tisza declared that the Government would not carry on negotiations with the strikers. An example, he added, must he made of the ringleaders, although the Government was willing to deal leniently Avith those of the strikers who had been led astray. In the Chamber of Deputies M. Hieronyrni, the Minister of Commerce, declared it t*o he the first duty of the Government to maintain the railway service, and they were therefore prepared to re-engage the strikers provided that they returned, to work immediately. Should the men, hoAA T ever, decline to do* so, the Government would devise, means for assuring the undisturbed working of the service.