HOME AID FOREIGN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1686, 22 June 1904, Page 15

HOME AID FOREIGN.

MORAIOX APOSTLE FLEES.

The investigation of the American Senate Committee into the changes of polygamy against Mi' Smoot is drawing to a -close. Mr Moses Thatcher, who was a witness on April 25, testified that he.had formerly been an apostle in the Mormon Church, but had been deposed front his apostleship because he- had run as a candidate for the United States Senate- without the consent of the denomination. Mr Thatcher’s evidence tended to show, that the authorities of the Mormon faith ruled the lives and actions of the members, and that Mr Smoot as Senator would not be representing the State of Utah in Washington, but the Mormon Church and its doctrines. Another Mormon apostle named Taylor who has been called upon by the Committee to testify, did not put in an appearance, and it is learned that he has fled to .Canada in order to avoid giving evidence. This apostle has left seven wives and numerous children behind him in Salt Lake City. Some of these wives were “sealed’’* to Taylor after the ~. year 1890. After the adjournment of the Senate the Committee will go to Utah to prosecute its inquiries in the land of Mormonism and the whole question of polygamy and Morman doctrines will he thoroughly investigated. - MAKAROFF’S- SISTER'S VISIONS. The “Petit Parisien’s” St Petersburg correspondent sends a sad story regarding the sister of Admiral Makaroff. --..whose hair although she is only fifty year old, has turned absolute white. She told a representative of the Press that she had two visions on the night of the admiral's death, when he appeared ana teld her of the explosion. Her name is Mme. Tabounoff. She is the widow of ' ‘ an officer, and receives only a small pension, which Admiral- Makaroff used to supplement. INTERVENTION RUMOURS. Rumours of the intervention in the Far East persistently recur in spite of the statements of the Russian Press that Russia will have none of it. All the European Cabinets are agreed that only by intervention will the present war be ' terminated, but the proper moment has not yet arrived. As soon, however, as this is the cas9, diplomacy will set to work on the basis presumably of a territorial status quo, the evacuation of Manchuria by Russia not being insisted •on and Korea alone forming the subject of negotiation. On the other hand, the “Wiener All- - Zeitung” denies the rumours of <■ intervention. It says it has high authority for stating that King Edward’s autograph letter to the Ozslr ccnjfcained suggestions for an arrangement, excluding all causes o.f friction between England and Russia. GRAECO-TURKISH RIOT IN SMYRA. _ _ t ATHENS, April 25. . A serious incident has occurred at Smyrna. M. Delyannis, Secretary of the Greek Consulate, had taken certain action to secure the re-opening of some Greek shops which had been closed on account of npn-payment of taxes by their proprietors. _ v This led to a sanguinary conflict with - a force of Turkish troops. An official communique issued to-day states that the Secretary of the Consulate, finding it necessary to defend himself when a Turkish patrol intervened. fired several shots. The Greek Consul-General, on proceeding to the office of the Ottoman Governor, found the secretary bound and bleeding. The ’ ; secretary was authorised to accompany the Consul, but the soldiers prevented the departure of the two kavasses and unharnessed the horses of the Consul’s carriage. The two kavasses were finally released on .Saturday evening on the intervention of the French Consul. The communique adds that the fleet is leaving this evening to engage in manoeuvres.

SENSATIONAL SCENES IN A MADRID BULL-RING.

MADRID April 22. An exceptional and sensational bullfight was held this afternoon in' the Madrid arena. Six bulls were to ibe fought by two renowned matadors Algabeno and v Largarti jo, and the arena was crowded with gay spectators, the ladies draped in their Manila shawls, or else wearing the romantic white mantilla; among whose silk lace-work and the owner’s ebony hair nestled red and white carnations. - . • The first bull was slaughtered according to bull-ring laws; the second started his short career by killing several horses, and without a moment’s notice pitched Lagartijo three yards high in the air, having caught him in the calf of the right leg. The matador refused to leave .the arena, though the blood was trickling down on the dry sand; he therefore remained sword in hand to kill the ani- : mol, ' ’ ■ * --

He did so with a mortal thusfc that brought forth a storm of applause; but

unluckily he' was caught by the dying bull’s last frantic efforts, and tossed up in the air, this time having been damaged again‘by the bull’s'horns. Senseless he was carried away by his team, and the oarnage continued, Olgabeno having now to kill the remaining four bulls.

The third Vbull now came out" from its cave—a determined rushing brute. He was met by the renowned torero, who threw him the red cape, and for a fev r moments played nimbly, when suddenly he was tossed in tlio air, and then fell down again before the aggravated animal, who lowered his head, and pierced Algabeno’s neck with his needle-pointed horns. One of the team pulled' the beast by the tail, the rest threw capes,' one of which managed to distract the bull. Then Algabeno was lifted away.

Roth matadors were wounded, and no one was present to kill the remaining four bulls. Such a carnage had rarely been seen in Spain, and many of the spectators were so disgusted at the sight of so much human blood that they left the arena. But it was not over yet. A young fellow, one of the team, harebrained but brave took the red bunting and the sword, and managed to slaugliteer four bulls —-unscientifically, and against all rules. His companions did not fare,so well; three members of the team had to retire me wall two fingers broken, and two gored in the face and (each. Lagartijo, the first matador wounded, is not dangerously ill, but is incapacitated for several months. Very little hope, however, is entertained of Algabeno’s recovery, and, as he is the hero of the public, the Madrid populace are as excited as if it were the King who was dying. SQUIRE’S INFATUATION. As the price of his infatuation for the wife of a stud groom Mr Vernon Harcourt Freeman, a country gentleman, living at Oilwrndig Park, in South -Wales, was yesterday ordered to pay £1250 damages to the wronged husband, who at the same time obtained a divorce. It was at some private theatricals at the “big house” to which in 1897 Mr Freeman invited his servants, tenants, and the villagers, that lie made the acquaintance of Mrs Hopkins. She was the good-looking wife of Ernest Walter Hopkins, a stud groom, whom she married nine years before. There were three children of the marriage, and the Hopkins family lived very happily in one of the two lodges in Oilwrndig Park, the groom being employed by a “paying guest” of Mr Freeman. PROBLEM PLAY IX PARIS. “La Plus Faible,” a piece in four acts, jby r, M. Macel Prevost, performed at the Theatre Francais. depiots a phase of Parisian life in which the author chivalrously defends the position of a wife driven to forget her vows, and seek reloved. Jacques Nerval is an historian loved. Jacque’s Nerval is an historian and member of the Institute, and happiness only came to him when Germaine de Maucombe, ill-treated and abandoned by her husband, came to share his existence. Years pass away before marriage can sanction their union, and M. Marcel Prevost skillfully traces the psychological trials of their souls. The play, which is admirably acted by leading members of the Coinedie Francaise, was well received by a brilliant audience. DENOUNCED BY HIS SON. In Siles (Andalusia) a horrible crime has been perpetrated. Five men entered during the day by the back door into the house of a rich old woman, killing her and th’en pitching her body downstairs, where they coolly left her so that it would he thought she had fallen accidentally. They then took away £I2OO in money as well as jewels and clothes. The thieves were recognised and brought to - justice by a child six years old. who had witnessed the crime from a neighbouring window. This child is the son of the night-watch, whc is one of the five alleged perpetrators of the murder and robbery. The father is reported to have said that if he had suspected that his son had witnessed his doings he would have murdered him rather than let him live to tell the tale. HEADLESS SKELETONS. BELGRADE, April 21. At Prokupolje. below the “Isar” Mountain on the south side, where stand the ruins of a ancient castle, a farmer’s labourers, in preparing the ground for the replanting of a vineyard recently discovered several vaults containing human skeletons of specialty large sizes, curiously enough, all without heads. One vault was immensely large, and in it was a well 40in in diameter and 10ft deep, filled with human bones, but there were no skulls. It is supposed that the castle had belonged to the vojvode Yoog Bogdan, one of the celebrated personages whose fame is sung in the Servian national ballads, The appearance of the ruins indicates that the castle must have been a magnificent one, and the discovery of headless skeletons leads one to suppose that they are the remains of unfortunate heroes whose heads their victors carried away on lances to adorn their city gates; as was the custom in those days.

The proprietor of these vineyards has written to the Belgrade authorities asking them to send qualified persons to inpect the discoveries.

ARE BATTLESHIPS OBSOLETE?

WASHINGTON, April 24

There was a lively debate in the Senate to-day over the naval appropriation, which is larger this year than any previous year, and which provides for an addition "to the nation’s battleships. Senator Hale attacked the battleship project, and said that he hoped the President would defer the construction of the battleships already authorised. “The war in the Far East,” said Senator Hale, “lias shown the vulnerability and unsafely of these large warships. One hundred and fifty million dollars (£30,000,000) in battleships is a bad- investment.” Several members defended the programme ; but Senators Stewart and Gorman supported the contention of Mr Hale and declared that battleships were obsolete, insisting that torpedo-boat destroyers and' swift cruisers were of .far more use, as the present war had already shown. DEVASTATED BY TORNADO. NEW YORK, April 25. The tornado which originated yesterday in Texas swept up through Indian Territory and Arkansas,, causing widespread ruin in its path. Reports from Little Rock, Arkansas, state that whole sections of the country were devastated, and that numerous towns have suffered severely from the hurricane. The loss of life, as far as known, is twenty, but numbers of people have been injured and many are homeless. At Pastoria, Arkansas, twG people were killed and five injured through the blowing down of houses, and many towns in the immediate vicinity of Pastoria suffered in a similar manner. The tornado cut a wide path through some of the towns, literally sweeping down everything in its way, and practically ruining hundreds of people. The tornado was followed by hail and rain, which fell in enormous quantities. The State authorities are sending relief to the sufferers. AMERICAN GIRL’S * ELOPEMENT. NEW YORK, April 24. Mr Andrews, Mr Yerkes’s partner* cabled to the United States Immigration authorities to stop his daughter, who had eloped with an Englishman, of the name of Ray. Upon the arrival of the Etruria the coupie were arrested, but as they produced a marriage certificate the authorities had no option but to release them. They left for San Francisco at once. MOTOR RECORDS BEATEN. Mr 'Cecil Edge, who is attempting a 2000-miles non-stop run on a Napier motor-car. arrived at John o’Groat’s about a quarter of an hour before noon on April 25, having covered 1103 miles in 591- hours. An absolute non-stop run of 1090 miles was made in 54 hours. The run from Laud’s End to John o’Groat’s, a distance of 805 miles, by way of Taunton, Worcester, Carlisle, Lanark, .and Perth, was accomplished in 40| hours (gross time from end to end), while *tho net Line .of actual running was under 40 hours. Turning at Jonn o’Groat’s, the driver and his- two companions began their run for' home. The car will pass through London, and the run will be carried on to Worthing, and thence back to Lopdon again, to complete the full journey of 2000 miles. Mr Edge, who passed Wick on his return journey has already attained the chief object of his trip in accomplishing a run of over 1000 miles without stopping the engines of the car. A “FOUR HUNDRED” SCANDAL. NEW YORK, April 24. The “Four Hundred” are discussing a social scandal, which had its sequel in the divorce courts last week, and in a re-marriage that either has taken place, or is to occur this week. Last Tuesday, Mr Elbridge Gerry Snow, jun., was divorced by his wife, and on Friday, Mrs Marie Antoinette Hoppe was divorced by her huiband. All-four are prominent in the highest society circles, and it was not known untill yesterday what was the cause of difference between the couples. Yesterday, however, Mr Snow took out at the License Bureau, a license for marriage between himself and Mrs Hoppe. He would not declare wdien or where the ceremony was to be performed. GERMAN THOROUGHNESS. BERLIN, April 25. The City Fathers of Berlin are about to take an interesting and important step in educational legislation by the introduction of compulsory continuation schools for boys who are obliged to go to work before proceeding to the highest class of the city communal schools. The measure, which will be confined to Berlin, will compel these boys to attend the continuation schools until they complete their seventeenth year. Ottty those will be exempt who leave scflooil iw attend technical classes or trade Sv hooks, ’I .. i " •

and parents or guardians will not be allowed to retain their sons at home. The new continuation classes will be held in the ordinary schools, and the instruction will extend to four hours weekly, and will be wholly free of every charge or fee. Berlin will be divided into four districts, each under the supervision of an inspector. Provision must be made for 30,000 boys, and at is expected that the annual extra outlay for the classes' will exceed £50,000. It is believed that so'me provision will be made for admitting boys who have passed tne highest standard o 1 the communal schools, but details are not settled yet. AN ELECTROCUTED HORS®. In view of the great and increasing extent to which electricity is utilised in the streets it seems probable that some alteration, will have to be made in horses’ shoes, if accidents are to be avoided. A cabman was walking his horse along Wlgmore-street. New Oxford-street, London, when the aninlal suddenly stopped dead, trembled as if it had been seized with a fit, and sank to the ground. The driver jumped down from his box, and. running to its assistance, instinctively seized its head, only to start up with a startled cry. He had received an electric shock, but, happily, of not sufficient strength to prevent his speedy recovery. The horse, however, was dead, and remained on the ground, after being freed of the harness, until the current could be switched off. The cause of the accident was not far to seek. The animal had been lying right over a “box,” which gives access to the underground wires in that area. It is one or a pattern, the centre of which can be filled in with cement, leaving a narrow rim of steel, which was found to be “alive.” Cnee in contact with this*, a horseshoe would transmit _ a shock—exactly what happened in this case.

An official of the Metropolitan Electric Supply Company explained that the accident was no doubt due to a leakage. The insulation around the wires had probably worn away, and the current found a conductor in tho box lid. Curiously #

enough a.similar accident happened in the same locality about .two months before, when a horse was again the victim.

It was carefully explained, by the official referred to that such an occurrence is always liable to take place, and, of course, the horse, being iron shod, is an easy prey. “But there is absolutely t no danger to pedestrians,” lie added.*" “Between the nails in a boot and the foot is leather which insures insulation.

As a matter of fact, one of the mechanics stood on tiie box whilst it was

“alive” without receiving the slightest shock. There was then a voltagq, of 51)5, - which, though it is not suttieient to kill a healthy man, would be more than enough tor a horse, winch is very sensible to the effects of electricity.

SOUTH AFRICAN MINE DISASTER.

At the Robinson Deep mine on April 25. whilst a party of forty-three natives were descending the shaft to go to tlieir work, the winding rope attached to the three-decker cage parted, and it dropped a distance of 2900 ft. The cage flew into splinters, and the occupants of it were smashed to pieces.

DOCTOR’S FATAL LOVE FOR BEA LTIFUL ACTRESS.

A touching love tragedy has just been enacted in the woods of St liemy-les Ohevreuse, not far from Paris. It appears that a young doctor named Daniel Renaud, aged twenty-five, had fallen deeply in love with a charming young actress named Mile. Germaine Morliange, aged twenty-one, who three years ago took the first prize for declamation at the Conservatoire. They had made up their minds to get married, hut the parents of Dr Renaud, who reside in the department. of the Vienne, objected, so that the wedding could not take place. On a recent Sunday morning the lovers left Paris for an excursion to St Remy-les-Ohevreuse, and there they took their dejeuner, appearing both to be in gay spirits. Afterwards they went for a walk in the woods, and there evidently decided that they would end their days together as they were not permitted to marry. At about four o’clock the gendarmes were-Hnformed that two bodies had been found tying close together in a little clearing, the man with a revolver in his hand. On investigation it was seen that the girl was not dead, but had merely lost consciousness after being wounded by a bullet which had struck her in the neck, and then lodged in the jaw. The doctor, however, was dead, being shot through the right temple. Mile Morhange was taken to a neighbouring aoctor’s, where she received treatment, and recovered consciousness, but her despair at her lover’s death is so great that it is feared there is little hope of saving her life. She has been transferred to the Hopital de la Pitie.