MAIL NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9003, 3 January 1891, Page 3

MAIL NEWS.

ACCIDENT XO THE CAPE MAIL.

TEN PERSONS KILLED AND FIFTEEN INJURED,

A. terrible accident occurred on the Groat Western railway at Norton Fiizwarren, near Tauutou, shortly before 2 o'clock on the moruicg of November 11, through a collision between the special up train from Plymouth, conveying the ' passengers who had just arrived from Iho Cape in tho Norham Castle, and a goods train. Tha railway authorities state that the disaster is the most serious that has occurred on tha Grent Western for many years. To find a parallel to it they have to go back to 1871, when a terrible uolliaiou occurred at Sbipton, near Oxford, aud 30 passengers were killud on tho spot. Tho Norham Castle, of tha Castld Hue of mail steamers, arrived at Plymouth on tha night of November 10, aud, following the usual course, the mails were transferred to a train in waiting, which started at once for London. In this train were two of the steamer's passengers, who did not wait to ueu their luggage cleared. The other passengers who landed at Plymouth—about 50 in uumber—waited to take over the baggage, aud then started in a special train shortly before midnight. Tha train was oomposed of four strong composite carriages. About 1.30 a.m. the train, running at a high rate of speed, approached Norton Fitzwarren. There is a signal box od the Plymoath side of the station, and the driver of the special, seeing that the signal was at tho " Line clear," came on without slackening spaed. Unfortunately the signalman had forgotten that a heavy goods train wag standing at some distance past the points. Wheu it did flash across his mind it was too late to avert disaster, and tha special dashed into tho rear of the traiD. The impact was terrible, five compartments boing telescoped outright. Tho number of passengers in the train altogether was fifty^ and of these ten were killed on tha spot. Eight others were seriously injured, and stvan in a lesser degree. The following is a complete list of the dead:—Arthur Carroll (booked as A. Cubit) of 75 St Andrews Road, Southse*; L. Cohen, addresses unknown, believed to be for Hamburg; Max Heimann, of Heimann and Co., Elomfontein; Joseph Reed, of Dudley, Ncwcastle-on-Tyne; J. E. Morris, of Long Row, Walls:nd-on-Tyue ; Johu Bradley, of Dalton-in-Furuoss; Thomas Smith, of Dalton-in-Furness; Matthew Benson (sometimes called Leece), of Lindal-iii-Furness; Robert Walker, of Hayland Common, Yorkshire; TitusE. Bongwe (coloured man), said to bs son of Wesleyan miuister at Boftoonsfleld, and interpreter to the High Court of Justice, Kimberley. Mr Wall, one of the snrvivors, gave the following particulars :—"I have come from Kimberley Dismond Mines, and am an electrician connected with the. De Beers mines. I was in tho second compartment of the first carriage. I hid just lit my pipe and was smoking, when, in the twinkling of an eye, there was a 6mash, and I felt blood running from a wound over my eye. I felt my legs jammed, find had another man jammed on tho top of me. I oiled out for help, and tho other fellows called out, asking me what was the matter. We heard them backing away at the other carriages, trying to get thorn out, and we colled out again, for the steam from tho engine was choking us. It wai cruel, aud was very hot indeed. To mako matters worse, the first compartment caught fire, and the smoks nearly suffocated us. I gave up all hope then, thinking it mast be death for atl of us. I was in a first- class compartment. When thesmoke cleared oway they threw sorno water over us. Then we heard them hacking away again, and they got ua free. All our legs were mixed up together. They had to get the seats a-vay to free us. I thought my legs were cut off, for I had no feoliug in them below tha knee. The Kaffir in our carriage had his head cut clean off. He was coming to England on a tour, and was a well-educated young fellow. Hy legs below the knee are badly crashed, and so is my foot, bat I have no bones broktn. My legs seem dead. I nearly bled to death from a wound over my eye, and my mouth was bruised. I!; was ju3t over live hours hsfore I was got off. I was almost tho last one to be rescued, aud during all that time I had three men on the top of me. It seemed a lifetime to me. I was unconscious the momtnt before they got me out. The men ia the first compartment were playing cards, atsd were killed with cards, in their hands. I was taken to the Eailway Hotel at Norton,"

GREAT GALE AND SERIOUS LOSS OF LIFE.

A gale broke over nearly every part of the Uuited Kingdom on the evening of tha 6fch November, and raged all the next day and night. Little damage was done iv London, but on the oaasi many vessels were- wrecked und lives lost, and inland many serious accidents, also involving loss of life, occurred.

The lo3s of life at sea was much greater than inland, and would have been very heavy indeed but for many gallant rescues on all parts of the coast by lifeboat crews. Over a hundred lives were saved by lifeboat men. As the barque Edith was entering Portsmouth the m»te, named Galoriag, was swept overboard aud drowned. The Elizibeth Roy, of Arbroith, Captain M'Sparraa, struck south-east of Tory Island a!; II p.m. on Thursday. The captain, the mate, three of the crew, and one stowaway were lost. The vessel ii a complete wreck. The barque Kishon, bound from London to Apple.iore, became parted from her tug through the breaking of a hawser off Luudy, and was driven ashore at Budo Breakwater at 7 in the morning. All hands wore •saved by the rocket apparatus. The captain's dog jumped overboard, and was saved by one of tho mea. The vessel became a total wreck in a few hours. A sailor named John Harris, of Brixhnm, in a freak attempted to reach tho wreck, notwithstanding the endeavour nude by a few bystanders to restrain him. Ha succeeded in breaking away from thorn, ran down this slope of the breakwater, and perished in the sea. Ho was one of those actively engaged ia tho early morning in helping to pave the crow of the Kisho:i. Tha "brig St. George, of Guernsey, brought iuto Dover HirbjUr during ihe night two men with their ribs and arms broken during a squall off Beacby Head. During tha height of the gale (on the Oth) a fishing boat capsized off Fraserburgh. Oue man was d'ownad, aud the remainder of the cccw were rescued.

From au official return,it appears that during the gules as many as twenty-four lifeboats belonging to the Koyal National Lifeboat Institution were launched to the help of the crows of vessels wrecked r.r in distress on the coasts of the United Kingdom. In many oases th"y ■were enabled to perform most gallant service. Seventeen of the launches took place on the west coast of England tnd Scotland, four on fch'j north and east coasts, and three oa the south cosst. The total number of live 3 saved was ninety-six.

The yacht Uranis, 64 tons, owned by Lird Cantelupe, eldest son of Earl Delawarr, was wrecked during the gale. Tha Urania anchored in Bangor Biy, B Ifdst Lough, on ihe Bth instant. It was then blowing hard from the southward, but at midnight the wind shifted to the northward and blew with urea, fury. Tbe jactit dragged her anchors nnd struck on tho recks at SeaciifiV, foundering fit 2.30 on Friday morning. Considerable ausiety was felt at to the Urania when the yacht anchored in the bay. At 2 o'clock on Fcidsy inom'ng the coastguardsmeu observed B^g:i3la of distress proceeding from the yacht, which seemed to be drifting on to the racks near SeaclifTe. Tho coastcuardsmen and others hurried to tbo shore, but tho yacht had struck btfore any assistance couli bo rendered. Lord Cantelupe and the master and six seamen rushed to tho rigging. Tho master and crew were saved by the rocket apparatus, which had been despatched from Grcomsport, but Lord Cantelupo, who was endesvouring to help a sailor who was below him in the rigging, was swept away and drowned. His Lordship bought the yacht recently, and .was bringing her round from tho Clyde to Southampton, -when owing to the gale, she put into Baogor Br»y. The late Viscount Cantelupe, eldest son of Earl Delaware, was born on the Ist of January 1868, and was therefore iv his 23cd year. His Lordship was married on the 24th of Juno of tho present year to Miss Dorothy Heseltine, elde3t daughter of Mr John Postle Hesultiue, of Walhampton park, Lymington. Severe bailetorms occurred on Sunday in North Wales. From Llandudno Junction station tho whole range of Carnarvonshire mountains could be seen covered deep in snow. During tho gala two young ladies came to Croesor from Tanygrieiau on a visit. Through the night win very dark and the wind blew with the force ot a hurricane, they determined i.o proceed bsok over tho mountains to Tanygrisiau. They were perfectly acquainted with tho thec-p p.itbs, but they had not calculated on the forea of the gale. They strangling on for some hours, and. then lost thfiir way in the darkness. Riia foil in torrents. This was followed by snow, and the ladies fell utterly exhausted, nnd huddled together for warmth on the exposed slope?. At daybreak a party of qnarrymen whe went up the mountain to institute a search came across both ladies in a terrible condition. Thoy wore curried to the nearest shelter and put to bed; but they suffered severely from shock and exposure.

AN OXORD SENSATION.

Au extraordinary affair happened at Oxford on Thursday evening, November 6. Shortly after 5 o'clock a lady called at the residence of the Matter of University College, Dr Franck Btight, and asked to sea Mr Haiues, the junior dam. She was informed that he coald not see h-.T, and she then inquired for Miss Bright, with thfi same remit. Tha Master of University, hsarim; a disturbance, came into the hall, oud had a conversation with the lady. She afterwards left, but returned in r. short tim?, p.nd said she wished to see the master for on* ra'GUts. He came to sco her, and.she then drew out n revolver, and, without a word of warning shot him in the abdomen. Iv tho confmion which followed, she hurriedly left tho house. Medical aid was summoned, and Dr Wingfield, Dr Collier, and Mr Horatio Symonds were speedily in attendance. The revolver was ! picked up in the gateway of University Hall, which f.iccs tho High Btreit in the opposite direction to (he station, and h only a short distance from the master's house. Tha woman after firing the shot went away; but being known to the parties as Mies Kate

Riordan, sho was arrested at 35 Sydney street, Fulham road, on Friday. Mr Haines, who is engaged to Mr Bright s daughter, in tho course of an interview with a reporter on Friday, said:—" I have evc-ry reason to believe the woman is a lunatic. Tha statement that I was over engaged to her, or promised her marriage, is absolutely untrue. I am convinced that it is a delusion from which she is suffering." Mr Haines, however, declined to answer any further questions put to him on tho subject. At the Oxford Police Court on Saturday, Catherina Theresa Riordau was charged with attempting to murder Dr Bright. In reply to the charge the prisoner said, " I am perfectly ionooinb." Some evidence was taken, and the mayor ordered a remand. Mr Sheldon, representing tho Vice-chancellor, then stepped forward aud claimed jurisdiction for tho university, aud said tbe Vice-chancellor would hear tho charge at his court on Monday morning at 10 o'clock. Prisoner, who exhibited no signs of excitement and appeared in no way iueane, was th«n removed to the cells. At Oxford, on Monday morning, before Dr Boyd, tho vice-chancellor of the university, Kite Riordan was charged with attempting to murder Dr Franck Bright. Considerable interest was manifested in tho proceedings, especially among the undergraduates, who, in their regulation caps and gowns, crowded round the entrance to the court. The prisoner was brought into court by an attendant. She appeared very wesk and ill, and, having been shown to a seat at the solicitor's table, she reclined her head on a onshion in an apparently exhausted condition. After hearing evidence the acoused was committed for trial. I