IN DAYS THAT HAVE GONE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15826, 26 July 1913, Page 6

IN DAYS THAT HAVE GONE.

THE WEEK'S ANNIVERSARIES. July 27—Battle, of Killiecrankio, 1639. Bank of England established, 1694. Thomas Campbell born, 1777. Dr Dalton diod, 1844. Cable communication established between Britain and United States, 1866. Imperial Defence Conference opened in London. 1909. July 28.—Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Esses, beheaded, 1540, Abraham Cowley died, 1667. J.S. Bach died, 1750. Robespierre guillotined, 1794. Rattle of TaJavera, 1809. John Stuart Blackie born, 1809. F. Goodall, R.A., died, 1904. July 29.—Spanish Armada defeated, 1588. William Wilberforcc died, 1853. R. Schumann died, 1856.

Bank of. New Zealand incor porated, 1861. Tasmania wrecked, 1897.

Humbert, King of Italy, assassinated, 1900. July SO.—Relief of Londonderry, 16E9.

Samuel Rogers born, 1763. Thomas Gray died, 1771. Duke of Edinburgh died, 1900, J. L. Toole died, 1906. July 31.—Ignatius Loyola died, 1556. Admiral Tromp died, 1653. Battle of Newtown Butler, 1689. Otago purchased from Maoris, 1844. First railway opened in Queensland, 1865. Abbe Liszt' died, 1886. Horatius Bonar died, 1889. Bismarck died. 1898. Mount Kembla Colbery explosion,

Aug. I.—Accession of House of Hanover, 1714. Kichard Savage died, 1743. Battle of the Nile, 1798. Cavour born, 1810. London Bridge opened, 1831. Slavery abolished in British colonies, 1834. Transport of convicts to Australia ecaeod. 1840. Thames Goldfield proclaimed, 1867. Parcel post inaugurated in England, 1883. Grant of £100,000 to Lord Roberts, 1901. Aug. 2,-Death of William Rufus. 1100. Henry 111 of Franco died, 1589. Thomas Gainsborough died, 1788. Cardinal Wiseman born, 1802. William Watson born, 1858.

Lord Herbert of Lea died, 1861'. Viscount Wokeley left to take command against Arabi Pasha, 1882. Melbourne. Centennial Exhibition opened, 1888.

It was on July 27, 1689, that Graham, of Claverhouse, was. informed that the forces of William 111, under General Mackay, had cleared the pass of Killiecrankie—a narrow defile formed by 'the steep sides of the Grampian Hil's," and a dark rapid, and deep river. Mackay's army, consisting of 4500 . foot • and two troops of horse, was formed in eight battalions and ready for action when Dundee and his 3300 Highlanders came in view. The Highlanders stood inactive for several hours in sight of the enemy, on the steep side of a hill which faced the narrow plain where Mackay had formed his line, neither party choosing to change its ground. But the signal for battle was no sooner given than the Highlanders rushed down the hill in deep columns, and having discharged their muskets with effect, they had recourse to the broadsword, their proper weapon, with which they furiously attacked the enemy. Mac-k-ay's left wing was instantly broken and driven from the Held with great slaughter by the Macleans. Colonel Hastings's English foot, on the right, were quickly flanked and put to rout. Two thousand of Mackay's army were slain, and his, artillery, baggage, ammunition, provisions, and even King William's Dutch standard . fell into the hands of the Highlanders. But their ioy was of short duration. Dundee was mortally wounded by a musket shot as he was pursuing the fugitives. He expired soon after his victory, and with him rjerished the hopes of James in Scotland. 'Hie first serious attempts at establishing cable communication across the Atlantic began in 1856, and the following year an unsuccessful attempt was made bv the Atlantic Telegraph Company to lay a cablo from Ireland to Newfoundland. In 1858 communication was actually established on August 7, but the insulation became more defective every day_ and failed altogether on September 1. Later the Great Eastern was pressed into the service, and after several failures she set out with a fresh plan in 1866. The new expedition was not onlv to lay a new cable, but also to take up the end of the old one, and join it to a new piece, and thus obtain a second telegraph line. The sinking again commenced in Ireland on July 13, 1866, and it was finished on the 27th. On August 4 the Trans-Atlantic telegraph lino was declared open.

John Dalton, English chemist and physicist, was born near Cockermoufch in Cumberland in 1766 and was educated privately by his father and at a Quakers' school After occupying for. some years the posi-

tion of teacher of mathematics and Datura' philosophy at the Now College in Manchester ho became a public and private

teacher of mathematics and chemistry. The most important of all his investigations —and they were very numerous—are thoso concerned with the Atomic theory in chemistry, with which liis name is inseparably associated. Altogether Dalton contributed 116 memoirs to the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, of which from 1817 till his death he was president. In May, 1844, ho suffered a third stroke of paralysis; on July 26 he recorded with trembling hand his last meteorological observation, and on the 27th ho fell from his bed and was found lifoless by his attendant. \

Great consternation was caused in Gisborno when, early on tho morning of July 30, 1897, an urgent message was received from Mahia stating that the HuddartParker steamer Tasmania had gone ashore on that peninsula! She had eomo down the previous day from Auckland, but the weathor was so rough-that Captain M'Gee, finding it impossible to establish communication with Gisborne, decided to proceed direct to Napier. At about 11 o'clock, two hours after leaving Gisborne, tho third officer reported land in sight. Tho captain had tho wheel put over, but just at that moment the vessel took tho ground. With-. out a traco of panic or disorder six boats were launched and manned, and the great majority of the passengers and crow made their way through the dangerous seas to a safe landing. Ten of the crew, however, failed to reach the shore and were either drowned or dashed to pieces on tho rocks. The Tasmania heeled over, and disappeared out of sight not long after the boats left her. The death of tho Duko of Saxo-Coburg and Gotha, or, as ho was better known, the Duko of Edinburgh, occurred at Rosenau Castle on July 30, 13 years ago. He was the second son of Queen Victoria. In 1867 in command of tho frigate Galatea ho visited Australia and New Zealand, where lie mot with a most enthusiastic reception, and he subsequently visited , most of the countries of the world. In 1874 his marriage with the orily daughter of Alexander 11, of Russia, was celebrated with great pomp at St. Petersburg. On the death of the Duke of Saxo-Coburg and Gotha, in August, 1893, the Duko of Edinburgh succeeded him in the duchy, and took the oath of loyalty to tho constitution in the German Emperor's presence, afterwards paying him a State visit at Potsdam. His eldest daughter had previously been married to the Prince of Roumahin. Ho died of paralysis of tho heart which unexpectedly supervened.