GENERAL CABLE NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 17232, 31 December 1912, Page 7

GENERAL CABLE NEWS

(Sydney Sun Service). JUGGERNAUTS AMOK. MOTOR FIRE ENGINE SMASHES. LONDON, December 23, An extraordinary accident took place In one of the Liverpool thoroughfares yesterday. A heavy motor fire-engine was standing at the top of the street, which is a steep incline, when suddenly the vehicle moved off and run down the hill, gathering speed as it went. The driver stuck to his post and reversed the gear, but without effect. A fireman was knocked down early In the engine’s mad career. When it reached the bottom of the street it dashed across the pavement and toie Clean through a nouse. On the other side was a parapet, edging a 70ft. drop, ami the motor stopped on the very brink with the forepart of the bonnet overhanging the gulf. The driver .jumped at the last moment. but was crushed to death. Another motor fire-engine, in the London suburb of Wilesden, skidded on the tramlines and smashed into a solid telephone pole. All the firemen were thrown off. One ■was killed, and the remainder badly injured. while the machine was wrecked. FIRE IN LISBON. FIFTY GIRLS KILLED. LONDON. December 21. A fire in a weaving mill in Lisbon resulted in a terrible holocaust, which has horrified Europe, and has called for the sympathy of every nation. Fifty girls were caught in an upper storey of the burning building. Cut olf by the flames they made frantic efforts to escape, and efforts were made to reach the windows by ladders. All efforts failed, and when the fire was subdued the bodies of the victims, were found, charred beyond all recognition. STOCKBROKERS’ STRIKE. ITALIANS UP IN ARMS. LONDON, December 21. Italy’s stock brokers have gone on strike. Parliament lias passed a law Increasing to £4OOO the warranty that they have to give, and as a result they have closed up business, and refuse to operate in any of the exchanges. ' PERILS OF JEWEL-CUTTING. CONSUMPTIVE GERMAN CHILDREN. LONDON. December 21. Investigations made at Idar, in Germany, demonstrate that 90 per cent, of the children of the town are suffering from consumption. The agate-cutting Industry is the leading trade in Idar, and the dust that arises in the operation Is ’said to cause tuberculosis. CONGO RIVER, GERMAN EXPLORER'S DISCOVERY. BERLIN, December 20. Despatches from German Lieutenant Graetz, who is exploring in Africa, prove that he has discovered that the River Zambesi, in Rhodesia, is the spring river of the Congo. Consequently the Congo is A Men's longest stream, Graetz is returning to Germany to prepare an Anglo-German expedition to explore New Guinea. TWO EXPLORERS. AMUNDSEN TALKS TO ABRUZZi. j ROME, December 22. j Captain Amundsen lectured before the King of Italy and the Duke of Abruzzi yesterday. The latter is himself a distinguished Arctic explorer, and at one time held the “farthest north’’ record. The discoverer of the South Pole was presented with the gold medal of the Italian Geographical Society. W1 RELESS TELEPHONY. ANOTHER TELEFUNKEN SUCCESS. | LONDON. December 20. 1 A long newspaper article lias bee:; i transmitted by wireless telephones a I distance of Ij miles. The Telefunken system was used, and by the same system messages have been clearly received in Germany at a distance. of 250 miles. MURDERER FIGHTS POLICE. THREE ASSAILANTS MORTALLY WOUNDED. i XEW YORK. December 22. An exciting batik- was fought yesterday between the whole of the police force of Memphis, Tennessee, and Adam Boehler. who had barricaded himself in his home after cutting his wife’s throat Boehler was strongly armed and had plenty of ammunition. The murderer Wes * dead shot, and did not slacken his vigilance for a second. He fatally wounded one policeman and two spectators in the huge crowd which thronged the neighbouring streets. At noon Hie Mayor of the town ordered the police to make a general charge Some succeeded in getting on the roof and boring holes poured down formaldehyde. Boehler was overcome by the fumes, and the police broke into the house. The found that (lie murderer bad been mortally wounded. He was taken to the hospital, but died on the way.