MISCELLANEOUS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 941, 30 April 1880, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

The St. Fetereburg correspondent of a Homo paper writes:—“A piece of news from Siberia furnishes a striking instance of the increasing laxity of the Russian Government. Some eight years since a wealthy merchant named Plotyzine, the leader and chief propagandist of the Skoptsi sect, was arrested by the police. Plotyziue and several of his fellow prisoners were sent to exile in Siberia. A despatch just published in tho Nowosti now announces that M. Plotyzino has been employing bis time while under detention in Siberia in building steamships in a yard which he had brought into being. A few days since the first vessel was ready and the prisoner went on board in full view of the authorities present, as he said, just ‘ to try the engines.’ It is scarcely necessary to remark that, once on the open sea, ho made sail direct for San Francisco, instead of returning to his late quarters.” A man of eccentric habits, named Lyne ( (says the Bolton Evening Guardian) died recently at Wigan. Feeling some time ago that his dissolution was not far distant, he walked into an undertaker’s shop and had himself measured for his wooden suit. The coffin was prepared and embellished according to his own instructions, and paid for down on the nail, Lyuo declining to ho buried on credit by the parish authorities. This piece of furniture having been constructed according to tho directions of its yet living tenant, Lyno wrote out his funeral cards, intimating tho day and date of his demise, and requesting the attendance of his friends. Everything be : ng in readiness for his death, the man quietly laid himself down and died. How he managed to die it is difficult to say, although it is certain the man laid no violent hands on himself.

A duel which took place the other day at Sprout Hill, New Jersey, was fought under novel conditions. The combatants—two young mou, William Schoonover and William Marvin—agreed to settle a difference that had arisen between them, not with the pistol but with the axe. The contest is described as “ a fearful one,” the the men chopping at each other with axes, evidently intent upon killing, and their companions standing by too frightened to interfere. Several passes were made without effect, when Marvin struck Schoonover on the left arm above the elbow, severing it so completely that it hung hy a piece of skin only. The same instant Marvin received a glancing stroke on the head which “ dazed ” him for a time. The bystanders then summoned courage to interfere, and disarmed them. The affair might havo

ended with no more serious result than the loss of Schoonover of his arm ; but unfortunately there was no surgeon present nor anyone who was able to stop the How of blood from the wound, and before medical assistance could be obtained he had nearly bled to death. By latest aocounts he was still living, but in a most critical condition.