MAIL ITEMS.

Evening Star, Issue 4115, 5 May 1876, Page 4

MAIL ITEMS.

IRELAND AND SCOTLAND PREPARING FOR THE INTERNATIONAL RIFLE MATCH. London, March 18. - Captain M‘ Donald, of the Scotch rifle team, writes that six members of last year’s Scotch Elcho Shield team, and all who are able to go to America to participate in the Centennial matches, intend to' shoot for places in this team; and at least nine other first-class shots are ready to compete. No marksman, a resident of Scotland, who can go has held back. The deputation of the Irish Rifle Association, which interviewed Major Leech in regard to the organisation of the Irish team by that gentleman, included nearly all the International team. Captain Mildmay, the secretary of the British Rifle Association, thinks this action of the Irish team definitely settles in the negative the question of a British Association representation. professor tyndall’s marriage. The marriage of Professor Tyndall to Louisa Mias Claude Hamilton took place on February 29 at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was performed by Dean Stanley. Thomas Carlyle, Professor Huxley, Dr Hooker, and Bir F. Pollock were present. KING ALFONSO IN MADRID. King Alfonso and his victorious troops entered Madrid on March 20, amid the enthusiastic cheering of immense crowds and shouts of ‘ ‘ Long live the Pacificator King?” Cheers were given for Generals Quesada, Campos, Rivers, and the army generally. Quesada and Campos were especially greeted with cries of “ Long life to defenders of liberty!” and “ Down with Fueros !” Crowns were thrown from balconies, and people pre sented the soldiers as they passed with wreaths. The * News’s ’ Madrid special says that King Alfonso was received yesterday with real enthusiasm. On leaving the church of Atocha he reviewed the troops. The march past occupied six hours. A procession with banners inscribed “Catholic Unity,” was prevented from entering the Puerta del irol. This prohibition was much applauded. ILL-TREATMENT OF BRITISH SAILORS IN PERU. In the House of Commons on March 21, Cameron moved for a committee to inquire into the prolonged imprisonment and illtreatment of the crew of the British ship Talisman by the Peruvian Government. Bourke, Under - Foreign Secretary stated that the Government had telegraphed to Lima that the remaining prisoners, viz., the captain and mate of the Talisman, must be at once tried, or England would demand their release. The allegations with regard to the ill-treatment would be forwarded to the English representative in Peru, and if he reported them correct the Government would consult the law officers as to the advisability of demanding compensation. Sir Henry James urged that the Peruvian Government had had full opportunity to try the prisoners. The time had now arrived to demand their release, and he asked the Government to give assurance that if the prisoners remained untried, the demand for their release would be forcibly supported. Ashley suggested that a gunboat be sent to Callao. APPALLING RAILWAY ACCIDENT. An appalling railroad accident, involving a heavy loss of life, occurred at the narrow passage bridge in Shenandoah county, nearly midway between Edinburgh and Woodstock, on what is known as the Valley • division of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, the section leased from the Old Orange, Alexandria, and Manassas Gap railroad, on March 6. The accident occurred to the •astern-bound train, known as the mixed train of freight and passengers combined, which leayes, this part of the valley at half- ‘ past seven o’clock. The train left Harrisonburg on time, and was a very long one, carrying cattle, hogs, sheep, flour, clover seed, etc., besides a number of passengers. It went well until it reached the narrow passage bridge, the highest bridge in the valley, being 118 feet from the bottom of Narrow Creek, from which it takes its name. At this point the accident, which makes one shudder to think of, occurred. The train was drawn by one of the Baltimore and Ohio Company’s engines, and known as a camel back. A gentleman who lives near the bridge describes the accident as one of the most fearful sights he ever beheld. He saw by the moonlight the doomed train as it approached the bridge; saw the huge engine as it went down into the abyss below, and all the cars, with their freightage of human life and dumb creatures, take the fearful plunge upon the rocks more than a hundred feet below. The train of cars were piled up for thirty or forty feet. The wonder is that anything on the train that had life was not instantly crushed. Of the large number of cattle, and sheep, and hogs, but a solitary steer showed a sign of life remaining. When daylight broke upon the scene the cars were found broken into fragments, making the wreck complete. The bridge commenced going down as soon as _the engine had fairly gotten on the first span. It was a wooden structure, old, and was known to be unsafe for very heavy trains. Indeed, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company had been making arrangements to rebuild it. the timbers and materials for the . Work being upon the ground. ‘