SHAMEFUL BARBARITY.

Southland Times, Issue 738, 18 October 1867, Page 4

SHAMEFUL BARBARITY.

The " Guelph Advertiser," of the 3rd uit., says : — " Shortly after noon on Sunday a. long and heavily-loaded emigrant train passed through Guelph en route to the Western States. There were, we should think, 800 or 900 persona crammed into ten common grain cars, with the doors boarded up part way, and a small square hole in the upper rear corner to let in the air. These cars are built perfectly tight, for the conveyance of grain and other inanimate things. Cattle and pigs would suffocate in them, and so they have superior accommodation, their cars having strips up the sides, with space for ventilation between. These emigrants were from Germany, and had ridden all the way from Point Levi (near Quebec), boxed up in this fashion ! The train probably left there on Thursday previous, and might reach Sarnia on Sunday night, so that they would haye to remain on board three whole days and nights, at the least. There was not a ghost of a seat to be had ; aud if there were, no one would have had a chance to sit down ; even standing up, they were wedged in so tight as hardly to be able to move. It was not thought worth while to give the smaller children, girls, and women a separate car, or leave them enough room to sit on the floor once in a while, and rest their aching limbs. What a pitiable plight for poor old women, expectant mothers, and decrepit grandfathers — for stumpy boys and delicate little girls, who stood on tiptoe, turning up their pale faces, between their taller fellows, to get a mouthful of fresh air ! Every one who has ridden a good distance on a train knows very well how sweet it sometimes is to get a draught of fresh water — the mingled heat and dust of a crowded car making the traveller drink like a fish. By the time these poor half-famished wretches reached Guelph they were actually panting for water; and when they caught sight of some pails which hacl been placed for theia on the platform, several sprang over the boarding before they could be handed up to them. The two or three buckets passed into the cars were seized by strong rude men in front, who dipped in their heads almost to the ears, and thus gulped down tl c precious liquid. Meanwhile could be heard from the midst of the car the tearful cry of mothers in behalf of their babes, the passionate appeals of old men and damsels, and the sobs and groans of children, who stretched forth their pitiful little hands with faint entreaties, ' Wasser! Wasser! O giben wasser?' In vain, however, as the gruff tones of the conductor were heard above all, 'No time ; get on; get on!' They seemed scarcely to understand the order till they heard the engine whistle ; when they redoubled their cries, clapping tt eir hands to their lips and exclaiming, ' Bursten ! Wasser ?' in the most affecting strains. Thetrain rolled off through the town, amid the maledictions of the bystanders, who declared it the most shameful sight they had ever witnessed in Guelph."

Enteepbise iit China. — English authorities having applied to the Imperial authorities in China for the privilege of constructing a railroad, aftei* a delay of many months, answer was returned from Prince Kang (the actual ruler) that the difficulties in the way of such a project were insuperable. ' The prejudices of the people were very strong ; the country of Confucius differed from the wild, semi barbarous and primitive regions of Europe, whose inhabitants were comparatively of recent origin : whereas the Elowery Kingdom was under elaborate culture, and the occupations of the inhabitants were peculiar. Sir Rutherford Alcock, the British minister, probably found more difficulty ln appreciating the force of the argument they advanced than in building the proposed road. He immediately advised that the project in contemplation be abandoned. " Ephraim is joined to his idols." Prince Gortschakoff celebrated at St. Petersburg, on the 26th June, his jubilee of 50 years spent in the service ofthe state, and was appointed on the occasion Chancellor of the Russian Empire. The Owl says the Sultan will take back with him three English naval officers to act as naval council. Commodore Sir William Wiseman, Bart., has already been selected and appointed as head of the department, at a salary of £30U0. The revenue from the Atlantic cable this year promises to touch £450,090, or within £150,00Q of the origional cost of the last-laid cable. The Police statistics of Paris show that in March of the current year 226 horses and 59 asses, in April 226 horses and 29 asses, and iv May 208 horses and 19 donkeys were k ; \led for culinary purposes. The Haivlce's Bay Herald thus daintily describes a slight shock of an earthquake felt in that Province : — "A pulsation ofthe earth, slight hut prolonged, was experienced in Napier about 8 p.m., on Saturday."