RIVAL OF THE ALAMEDA WITH THE THE ENGLISH MAIL

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 444, 8 February 1890, Page 4

RIVAL OF THE ALAMEDA WITH THE THE ENGLISH MAIL

(VIA SAN FRANCISCO). GENERAL SUMMARY[Dates Prom Europe up to January 14th.] Sir William Vernon Harcourfc was critically ill with influenza January 11th. and it was gradually developing into congestion of tho lungs. . , Mrs James Brown-Potter had sailed foi Australia, in accordance with an engagement made with Williamson, Musgroveand Garner for twenty weeks. Cornelius Vanderbilt has paid .>IOO,OOO for Turner’s picture, “ The Grand Canal of Venice.” , .. It is stated that Gilbert and ?-»ullivan have quarrelled about the “Gondolier Company that went to America, and have dissolved partnership. Reported that Sullivan had made overtures to Eugene Field, of Chicago, to take Gilbert’s place. A murderer named Higginbotham, who killed a woman, was hanged at Warwick, January 7th. When the body fell, the noose opened an old wound in the neck where he had stabbed himself with suicidal intent when arrested ; the blood spurted out, deluging the hangman's assistants. A wordy wav at the Pelican Club, London, January Bth, resulted in a free fight, during which Mitchell, the pugilist, beat Lord Mandeville severely. A ship loaded with petroleum caught tire at Sunderland, January Bth, and the burnio(T oil set tire to three other vessels, causing great damage. One fireman was drowned. Queen "Victoria had gone to Homburg, seeking relief from a severe attack of rheuma tism. , Brigantine Czarowitz was cut down and sunk in the Irish Sea, by the White Star liner Britannic, night of January 3rd. The captain of the Czarowitz was lost. Friends of Mrs Maybrick are making renewed efforts fer her. release. They claim newly-discovered evidence. Steamship Glencarry, from Liverpool for Rangoon, sank in the Suez Canal, Januaiy 4th, after a collision. No lives were lo3t. Thomas Cook, senior member of the well-known excursion firm, died at Thornevcroft, January 3rd. , ' The formal betrothal of Prince Albert Victor to Princess Mary of Teck has been arranged to take place after Easter. Rev. F. Byng, one of the chaplains to the Queen and chaplain of the House of Commons, lied January 2nd. His flight is said to be due to heavy indulgence in betting. One bookmaker and several money lenders lose heavily. A tramcar strike was impending in London, January 2. . . Gladstone will shortly publish a critical review of Tennyson’s poems. Robert Browning’s funeral service took place at Westminster Abbey on December 31st. The body was placed in a polished pine coffin, on which was a. small brass plate bearing the dates of his birth and death. Wreaths from Tennyson and Miss Browning were placed on the coffin. Henry Irving, Bancroft, Sir John Millais, Alma Tadenia and Sir Theodore Martin also sent wreaths. The steamship City of Paris, from New York, arrived at Queenstown on the afternoon of December 31st in 5 days 22. hours and 50 minutes. This, by seven minutes, is the fastest trip on record. The Queen had sent Prince Henry of Battenburg abroad for reasons which are said to be of a domestic nature. She subsequently forgave and recalled him. A despatch of the 9tb says the number of British warships at Zanzibar was twelve, and more expected. The proposed.purpose is the occupation of Delagoa Bay, in which direction it sailed January 11th. England’s demands in the Portuguese dispute are three-. Maintenance of the ■ftalu-i quo ; the abandonment of all Portuguese pretensions to the Ayassa highlands ; and a concession of right of way by river and overland to the sea. In the event of a failure of negotiations, Portugal will appeal to the good offices of the Great Powers. GERMANY. Amy Shcrwin, a young lady, born in Australia and educated in America, made a successful debut in Berlin, January 4, at Professor Stockhausen’s concert. RUSSIA.—NIHILIST PLOTS. The condition of the Czar was reported as serious on January 2. A panic was caused the preceding evening by a report of his death. The Imperial Guards were confined to their barracks, and all functionaries on active duty ordered to remain at th-ir posts. Thirty-two Kussian officers rvere arrested for conspiracy against the Czar. The story that the Czar was poisoned by Nihilists is revived. It is announced that the Empress will soon become a mother. It is reported that the Czar’s doctors have observed in him symptoms of cutaneous poisoning after wearing his German uniforms. Evidence was discovered recently connecting Olga Gcntscharemks, a young and beautiful girl, with a Nihilist plot at Warsaw to assassinate the Czar. The Chief of Police attempted to arrest her on January 10, when she shot him dead and blew out her own brains. FRANCE. The famous church ac Aix-la-Chapelle which contained the tomb of Charlemagne was destroyed by fire January 2nd. Premier Tirard has sent a circular letter to the Chambers of Commerce throughout France, asking those bodies if they would support a Bill giving women engaged in any trade the right to vote at elections for iudges of commercial tribunals. Miss Sterling entered a cage of lions at Bezieres January 7th, supposing the animals were hypnotised and harmless. Bub for the interference of the lion-tamer ehe would have been torn to pieces ; as it was, she was badly lacerated. She made a second attempt d few days after, and the lion inflicted still more serious injury. One of her lower limbs had to be amputated.

SAVAGES OF THE 'INFLUENZA■“La Grippe,” as the Russian influenza is called, has become a veritable scourge in America as well as Europe. Four thousand deaths had occurred in Paris for the week ending December 28th, a large proportion due to this disease. There were two hundred deaths from the same cause, during the same period, in Dantzic. Cases are increasing throughout North-Eastern France. An autopsy on a subject at Versailles showed a state of the lungs exactly similar to that in cows which haye '(died V from rinderpest. The epidemic , is reported on the increase in Russia. ’ r'ln America, the disease .is spreading in every direction, being particularly severs in Canada. In this country, pneumonia' seoms to follow, in many cases, an attack “la grippe.” Deaths have occurred

from it in Boston, Chicago, New Tork,) Philadelphia, Troy, and other places. Ihe v form of the disease is described as follows; | —ln some instances there are fever and j headacho with severe gastric pains which quinine and anti-pyrine fail to cure. In such, | cases, the disease develops into typhoid fever, with generally fatal results. THECLEVELAND-STREET SCANDAL. A London despatch, January 4th, says another sensation about this affair will soon burst. Twenty-two men implicated, nobles and others, have fled from England, and it is Buid that by the time the Scotland Yard detectives have finished, none of the Cleve-land-street habitues will be left in England. The police know all about the case, and have the names and identity of the offenders. All the captured boys were made to confess some new names, and others gave descriptions enabling the police to shadow the parties to their residences. Others were only suspected, and to these men letters were written, giving them so many hours to leave the country. Of the twenty five suspects recently warned, twenty-two fled, showing the remarkable accuracy of the boys’ information. The total number of fugitives is sixty. Solicitor Newton, a clerk in Ins employ named Tavlorson, and an interpreter named Dr. Gallo, charged with conspiring to defeat justice in this case, were before the Bow-street Police Court on January 6th. A messenger-boy testified that be had resided in the Cleveland-street house, and had received money for certain purposes. He had received letters from Lord Arthur Somerset, but could not produce them, as they were destroyed. He admitted that he had stolen articles from the club where he had been a waiter, but was nob imprisoned because Somerset became surety for him. He further testified that Taylorson 'had tried to induce him to go to America. Ernest Parke, the editor, sued for libel by the Earl of Euston, in connection with this case, ottered the prosecuting attorney, on the' 7th, letters from Hammond, who is now in America. These include, one addressed to Hammond s wife, upbraiding a man, Peck, who had a list of . the names and addresi-es of his (Hammond s) friends. When Peck was arrested this list was found in his pocket book. It comprised the names of many noblemen. The public prosecutor has accepted the letters, which, it is expected, will lead to the exposure and prosecution of several persons already prominently before the public. MR PARNELL IN TROUBLE.

A London despatch of December 28th says Captain O’Shea, ex-M.P., has filed a petition for divorce from his wife, naming Charles Stewart Parnell as co-re-spondent. O’Shea will nob claim damages. The charge against Parnell by the Captain is adultery. It specifies acts to have taken place from April, 1886, to the date of the petition, at Eltham, 34 York Terrace, the residence of Mrs O’Shea, and at Regent s Park, Brighton, Aldington, and Sussex. A second despatch says the O’Shea-Parnell scandal has long been known in London, in fact, so old was it, that it has not even been talked about there for some months past. Parnell makes a showing regarding this matter in the Dublin “ Freeman’s Journal,” December 30bh. Says he has received no notice of being co-respondent in such a suit. That since 1880, he has resided in Captain O’Shea’s house at Eltham ; was frequently there when O’Shea was absent, but the captain was cognisant of his being there ; declares Houston, Secretary of the Loyal and Patriotic League, instigated O’Shea to bring proceedings for a divorce, in order to diminish the damages which may be awarded Parnell in his libel suit against the “ Times.” Houston has written a letter stating that he had no knowledge of the action taken by O’Shea until he saw the announcement of the divorce case published in the papers. Parnell has retained Sir Charles Russell as counsel. Justin McCarthy will be the Irish leader in the Commons while this trial is proceeding. Thomas Quinn, M.P., declares the Irish party has direct proof that the O Shea case originated with the “ London Times,” for the purpose of discrediting Parnell. In the libel suit brought by Parnell against the “ Times,” the Court has refused the “Times’ ’ appeal against answering the.interrogation regarding the circulation of the “ Times ” at the time of the publication of the articles “ Parnellism and Crime.” The Court, however, allowed the appeal of the “ Times ” against disclosing the names of the parties from whom it received the information on which the articles were based. DEATH OF AN EX-EMPRESS. Dom Pedro’s wife, ex-Empress of Brazil, died suddenly from heart disease in Oporto, December 28th. Better-informed people believe she died of grief. She was the daughter of the late King Francis 1., of the Two Sicilys. Dom Pedro was much affected by this event. When he arrived at the bedside, he knelt and kissed the forehead ofhis dead wife. Hedid notspeak for twenty minutes, and then he said, “ I have experienced the most bitter trial God could inflict. Her faithful and affectionate companionship has sustained me for forty-six years. God’s will be done !” Noticing his wife’s eyes still open, he lost command of himself, and exclaimed, “ Is it possible that those dear, kind eyes will never again brighten when they see me?” Having closed her eyelids, he reverently kissed them, and then asked to be left alone with his dead. He so remained for a long time. When he became calm he asked the at." tendants to keep all quiet until the Lisbon fetes ended. MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS OF THE CZAR. Paris despatches December 30th quote private letters from St. Petersburg to the effect that the recent so-called “relapse” of the Czar was not a return of the influenza, but a much more serious matter. While in apparently good health, he was seized with pains in the stomach after leaving the dinner table. His attendants became greatly alarmed, and summoned physicians, who administered remedies for poison. The court story is that poison was found mixed with the food which the Czar had eaten. Nihilists confirm tho report, and boast that the poison was administered by one of their number. The Czar’s condition was critical for some time, but powerful antidotes and skilful treatment saved his life. THE SUN’S ECLIPSE.

Professor David P. Todd, of the United States Astronomical expedition, telegraphs the New York “ Herald,” from St. Paul de Loando, Africa, December 23rd, that the eclipse of the sun was viewed at that point', the day before, Avith partial success. The sky was clear during the first part, but obscured during the totality. The results obtained through the photographic telescope were entirely successful, and will ■ furnish accurate views of the position of the moon relative to ■ the sun. Seventy pictures wprp taken before and ■ forty after the totality.; The apparatus worked well. With extra photographic appliances and assistance,! 1,500 pictures could easily have been obtained,- ! ; ;S \ '* ' \ THE SMITH-SLAVIN PRIZ6 EIGHTY ■This pugilistic contest came ofionfche morning of December 23, on private grounds three miles from Bruges-Belgium- The struggle wasfor thehcavy-weightchampioU'

ship of England. Fourteen rounds were fought, and Slavin, the Australian slogget, had things all his own way from tho start; but he was most shamefully treated by Smith and his friends. In the fourteenth round, he made an appeal to the crowd for fair play, but Smith’s sympathisers derided him, and raising a cry “Police! bolted. Smith also fled, but Slavin remained in the ring. The alarm of “Police” proved false, and when the English bruiser returned with his followers, the referee refused to allow the fight to go on. He said it was impossible to obtain fair play, and declared the fight a draw. At- the ring-side, the proceedings were disgraceful. During the progress of"’the battle the ring was twice broken into by Smith’s friends and. some of the crowd kicked Slavin several times. He was also attacked by outsiders., when he fought Smith to the ropes. Slavin claimed the fight in the ring after. Smith withdrew, but Referee Vesey was intimidated by threats against his life, and refused to allow the claim. Slavin went into the fight in earnest from the first, and the London sporting men assert that ho won it fairly. They are disgusted' with the ruffianly conduct of Smith’s friends. Not only did they use their fißts and feet in attacking the Australian, but they beat him with sticks against the ring. Smith has lost ca9te. It was proposed at the Pelican Club, London, that £I,OOO be raised for Slavin, and £3OO of the amount was subscribed in fifteen minutes. The fight took place on the lawn of the residence of Atkinson Grimshaw, who has been socially ostracised at Bruges since its occurrence. The roughs destroyed his property, and his character has been assailed in London. He is preparing a suit against Boxing-masterSpencer,of the Pelican Club, for slander and the damage to his garden, declaring that Sponcer hired the premises on behalf of, und as agent for the Club. It has been thought important enough to cable from London that Slavin, the.Austratian pugilist, is engaged to be married to a girl named Edith Ilator, barmaid of Nayland Rock Hotel, at . Margate, where he trained for the fight with Jem Smith. MISCELLANEOUS. Major Serpa Pinto asserts that he has established Portuguese authority over Ayassaland, Africa. It is reported the Pekin authorities are about to issue silver coinage. A severe shock of earthquako at Aci Reale, a town and seaport of Sicily, on December 26th, threw down several houses and buried the occupants in the ruins. Editors Tomics and Domitretics fought a duel at Neustadi, Hungary, January 4th, in which the latter was killed. A despatch from Boulak,Egypt, January 9th, says Cleopatra’s tomb has been discovered. The body of an abandoned woman was found at Quienne, near Prisburg, Hungary, murdered and mutilated in the same way as the Whitechapel victims.