TWO MINER "V.C.'s."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 104, 23 April 1908, Page 4

TWO MINER "V.C.'s."

London, February 20. "The King is the greatest aud best gentleman on earth. You people who live in Ixnidou and see lum often ought to be proud of him." In these emphatic words, Mr. Francis Chandler, the heroic miner of Uariisley

- wh...-.e g.iiim.lry wa. personally recognised by his Majesty yesterday, summed up his impressions of the King.

Mr. Chandler and Air. Henry Eversou, ! of South Wales, each received the Edward Medal for heroic conduct in saving life in disasters in the mines. They met at 1(1.15 a.m. at the Ilomc Oilier," where they were received by ill', •h.seph Walton, M.P., and Mr. Wadsworth, M.l\, two Labor members. A King's messenger accompanied them thence in a four-wheeled cab to Buckingham Palace, where they were introduced to his .Majesty. Mr. Herbert (jladstone read out the story of their gallant deeds, and then tli* King, who had shaken hands with them, handed them medals, with the words: —■

1 am very glad, indeed, to meet two such brave men. 1 have heard with intense interest aud appreciation the story of your heroic acts, and it all'ords me much satisfaction to have an opportunity of personally congratulating you both, and handing you these medals in tokens of my'feelings towards you. Sincerely do i hope that you will both be spared for many years to enjoy the wearing of them. Both men were afterwards conducted over the I'alaee, and were supplied with

light, refreshments, after which they drove oil' amid a chirring crowd that had gathered before the gales, to the Home Ollice. The men formed a striking contrast, .Mr. Chandler is broad, stout, sipiarely built, and grey-bearded. Mr. Eversim is comparatively slight, and much younger. Both are reserved, modest, and unassuming. The.' declined to refer to the deeds for ivM.ii they have been honored by the King. They would say little of their visit to the Palace. "The King treated us like lords,'' said Mr. ('handler, "lie was most gracious, anil put us iniite at our ease. The Yorkshire-man admitted that he felt nervous when he was about to face the ordeal. "1 trembled when I was outside tho gules," he said. "But with the King's opening seuteuoejuy fears disappeared "His Majesty was kindness itself. He shook h.nds with us, and 1 shall always remember his cordial greeting. He asked me about myself, and seemed deeply interested when I told him that I was born at King's Lynn, near Snndringhaui. I am a Y'orkshiremaii, though," added the old man, with a twinkle, in his eyes. "I have been well received cveryiwhere. People are 100 kind to me. But I have found the attentions of the crowd a little embarrassing. 'T should like to have come to London quietly, and returned quietly alter seeing the King." Mr Emerson was equally enthusiastic concerning the visit to Buckingham Palace.

"The Kmg niadr us feel thoroughly at home," he said. "His Majesty was graciousness itself, lie shook us warmly by the hand, ami listened attentively while Mr Gladstone was reading out the incidents for which the King handed us Hi.: m,\lals."

JIKSSA<!K FROM MARS. New York, February 20. l'rol'oMir Lowell, tlif cliii'f, a'slronoiiii'i- ;it Khigstall' Observatory, Arizona, wliu is on,, of tin; |)rini'i|iiil uuthuritirs »n tin- planet Mars, roports today another d.scovery or the greatest iiii|iurt-]'r'otc.-sor Uivi-ll is one of the astronomers vho believe that the Martian •ennuis'' are not optical illusions, Iml artilirial works, anil his study of these canals, from a temporary observatory in .South America last year strengt henid liis belief that animal and other lite may exist on the planet. One of the objections to the "canal" theory lias been the apparent absence of water vapor from the atmosphere o ;: Mars. Since returning to Flagstaff, Professor Lowell has been studying Mars with a specially constructed spectroscope, and he now claims that lie has succeeded in demonstrating the presence of water vapor, though in small proportions. Professor Lowell received the Janssen medal from the French Astronomical Kueii'tv in IPO I for his researches on ilnrs.'