GENERAL CABLES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 316, 30 May 1913, Page 8

GENERAL CABLES.

THE SEXTRYJsCOI'EI). j ; RUSSIAN OFFICER'S FATE. ' (Sydney "Suh" Special.) London, May 13. i The story.of a tragic incident comes from Galicia, in Austria-Hungary; ; : Three Russian officers were yvalking • along the banks of a river on tlie' frontier when one of them offered to bet , 'that lie would cross a bridge on to Austrian territory, and .carry him over to ', the Russian side. ■ The wag.T having been accepted, the •officer crept along tlie bridge, anil getting behind the sentry pounced upon .him and grabbed his rifle. > The Russian braggart, however, soon (discovered that he had reckoned without ihi.s host. The sentry wrenched himself {away, and seizing -his rifle bayonetted the officer, who was so grievously woundied that he died within a few minutes. • ■ NEW YORKERS GO UNSHAVED. BARBERS ON 'STRIKE. London, May 13. • Riotous scenes were witnessed in New York to-day in connection with the strike of barbers. which is now in prdgress there, and in which thousands of men are taking part. The most serious, outbreaks occurred in Broadway, where the strikers forced .their way. into the- various hairdressing saloons, and compelled the (barbers who were still at work to come out. When finally the police' set about pre- , venting business places from being in-' i Vaded in this fashion a collision with the ' strikers occurred, and in the conflict many were injured, a few rather ; seriously. As a result of the strike thousands of , New Yorkers were unable to have their daily shave. One tobacco firm achieved great pop- ■ ularity by making a free distribution of ' safety razors to all its customers who had been unable to get a shave at the public saloons. BURIED KNOWLEDGE. ANTIQUARIAN RESEARCH. __ London, May 14. , ; In a leading article, the Times commenting upon the Greek manuscripts of ': the Gospel that have just been discovered in Egypt, says:— ; "A find iof this .magnitude ought to ; stimulate immensely the general interest ; : in antiquarian research. There is much ; yet to be won which is hidden by the earth. There are young scholars in plenty who have knowledge and enthusiasm; all that is lacking is funds. Will none of our millionaires spare a few thousands for the work of prospect- , ing for this buried knowledge?" i BOWLED OUT. WAYS OF THE SMUGGLERS. London, May 13. The Customs officials in Alexandria found themselves up against some ingen- . io:is smugglers to-day. Two Greeks went to the Customhouse '-. and applied for the clearance of two i. cases containing pierrots' costumes. The { cases were opened, and having been duly ■ j passed were about to be re-nailed, when the officers suddenly noticed that the ' buttons on the garments were exceed--1; ingly large.

The officials doubtless knew that the buttons on a pierrot's jacket were always big, but these particular buttons were abnormally large, and the Customs people became suspicious. Pulling out the costumes, the officers opened one of the buttons, and found that it was crammed full of hashißh. Needless to say, all the other buttons also were loaded with the same stuff.

(Hashish is a narcotic preparation made from hemp in the Orient. It may consist of the tops, leaves, etc., of the plant, or some extract of the same, or of a resinous exudation. It has long been used in the East for its intoxicating effeet when chewed or smoked.)