Miscellaneous.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 285, 21 July 1908, Page 3

Miscellaneous.

An explosion of gas occurred last month on board the submarine Germinal, which was rising from the bottom of Cherbourg dock. A piece of metal fractured the skull of a quartermaster-engineer. The explosion caused a panic on board, and when the boat reached the surface some of the men were prevented from throwing themselves into the water by the officer in command drawing his revolver/

A parachutist was killed in New Jersey while giving an exhibition. The balloon in which he ascended reached a height of about 2000 ft., when the man released the parachute for the descent. A large American flag attached to~ the trapeze became entangled, however, in the parachute, preventing it from opening, and the unfortunate man fell with fearful velocity, amid shrieks of horror from thousands of spectators, into the Passaic river. The parachutist was dead when taken from the river, and the flag was found wrapped round his body.

Amongst South American countries which claim the attention of capitalists and business meh Chili undoubtedly offers the best defined economical and social character, as well as a field of action easily accessible to Europeans, writes the Consul-General for Chili in the “ Magazine of Commerce.” The natural products of Chili are extremely abundant and varied. The race is active, frugal, and intelligent, and, in general, the country has attained a degree of culture which is, perhaps, superior to any other South American State.

. Baron Maderni a Bavarian nobleman, and his . wife committed suicide in Venice, where they had been spending the season. The Baron, who was sixty years of age, had been ill for some time. He persuaded his wife .to make a plesure trip on the canal. When she returned she found him dying from the effects of poison, which he confessed he had taken to end his sufferings. The Baroness locked herself in her room, where she was found unconscious several horns later, having also taken poison. She was well known as a novelist.

Dr Grenfell, the missionary of Labrador, had a thrilling’ experience a few weeks ago. He was blown out to sea on an ice floe. Seeking a short cut, he took his dog team across an arm of the sea. The ice which he was crossing’ snapped, and he was carried rapidly from land, which soon vanished from his view. He killed and skinned four of his dogs, and thus secured covering for himself and food for the other dogs. He was alone on the floe for foity hours, and his situation was desperate, when at last he was rescued by n fisherman who caught sight of him. "

A correspondent of the “ Autocar ” had a most disconcerting experience, which gives an idea oU what motorists sometimes have to put up with. He says:—“l noticed a collier walking towards the car, the speed at that time being about 12 miles per hour. Without any warning he deliberately stepped out of his way and threw himself face downwards on the road in front of me, not more than six yards ahead. My brakes being very good ones, I locked the wheels dead and skidded to within

14 inches of him, to the great damage of my tyres, fortunately never touching him. When he knew he could not commit suicide that way, he requested us to shoot him, as he did not wish to live’ He did not seem at all intoxicated but said he wished to die. You can imagine my feelings. Doubtless I should have taken him in the car and handed him over to the police but at the moment I was too upset to do more than report the matter at the local police station. As there were no witnesses other than four in'the car, doubtless you can imagine what the verdict of the public would be supposing I could not have pulled up in time.