DRAUGHTS.

*%. Walsh, Niw™^— Your solutions to p^ems Na n^ 18P e correct, a^ 3U al. PROBLEM PTO. 21. ~ En d Game, "W^'o the Wisp." ■RuH- Hendersfc, Auckland. ' 814-

Whitf Black to mov|and win. Solution to ProTjjem No. 18. By A. Cameror| Carmyle. Black men on 1, 12, ling on 11. White m on 13, 32, King on jj , <; 16-20 11-15 If 18 31-26 22-17 «W 23-18 4- 8 111 7-10 6-10 1016 20-24 24-27 2(31 26-22 18-15 S 18-14 13-9 »7 10-6 Black wins. The following game >as played at the Auckland Draughts Clu| between J. Kelly and H. Henderson. GjoibNo. 62.—^O|Fourteenth." Henderson's|love. THE MATCH GAMps FOR THE •' AMERICAN CH4IPIONSHIP. Game No. 63: 'Glasgow." First game in the c&mpionship match between Messrs Barker ad Reed. Barker's

(a) 24:19 would havj?lost for Barker; J&IQ then forcing Blai into " first posi te" ;M , i (b) Reed proposed a (jaw afc; this point, tut Barker requested j|m to make a few more moves. This shoidjiave made Reed more fcan usually wat^p- , (0) 6-1,14-8 JStfjAtlkvp drawn.

UNKNOWN

>isJjjjrfH game in the championship match gtfiPeen Messrs Barker and Reed. Reed's

A Trying Situation.

To a shy masibout the most embarassing moment in hulife is on his wedding-day, when the dootpf the reserved carriage has been slammed fen him and his bride, and the train begin to slowly steam off honey moonwards. < fytthe other sort of man, of i coarse, it doetfi matter. But it was one of the shy spea& who was the hero of a ifctle adventure* the London and Brighton lltaiiway last W|k, which fairly eclipsed |je tortures fa had undergone at the (church and the tyakfast. The train was |,tho Brighton ftjpress. About twenty Ijnimites of the jojjney had- been passed by the happy cou^j in a state of most f eloquent silence, {tithe end of which period they summoned m courage to bogin to wish each other the compliments of the •eeason in the stepped phrases usual on ! Bach occasions. ' I Just as the nei^made Benedick was to disced some of bis nervous ness, to his inten* horror he spied a hob nailed boot protn% about a quarter of an inch from undes'Jhe seat at the other end of the carriageJiHere was immediate t*use for alarm, aMj>atthe same time, a %&y. cogent reason If relapsing into the lilentcontemplationflllbe landscape which test salted his moodM then. In dumb ghow he directed thl^jnde's attention to ft&iibb-nailed boot, a»|tbe lady not being one of the screaming sort, they both sat out tile rest of the journeykmute anticipation ffi should be m?d at, Brighton Station. No sooner hfthe train stopped Ln the frightened tti of turtle-^oves ttllcd the guard, and r |omtmg out the boot, told him there was); man under the 5 To their relief, aiCfeo discomfiture Official, who had benntleavily fee d by ' the bridegroom fco resenAe carnage, ex ied that he " alwayspt an old boot in swg of wedding partjesw treated him right, *«st for luck, sififen't you see. Next' time he is in cha» of a pair of hofr* Tnoonees the though S^djvUl SSBk-^eaeat," or b# still, out) of iaWtogether, where iteiving influence ■ymn* felt by, without ngutemng his Jpotegees.

A Curious Will Case.

4ctmipiTß case of internal law isinow ! being tried in the Londoieourts. Som e 'fiveyears since a man namtiJohn Golden berg died at Wiesbaden, Hi Ger^' lleaving a vast fortune of «ne .JX be florins? the principal part dvh ich he to queathedtotwo I^ndon H<#>lj ,£}™ 0 ing his wife but £500 a ye«pd that so ;long as she remained unnHfl* c. a- * _ |eceeWic man was of Jewiaßrxgin, born ■In Ronmania, and accustom! OIU —_ I earliest days to extreme P°|v^ pci( jed gnst9dT?ith hiß.TOtnwndinfflifef Jf a clrJd to abandon those scenes of % na t misery and feq slek his forfcun4; fch. c -Journeying through Turkey, ga, ana , ttie East Indies, he finally tookfrvice witn the King of Burxnah, who beca? atta-n^ -to the intelligent young Eurf^ ~ Obtained some valuahle concessig. ai»". •> degrees amassed' hi* mil Hops. L 6ecomm| wlried with life in the Ea S t,b»retu rnea to Europe and took up hi 3 abodef Vienna, i .Where he lived likea nabob ft"I.**" ffif | 'seasons, and then left for \M<% jhere^ ' teßking the acquaintance of w? .'tL,. Fraulein Moeller, he W" 611,.^ after aahort courtship. Four *W"Zm he was dead, leaving behind hi»thf-^ dready mentioned,, the somewnf f UIIr, terms of which, no doubt, can be fP™ I*for1*- for by his former unfortunate &m.?l' ■ The millions are lying lnJAndop$ G1*in' %est acQumulating, whUbS^ Wr*i vM haing carried on by t*he wife 0Q& wl*^ of testator, who according to WpgX law "had no right to dispose of his W?* n J fa the way adopted by JohnGoldenWlp

A SENSATIONAL MURDER.

A Mysterious Death? 1-4,

An Unique Case.

—_ ' i San Francisco has long"been reputed to.be a veritable hot-bed of crime. The c% unenviable notoriety in this respect.is <W more to the sensational character than % the number of crimes of which it has bjf record J-^ 3 doubtful if *yen th« poll;' rTrovih- n^" 8- 1 whose "iminal classes JL proverbia ly unique in their methods, cosi theSi? lonSe,f. list of such crimes thanfo the pol lee arch Qf San Francb ■ n U ™£ ereA a u B. been more than the usfal S °. f *&>« class Q f cases before TJ ChayK^ 1 amOng WhiCh be6Q F .. Benhayan was a young Hebrew, anj a' brother to Mrs. Cecilia lowers who |l' about two years ago from the effect^oi phosphorous poisoning, administered,!? was supposed, by her husband, Dr. J. &U ton Bowers The circumstances of "fig woman a death pointed so strongly to [er husband as the murderer that Se wafe^c cused of it, convicted, and sentencedftf death nearly two years ago, and principle through the efforts of Benhayan, who ws a witness m the case for the people, andffeve very damaging testimony against thele tendant. Bowers appealed from the Tial oourt to the Supreme Court, where the &sej has since been pending. The public Id almost forgotten the case when the inysbri-. ous and sudden death of BenhayanfW October 23rd last, suddenly revived pulic interest in the convicted man. I >' On September 15, a book agent or ped&lf named Demig, engaged a room at a lodgh^ house on Geary-street in this city. Asftti room was then occupied by a tenant, was expected soon to vacate, Demig tjjgk the rent for one month.to begin a week lafer* as the room would be occupied in the man. time by the original tenants. On the ly following that upon which Demig kd arranged to go into possession a servant of the house, upon entering the room, jis covered the dead body of a fully draecß man lying on the floor upon his back, 4th his hands resting upon his breast. OnJhe floor neat the body was a bottle contaijrtg a poisonous mixture, composed of cyajde. of potash, and upon a table were iwnug materials and several notes in the fijhd writing of the deceased, and signed iyjijpf or else by a very clever forger, [n^one of these notes, addressed to the c)r<Jier, the writer says :—" lam the cause.of, ifi§£ sister's, Cecilia Bowers, death. On N(f .|% 1885, I could not keep the horribld sfcretr any longer ; I had to write it in ajmfjaao randum book, and I lost it. This £ o<e)Q| my reasons for making my exit fpm/ tn©' world's stage. Dr. Bowers knewnojjhinflL of my— —, and had no hand in ht d6a§nj< No one is to blame but myself." I a letter to Bowers the deceased, Benhafen.i c^ fessed to having murdered his sftea asfr also stated, that she had been unffithful to her marriage vows, and gave thenamos of several persons with whom he chrged that she had been intimate. He ab said in another letter that he adminipered the poisons in capsules, which the wman tool from him, supposing them to dntain the medicines which had been replarly pM scribed for her by her physiciai As Benhayan was a some Wat simple-, minded fellow, and of a most chffff ul disposi tion and had been in the best ofepirits only a few hours before his death, hvfriends were loath to. believe that he h| committed suicide, and gave it as their pinion that he had been murdered, and tfet the letters found near his dead body fere forgeries. This theory is fcorne out- bj the fact that Benhayan was devotedly to hi# contained in the letters, ch^ges which no brother would wantonly sake agapst a dead sister. The position q the bodyjwhen found would seem to inditjite that it had been carefully placed ipon the l- floor after death. Owing to thejs circumslanceß and to the fact that jhe room had been rented to a man otherthan Benfayan, the police also held to the theory thit the letters were forgeries, anc that Beniayan had teen foully dealt wifi. After * long searchj Demig, the man \i whom the room had tKsn rented, was fouid and idajtified by thelandlady. This give the authorities a clue which has been Industriousy fol lowed, «nd tends strongy to show |bat a conspirjcy was formec by Bowefs to iaurder Benhayan and cause the fitters to be forged, with a Tfew to makbg it appear %t he, and nofcßowers, hat mur teed Mrs Bowers in fcheaope of therety say- Jttft the cottdemned doctfr from the g4lows. It has been made to appar that Demig and hig-wife areold friends 2>f Bowers, aifl that Demjg had teen a freiuent visitor to the hoiua of a'Mrs Zeituig, who nursei Mrs Bowlrg in her last illiess, and has been a devq^i friend and frquent visitor^o Dr.' Bowetdßincefeisconfin/mentat the ©unty jail, lithe tbsory of the police ill that Boweji planned the murder, and! com muni<%i his plans to Demig anl any other Seeomplietis wbm he mayha/ehad throug% friend Mb Zeitung. feveral druggisli^egtifijd duo at the aopnite's inquest ft^ Demig, who wae fornßrly a druggistiidobtsineifrom bhem at dtterent times sm(|q uan t|ti c o f cyanide of jptash, He also Pfpiasedfj quantity of dru§!, and druggis^lortar »d graduate, fjom a wholesale jj^ netl anc i subsequenily the same articl^ or ers exactly similar to them, wer^|)und in Dr. Bowerss cell. Demig ac^m^ ha^ng obtained thewanidei of potash, w||Jainef that he used i upon his person *Q]fc o w certain stains uf on'his skin caused ISgjjgj, o f nitrate oteilver.' He insisted, Ill^er, that the drufs pur chased frompjyiQigp^g house w4"e sold by him to o||nr. Fell—a person, by the way, for whcji p^i^ jj ave BO ugl|t dili gently, but ytUL BVL(xm , i These circuK^gg various jthers, including coll c tory statemenjs by Demig, as to on the: even ing of BpnhayfflL^jj^ W p fl i(j seem to al most demonstr^ -^ were 0 (j f or the testimony » erfcg)t^ ma jojity of whonj, after ca» CO mparing the yritten confessions witlj«K ed j enuinew j.i t i n g S of Benhayan, a <m in i on thar were written by t^e f^Wy and friends of Benmyft aleo cor tfa pro fessionalexperls.im afc th are f- er g or ie3 . Demig is tow i WL ieeb Dn a cforge of murder, and£ritthe circnnßtahtial evidence aga»st fflk very s t ro ?g, it is doubtful if W inless it can be shown w. lCfrmpositivenas than at present, ta^t: * »ayan Uters are forgeries. ' Vlt!| .W" missing' link' supplied, .^n^a^idence.nll be sufficient, in.all proo^ to sen dhim to the p IInOT-' tp;

UNKNOWN

Being tae jJS^^Stnre of «» I opens) my eyes and l| i^ A ma o was lefmn^| m lbed; near lie man stood a f| a |, onne t out from the wmu -™- j could see a patch ght «| of gr eea tree endl^ uiJkreeH). Wliere was I ? , » «»» { » rea m that I^^l^couldnobm my limbs ached, and I og^ my h W The man gently f liqjfcave you feel J IK

.'" Eh, what ?" I cried. " Where aru I?" '" "You are in my house, my dqac sir,, and. ,w#shall take good care of you., " Now,' US'added, replacing my head on the pillow, •'be quiet and go to sleep." I gazed at him for a long time, a,nd all at once I recognised Doctor Bertram, the celeprated specialist in insanity. A shud der passed through my frame. Why was I in Dr. Bertram's hospital, instead of in myhome near Phoenix Park,with my books, my herbs, and my microscopes around me ? fcj His hospital was for mad people '.—and that sister of charity, those vials, that bowl 'office—my God, I must be mad ! But whyI?—how ? " H^w- long have I been here?" I asked, after* a time. " For four weeks, Mr Furniss. But you mult be quiet and sleep. How you do try to*talk." » For a inlith! Was it possible ? What had happened;?- But even as I asked xny-. self these questions, little by little I went off %o sleep, tod I saw, in a billowy meadow, a roam covered with blood and boj^ered oif either side with monstrous microscopes, shape* like trees, a road on which two litbte girfa played at pitch and catch with a sefvtSred head, while Dr. Bertram, comically bonneted with a re ligious cap, rode astride of a dead body, which reared, and|^anced, and kicked till ne could scarce keep his sea£ The next morping I was^better; and day |by day I improved, though, that horrible Imghtmare cams to me each* night. But it Lgrew less and less distinct, ana in a few Pwe«ka it almost ceased to trouble tne.

One evening the doctor, whom I had nolrseen during the day, seated himself n(0 my bed. # ?f Well?' said he, feeling my pulse, " you Tare doing famously. I'll have you out, as good as new, in a few days. But you've had atclose shave. It has been one of the prettiest cases of cerebral congestion I ever handled—a beautiful case. Why, it's a winder you are alive n|w. Tell me, how is your memory; can you remember what happened before you were brought here ?" "I—l don't know. I cannot think. I jhave passed through something fearful. JVhat ifa is I cannot say. From the faint glimmer of recolleltion that cornea to me, I have' the sensation of having been dead— murdered ! Oh, it is frightful. My brain is, weak yet. Then, the child, a pretty ifblden-haired child—rolling on the floor." '^'Come, come, this will ifever do," said the doctor. " You can tell me all about it in the morn- "

"No, now.doctor," I/pried. "It is coming back to nnjj, Yes,»l have it now." h Here is an exact transcript of my recital as I told if^to Dr. Bertram, and, later, to the magistrate. You know my passion fo.r natural history. Well, scarcely a week passes that I do not fo outf into the country b<jtanising. That ay I went to Glafinevin, where, as you know, the marshy meadows are rich in curious plants, infusoria a*nd diatoms. I was returning! and was almost in Dublin 'with my«box full of % rare specimens, on which I expected to make a report that would astonish the Botanical Society, when I saw a little girl, certainly not more than t five or six years old, who was all alone, cry- Ing as if her little heai^ would break. I approached her, but at e%ht of me she re doubled, her cries. I could see that the little one was lose,* and she did nob know f here tp go, so I spoke to her kindly, and, , By dint of promising her unlimited bonbons, 'got he1! to tell me her name was Lizzie, and that she lived near Beresford-place, in Lower Abbey- street. I tqok her hand, and we soon sraited off, talking together like old friends. She was a beautiful child, fresh and rosy, with great candid eyes, and fair hair, which was cut short over her ejfes^andjell in golden ringlets about her IfioulcTefa. Shjj trotted bravely along, her soft little hand holding my great ruddy Daw confidingly. As we walked she told me remarkable tales, in which figured a big black horse, a little knife, a doll, and a nurqber o| people"! didfrot know. * Lizzie was afraid she would be scolded when she got home, but she was not, and I—l was received with transports by her mothers who was half distracted. Never was gratitude expressed so heartily and pleasantly. Who was I? Where did I five? How did I happen to find her, and a thousand like questions were showered upon me.

"Oh, Mr gfurniss," said the mother, " you ire the saviour of my -child. How can we express our gratitude? We are not rich, but such a debt* cannot be paid in gold. How happy my husband wiflfce to repeat my thanks to you. He is still at his office, but—will you dg> us » great kind ness, -will you honourfour humble table to-morrow ? I shall have a savant here like yourself, and you two will enjoy each other's company, J, am sure, And my husband will be so happy to have .you." I thanked her for the invitation, and pro mised to be there.

At the appointed hour I was shown into their modest parlour, and you may be sure the husband's gratitude was no lees warmly expressed than the wife's. And little Lizzie threw her arms around my neck, and showered on me the innocent caressss of a happy child. I seemed, indeed, to be one of the family.

Thfe dinner was a merry one, the savant seemed to bean interesting man—in brief I passed an excellent evening. » • The air had been heavy the whole day, and *in the evening a storm came on. Thunder-claps sueceeded^pne another with jgut interruption, the ram fell in torrents. Whether it was the effect of the storm, of the suffocating heat, or of the wine I had drunk, I felt a strange melancholy, I could not breathe comfortably. I was about to set out f#r home, however, for it was late and my house was at some distance; but they insisted that I should not expose rifyself to such a Jempest, when I waa not feeling well. Th««*mofcher begged jne with ! such a goo€ grace that I felt forced to remain and pass the njjfht in that hospitable house. They ceremoniously conducted me to mv room, and there wished me good nighti "T remember, evenjjibhat Lizzie having fallen asleep in her father's arms, I kissed her iy>tle cheek s paled by sleep, and her dimpled little arms. • Left alone, I began to undress slowly, and wandered about the room as one always doea when one sleeps in a strange place. I felt as if I should smother in the close atmosphere oi the room. Before getting into bed, I wanted to inhale a little of* the outside air; and, in spite of the roaring storm, I tried to open the window. It was a false window. "Well, well!" I exclaimed, a little surprised. I thought I would remove the chimney screen ; it was a false chimney. I rushed to the door—it was locked. Fear seized me, and",' "holdlrg my breach, I listened. The house was quiet, all seemed to be asleep. Then I inspected the room care fatly, straining jay ears for th« least sound On the floor neafthe bed, I noticed spots; it was! bloods-dried and blackened blood! I shuddered and a cold sweat Jrtpod out on my forehead. Slood ! Why should there be blood there ? ! And I saw thtib a whole sea of blood inn* have been spih there for a great spac* around, the hard wooden floor had been fnjshly scrubbed and Scraped. All at once I cried out. Under thi bed I had seen a man, j stretched out, motionless as an overturned statue. '■ I cojjld n»t cry or call out. ".With trembling hatf|s I touched the manj He did not move. "Vith trembling hands! pushed the man; hedid not move. Witt trembling haijids I seised the man by theiMl and drew him forthr he was dead! P»s neck been cleanW cut as with one!stroke of a razor, and tin head held to th? trunk only by a slender ligament. 1 thought I sbpuid, go naag* Bub some thine nau?fc be iJPW—tl^ assassin might nme at any mrinent. I raised the body to place ib on the bed. I made a false step,

and the livid head turned over, swung to and fro.fojr. a-moment like a hideous pendu lum, and then, detached from the trunk, fell on the floor with a dull sound. With great difficulty I introduced the decapi tated trunk between the sheets, I picked up the head, and placed it on the pillow like tha^ of a sleeping man, and, having blown out the candle, 1 slipped under the bed. I did all this mechanically, without thought of defence or safety; it was in stinct that prompted me, not intelligenceor reflection.

My teeth chattered. My hands were wet with a thick moisture. I felt as if I had gone to bed in a charnel-h,ouse. I remained there, in th&t awful fear, minutes, hours, months, years, centuries— Fdo not know how long. 1 lost all idea of time and, place. All was silent. From without, the noise of the storm and the whistling of the wind came to me softened and sad, like moans. I could not picture to myself the assassin who was coming— who was there perhaps, In that state of horror, I could see only little Lizzie, fair, rosy, and frank, with her doll and her great hat; I could see her sleeping in her father's arms ; now and then she lightly raised her eyelids and disclosed hereyes, which seemsd to me to be bold, implacable, cruel, murder ous.

The door opened, bub as softly as the scratching of a mouse. I bit my lips till the blood came, to keep from crying out, Now a man stepped in with gliding tread, with infinite precautions to avoid touching the furniture. It seemed to me as if I could see the cruel, clutchiug fingers gliding over my clothes, searching my pockets. Then the steps came nearer, seemed to graze me. I felt that the man was bending over the bed, that he struck one fierce blow. Then I knew nothing more. When I recovered consciousness, the room had become silent again. Bufc fright held me nailed to the spot. At length I de cided to escape, with what caution you may imagine. On tiptoe I gained the door, which had i&t closed. Not a. sound, not a breath.' Feeling my way, I passed into the hall. I waited to see a head tprusV suddenly from out the shadows, a knife gleam in the dark. But no; the brute, glutted with crime, slept without remorse. I descended the stairs, drew the bolt of the door, and., half fainting, with the blood frozen in my veins, I fell into the! gutter of the deserted street. Dr. Bertram had listened to my recital with the deepest interest. " And there I found you, Mr Furniss, and in what a state ! Could you lecognise the house ?" " Yes," I replied ; " but to what end ?" " Well let me cure you, and then we shall go together to the house of theee assassins." Eight days later, the doctor and I stood in Lower Abbey-street. I recognised the terrible house. All the blinds were drawn ; in front of the door a placard was placed, bearing the legend: "To be Let." I inquired of the former* residents from ; a neighbour. * "They have been gone a month and more," she replied. " It's a great pity, for they were very nice people."—From the French of Octavo Mirabeau.

An Adventure with a Lioness.

While on a Bhooting expedition on the south-east coast of, Africa several years ago (a correspondent of " The Field" says), a native came into my camp one day with the news o^a woman having been taken by a lion just outside a village about 16 miles off. As I had up to than#ever had tho chance of shooting a lion, iind being most anxious to do so, I at once stai-tud oil' for the village, taking a small tent and three natives with me. We arrived at tho village just before dark, and pitched the tent outside it. After hearing an account of the woman's death, I turned in early, telling the men to keep watch in turn and never to let the circle of fires get low, or go outside them. The neglect of these precautions was the direct cause of the catastrophe which I am now about to relate. Shortly before dawn I was aroused by' a fearful shriek and cries of' •' Simla ! Simla !" (lion ! lion) from the men. Seizing my rifle, I rushed from the tent, and found that one of the men had just been carried off. It appeared that one of the watchers had allowed the fires to get low, and that this poor fellow, on relieving him, affer putting fresh wood on the fires, had gone outside them for some purpose, and Bad at once been seized and carried off. It was pitch dark; but, snatching up blazing boughs from the fires, we rushed out in the hope of scaring her from her prey, and I fired my rifle. However, io was of no use. We found where the lioness—for such it proved to be—had dragged off tho man. But she had reached the bushes, and nothing more was to be done till daylight, which was eagerly watched for, further sleep being) of course, quite put of the question. As soon as it was light enough to see we started on the track, which was plain enough by .the spots of blood and fragments of the unfor tunate man's clothes. At length we came to the place where she had made her meal, leaving only the shattered skull and some bones. We* followed eagerly jn the track. Passing a water-hole where the brute had drunk, we came to a patch of long grass and thorns, into which it seemed madness to enter; so I sent back to the village to collect all the curs they had in order to try and beat the lioness out of the eovert,iwhich was an isolated patch, though there ''was a much larger one some qnarter of a mile off. When the dogs arrived, they at first rushed in valiantly, but a deep growl from the lioness sent them all out again in great haste with their tails between their legs, and nothing would persuade them to go in again. Fortunately the weather had been dry for some time, so I determined to set the gross on fire an 4 post myself between this patch. And the large covert, for which I expected she was sure to make. This was done with .success ; the dry, grass burnt well, and suddenly, with a roar, .out she came, heading straight for me; but, seeing roe, she at once turned offj and with great bounds made across the open plain to another email thorn patch. Either from excitement or over haste, I am ashamed to say I missed her with both barrels. -The valiant curs now gave chase, but stopped outside the covert. However, on our coming up, two or three of the pluckiest of them, under the excitement of the moment, dashed in, whenj with a roar, put she bounded, and crouched down on the sand with. her head between her paws about twenty - five yards from me, lashing up the sand with her tail, so that the dust flew up to such an extent that it was difficult to -make certain of putting a bullot through her head. It was a critical position, as I expected her to charge at any instant; however, ehe remained watching us. My gun-bearer was a plucky fejlow, bo leaving one rifle with him, and ordering him not to fire unless I called oufi to him, I took my 350 express and edged gradually round to one side of her. ; This move pet with complete success, for she afc . once stood up irresolute, and jerked her tail up into the air, turning her head first towards me, then towards the gunbearer. As she turned her head I took aim at the point of her shoulder, and pulled the trigger, keep ing one finger on the other ready to put in the other barrel, but it was not needed. With a half roar, half groan, she gave one bound forward, and fell rolling over-And over, tearing up the ground with mouth and claws. Soon her struggles ceased, ana she lay motionless. Throwing a few stones to make certain, we approached; she was stone dead; the bullet had taken her fair the heart

LIKE A VOLCANO.

An Exciting Race for Life.

A sknsatiokal occurrence is reported from Lake Michigan. The. steamer Arizona left Marque"tte for .Portage Lake, but thirty miles up was fbrced back by a howling nor' wester and a terrible sea. When a few miles off Marquette, about 4 a.m., a carboy of acid amongst those stowed between decks broke loose, and was broken by the rolling and pitching of the vessel. It was filled with mixed acid used in making nitro glycerine, and the space between decks was immediately filled with the acid's stifling fumes. Soon these penetrated every nook and- corner of the ship, and shortly it was discovered that the vessel was on fire. The captain encouraged his crew to hang on as long as possible, all |being almost suffocated. The men in the fire-holds piled fuel into the furnacev heaping it up until they had to rush for the deck gasping for air. The engineer stood by his post until he too found it more than flesh and blood could stand. Then he pulled the throttle wide open and rushed to the upper deck for his life. The Battle for Life. Here gathered the twenty-three men manning the Arizona. A boat was made ready on the windward side and where the sickening fumes were the least dense. A blinding snowstorm was driving across the lake at this time, and stung lilte needles. On went the steamer, with not a man be low decks, and with two men at the wheel. Meanwhile the fire below decks spread rapidly, the closely battened gangways and hatches imprisoning it and no flames being seen,- bub the presence of the volcano beneath waa manifest from the dense clouds of yellow sulphurous smoke from the acids and the thick clouds, from the burning petroleum, 900 barrels of which were on board.

The breakwater at this place was finally made and the steamer swept into the har bour at a tremendous speed, the crew ex pecting every moment to be blown up. They knew that should one barrel of oil explode every man on board would perish, and they hung to the sides of the pitching vessel, expecting each moment to be their last. On swept The Floating Volcano, Captain Grazer hanging to the wheel and now-and then giving words of encourage ment to his white-faced crew. He steered for the breakwater, intending to strike that structure hard vi, and thus give everybody a chance to esca]u» and at the same time avoid setting fire to numerous other vessels in the harbour. His -purpose was carried out successfully. As she struck every man leaped for his life, and ft,© steamer, her propeller working furiously, slewed around and smashed through log boom, and buried her noae in asand-banv- Mean time great excitemont pi'evailed all *ver the city, and the Fire Dopartment was «alled out. Streams were poured on the burning vessel, but the oil had by this time caugYt fire, and all efforts to check the ilames wore vain. Singularly enough not one barrel ex ploded. The loss will be about 200,000 dollars.

Hand to Hand Fight With a Slaver.

The Lords of the Admiralty have pro moted Lieutenant Fred. F. Fegen, R.N., to be commander, to mark their recognition of his gallant conduct in as brilliant and thorough a real isea dog exploit as ever appeared in British naval annals. Last May Lieutenant Fegen, who was on board her Majesty's ship Turquoise, then stationed at Zanzibar, set out on board an ordinary pinnace with seven men to patrol that part of the East Africa coast and watch for Arab slovers. On the morning of the 30th May the pinnace was lying snugly anchored within Fungal Gap, Pemba, an island to the north of Zanzibar. The crew of tho pinnace comprised five blue-jackets, one marine, one interpreter, and Fegen. At daylight the look - out reported that a dhow was entering the gap. As far as could be ascertained she seemed a peace able trader, malting for port under crowded sail. OrJy a man or two could be seen on deck, and there was nothing to in dicate the craft wjtH full of slaves and armed men. The lieutenant had a little dingy with him, and in this, a,s a matter of duty and precaution, he tient his coxswain, the marine and interpreter, to hail the stranger and see that she was all right. Stoutly the little dingy was rqWed towards the dhow to intercept her as sl;ie ran along. When with in 100 yards of the "Arab the interpreter hailed t^em, but received no answer,,nor could be Bee anybody on board, for the huge sail (screened her crew. Plying their oara with more vigour, they made to board the strange craft, when instantly a scorepf swarthyfa"ces rose aboutthegunwale, and a volley from Snider rifles was poured into the dingy. Fegen shouted orders to his men to turn the 9-lb. gun with which the pinnace was armed to bear on the dhow whilst at the same moment one of bis men opened fire on them with his Martini-Henry. The marine, from the dingy, had already got to work with hia weapon, and was evi dently doing execution. The slaver, hold ing the dingy as too insignificant, changed her course and bore down full upon the pinnace, clearly intending to run aboard her. Fegen and his four men had their anchor tripped in a trice, made sail, but there was no time to get under.weigh, when down upon them came the dhow. The lieutenant called " Prepare to resist board ers," " Stand to them, my.lads," and setting that example which in warfare, at any rate, is before all precept jumped forward to re pel the attack as the two vessels bumped together.

With characteristic ferocity the slavers— some 13 Arabs, and seven bloodthirsty half breed cut-throats—endeavoured to spring aboard the pinnace. Fegen shot two down with his revolver, and ran a third through the body, when he in turn would have fallen under a fierce blow from an Arab's blade had not Pearson, an A.JB., run the man through with his cutlass. As ifc was, Fegen received, a severe wound on the right arm, but still the fight went onj for he could use his pistol with his left. Three of his men were cut down and were by this t^me lying wounded in the bottom of the pinnace, while nine Arabs had already been slain by our sturdy tars. Still Fegen battled on,'shooting, and shoving with the help of his orewof now only one man, both of them receiving, fresh stabs and wounds. J. Guys and Fred Russell, leading seamen, had §tood by him like steel, fighting with the courage and determination of those heroes who have immortalised our navy. Russell foughfc on heedless of hia many wounds until he sank from sheer loss of blood. At length the dbpw slipped past and sheered off, not to escape, however, for wounded as all on the pinnace were, they fought and held on with the tenacity of bulldogs. With those still in the dingy they maintained a fire on the dhow, and followed her up. The slaver replied with their Sniders, and Fegen, seeing his men in the dingy, exposed, held thie pinnace to the wind to obtain the weather gauge arid coyer the "punt." The protracted fight attracted & number of Arabs to the shore, and they in turn began firing at the two, to them, hated British craft. A lucky shot from one of the Mar tinis killed the slaver's helmsman, and the dhow broached to in shallowwater and cap sized. The remainder of the rascally crew plunged into the sea, which was about two fathoms deep at the spot, and swam for the shore, four or five only succeeding in reach ing the land alive. Most of the penned slaves managed to scramble out and hang on to the dhow, their heads alone visible out

of the water. Fegen™ot his men from the dingy on board the pinnace, and with a few shells from the nine-pounder drove away the belligerent Arabs on shore. This done, he sent the dingy to the rescue of the slaves and succeeded in saving the*lives of 53 ranfortunate negroes. Unfortunatsly, 12 had Heen drowned by the capsizing of the dhow, the number of slaves on board having been 65. A sailor named Benjamin Stone, an A.B.,was the only one killed outright on our side during the plucky little sea fight. So far as known up to the present the wounded blue jackets were all doing well. — " Public Opinion."

Tragic Story from Wales.

The Welsh newspapers give* currency to a story of extraordinary romance, which has caused much se' ation throughout the ex tensive mininfdistrict of Rhesllanerchrugog flftuabon. It appears that some years ago a collier> from this neighbourhood .emigrated to America, leaving his wife and three sons behind him. He kept up a correspondence with his wife, and aoout 12 monthsago paid a visit to hisnativc country. He persuaded his eldest son to accompany him on his return. , The wife and sons decided to follow him, and in due course arrived in America. The husband, it is 3tated, was taken somewhat aback on the unexpected appearance of his first wife. He was, indeed, legally mar ried to the lady he lived with. Having entertained the new comers, he took his wife up the hills ostensibly to view the new country, eventually leading her to the edge of a stupendous precipice above a lake. Up to this time his conduct was that of a gratified husband; but on the ledge of the rock he suddenly changed front, and, presenting the revolver gave her the choice of being shot or thrown over the cliff. The woman preferred the latter alternative. She was then told to undress, which command she obeyed reluc tantly. During the task she asked him to turn his back to her. He did so ; and she immediately made a rush, and pushed him over the precipice. She then retraced her steps and made tho occurrence known. The body was found in a mangled condition on the margin oi the lake. The lady is on her way b^me-ward, the expense of the return jouiiiey having been defrayed by American sympathisers.

PECULATORS IN CHINA.

Fate of the Family of a it actuating General.

A typical Chinese cause celebre has arisen in Szechuen in connection with the death of the late distinguished General Pao Ch'ao, whose patriotism did not, appar ently, prevent his peculating 190,000 taels of the pay destined for the troops in Anam. Pao Chaos cousin wished to bor row 3,000 taels from Pao Chaos son, and being unsuccessful aent to Peking a forged " dying declaration " from Pa Ch'ao, say ito: •« Before I die I must inform your Matties that my secretary, Ho, and othets a ro pilfering 190,000 taels of public moneys." To defend himself against f, n j s charge, he produced the books, shoving that Pao Ch'ao had pecu lated himself, and that he had only obeyed instructions. -The sons, being called upon to disgorge, got a warrant to search the cousins house, and. found a number of counterfeit seals. The servants of the son were tortured in vain h order to discover where the money was hidden. Pao Chaos wife died of grief; his .eldest son is in gaol: his second son has fled, ai*i thg second son's wife has taken refuge witt* \ ev family. The cousin is 'liable t-o sufier the death penalty for counterfeiting a memorial with false seals, and all that now remaihg of a once opulent and illustrious family are the two coffins containing Pao Ch'ao and Vis wife lying unburied in an empty and confis cated house.

Travelling in a Box.

A Chicago Man Skipped to Phila delphia by Express.

John McAuley isone of the earliest settlers in Chicago. He came here in 1841, when Chicago and Pedunk were struggling to see which could wear the largest swaddling clothes. Although possessed of excellent business qualities, Mr McAuley was at all times eccentric. He had a great antipathy to railroad companies, and disliked to put money in their coffers by paying fare. In the fall of 1872 he had occasion to visit Philadelphia. The fare at that time was $29.

"I won't pay that much," said Mr McAuley in conversation with a friend.

"I'd rather walk." The conversation ended in a wager, Mr McAuley betting that he could go from Chicago to Philadelphia on an express brain for less than $10. The amount of the wager was small, but Mr McAuley's dander was-up and he deter mined to win it. For three days he shut himself up in a carpenter's shop, and the result of his labours was a double-cased box seven feet in length fey two and one half inwidth. Holes wereboredin every side to allow him a sufficiency of air, a number of racks were placed inside the box in which were placed a quantity of food arid an ample supply of water. When all the arrangements had been completed McAuley crawled into the box and the lid was nailed down. Hj3 friend, who entered heartily into the scheme, hired an express waggonandhad the box conveyed to the ex press office,. Upon the upper lid, written in huge letters, was the folllowing inscrip tion :—

....._.. wHmim'iftft .*...«. JOHtf MOAUI.KY. Continental Hotel, : Philadelphia, Pa. : This box must bo kept in a horizontal : position, as its contents will otherwise be • ruined. •

The box and the contents together weighed 178 pounds, land the express charges were $3 38. In an hour from the time when he crowded into the box Mr McAuley was in an express car, travelling eastward at the rabe of forty miles an hour. Mr MeDermoJst, the other party to the wager, became frightened as he thought of the train speeding along over the rails with his friend confined in a coffin. Knowing McAuley's eccentricities, be thought.fhat death might come before be would acknowledge himself defeated. Accord ingly a telegram was sent to appoint where "it would intercept the train, and an order was given by the express company to its agent on. the train to refuse to carry the box containing Mr McAuley. Altoona, Pa., however, was reached before this order was executed. It was about midnight when the express messenger opened the box and MoAuley was sleeping as peacefully as if he was in his own bed afc home. When the lids were removed he arose, stepped into the centre of the car, stretched himself out at full length upon a pile of packages, and trjedto continue his nap. "You can't ride in this car," said the messenger, " it's against the rules." "My charges have all been paid," re joined Mr McAuley, "and you have no right to put me off." The messenger was in a quandary. The human passage refused to leave the car, showed the receipt for the express charges which Mr McJDermott had slipped into the box, and threatened a damage suit it" he was forcibly ejected. By dint of argu ments, threats and persuasion, McAuley managed to remain in the car until Phila delphia was reached, when he Bent Mc- Bei'indtt the following telegram: "Arrived on express. Total cost, in cluding drinks and cigars, $9 75,"

A Horrible Custom in Dahomey.

In the centre of the courtyard a platform was erected, hung with silks, velvets an^ flags, including that of Dahomey—a whitQ ground with a figure in black holding alof to lylecapitated head in one hand and al|mi wtin the other. On this platform BtooS the King, surrounded by his nobles, among whom I.had a prominent seat, while below struggle!! a mass of fifty thousand or more jfeople, kept in some order by the woman guard. T4ie affair began by the Kiri^, per sonallf, / throwing into a slidingv-lrench various packages of goods, consisting ofN cottons, clothes And cloths, knives, mus kets, pipes, and robacco, all of which were fought fiercely^for by the crowd below. Then came the grand point—the slaughter. The victims were brought forth, laehed into boat-shaped baskets, in a sitting position, with knees drawn up to the chin, and lifted into the slide, from which they went down to the crowd below. Then ther.^ came a horrible scramble. Thousands, with longjad bright knives, thrtw them selves on t|p Victim, and in a moment he was hacked fco ipieces, as well as were some of his hackers, the victor being the one who came off with the head. This was kept up for three hours, the number killed amount ing to about§wo hundred, until the crowd below was reeking and smeared wxth blood. A more horrible sight was never witnessed and it did not lessen the horror wit|i me ta be told that this ig. not a mere U3eles« slaughter, as civilised nations suppose, but«» day ctf execution,the decapitated being crim inals, traitors, and prisoners of war, wh« have been " offensive political partisans H It is tne highest holiday in the year, and the only one where much slaughtering it done; and there is no doubt that the Kin* himself wishes to abolish thatparb of it, but

SELECTED POETRY.

NEW YEAR'S MORNING.

Time, with wonted course, to slumber Now has brought another year, Added one more to the number In the vast eternal sphere.

And a glad New Year is brought us, Borne on Time's resistless stream. Has the past year wisdom taught us, Or is life an empty dream %

Well, the past has taught us plainly How all things must disappear. And how wo are building vainly — Building castles in the air.

When the sun last New Year's morning Rose in splendour o'er each land, With hia matchless hues adorning Hut and hail, hill, dale and strand.

O, the hopes we fondly cherished, And bright dreams we then held uear t But, how many of them perished— Perished with the passing year.

Closed is many an eye for ever Which beheld that New Year s sun v Ended many a life which never Thought its last year had begun.

Many shall, ere this year's closing, Tho' they sit on honour's throne, Ba in the cold grave reposing Lifeless, silent and alone.

Life of man is like a flower Blooming in the early morn, But ere eve, 'neath sun or shower, gi Fades, is withered, bruised and torni But when launchecTtipon life's ocean. Let us live for Truth and Right; Lot each storm, each billow's motion Bear us on to clearer light.

Let us build on Truth's foundation, Where the building safe can stand. And unto each man and nation Stretch, a loving brother's hand.

Let us be in knowledge growing, Gn ther -wisdom day by day, And while this life's stream is flowing Scatter blessings on our way.

Let us always do our duty, Come what may of glee or grief. While our years bring woe or beauty, " Duty " be our motto brief.

M. MONSTEDT. j

A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

| (By W. R. Wills.)

TO OUR TARS, Here's a Happy New Year For the brave and the true— Our jolly, jolly Tars, God bless 'em; And a good ringing cheer For our sailor boys in blue. Our jolly, jolly Tars, God bless 'em. Over the brave May the old flag wave, For whea we have foes they will dress 'em ; So a Happy New Year, And a good ringing cheer For our jolly, jolly Tars, God bless 'em.

When brave old Nelson died He left a lot of sons; Our jolly, jolly Tars, God bless 'em; And they remain our pride, For they're our fighting guns; Our jolly, jolly Tars, God bless 'em. % Over the sea May our ships ea.il free, Fo? when we have wrongs theyll redress em, So a Happy New Year And a good ringing cheer For our jolly, jolly Tars, God bless 'em.

Now if we have to fight We know who'll win the day; Our jolly, jolly Tars, God bless 'em. So England and her right, And pur boys to lead the way; Our jolly, jolly Tars, God bless 'em.J* For every son &■■ Will stand to his gun, And when they meetour foes they will dress'em, So a Happy New Year And a good ringing cheer For our jolly, jolly Tars, God bless 'em.

TO OUR GALLANT MARINES.

While we're-wishing a Happy Now Year al around, Not a motto norjsong have I seen. .=■ - Saying—" God bless him wherever he's found. The gay and the gallant marine." So we'll bid him a -welcome to-day, For he's loyal and true to his Queen. Hurrah! and God bless him, we say, And a cheer for our gallant Miinne.

"When grave rumours of war are near us, we

pray " Qod bless our defenders and Queen; But lot us remember with pride every day gay and the gallant marine.

So -we'll bid him a welcome to-dsty. For he's loyal and true to his Queen, Hu*rah l and God bless him. we say, And. a cheer for our gallant marine.

On shore, they're the pride and delight of the I , fair, In war they're .vhe first on the scene:; They're as brave and as true as their brothers in blue. So hurrah for our gallant Marine. So we'll bid him a "welcome to-day, For he's loyal andtrue to his Queen. Hurrah! and Godblesa him, we say, . And a cheer for our ft^uant Marine.

TO THE CREW OF THE GOOD SHIP PRESS.

There's a gallant crew of the good sto^ Press, And her guns thunder forth her fame; Her cruii-:e is of peace, for she sails but to bless, Or to fight in Freedom's name.

So we'll pass the toast Where her crew is found; For our honour can do no less- Here's three times three. And a cheer all round To the crew of the good ship Press!

When bigots ruled in the days of yore Men were ever the slaves of might; But a cheer for the ship as she gilds the shoro Of knowledge in armour bright.

So we'll pass the toast Where her crew is found. For our honour can do no less; Here's three times threjl And a cheer all-rounir. To the crew of the good ship Press.

So this gallant crew of the good ship Press In honour stands; to-day. To shelter the weak, and their wrongs redress, And rule with a royal sway, go we'llopass the toast WherwKbis crew is found. For our hd"n6ur can do no less, Here's three times three, And a cheer all round, To the crew of the good ship Pross,

tl;igE afcklXnb evening stab. Saturday, degember si, issr. 1 _ y/fi «.. , ■ - — T-TnT-1 rx ' i-~-1 hi i mil him

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11-15 14-23 i 17-U i • 8-3 r 8-15 5-1 24-20

22-18 14-23 5-14 2-11 9-14 11-16 11-15

1-5 18- 9 11-6 1-5 25-22 25-22 8-11

.7-24 19-15 1-17 6- 1 1-11 22-17 9-14 21-14 8-11 3- 8 J6-31 24-19 |-28 (b)2- 6

23-19 8-11 10-17 23-26 27-32 14-10 16-23



Move ;-—

9-14 16-20 22-18 32-28 5- 9 20-27 34-19 31-24 Ll-15 9-15 L8-U 18-9 8-24 fi-14 28-19 25-22 4- 8 711 25-22 24-20 8-11 1115 22-18 20-16 11-16 15% 29-25 28-19 1- 5 14-38 . 23-T

2-20 18-11 24-27 iip 5- 1 6-10 20-24 12-16 19-23 2M7 1- 5 10-15 6,-9 16-19 11-7 2&-23 5- 9 22-17 24-27 19-24 13-22 23-18 9-14 18-25 97-31 ■ 3- 8 27-31 17-14 14-18 25-22 31-27 8-12 23-27 14-5 10- 6 30-25 27-25'" u 12»*& 2T-32 18-14 6- 2 22-18 23-18 16-19 32-27 14-10 2- 6 Drawn.





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