some, at least, of the robberies at railway stations are accomplished. Some ingenious persons, it appears, have devised a way by which a trunk can be made to steal a trunk, and a portmanteau to annex a portmanteau. The thieves lay a trunk artfully contrived on a smaller trunk; the latter clings to the former, and the owner of the larger carries both away. The decoy trunk is said to be fitted with a false bottom, which goes up when it is laid on a smaller trunk, and with mechanism inside which does for the innocent trunk what Polonius recommended Laertes to do for his friend, and grapples it to its heart with hooks of steel. In fact, the decoy trunk-we do not know how better to describe it is made to perform an office like that of certain flowers, which suddenly close at the pressure of a fly or other insect within their cup and imprison him there. 29. THE ARCTIC EXPEDITION.-The screw frigate "Valorous," which accompanied the two Arctic ships "Alert" and "Discovery" to Disco, with stores for the Arctic expedition, arrived at Plymouth this day. A correspondent of the Standard gave particulars of the "Valorous's" voyage to Disco and back. He described the ship as having been much overladen with stores, and stated that on the passage out she experienced bad weather. She arrived at Disco in five weeks and a day, nearly two days before the " Alert" and the "Discovery," both of whom suffered severely from the tempestuous weather. The stores were transferred to the expedition ships, and all three went together a little distance up Waiggt Straits, where they parted. In that locality they met with a great quantity of ice. They parted in sunshine, but the weather soon changed into a fog, with a cold cheerless drizzle, which speedily shut out of sight those who formed the expedition. The "Valorous" had only proceeded a short way on her return passage when she ran upon a rock, and was detained at Holsteinborg twelve days for repairs. At the time of finally parting company with the Arctic ships the crews of both were in perfect health and excellent spirits, having the utmost confidence in their gallant chief and their ultimate success. SEPTEMBER. 1. Loss OF THE "VANGUARD."-A serious collision, resulting in the total loss of one of the ironclad vessels of the reserve squadron, occurred off the coast of Wicklow shortly after noon this day. During the last week of August the reserve squadron of the Channel Fleet, consisting of five ironclad vessels, and the yacht" Hawk," had been stationed at Kingstown, Vice-Admiral Sir W. Tarleton, Admiral Superintendent of the Naval Reserves, being on board the "Warrior," which led the fleet. At half-past ten the ships got into line in the roads of Kingstown and prepared for departure. The usual order having been settled, the start for Cork was made, the "Warrior" and " Hawk" in front, the "Achilles," "Hector," "Iron Duke," and "Vanguard' coming behind in a straight line. Off the Kish Lightship, which floats at sea six miles from Kingstown, the " Achilles" hoisted her ensign to say farewell, and then parted company to proceed to Liverpool at noon, the sea being at this time what is known in nautical phraseology as moderate. A fog came on; it increased, as fogs at sea do, in density every moment. At 12.30 fifty yards of sea ahead could not be seen, and at this time the "Warrior" and "Hector were considered to be a mile or two in front of the other ships. The ships were proceeding at the rate of twelve or fourteen knots, being desirous of keeping their appointed time in Queenstown; but their speed was reduced when the fog came on, and they were running at not more than half the former rate. The "Vanguard" watch observed a large vessel coming down upon them, and the helm was put hard aport to clear it. The "Iron Duke" was then in the wake of the "Vanguard" at a short distance, and the sudden check in the course of the latter vessel had the effect of bringing them closer and turning her broadside to the former, which, unaware of the obstruction, had made no corresponding motion, but continued on its tack. The commander of the "Iron Duke," Captain Henry Hickley, who was on deck at the time, saw the figure of the "Vanguard" appearing through the fog. He instantly ordered the engines to be reversed, but this direction went forth too late. The ram of the "Iron Duke" struck the " Vanguard" some four feet below the armour-plates, on the port quarter, abreast of the engine-room. The rent made was very large, and the water poured into the hold in a perfect flood. The officers of the Vanguard," with a crew whose discipline the officers described as sailor-like and magnificent throughout, did all they could to obviate the danger by endeavouring to make tight the several compartments of the ship. An artificer, at the imminent risk of his life, ran down into the engine-room and let off the steam. But for this a terrible explosion would have occurred, and destroyed probably the lives of all on board. The after portion filled first, and the water rushed into the engine-room, extinguishing the fires, and the machinery was stopped. Captain Dawkins then called out to the men of his ship that if they preserved order all would be saved, but if there was confusion all would be lost. The men stood along the deck in order, and not a man moved until ordered to do so. The ship was quickly filling; nothing could withstand the deluge that began to flow through every section. Meanwhile the boats of both ships were promptly lowered. While the launching was going on the swell of the tide caused a life-boat to surge upwards against the hull, and one of the crew had his fingers crushed. This was the only injury to any person. Captains Hickley and Dawkins worked vigorously to get the men of the "Vanguard" aboard the "Iron Duke," and within twenty minutes the whole of the men were transferred. There was many a voluntary delay, as individual sailors petitioned to make one more effort to secure chattel or keepsake hidden away below. But the orders, " Boys, come instantly!" were not only frequent, but stern. As the bells on the "Iron Duke" were striking two, the last man of the "Vanguard” having been received on board the "Iron Duke," the disabled vessel whirled round two or three times, and then suddenly sank in deep water. The discipline and courage of the service were never more admirably proved. Captain Dawkins was the last person to leave his sinking ship, having remained on the bridge all the time. He was earnest in impressing upon his men the necessity of preserving order and selfcommand, and in pointing out the fatal consequence of any confusion, and his expostulations were effectually seconded by his officers. 3. AN ECCENTRIC CLOCK.-Soon after midnight the cathedral clock at Ely struck nearly two hundred times, and then, after a brief rest, recommenced another long series of strokes. The occurrence caused no small surprise, and even consternation, for it was taken as a fire bell; but it arose from no more mysterious cause than the giving way of a pin from long use. 7. THE NEW NATIONAL OPERA HOUSE.-The first brick of the New National Opera House on the Thames Embankment was laid by Mdlle. Titiens to-day, the laying of the first stone being postponed until it could be performed by one of the Royal Family. The ceremony was a very quiet one, almost, it may be said, private. The lady descended by a stairway dressed with red cloth to that corner of the foundations which had been chosen for the honour, accompanied by Mr. Mapleson, Mr. Fowler, the architect, and some dozen gentlemen well known as interested in music and all people and things musical, while about an equal number watched the proceedings from above. A handsome silver trowel, chased with gold, bearing an appropriate inscription, was handed to Malle. Titiens, who went duly through all the necessary ceremonies of spreading the mortar, tapping the stone, and applying the plumb line. Mr. Fowler, Lord Alfred Paget, and Mr Mapleson also contributed a brick apiece, and the whole party then adjourned to the St. Stephen's Club for lunch, and the usual making of speeches. The house is to be the largest in Europe, next to the San Carlo at Naples, and is to cover more than two acres of ground. In making good the foundations it was found necessary to excavate as low as 40 feet before the London clay could be reached, and the depth of the concrete on which Mdlle. Titiens has laid the first brick is 16 feet, the level of the stage itself being but 40 feet above the foundation. FALL OF A FACTORY.-A sad catastrophe occurred in F Liverpool the same day. A warehouse, in a narrow thoroughfare called Manesty Lane, was recently almost destroyed by fire, and for some time a staff of workmen have been engaged in removing the more dilapidated portions of the building. The operations comprised the taking down of a brick chimney 90 feet high, and while this process was going forward the chimney fell on the adjoining premises, which were used by Messrs. Legg, Brothers, as a hat and cap manufactory, and by Messrs. Peek, Frean, & Co. as a biscuit warehouse. The shock destroyed the stability of the building, which collapsed and became a ruin, the rubbish completely blocking up the street. Upwards of sixty persons were employed by Messrs. Legg, and of these about thirty, chiefly women, were working in the factory at the time of the disaster. Some of them escaped as the building was falling, but twelve were buried in the ruins. The scene of the catastrophe immediately attracted a crowd, and a large body of police and other persons having arrived with the object of rendering assistance, energetic exertions to rescue the unfortunate persons covered by the débris were instantly made. In a short time they were dug out. Several medical gentlemen were in attendance, and the wounded were attended to. Eleven of the injured people were conveyed in cabs to the Royal Infirmary. Three of the women died from their injuries. 8. ANOTHER STEAMBOAT COLLISION.-Early this morning a serious collision, by which two lives were lost, occurred between the London and North-Western Railway Company's boats "Duchess of Sutherland" and "Edith." The "Edith," under the command of Capt. Richard Owen, left the company's wharf about 1.25 a.m. for Greenore with from sixty to eighty passengers besides the crew on board. The "Duchess of Sutherland," commanded by Capt. Beaumont, was ou her passage from North Wall, Dublin, and came into collision with the out-going steamer "Edith," between the City of Dublin Company's jetty and the breakwater head. The "Edith" was so violently struck on the starboard bow that she sank in three-quarters of an hour. A fireman, named Jones, and his brother, who slept in the forecastle, went down with the vessel. The weather was calm and clear. - SWIMMING FEATS.-Captain Webb's exploit of swimming across the Channel has given an extraordinary impetus to the display of the art of natation, and during the past few days a number of swimmers of both sexes have appeared in public. First in the field--or rather river-was Miss Agnes Beckwith, a young lady fourteen years of age, daughter of the well-known professor of the art, who swam with ease from London Bridge to Greenwich. Miss Beckwith's example was followed, and her feat eclipsed, by another female swimmer, Miss Emily Parker, the sister of Harry Parker, also a celebrated swimmer. This young lady, who is a few months older than Miss Beckwith, swam from London to Blackwall, a distance of nearly seven miles, in one hour and thirtyfive minutes. Taking the water at ten minutes to six on the first of a rather slow ebb, the swimmer, amid the cheers of thousands of persons on the bridge, and of the occupants of a large number of row boats, as well as of those on board the steamer which accompanied her, at once commenced a steady chest stroke, which she maintained to the close. The boats, of which there were about 100, crowded round her, and in spite of the efforts of the Thames police, remained so close to her during the whole of the journey as at times to cause her considerable inconvenience. At 7.10 Harry Parker entered the water and swam with his sister to Blackwall Pier, which was reached at 7.25, or one hour and thirtyfive minutes from the start. The swimmer, on returning on board, did not seem at all exhausted, but repeatedly kissed her hand in response to the hearty cheers with which she was greeted. The crews of most of the vessels passed during the journey crowded the rigging of their ships and cheered enthusiastically. Miss Ellen Saigeman, the swimming mistress at the Brighton Baths, and Miss H. E. Dicks, an accomplished amateur, and the daughter of a local tradesman, swam from Shoreham to Brighton, a distance of between five and six miles. Mr. Cavill, the proprietor of the swimming baths in the Fulham Road, swam from Putney to Blackwall pier in the teeth of a strong wind, accomplishing the distance, which was near sixteen miles, in less than four hours. - AN EXTRAORDINARY SCENE took place at the Guildhall a few days ago. Between the hours of one and two o'clock a phaeton and thoroughbred horse were standing near the Guildhall Tavern, with a groom in charge by the side of the animal. From the restlessness of the animal or some other cause the reins fell down behind its legs, and it at once set off at a furious gallop across the Guildhall yard, dragging the phaeton behind it. The servant in charge tried to catch hold of the reins, but was thrown down and much shaken. The horse, pursued by policemen and other persons, made its way to the entrance to Guildhall. Here it suddenly disengaged itself of the carriage by smashing it against the stone entrance, and leaving it there dashed up the entrance to the great hall through the porch, galloped across the building, and actually climbed the dozen or so of steps, and finally stopped in wonderment in the corridor close to the pillar-box and the Chamberlain's office. It is a matter for congratulation that nobody was hurt. A companion story to this is told of a mad dog which found refuge in Buckingham Palace. The poor animal, a Russian wolfhound, after being chased by the police, volunteer firemen, and soldiers about the streets of Belgravia for several hours, was driven into the equerries' house at Buckingham Palace, from which it appeared it had escaped. Great consternation was caused throughout the palace, and the soldiers, firemen, and police, |