Evening Telegram (St. John's, N.L.), 1879-04-11

              THE EVEING TELEGRAM. Vol. I. Fricb—Okb Cknt. ST. JOHN'S, N.P., SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1879. »3.20 Pan Annum. No. 8. Latest by Telegraph. Italy and the Occupation of Rouxnelia i t EUROPEAN CONFERENCE NECESSARY M I The PLAGUE at ST. PETERSBURG. The Betrothal of King Alfonzo I The "London Times" on the Letellier Matter 11 _______________ Halifax, April 12. Italy having refused to tske putt in the mixed occupation of Roumelia, the powers have abandoned the scheme, and a European conference is necessary. Four soldiers have died of plague at St. Petersburg.It is reported that King Alfonso is betrothed to the Archduchess Maria of Austria. The tariff resolutions were carried by a vote of one hundred and thirty-six tc forty-three. The tariff, relative to Newfoundland, has been amended. The London Times says the Governor General will ultimately be compelled to accept the advice of the Cabinet regarding Letellier. The P. E Island election resulted in the return of twenty-six Liberal Conservatives, and four Reform. Senator North up, of Halifax died on Thursday. Tilt Cove, April 10. There are two steamers iv the ice, about six miles from Gull Island ; one north, and the other south. Catalina, April 11. Weather fine; wind S.W. Catalina, April 12. Raining and calm. Bon a vist a, April 11. Light West wind. Bona vista, April 12. Thick fog snd raining; wind South. Trinity, April 11. Weather fine ; light wind from the westward. Trinity, April 12. Mild and foggy ; light wind from the south. Police Court. -Crpobk Judges I*bowsk and Rrnoup. Thursday, April 10. Asi-iult.—John Bradbury, fisherman,of Torbay, was ushered into the " audience chamber■ and introduced to their Worships by Constable Quirk, who charged * the said John" with assaultirg a clerk in the office of Messrs. Goodridge & Sons, and breaking a pane of glass in the shop window on the previous evening. John was requested to pay a fine of $1.60. Drunk and Disorderly.—Michael Cuddihy and James Kelly were hilariously delighted on Wednesday evening, so much so indeed that Sergeant Bartlett deemed it necessary to remonstrate with them, and he did so in as gentle a manner as possible under the circumstances. Having been to the seal fishery, they were celebrating their safe return to their loved ones, and their worships, who are kind-hearted men, after considering the case and its surroundings, very generously allowed them to depart in peace, not, however, without a little wholesome admonition. Gone Down at Sea. Thk Loss op thr Gkorgks Fishing Flrrt op Gloi ckstku—Thk Missing Vksskls. wmmaaammmmmvmsmmm Ever since the severe gale which raged between February 19th and 21st there have been melancholy foredoingsof the loss of many ol the Georges iishiug fleet suiliug from Gloucester in the early part of the month. Gradually, as time passed on, aud none of the missing vessels were spoken or heard of, the sad conviction forced itself upou the people of Gloucester that their worst fears had been realized. Fourteen vessels and 168 men are missiug, having sailed boiore the fatal gale, being the largest number lost in any storm aince the settlement ot Gloucester in 1036. In the gale of Feb. 24,1862, there were 16 vessels and 120 men that ne\er returned, leaving 70 widows and 180 fatherless children. In that year, previous to the gale in February, had there been 4 vessels and 26 men lost, making a grand total of 19 vessels and 148 men. In year 1864 there was a heavy gale ou March 22, aud of the fleet absent at that time (57 in number) on Georges Bank, 6 were lost, with all on board, and these are the three most disastrous gales that have occurred in the history of the fishing busiuesa, so far as the loss of human life is concerned, although the year 1871 was very disastrous, the total losses being 19 vessels aud 140 men. Of the fleet now abseut, seven of them sailed previous to Feb. 8, and the balnnce from the latter date to the 15th, 8o that they are. all very much overdue, with hardly a possible chance of either of the first seven ever being heard from. The balance, eight in number, are on Gtorgcs trips, and one of the Grand Banks. The owners have slight hope that some of them may yet return. - ---, Dkath op a Uiantkss.—Mrs. Flandran, who has been exhibited in New England as a giantess, died recently. She was born in Broadheadj Wis., a little over eighteen years ago. She was a pretty girl, despite the fact of being almost six feet tall and weighiug 616 lbs. It may sound strangely, but it is nevertheless tiue, that outside of the fact ot being a general favorite with those atK>ut her, she was also the recipient of honoruhle matrimonial intentions on the part of gentlemen in every phase of business life. Many offers of marriage were made her, none of which she accepted, until in December last, when, while Barnuni'a show was at the New York Hippodrome, she became the wife of Mr. John Flandmu, then eugaged as a ticket seller for the combination.Current Events. Thr Bnrrisn Army.—The total present strength of the regular army is about 200,000 of which about halt are aUent in India and the colonies. The whole strength, inclusive of reserves, militia and volunteers, according to the returns issued in 1877, are, says the London IVetk .—Regular army, 1^6,991; first-class reserves, 0,000; second-class reserves 23,000; militia, 114,000 ;yeoraary 12,000; and volunteers 186,000, exclusive of the various marines, alioat and ashore. The magnificent body of men forming the Irish Constabulary force, numbering over 12.000, and the mi ltia of the Channel Island and colonies. These figures may at the present moment lie largely increased, the volunteer returns of 1878 alone showing an increase of nearly 20,000, aud no account ia taken of the large native army in India, which in the present Af ghan campaign has shown its courage and  lingness to share in fighting work. It may fairly be presumed that in case of any serious war with a any great Power, or threat of invasion, these numbers could be materially increased if not actually doubled, so that the Ballot Act. which has never been repealed, but simply suspended from year to year, would hardly be likely to be called into force. Startling Phrnomknon at York.—The New York Herald of the 20th ult., says:—Yestersay morning, shortly before three o'clock, many of the citizens of York were aroused from their slumbers by hearing what appeared to be a heavy peal of thunder, accompanied by the shaking of windows, aud, as some supposed, the movement of their beds. From what we have been able to gather from the police and 11 lers who were out at the time, the sound was preceded by the appeal a nee of a pear-shaped ball of fire in the norther heavena, which travelled slowly downwards towards the horizon, aud emitting scintillations and a light of great brilliancy, almost equal to that of day, so great indeed that it ia said the smallest print could have been reai. The light having disappeared, a sound, described by some as resembling the discharge of heavy cannon, and by others as that of the rumbling of distant thunder, was heard, but in all cases it seems to have been sufficiently violent to rattle windows, &c , and to have raised various speculations as to what could be the cause, some ascribing it to an earthquake, others to lightning, while others who »aw the meteor set it to the account of that unearthly visitor. We may add that the sky was beclouded at the time, and that snow began to fall almost simultaneously with the phenomenon. FOR SALE. 0/\ Brls ONIONS, 10 Prime Canadian CHEESE ** f 17 Brls LOINS, 36 Brls P. M. PORK 60 Tubs BUTTER. Apl2 JOHN S. SIMMS. O'Mara's Drug Storee Seeds! Seeds!! TUST RECEIVED from Glasgow, via Halifax, ** ex 8.8 Newfoundland, a full assortment of garden and agricultural seeds. AplB2w JOHN T. OWIARA. V