We were greatly shocked on Saturday afternoon by the terrible news from To shan, that there had been a sudden sinking of ground in connection with the mines, nota great way from the railway station, and the fear expressed that over 50 men were cut off from escape thereby. The sink was between them and the shaft, Yesterday's information only confirmed the worst fears of the day before. Little new was added, other than that water was oozing up through the bottom of the pit, and that its sides were continually caving' im, hence it was very insecure, and there was no possibi ity of relieving the imprisoned men. evening we hent that teu bodies have been exhumed, and that there are probably not less than thirty more not yet found, all of whew are probably dead, There also some tens of mules and horses, whicl have doubtless met the same fate.
"Chis is the greatest calamity which has yet befallen this mine, and slay seriously interfere with its operations for time, xt least, because of the superstitions of the Chinese, Such occurrences emuvt be absolutely prevented, even with the very xrentest cure in the use of preventives, we re sure there has been uv Inck of care on the part of the foreigners why have the work under supervision, sten A "gam"
Among the bouts in the river as has been on for the last week or ten days, has seldom been exceeded in the mary of the oldest. Parties lave been dylyyed over three days in getting through
tended for x distance of over two If we might venture a suggestion to the the bridge of beats. 'Phe jam wise Celestial, we think that the system of passing boats' through the floating bridge night be improved. Asnt present practised, tier floats-—making " space ubout 20 feet wide—nenr one side are dropped out-of line at uncertain intervals, and in the cuse of " crush, a number of bouts are permitted to pass down, and then a number to pose up, ut the option of the superintend dent. Then the "dropped floats" are returned to their plice and the throng nctoss the bridge resumes its onward flav for w time. Watching this process ax ocension has furnished the opportunity, the suggestion is that it would be a better wx to have the central floats anchored securely, and an opening made on or near either side of thy stream, and require the boxts com ing down to keep to one side, and the up hound to the ether side. Te dues seem as] if this would fucilit te both the passage of boats and the trafic across the stream.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.