From December, 1880, this shows what rivetingly exciting times they were:
LLANDUDNO. THE Congregationalists.
0n Wednesday afternoon the younger members of the English Congregational Sunday school were treated gratis to tea and bun-loaf at the expense of the above denomination, and in the evening were entertained by a Pantechnicon lantern exhibition of dissolving views, which Mr. Elias Jones had volunteered to give; and also by singing and recitation.
THE WELSH WESLEVANS. —
ON Thursday (yesterday afternoon) a public tea party was held by the above denomination at their chapel in Lloyd-street, which was tastily decorated for the occasion by the ladies' committee. In the evening at the Welsh Baptist chapel (lent for the occasion) a lecture was delivered by Rev. Hugh Hughes. Birkenhead, on Ar i fyiiy," the chair being filled by Mr. Thomas Williams, chemist.
A NEW FIRE ESCAPE has just been presented to this town by the Royal Society for Protection of Life from Fire. The machine arrived on Wednesday week, when the members of the Llandudno Volunteer Fire Brigade met it at the railway station, and drew it through the town, causing quite a commotion amongst the inhabitants. The fire brigade have been put through a series of escape drills by Mr. Chapman, the agent of the Royal Society, who came from London for the purpose of formally handing over the escape to the town authorities. This being done, a vote of thanks was passed to the Royal Society for their very handsome present, and to Mr. Chapman for the very kind manner in which he had instructed the men in the use thereof. The escape is built upon the principle of that adopted by the society previous to its organization in 1841, but greatly improved upon from time to time, under the personal superintendence of members of the committee, by trying the various suggestions offered by scientific persons, and patiently testing every alteration of its original inventor, the late Mr. Wevell, whose persevering and painstaking efforts to obtain a fire escape adapted for all emergencies cannot be forgotten. The main ladder reaches 28 to 35 feet, and can instantly be applied to most second-floor windows by means of the carriage lever. The upper ladder folds over the main, and is raised easily into position by a rope attached to its lever irons on either side of the main ladder. This ladder also unships from the main, and with the additional length, forms a ladder of nearly 30 feet, which is carried with a rope and bell attached, and applied at houses, where the large escape cannot be brought into operation. It would be of great use in narrow courts and other cases of difficulty. The short ladder for first floors fits in under the carriage, and is often of the greatest service. Under the whole length of the main ladder is a canvas trough or bagging, made of stout sail-cloth, protected by an outer trough of copper gauze, which is fixed at a space of two inches from the trough, leaving sufficient room between for the yielding of the canvas in a person's descent. Recent experiments which have been made have proved the copper gauze to be most invaluable as affording almost an entire protection against the canvas burning. The canvas also is saturated with silicates as a precaution against the flame lopping round the shoot, and igniting it from the front. Mr. Chapman reports very favourably on the expertness shown by the members of the fire brigade, as the doors of the escape-house were unlocked and unbolted, the escape drawn out, raised, fixed, and made ready to be run to any fire in the space of fifty-five seconds.
And we think things are bad today?...
AFFRAY WITH POACHERS AT GLODDAETH.
Owing to the election and the reticence of the police, a serious affray that recently occurred at Gloddaeth has passed unnoticed, except by this paper; and, the same thing is likely to occur again at next full moon, it is best that what has passed should be more widely and minutely known. About two years ago a gang of poachers kept the watchers and a number of police in siege by firing at the gloddaeth gun-room while others were deprecating the game, and that then the poachers sent notice to the keepers of the night they were coming. It is stated that they did the same on the present occasion, a letter, it is reported, being posted at Liverpool warning the keepers that the poachers would be on the land on a certain night. Whatever were the reasons, the keepers, with a number of the district police, were on the alert a few nights ago, when a gang of about thirty men, fully armed, marched in a well- ordered manner up close to Gloddaeth Hall. Fire Was at once opened by both the poachers and the keepers, and this was kept up for a considerable tune. The poachers warned every one coming near that he would be shot if he turned his head, and an officer stationed at Llandudno was shot in the legs, several of the shots still remaining there, sergeant Morris was also repeatedly fired at, but escaped unhurt. Out of a round of 21 shots, be butler of Gloddaeth spent 19. The Gloddaeth woods were for some hours kept as if in a state of Battle. Charges of cowardice are reported against some of the police and a keeper in a responsible Position. It is not supposed that the poachers were able to bag a large amount of game, but they evidently acted in a preconcerted manner, as a fusillade was kept up for some time in the trees, evidently with the view of covering the retreat of those carrying away the game. A watch, by an augmented force, was kept the following night, but no disturber made his appearance. It is certain that the poachers are persons residing in he neighbourhood, and it is believed that some Of them on the second night offered their services as watchers, but the authorities cannot swear to their identity. The present raid was made, it is thought, in resentment at the present keepership, all the distribution of rabbits having ceased since the recent change, and a tendency is shown to discharge the Welsh keepers on the estate.
