108 THE SEA. 



took up her position on our starboard quarter, and signalled that she spoke the Niger at 

 noon, bearing E. by N., and that the Lily was anchored at the station in the entrance of 

 Trinity Bay, as arranged with the Admiral. The Albany also reported that she had passed 

 an iceberg about sixty feet high. At twenty minutes after 4 p.m. the Niger came on our 

 port side, quite close, and Captain Bunce, sending the crew into the rigging and manning the 

 yards, gave us three cheers, which were heartily returned by the Great Eastern. She then 

 steamed ahead towards Trinity Bay. The Albany was signalled to go on immediately to 

 Heart's Content, clear the N.E. side of the harbour of shipping, and place a boat with a red 

 flag for Captain Anderson to steer to for anchorage. Just before dinner we saw on the 

 southern horizon, distant about ten miles, an iceberg, probably the one that the Albany had 

 met with. It was apparently about fifty or sixty feet in height. The fog came on very thickly 

 about 8 p.m., and between that and 10 we were constantly exchanging guns and burning blue 

 lights with the Terrible, which, with the Niger, went in search of the Lily station-ship. The 

 Terrible being signalled to come up and take her position, informed us that they had made 

 the Lily out, and that she bore then about ENE., distant about four miles. Later in the 

 night Captain Commerell said that if Captain Anderson would stop the Great Eastern he would 

 send the surveyor, Mr. Robinson, R.N., who came up in the Niger, aboard of us; and 

 about 3 the engines were slowed, and the Terrible shortly afterwards came alongside with 

 that officer. Catalina Light, at the entrance of Trinity Bay, had been made out three hours 

 before this, and the loom of the coast had also been seen. Fog still prevailing ! Accord- 

 ing to Mr. Robinson's account, if they had got one clear day in seven at the entrance of 

 Trinity Bay they considered themselves fortunate. Here we are now (6 a.m.) within ten. 

 miles of Heart's Content, and we can scarcely see more than a ship's length. The Niger r 

 however, is ahead, and her repeated guns tell us where we are with accuracy. Good fortune- 

 follows us, and scarcely has 8 o'clock arrived, when the massive curtain of fog raises 

 itself gradually from both sides of Trinity Bay, disclosing to us the entrance of Heart's- 

 Content, the Albany making for the harbour, the Margaretta Stevenson, surveying vessel, 

 steaming out to meet us, the pre-arranged pathway all marked with buoys by Mr. T. H. 

 Kerr, R.N., and a whole fleet of fishing boats fishing at the entrance. We could now plainly 

 see that Heart's Content, so far as its capabilities permitted, was prepared to welcome us. 

 The British and American flags floated from the church and telegraph station and other 

 buildings. We had dressed ship, fired a salute, and given three cheers, and Captain Commerell, 

 of H.M.S. Terrible, was soon on board to congratulate us on our success. At 9 o'olock, 

 ship's time, just as we had cut the cable and made arrangements for the Medway to lay the 

 shore end, a message arrived, giving us the concluding words of a leader in this morning's 

 Times : ' It is a great work, a glory to our age and nation, and the men who have achieved it 

 deserve to be honoured amongst the benefactors of their race.' ' Treaty of peace signed between 

 Prussia and Austria ! ' It was now time for the chief engineer, Mr. Canning, to make 

 preparations for splicing on board the Medway. Accompanied by Mr. Good, M.P., Mr, 

 Clifford, Mr. Willoughby Smith, and Messrs. Temple and Deane, he went on board; the 

 Terrible and Niger having sent their paddle-box boats to assist. Shortly afterwards the 

 Great Eastern steamed into the harbour and anchored on the NE. side, and was quickly 

 surrounded by boats laden with .visitors. Mr. Cyrus Field had gone on shore before the 



