434 FLOATING THE BRITANNIA TUBES. CHAP. XIX. 



afloat, and the pontoons swung out into the current like 

 a monster pendulum, held steady by the shore guide- 

 lines, but increasing in speed to almost a fearful extent 

 as they neared their destined place between the piers. 

 " The success of this operation," says Mr. Clark, " de- 

 pended mainly on properly striking the ' butt ' beneath 

 the Anglesey tower, on which, as upon a centre, the 

 tube was to be veered round into its position across the 

 opening. This position was determined by a 12-inch 

 line, which was to be paid out to a fixed mark from the 

 Llanfair capstan. The coils of the rope unfortunately 

 over-rode each other upon this capstan, so that it could 

 not be paid out. In resisting the motion of the tube, 

 the capstan was bodily dragged out of the platform by 

 the action of the palls, and the tube was in imminent 

 danger of being carried away by the stream, or the 

 pontoons crushed upon the rocks. The men at the 

 capstan were all knocked down, and some of them 

 thrown into the water, though they made every exertion 

 to arrest the motion of the capstan-bars. In this dilemma 

 Mr. Charles Rolfe, who had charge of the capstan, with 

 great presence of mind, called the visitors on shore to 

 his assistance ; and handing out the spare coil of the 

 12-inch line into the field at the back of the capstan, it 

 was carried with great rapidity up the field, and a crowd 

 of people, men, women, and children, holding on to this 

 huge cable, arrested the progress of the tube, which was 

 at length brought safely against the butt and veered 

 round. The Britannia end was then drawn into the 

 recess of the masonry by a chain passing through the 

 tower to a crab on the far side. The violence of the 

 tide abated, though the wind increased, and the Anglesey 

 end was drawn into its place beneath the corbelling in 

 the masonry ; and as the tide went down, the pontoons 

 deposited their valuable cargo on the welcome shelf at 

 each end. The successful issue was greeted by cannon 

 from the shore and the hearty cheers of many thousands 



