TESTING THE CONTINUITY. 639 



YvyU can only look on and trust either that the sea will go 

 down or that the cable may be able to resist the force of the 

 waves successfully. Of the former there is very little prospect, 

 but of the latter there is every reason for hope. The contest 

 has been going on now for several hours, and there is no more 

 sign of the cable parting than when it commenced. The elec- 

 tricians report the continuity perfect ; and the signals which are 

 received at intervals from the Agamemnon show that that 

 vessel is getting along with her part of the work in admirable 

 style. What more can we desire ?" 



An incident occurring upon the fifth day is thus described: — 

 " I have said that, despite the bad weather and heavy sea, the 

 paying-out process was going on well ; but during the night the 

 continuity was again affected; and although it was restored and 

 became as strong as ever, yet it was for about three hours a 

 very unpleasant affair. It was subsequently found that the 

 difficulty was caused by a defect of insulation in a part of the 

 wardroom coil, which was cut out in time to prevent any serious 

 consequences. There were only a few on board the ship, how- 

 ever, aware of the occurrence until after the defect w T as re- 

 moved and the electrical communication was re-established be- 

 tween the two ships. Both Mr. Laws and Mr. De Santy — the two 

 electricians on the Niagara — were of the opinion that the insula- 

 tion was broken in some part of the wardroom coil ; and, on using 

 the tests for the purpose of ascertaining the precise point, they 

 found that it was about sixty miles from the bottom of that 

 coil, and between three or four hundred from the part which 

 was then paying out. The cable was immediately cut at this 

 point and spliced to a deck coil of ninety miles, which it was 

 intended to reserve for laying in shallow water and was there- 

 fore kept for Trinity Bay. About four o'clock in the morning 

 the continuity was finally restored, and all was going on as well 

 as if nothing had occurred to disturb the confidence we felt in 

 the success of the expedition." 



