Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-09-22 00:00:00

THE ISIiti'7OFIIOX,TELEeit,rAPTI C. LE

Our readers are douhtleas aware Ak.for some days
past.therehas unhappily been-a-pause in the telegraphic
communications between the island and England, but".
whether the stoppage was caused by some slight
disarrangements in the lino—of wires on the other
side, or by some flaw in the cable itself, was at first un-
. .
known. At all events, th! directors of the Insular
Telegraph Company thought that there was not anyi
reason for -despondency in the interruption, and forth-
with ' adopted the necessary and most ejcpeditions
means to have the defect speedily detected and re-
medied. Having placed themselves in communication,
with the Electric and International _eonapany, Lon-
don, that company at once took steps to have the line
of land wires from St. Bee's Head examined, and the
cable itself tested, 'and the' experiments made resulted in
the belief hat the cause' of the interruption was an
injury which the subniarine cable had sustained, and
that, too, within a short distance of the Point of Ayr,
which has, unfortunately, proved to be the case. The
directors of the Insular Company having resolved upon'
raising the cable for examination, the electric and
International Telegraph Company instructed Mr, Preece;
C.E., their inspector of submarine cables, to proceed to
the island to superintend the lifting and repairing of
the 'table, so that telegraphic communication might
again be re-eitablished. Mr. Preece arrived in Do glas
on Monday last by the- steamer Reliance, Captain
Harvey, engaged in lieu of, the steamer Resolute,
which had been previously . employed •in laying the
cable, but was at present unable to proceed ,to sea,
having met with an accident- off Holyhead upwards
of a week ago. The Reliance having taken on board
the surplus portion of the cable, which had been
placed in a store on the South Quay, left Douglas for
the; Point of Ayr, on Monday night last, having on
board Ain-Harris, the indefatim*able and zealous chair-
man of the Insular Company, Mr. Preece, and a skilful
staff of assistants and workmen. At an earlyhouron
Tuesday morning, although the' -weather was anything
but propitious for an undertaking- of such a nature, and
a very heavy cross sea running at the time, the process
of lifting the cable was counnenced by cutting it at a
distance of al,Out half a mile from the Point of. Ayr.
A buoy, having been affixed to the. end of that portion
of the cable extending to the. Point of Ayr and
attached to the land wires, and the other end having
been taken on board the vessel,. the' line of cable
was then raised by means of a steam windlass and
coiled on the !leek, as the steamer proceeded slowly,
but steadily towards St. Bee's-head: at the rate of
half a mile an hour. Nothing of importance occurred
until about two o'clock p.m., and within three miles of
the Point of Ayr, when a difficulty was experienced in
raising the cable, owing to some came which was not
at first sight perceptible. After some, time, the difficulty
was overcome, and all on board were surprised to find
appearing above the surface of the water: about 225
yards of the cable, so twisted as to form. a: knot not
unlike in its intrications to what we may suppsse was
the Gordian knot, and to all appearance equally difficult
to unravel, and covered on each side antiiiv its various
hitches with large quantities of • floating- seaweed.
At length, after considerable exertions, this.' muss of
telegraphic Cable and seaweed was got ore board ; it
was perceived at the same time that the steamer was
fast drifting from her course,.and the consequent conchi;
sion at once arrived at waa, that the cable was at-thatspot
'broken, which unhappily in a short time turned' out to
be the fact. The broken portion of the cable having been
taken on board, the steamer returned to the island, the
wind having- considerably increased, blowing hard from
the north-east, and anchored off the Point of Ayrduring
Tuesday night, with the intention of proceeding at an
early hour on Wednesday morning to ascertahrthe con-
dition of the remaining portion of the cable which ex-
tended to St. Bees Head. However, owing to- the in-
creasing boisterousness of the weather, and the heavy sea
which had arisen during Tuesday night, the inspector
and Capt. Harvey deemed it prudent to return to-
Douglas, where the vessel arrived at an early hour on
Wednesday morning, and anchored in the bay till tide
time, when she entered the harbour for the purpose of
landing the injured portion' of the cable, which was
placed in the Oki. Court-house on the pier, to be re-
paired. The weather having moderated, the steamer
again left Douglas about two o'clock on Thursday morn-
ning, in order to grapple for the other end of the,oable,
and, if necessary, to lift a portion of it. The steamer
again returned to. Douglas yesterday. at .noon, having
succeeded in discovering the other end of the injured'
cable. Owing, however; to the still coarse and tempest-
uous state of the weather, and the violence of the gale,
not more than two- miles' length of the cable could
be lifted,' which, as it was raised, 'was coiled on
the deck,—those on board fearing lest the Strain on
the cable caused by the pitching of the vessel
would snap it. Having severed the length of cable
lifted, the remaining portion, extending , to. St. Bee's
Head, was -tested, and, we' are happy to' say, with
a satisfactory resulfr--the currents passing. through
it being 'clear, sufficiently powerful, and distinct:
The testing being complete, a buoy was attached
to the end. Wes understand that the steamer
will leave probably the next tide to lift another-por-
tion of the cable, as we believe it is intended to re-
lay the cable in a different line, somewhere about two
miles nearer Ramsey, so as to escape the force -of the
tides running at the Point of Ayr, as well as to secure
for it a sandy bed. We cannot but express our- great
regret at the misfortune which has befallen the sub-
.marine cable ; however, we believe that the directors of
our Insular Company will not lose any time in repairing
and re-laying the cable, and -in re-establishing tele-
' graphic communication with England wit's success,
we trust, 'afore decided and more abiding Wail, that
which has hitherto: attended it.—Manx Sun,

DEATH OF COLONEL WILDMAN. —Colonel' Wildman,
of Newstead Abbey, died on Tuesday morning), the 20th
instant, suddenly. The gallant colonel was out the day
previously, but on Tuesday morning was seized with'an
attack of epilepsy, of which he died at- three (Mock
a.m. on Tuesday. The deceased was the intimate friend
of the late Lord Byron, and purchased, the ancestral
estate (Newstead Abbey, where Lord Byron spent much
of his time during the period that he was a minor) for
the sum of £90,000. The deceased was an old Waterloo
officer, ,belonging to the 10th Hussars.; and was a ma-
gistrate for the county of Nottingham. lb was an
excellent landlord, and, throughout the neighbourhood
was universally respected.. The gallant colon& leaves
a widow, hut no family. He held a high position
amongst tiie Freemasons. The dbceased had attained
his seventy-third year.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE FROM A Den OF RATPLESNAKES.—In
the Isthmus of Panama, an emigrant family inadvertently fixed
their cabin on the shelving declivity of a ledge that proved a
den of rattlesnakes. Warmed by the first fire on the hearth of
the cabin, the terrible reptiles issued in great numbers, and of
course, in rage, by night, into the room where the whole
family slept. As happens in those cases, Satllo slept on the
floor and some in beds. Children in the arms of their
parents, and in each other's arms. The reptiles spread in
every part of the room, and mounted on every bed, hissing
and shaking their rattles, and displaying in the most fear-
ful manner their envenomed fangs an'' scarlet throats,
with double tongues, glowing like two flames of fire, and
with eyes of burning coala. Most of the family awoke, shriek-
ing terribly, and convulsed with fear. Imagination dares not
dwell on the horrors of such a scene. But what is dearer than
life ? The invention of man is seldom at a loss to find expe-
dients for its preservation in cases of great extremity. On a
sudden the good paterfamilias reeollected that in his chest,
close by his bedside, lay some bottles containing a chemical
fluid which he had purchased in Liverpool previous to sailing,
and which he knew to be destructive to all inferior orders of
animal life. To this chest he flung his arm with all imaginable
speed, and, opening it, grasped the battles, broke, and show-
ered, and scattered their contents in all directions, when, in an
instant, to the overwhelming joy of the family, who escaped
unhurt, the horrid reptiles lay dead in masses on the floor
and beds. On receiving this communication, curiosity led us
to inquire to see the bottles, which were courteously and
gratefully shown us, and which we observed labelled, " Greer's
Patent Anti-Vermin Lotion, for the destruction of bugs and
fleas in dwellings, insects on animals, trees, and plants,"
including musquitoes and reptiles cf every descrip-
tion, with the name and address of the manufacturer, " Robert
Greer, Chemist, Anti-Vermin Office, 49, Brownlow-hill, Liver-
pool." The celebrity which this circumstance has acquired
for the reputation of the article and its manufacturer in this
part of the new world, has already inspired a large population
to unite in sending for a large supply, to be forwarded by next
steamer, together with a complimentary address, on parch-
ment, to Mr. Greer, on being so happily identified in the pro-
vidential escape of a whole family from a den of rattlesnakes.
—Panama and South American Observer.
HotLoway's PILLS.---Nothing this world can afford is of
any value to those in whom sickness has extinguished the
capacity for enjoyment. But the means for recovery are
within their reach ; they have only to avail themselves of
Professor Holloway's matchless remedies, in order to shake
off the maladies which are breaking down their strength,
spirits, and constitution, and obtain a new hold of life and a
new sense of its blessing. The Pills have effected extraordinary
cures in cases of chronic diarrhoea, collo, Sec. • _

BRITISH' ASSOCIATION

MEETING OF GENERAL COMMITTEE

A meeting of the General. Committee--7which was
very fully attended-,---was held in the Library of Maris-
elial College, the Rev. W. V. Harcourt in the chair.

• The minutes of last meeting were read and con-
firmed. •

The first point that came before the, meeting, was that
of fixing the place of meeting for next' year. Applica-
tions had been, giyen in from. Oxford, Manchester, Cam-
bridge, Birmingham, and Newcastle.
Dr. Daubeny and Professor Walker represented Ox-
ford ; the Mayor of Manchester, Sir R.' Fairburn,
Alderman Wilde,, Mr. Ramstone, and Mr. Rumsey,
Manchester.

Mr. Hopkins moved that the Association's meeting
of next year be held at o,xford, which was agreed to,
the claims of Manchester for the succeeding year to be.
preferentially considered.
Dr. Daubeny then moved that the Right Hon. Lord
Wriottesly be requested to accept the office of President.
elect for next meeting, which was agreed to.
The 'following we,re elected Vice,Presidents :—The
Chancellor of the University of Oxford; the Rev. the
,Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford; his Grace
the •Duke of Marlborough ; the Earl Of Reese; the Lord
Bishop of Oxford ; the Rev. the Dean of Christ Church
C. Daubeny, Esq., M.D.' F.R.S., and Professor. of
Botany ; H. W. /Wand, Esq., M.D., F.I.S, and
.Regius Professor of. Medicine ; W. P. Dinkins, Esq.,
M.A. F.R.S., Savilian Professor otAstronomy.
The election of Secretary, &c., was next pr iceecled
with. Major-General Sabine having intimated his
resignation of the office of Secretary (on account, partly,
at least, we believe, of the state ,of his health), the
following resolution was passed unanimously and reyy
cordially :--`-" That the cordial thanks of the British
Association be offered to Major-General Sabine, on hie
retirement from office, after twenty years of unremittirse
attention to the administration of the affairs 'of the-
Association, of active participation in the magnetic
survey and other important scienc researches which
it has recommended."

Professor Walker was then electett General Secretary,
Professor Phillips was re-elected .Assistant-General
Secretary, and John Taylor, Esq., General Treasurer:

Thevewere elected as Local Secretaries for next year—
Dr. Rcriliston, H. d. S. Smith, Esq., M.A., and George
Griffith, Esq., MA. Oxford ; and the Rev. E. Hill,
M.A., one of the Local Treasurers. '

Professor Walker suggested, with reference to the
period of meeting next year, that immediately after
Commemoration,. which takes place on.the:2oth of June,
would be a desirable. time for the locality. If the Asso-
eiatien Courdi" conveniently meet, say on! 'Wednesday,
27th June, he•wouldl svggest that date.

The meeting then adjourned.
The following-Was-the programme for Trtstray
'The Sectional: Meetings in Marisehal Collige..
Mast at Rubislitir
Conversazione• in.the

Lecture to the working-classes, on " The Ifivrress of
British Industry ditritig. the last century,' by Johr.
Crauftird, in the Court-house.
" The Meetingrsays the Aberdeen Herald of-Tuesday,
"continues in eyery.way to be highly successful. The
weathei has been naustz.auspicious—the strangers-are au
numerous as ever-the exhibitions still attract- large.
crowds of visitors—the. discussions in the S6ctions
though sometimes city, and uninstructive, are,. on. the
whole, interesting—an&on all hands there is evinced.=
earnest desire to please and to be pleased."

LIFE BOAT SERVICES

BRIDLINaTON, near gull, Sept. 19.—0 n Sattirdity
last, it blew a very heavy gale of wind from the isLE..
off this port.' When the- gale was at its heigh* the
schooner Eagle, from Sunde.rland to Boulogne,. with
coalS, was o%erved to cumin a distressed state al ghe
north beach: of Bridlingtom. The life-boat Of the.
Royal Natioral Life-boat! Institution was immedi,-
ately manned and launched;; and proceeded off Ca, the.
assistance of the.. vessel's crew. She safely_ succeeded.
in reaching them, .and in rescuing the whole. of them,
consisting of siT-persons, from a watery grave. The masts,
of the ship shortly afterwards'went eiterthe side,. the aecics •
blew up, and she parted.
i The .poar crew lost every-
thing except what they- stood; n. On these exciting:
occasions, when a momenrs-delay may seal the fate of
the unhappy crews, the coxswain of the lifeboat is
strictly charged not, to take any goods- on board, as they
may endanger the safety oe. his, boat and the lives-of
those intrusted to, his charge:: The Bridlington lifeboat:
is one of the oldest boats which belongs to the National
Lifeboat Institution, having been built more than
thirty years ago. She has saved,, during that period,.
a large-number ofliVes from wrei3likd :fessels.
however be glatht to see this boat replaced by one, of

the modern lifeboats of the Society.. The Institution Has
now lifeboats on the Yorkshire' Coast at. the
places i—Middlesbbrough, adeari Saltburu, -Filet',
Bridlington, and Ilornsea. - These numerous lifeboat
establishments ha7e.originally nost upwards. of £2,000..
They now involve -an outlay of about £3O a-year eaoh,
to maintain -tlierra in a state- of thorough efficiency.
vegret. to find . that the influential inhabitaniz,of
the large and rich county of York contribute little-or.
nothing to the fungi Of this truly national and bene-
volent Institution. At the present time demands, amount-
ing to nearly £l,OOO, are being made on its small fundS,
which Cannot, we understand, be metwithout an infrinp-
rnent on its limited 'funded capital, the interest on which
is so indispensable- to the permanent efficiency el~ its
numerous lifeboat establishments, of which it has new
eighty-five, stationed on various- dangerous points of the
coasts of the United: Kingdom. We feel assured that
we have said enough ,to many-Yorkshiremen to indike
them to contribute.theirlmite towards an object which
so strongly commendi itself to every friend -otthe

of humanity. Any a our bankers-will, we are sure;
readily receive contributions.,on behalf of the National
Lifeboat Institution,; or -they- may be sent direct n:t
secretary, in John-street, Adelphi, London. -

THE EMPEROR OF. • THE FRENCH AND' THR.DIFE—
BOAT'S CREW.—On the Bth of March last, .the French
brigantine Gonzalite, of Nantes, got embay-cd off'
Padstow, and, on making for the harbour, was caught
by the eddy winds atthe entrance, and driven by the tide
and heavy sea on tethe'Doarabar Sand, when her. crew
were immediately placed in extreme danger. The Padstow
lifeboat, which belengh.to the Royal National Lifeboat
Institution, was launched with -great promptness, and,
through a very heavy sea which repeatedly broke over
and filled the boat, succeeded in rescuing the: crew of
seven persons, andiconveyilig them safely te the shore.
The vessel shortly after went to pieces. The•lifeboat
was at the time underthe command of Danid Sliea, her
coxswain, whop is the commissioned boatman, of the
Coast Guard. short time ago, the Emperor of the
French presented to Shea a large silver modal for his
courageous services on the occasion, His majesty also
gave a silver, but smaller, medal to each, of the nien
who formed the crew of the lifeboat. On. the 15th of
March, this. same valuable lifeboat rescued; during a
terrific sea, the crew of four 'men and a pilot of the
Prince Frederick William, of Ipswich. For this and
the previous.serviee Shea was presented, with the silver
medal of -tb.e,National Lifeboat SocietT, in addition to
the usual pecuniary reward which tholifehoOs' crews Qf
the institution always receive for tlTir services.

—The sue-

A SMALL VESSEL FOR A LONG VOXA,C
cessful voyage recently to Bahia of the screw-steamer
Little Lucy, of about thirty tons, in. spite of a strong
opinion that she was somewhat too small a craft for
a voya,ge across the Atlantic, has; fietermined thedirec-
tors of the Bahia and San Francisco Railway to de-
spatch. another steamer of even smaller proportions.
In. eompliance with this ,resohttion, Mr. John 'Watson,
of Parliament-street, London, the contractor for the
above-mentioned railway, has, selected a small vessel
from the shipyards on the Clyde, which is pronounced
by many experienced and practical men who
have visited her to be a' beautiful yacht model. The
navigation of this vessel has been intrusted to Captain
Breckon, under whose able direction, after a remark-
ably rapid passage, the Little Lucy was handed over
in safety to the company in Bahia. As in the
case of her contrast, the Great Eastern, many were
the prognostications of failure in that of the Little
Lucy; happily, however' - an able crew, under a skilful
and energetic captain, have proved- what cool heads
and steady hands are able to accomplish in a small
but well-built craft even in the face of decidedly adverse
weather, and we trust that in the navigation of the pre-
sent vessel, the Helen Conran, these gloomy prophets,
if any still exist, will be once more disappointed.. As it
is a favourable season for the voyage. we hope, in due
time, to hear of the safe arrival of this second little
vessel. In the meantime we will conclude by wishing
the Helen Conran," God speed." The Helen Conran is
an iron vessel, of only eighteen tons, and was built by
Archibald Denny, at. Dumbarton, and sailed from
Greenock on Wednesday for her destination,-01a8901,0
Pally Mail.

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