The Sun.
London, England, 1852-10-16 00:00:00

TRIALS OF ANCHORS.

WOOLWICH, SEPT. 15.—The anchors originally tested
at Woolwich with the usual proof strain, and subse-
quently experimented with at Sheerness to ascertain
their holding poa era and other qualities, were brought
into the acchor-testing room at Woolwich Dockyard, to
be broken, in the presence of Captain the Hon. Montagu
Stopford, flag-captain of the Waterloo, 120, flag-ship
at Sheerness; Captain Charles hope, of the Monarch,
-84,.guareleship.of ordinary, and Superintendent of Sheer-
ness Dockyard; Captain Mundy, of the Liindon, 90,-at;
Sheerness; Mr. James Tonkin, master of the Waterloo,
120; Mr. Cornelius T. A. Noddall, master of the Lon-
don, 90; Paymaster Frederick L. Fegen, secretary at
Sheerness dockyard; Commandant Henry Eden, super-
intendent of Woolwich Dockyard; Captain Hall, R.N. ;
Commander Stuart, Commander Woolcombe, Com-
mander Kerr, Commander Hon. A. J. Douglas, Lieute-
nant G. G. Phillips. Lieutenant W. Mould, and Lieute-
nant Wodehouse, e fficers studying steam at the factory
at Woolwich Dockyard ; Mr. Atherton, chief engineer;
Mr. Taplin, second assistant to the chief engineer ; Mr.
Lennox, Lieutenant Rogers, Mr.. Trotman, Mr. Mit-
cham, and several others connected with the anchors,
and Mr. Montagu Gore, and other scientific gentlemen,
were also present to witness the trials.
The first anchor placed in the testing frame was one
of Lieutenant Rodgers' patent anchors, weighing 19 cwt.
Sib , the usual testing strain of that weight being 19
tons. On 20 tons strain being applied, the deflection
was a quarter of an inch, and it began to crack at 45 tons
and again at 681 tone, 70k, 714, 72, 73, and broke its
shackle at 73i- tons, which completed its trial.
Mr. Mitcham having declined to have his anchor
broken, one of Messrs. Brown and Lennox's anchors,
weighing 20 cwt. 3 qrs. 141 b., was placed in the frame,
the usual proof strait► being 21i tons. On 20 being ap-
plied it deflected 1-16th of an inch, and it cracked at
44i tons, and broke at 47 toes, the shank being broke
even across at 2 feet 44 inches from the crow".
Mr. Isaacs' American anchor, weighing 21cwt. Oqr.
141 b., was then placed in the frame, the usual proot
strain being 211 ions. On 20 tons being applied it de-
flected 3-16ths of an inch, and cracked at 58 tons, and
again at 61, 62, and broke at 63 in the shank, near the
crown.
Mr. Trotman's anchor, weighing 21 cwt. 1 qr., 101 b.
was next placed in the testing frame, and on 20 tons
being applied it deflected 11-16 the of an inch and
cracked at 51i, and again at 53, and broke at 53i tons
in the shank, 2 feet 4 inches from the crown. It was
not intended to break Mr. Honiball's (late Porter's
anchor), its principle being so similar to Trotman's,
which was (made as an improvement upon it; but in
consequence of Trotman's being the first made on his
plan, and the peak found to press too much on the
shank, it was decided that Mr. Honiball's should be
broken. On being placed in the testing frame it began
to crack on the application of 54 tons, again at 59k, 60k,
63, 66, and broke at 75i at 2 feet 3i inches from &tiepin
in the crown. The upper arm broke at the same mo-
ment, a proof of the equal strength -of both parts of the

anchor.
The trials concluded at half•past four o'clock. P.M.,
by breaking one of the Admiralty anchors, which began
to crack at 404, again at 484,50, 514, 524, 534, 54, 544,
and the arm came out of the crown at 564,
Mr. Aylen's anchor will be broken to morrow.

A NOVEL ENTERTAINMENT.—There is always
something looming in the future for the public amusement,
at least, if not for their material benefit, and now that the
long evenings have set in we may shortly expect an
abundant crop of new exhibitions. We
have heard one
i
spoken of that seems to be quite novel n its idea. It will
replace the Marionetts at the Adelaide (lallery, and there is
little doubt that it will prove highly attractive. It will
consist of a soir e comique to be given by Mr. W. S. Woodin,
a gentleman gifted, with extraordinary mimic powers, and
the entertainment will be called The Carpet Bag and Sketch
Book introducing living impersonations of the leading cha-
racters and features of the age. The entertainment is the
result of a study extending over a period of several years,
toed those who are in the secret confidently predict that it
will surpass every thing of the sort that has yet been
attempted in the metropolis.

THE SUBTERRANEAN TELEGRAPH TO
laying down of this DOVER.—
by
the Canterbury
An interruption to the layin
was offered on the 13th inst. electricanterbu r
x telegraph
station-
master of the South-Eastern Company, who persisting in
contractor his opposition, and the _of the works being equally
firm to proceed, the latter was handed over to the custody
of a railway ' policeman. On a hearing at the Guildhall the
charge against the contractor was dismissed. The benchd,
advised the station-master to allow the works to proceeds
and said that they were prepared to preserve the peace of
the city, even to calling out the military if such an extreme
step were necessary. Subsequently the station-master
gave way, and the wires in less than -half an hour were de-
posited under the permanent way, and the line of communi-
cation to London was secured. The whole work to
that
, will be executed in the course of a week er
of so two lines of
The when ha
important point will have the advantage
road line consists
electric telegraph to the metropolis.
of six wires. The present telegraph is on the South-Eastern
line, and is the property of, and is worked by, that company
THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPO.—PLYMOUTH, OCT. 15,
—The wires of the electric telegraph are now connected and
nearly ready for public use from Exeter to the premises at
the Union Baths. which have been taken by the company for
that purpose. This is a situation central to the three towns
of
of Plymouth, Devonport, and Stonehonse. Another set
wires are being laid in pipes along Union-street to the dock-
yard, where they will be established in one of
the public
offices as near as possible to the port-admiral's residence. It
is expected that these will be ready for use by the Govern-
ment in about three or four weeks. Arrangements have also
been made by the Telegraph Company
dis-
patches a day from Falmouth by to have two
Cornish mails, and
be
any information brought by them will immediately trans-
'flitted direct to London or the north of England, with which
these wires will be in communication

A female named Douvion, of Courdenac, near
Bordeaux, died a few days ago, aged 120. She was born in
1732 at Gtiadaloupe.