The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-05 00:00:00

PONTOON WAGGONS.

WOOLWICH.—In pursuance of directions received
from the Secretary of State for the War Depart-
ment, Mr. Francis's floating metallic pontoon
waggon, which was tested in sundry ways a short
time back in the outer basin of Woolwich Dock-
yard, was on Tuesday submitted to some additional
trials on the canal in the Royal Arsenal. These
experiments are watched on the part of
the Go-
vernment by Colonel Bainbrigge, R.E., inspector
of fortifications ; Captain Catlin, C. 8., director-
general of naval artillery ; Captain Boxer, R.A.,
superintendent of the Laboratory in Woolwich
Arsenal ; Captain T. A. Campbell, assistant-secre-
tary to the select committee ; Captain Clark, R.A.,
acting military superintendent of the carriage fac-
tory ; and Mr. Abel, superintendent of the chemi-
cal department of the Laboratory. Mr. Francis,
the patentee, was present to direct the experiments.
The first experiments consisted in thrusting the
waggon, with the whole of its appurtenances, feed-
ing-trough and gear attached, into the water.
Seven men then entered the waggon, and rolled
and rocked about, and endeavoured to capsize it,
but they could not succeed in bringing the gun-
wale to the water's edge. Boxes of iron,
weighing 12cwt., were then added, making the
aggregate weight amount to 21i cwt. The waggon
was then rowed across the water to prove its float-
ing capabilities, and also to show the advantage
which an army would possess in crossing unford-
able rivers, if supplied with these pontoon wag-
gons, which are driven through the stream with-
out the necessity of detaching the horses. Some
very powerful efforts were again made to upset it,
but without success. It was then hoisted out of
the water by means of a crane, without removing
any of the load, and cleared out, the body being
taken off and again thrown into the water. Seven
men were ordered into the boat, and the boxes of
iron were increased to 22 cwt. It was then rowed
about, rolled and rocked as before, and struck with
a sledge-hammer some 20 or 30 blows on one spot
without any visible effect on the rivets or joints.
After being carefully examined it was mounted on
its carriage, and dragged up to the practising butt.
An artilleryman standing at a range of 100 yards
then fired a couple of Millie rifle balls through the
sides. In each case the ball traversed without
splintering clean through the body, carrying with
it a portion of the metal. The success of this expe-
riment was considered cf great importance, as con-
siderable injury results in many cases from tia scat-
tered splinters of the carriages in present use. Mr.
Francis then got into the waggon and closed the
perforations with a few blows of a hammer, leaving
only the spots which had been carried away by the
balls. This, he explained, could be repaired in
the most simple manner by any one " with any
bit of metal and two or three old nails." A
couple of the feeding troughs serve as a canoe to
convey one man with a paddle across a stream,
and four of the bodies connected form an excel-
lent raft, capable of supporting any heavy
ordnance of the service. By keeping the running
gear attached they can run in and out of the water
with great facility ; and by making some alterations
in the construction, it could be packed up in a
small compass for the convenience of transport.

ELECTRIC COM3IUNICATION WITH AMERICA..—SOUND
ING THE ATLANTIC.—Lying at anchor off Queenstown
I r the last few days may have been observed a small,
unsightly, ill-painted, rusty-bottomed screw steamer,
without one point of attraction about Ler, except the
stars and stripes fluttering in the breez?. Yet that boat
and some of the officers she contains have been the worlu's
wonder for a season, and have just now concluded a task
which is the forerunner of an event more wonderful still.
The Arctic was the vessel that was sent to rescue Dr.
Kane, who bad previously been sent to rescue Franklin.
She was successful, and brought horse Dr. Kane and
his crew, who had been obliged to abandon his ship and
search. She was then a light ship on the American coast.
She is now the bearer of Lieut. Strain, of Darien noto-
riety, and Capt. Berriman, who was before, and now
again, crossed from Newfoundland to take soundings of
the hole Atlantic from St. John's to Valencia, with a
view to ascertain the probable success with which a
telegraphic cable may he laid between these points. The
result is satisfactory. For some 50 or 60 miles from St.
John's, and again on this side, is a bank varying from
twenty-five to one hundred and twenty fathoms. Be-
tween these there is a plateau nearly level, the bottom
soft, composed of shells so fine that only the microscope
can discover them, each shell perfect ii its minute beauty,
proving the absence of currents at the bottom, and with
die deference to Stephenson and others, the want of
that vast pressure, which was to be so dreaded, and ex-
hibiting at every point not only a capacity, but the most
perfect capacity, for the very use-for which it is re
quired. The whole apparatus for arriving at these facts
is most perfect. Steam-power, separate from that of
the ship, works the axle from which the sounding-line is
" paid out." Soundings have been taken to the depth
of 27,000 fathoms. By a neat contrivance each sound-
ing shows not only the depth, but the nature of the bot-
tom, which is brought up in five quills, and the tempe-
rature of the water, the latter being given by the expan.
sion or the contraction of metallic spiral ribandi placed
round a centre pin, fixed at the top, and attached at
bottom to a needle and indicator, the latter r,tmaining
fixed after the first has ceased to act, showing the exact
variation between the surface at the b atom. Most
careful drawings have been made by Mr. Van Den Berg
(to whom has been assigned the special post of draughts-
man) of the soundings, showing a profile of the bottom
of the sea with the greatest accuracy. There can be no
doubt that telegraphic communications between Ireland
and St. John's, a distance of 1,640 geographical miles,
may be regarded as a certainty. It is in the hands of
a small American
,company, but, though small, if its
members possess but a tithe of the energy of their
representative, Mr. Cyrus W. Field, who is also here
making every inquiry, it will be enough to over.
come every difficulty. Captainut
aßsehrri') imlaanrgelaethusoilat
laying the cable. He as`h s
and he will undertake to do it at ten miles an hour
right across. The company have already obtained
the sole grant for erecting telegraphs through the
whole of Newfoundland, and have already some 1,700
miles at work, or will have in a few days, which is in
connection with the American lines. The difficulties
and trials of temper in taking these soundings have been
tremendous. Repeatedly after 'paying out' tens of thou-
sands of fathoms of line, and getting all up within some
60 or 30, it was snapped, and all bad to be done again.
Six and eight hours have been occupied in getting one
sounding only, and these have been made nearly every
half degree the whole way across. From the captain to
the cabin boy, each has given Pis willing aid. No trouble
was thought too much—no time too long ; each appeared
to feel the honour of his nation at stake, and proud in
every way to advance the object in view. They have
done their work well. Nature has granted all we could
ask ; art will soon do its part, while nature, science, and
art, worked out by man's hand, will produce one grand
whole to benefit mankind."—Cork ConitiMign•