The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-23 00:00:00

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A short time since and but one grek*We?` .r stile
ocean telegraphy occupied the attentie*kiiiiiiOl,
lie. Now, however, encouraged apparly epin c..-
oi
by the failure of the Atlantic cable, there are at
least eight or ten fresh plans put forth, exclusive
of that which is about to.open up telegraphic com-
munication with India, via the Red- Sea. Some of
the ideas are crude and visionary in the extreme,
though, nevertheless, they seem well supported ;
while others, on the contrary, are not alone feasible,
but so necessary that we trust they may eventually
be carried out to successful completion. Such a (me
is that of the new Great Ocean Telegraph Company;
which has been established for the purpose of con,
necting Great Britain with America by means of
Mr. Allan's admirable system of submarine wires.
The primary object is, of course, to establish a
direct communication between London and New
York by a line from the Land's-end to Halifax, the
chief naval station. of British North America, as
well as the inlet to all the telegraphic lines of com-
munication, not only of the Canadas, but of the
United States generally. Hereafter the company
intimate that a branch line may be carried by Ber-
muda to Jamaica, and thence by connecting lines
to the other West India Islands, the Central Statei
of America, and the Brazils. By this independent
route, starting from the Laud's-end, the cost of an
average message between London and Halifax will
not exceed 305., as it avoids all the delays and heavy
charges consequent on forming working agreements
with other companies. The sea route proposed is
also a very good one, though on the average deeper
than that across which the Atlantic cable has been
laid, and,. we fear we may now say, lost as well.
This increased depth of water would most undoubt-
edly be a considerable disadvantage to any company
not working with cables constructed on Mr. Allan's
system ; but, with these cables, the_ deeper the
water the safer they are, for their mechanical and
physical attributes, combining aithey do the maxi-
mum of conducting power and strength with the
minimum of weight and specific gravity, render
their safe sumuergence in the greatest depths a
very simple mechanical operation.
The chief advantages of Mr. Allan's system of
submarine ropes consists in making them of the
utmost lightness consistent with their strength—
in doing away entirely with the outside covering of
spiral wires and making the core or conductor of
the cable its main strength. The weight per mile
of the line proposed, from Land's-end to Halifax, is
only 10 cwt., while its specific gravity is as low as
1.35 —just sufficient to ensure its sinking very
slowly: without any strain upon the rope while being
paid out from the ship. The mode of its construction
is one large solid copper wire, or conductor, wound
round closely with fine iron wire. This is enclosed
in three very thick coats of gutta, percha, the whole
being bound round With strands of tarred string. We
should certainlysuggest that the idea of having a solid
copper conductor be altered for one of the same dia-
meter, but composed of a number of very fine wires
twisted into a single strand. By this plan the chances
of a flaw or break occurring to them all at the same
place are so reduced as to render such an accident all
but impossible. The outside covering of tarred
string is also quite unnecessary, and while giving
no strength Worth speaking of, adds. most materi-
ally to the cost per mile. With
,such slight modi-
fications as these the cable will be light enough
and strong enough to fulfil all the duties which the
most sanguine in the new company can expect of
it. Throughout we have always had a most favour-
able opinion of Mr. Allan's system of submarine
ropes, and this journal was the first to point out
the folly and utter inefficiency of the old system,
under which the most ponderous iron coils were
made year after year on what may be literally
termed self-destructive principles, and, of course,
were almost every one lost in the process of sub-
merging. The remarks which we made now nearly
two years since with reference to heavy wire-
covered cables, and (specially upon the Atlantic
cable, which was then being made, have been so
fully verified by the event that we may be excused
quoting them on this occasion :—" The many failures
of the submarine cables as hitherto constructed are
so notorious that it may be safely predicted it will
be found almost impossible to connect Europe with
America by means of submarine cables con-
structed on the principles of those now in use.
Their great weight renders the carriage of them
difficult, and the laying of them impossible, with-
out constant risk to the integrity of the conduc-
• tors. For long distances they are deficient
in conducting power, while from their peculiar
conformation they are self-destructive in being sub-
merged to great depths. We do not mean to say
' that the present Atlantic telegraph cannot suc-
ceed, but the chances are much against it, and it
is, certain that before it has been down twelve-
months it will, like others similarly constructed,
be perfectly useless."—The Times, April 8, 1857.
The enunciation of these opinions at once drew forth
angry contradictions from all interested in main-
taining the old system of heavy ropes, yet what has
been the result ? 'Not two years have elapsed since
then, and already the idea of a heavy cable for deep
water is scouted even by the great manufacturers,
who are now all directing their attention to pro-
ducing ropes of the very lightest kind consistent
with their strength, and already the plan of a heavy
easing of outside spiral wires is being modified in
such manner as shows the day to be not far distant
when that mechanical absurdity will be given up
altogether. To Mr. Allan, however, belongs the
merit of having been the first to see these evils and
provide a practical remedy for them in ropes made
on an entirely different system. Messrs. Glass and
Elliot are preparing a rope which it is said will be
lighter in weight and stronger than any submarine
cable ever yet constructed. It is not wished at
present to make public the detail or principle of its
manufacture, but the reputation of this eminent firm
is a sufficient guarantee that the rope, however
made, is sure at least to be one of the best of Its
kind. Mr. Henley, who has just completed and
' shipped off the great Australian cable, has also per-
fected a submarine cable, which is as light and
strong as any really good rope is ever likely to be.
Its principle of construction is entirely new. The
conductor has twice the conducting power of the
old Atlantic cable, and is formed after the
usual plan of seven copper wires twisted into
one strand. The insulation is secured by two
thick coats of gutta percha, served round
with greased and tarred hemp. The last covering
is formed of 18 strands, each strand being composed
of three No. 19 fine wires and four tarred strings.
The result of this curious Mixture of tar and twine

is to give to each strand the same strength as if it
were all made of wire with only half the weight.
The lowest strain the whole cable breaks at is gua-
ranteed at four tons, though in fact it has never
been broken under five. The total weight is 15 cwt.
per mile, and only 7 cwt. in water. The advantages
of such a submarine rope are too obvious to renuire
pointing out, especially as its cost is calculated at
only LlO
.0 per mile. It is, we presume to meet the
demand of the new ocean telegraph companies now
rising up in all directions that such an unusual
number and variety, of good ropes are being every-
where manufactured. Fortunate will the company
be which gets the best, but a great deal of good
capital has yet to be lost ere this valuable secret
will be finally ascertained.—Times.

DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT TORQUA E

A most lamentable accident happened at Tor-
quay on Tuesday morning. A wall some forty feet
in height, which supported a cliff, the summit of
which was being converted into a vegetable gar-
den, fell in upon the kitchen apartments of Nos. 2,
3, and 4, Beacon-terrace, reducing that part of the
premises to ruins, and burying beneath the debris
those who were sleeping in the bedrooms, namely,
Mr. and Mrs. Tanner, the occupants of No. 2 ; Mr.
and Mrs. Hellier, the tenants of No. 3 ; and Mr.
and Mrs. Hambling, who resided in No. 4. The
accident occurred shortly before one o'clockin the
morning. Several neighbours, awakened by the
fearful crash, hastened to the spot, and having pro-
cured assistance, made an energetic endeavour to
rescue those who were placed in such imminent
danger. This was no
easy task,
it that within an
but so zealously
hdoidurthafetey
afterapply the themselves
accident_ occurred their labours had
o
ended. Melancholy indeed was the reward of those
engaged in searching for Mr. and Mrs. Hambling.
Their mangled bodies too plainly proved that the
most diligent exertions could not have saved their
lives. They were so fearfully crushed and muti-
lated that death must have been instantaneous.
At the adjoining house, No. 3, a more cheering
result attended the kind offices of the neighbours.
Mr. and Mrs. Hellier were discovered and rescued
in time, we hope, to save life, although the injuries
they received are of such a dangerous character
that their condieon is a very precarious one. Mr.
Hellier sustained a fractured thigh, a compound
fracture of the leg, and serious internal hurts ; Mrs.
Hellier's collar-bone was broken and her body
dreadfully bruised. At No. 2 the results were not
so serious, for, although with considerable difficulty
rescued, Mr. and Mrs. Tanner were not so seriously
injured as to justify unfavourable apprehensions
respecting their recovery. There were other occu-
pants of the back bedrooms of No. 2—a governess,
a little girl, and two servants ; but these fortunately
escaped. The bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Rambling
-await the coroner's inquest. The property be-
longs to Mr. Jacob Harvey.

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