The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-22 00:00:00

THE TRANSIT.

-
(From'the Singapo?..e.Pree Press of July 30.)
Theatrepps from the Transit arrived here on the 23d
current in her Majesty's- ship Acfmon, the Hon. Com-
pany's steamer Hooghly, and the hired ship Beaver, con-
sisting of 193 of the Medical Staff Corps, 30 of the Royal
Engineers, 286 of the 90th, and 119 of the 59th Regts.,
including the officers accompanying these detachments.
Only a portion of the arms was got out, and officers
and men saved._ nothing but the clothes they wore at
the time of the wreck. Many of the soldiers had neither
shoes nor stockings on when they left the vessel, having
been engaged in washing their deck when she struck.
The officers and crew of the Transit will be brought
here in the Borneo Company's steamer Sir Jas. Brooke.
When the other vessels left the wreck they were engaged
in saving what could be got at of the stores on board.
It will be recollected that the Transit left Portsmouth
on April 8 for China, and that on the following day she
returned in a sinking state, having during the night
grounded upon her anchor. The troops were landed, the
powder and shell taken out, and the Transit placed in
dock, where she wasrepaired, and the troops, &c., having
been re-embarked she again proceeded on her voyage on
15th April. Her disasters did not end, however, with the
first. In coming out of dock she struck violently on the
gate, injuring one of the blades of her screw, and, as it after-
wards turned out, seriously shaking and loosening her
stern. The extent of the injury sustained was probably
not apparent at first, and, as we have stated, she con- '
tinned her voyage. The rough weather encountered in
the Bay of Biscay showed there was something wrong,
the water coming in at the stern in great quantities. She
put into Corunna, where everything possible was done
to repair her defects, and then once more pursued her
voyage. She bad good weather to the Cape, and made
a capital run of it, but after leaving Simon's Bay en-
countered a series of heavy gales, when all the miseries of
her passengers were renewed. With a wind on her
beam the Transit sailed admirably, but before the wipd
she rolled very much and took in water at all points.
The injuries she had received in her stern now
showed themselves, the seams opened and shut at
each roll of the ship and the water rushed in in
great quantities. In the Course of one day no less
than 600 tons of water were pumped out of the
ship. It was feared that if the gale continued long
the vessel would go to the bottom, but fortu-
nately the weather by and by improved, and continued
fine until they made the land. As it was, the appearance
of Java Head was bailed with delight by all on board,
who considered that their troubles were now over. While
steaming through Banca Straits on the morning of the
10th current, and running at the rate of eight knots an
hour, her full speed under steam, the Transit, about
fl o'clok, struck violently three times, and then remained
fast. Every one rushed on deck on feeling the shook,
but the officer in command of the troops ordered them
to go below to their several messes; and this order was
obeyed without the slightest hesitation, although
matters looked far from pleasant, the water
making fast and the vessel being in a sinking state.
'The crew immediately set to work to get out the boats,
while a party was employed in passing up biscuits
and other stores. It took two hours before the boats
(six in all) were ready, and this was a most anxious
time, it being expected every moment that the vessel
would go down. Die soldiers were now drawn up
on deck, and ordered to stand "at ease," and then
told off to the boats, the few sick on board being
first embarked. Not the slightest unsteadiness was
shown or disposition to rush to the boats, but each man
patiently waited his turn. It was found that the boats
could only hold about 200 men, so that four trips were
necessary before all could be disembarked. The vessel lay
about six miles from the shore, and it was evident that if
the boats went all the way on each trip it was more than
probable she would go down before half the people could
he got out. Captain Chambers therefore ordered them
to bet anded on a reef, about two miles from the shir,
which was then uncovered, it being low water. The
boats made three trips to this reef, landing the men
on it, and on the fourth trip having taken off all that
remained on board the Transit, they proceeded direct to
the shore, and then removed those stationed on the reef.
This was accomplished just in time, as the tide was rising,
and those who remained last were standing in the
water inore than knee deep. The conduct of the
soldiers at this trying crisis is said to have been
admirable ; and they are entitled to the int- re credit
from the fact, that a large proportion of them are young
cruits who have entered the army since the termination
of the Crimean campaign. There would appear, how-
ever, to have been amongst them a sufficient number of
experienced soldiers to leaven the whole with a most
excellent spirit, and enable them to emulate the dis-
cipline displayed on a similar occasion by the soldiers on
board the Birkenhead, when she was wrecked off the
coast of Africa.

THE PRINCIPALITIES.—The result of the Moldavian
elections, now over, is favourable to the union of the
Principalities.

MONTENEGRO.—We are informed that the telegraph
announcement of the death of the Prince of Montenegro,
which, originally appearing in a foreign journal, has ob-
tained extensive currency in England, is wholly in-
correct.

SOTITII KENSINGTON MUSEIIM.—D aring the week end-
ing Sept. 19, the visitors have been as follows :—On
Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday, free days, 1,947 ; on
Monday and Tuesday,
.freo evenings, 7,199. On the
three students' days (admission to the public 61), 573 ;
one students' evening, Wednesday, 165 ; total, 9,889.
ELECTION OF LOLD MAYOR.—Yesterday the prepara-
tions commenced in the City of London for the Election
of a Lord Mayor fir the year ensuing, which takes piano
in the Guildhall on Wednesday Ilex:. Alderman Bir
W. Carden is the senior alderman below the chair, ant,
according to precedent, should be elected to fill the
office.

A GOOD EXAMPLE.—Two sermons were preached at
St. Peter's Church, Notting-hill, on Sunday last, in aid
of the funds for the sufferers by the Bengal mutiny, and
the sum of 1151. 83. 6.fd. was yesterday paid into the
Mansion-house by the incumbent of that church, the
Rev. F. H. Adams.

NOBLE EXAMPLE TO EMPLOYERS.-Ou Saturday
E,q•, proprietor of the extensive works
by himself at Sal.aire, near 13ead-
Titus Salt,
,500 of his workpeople on a trip
to ffrudban,daetorlecaliatenesddteerarbeowcutitethd2 free admission to the Art Tr. a-
sures Exhibition. _

EAST INDIA 110IISE.--We understand that Mr.
Edward Thornton has retired from the East India Com-
pany's home service. Besides holding a high ofile:al
position at the lodic. House, Mr. Thornton is well known
as the author of the "History of British India," and a
•" Gazetteer of India," both recognised text books, with
other valuable books relating to that country. To ell
those who have Lad occasion to communicate with Mr.
Thornton in his official capacity, and who.have expe-
rienced his unfailing courtesy and readiness to oblige,
his retirement from office will be a matter of sincere
regret.
_ PASSENGERS FROM INDIA.—The following passengers
.are now on their way from Calcutta to England in the
Indian mail packet,Colornho, which is expected to arrive
to-morrow or next day—viz., Mesdames Stokes, Ceiver ,
G. Elmonstone, Oft-ley, Lay, and Swinhoe, two Misses
Wilkins, Mrs. Tucker and infant, Mrs. Amesbury and
infant, Mrs. Corbin and infant, Mrs. Steel and infae t,
Mrs. Jenkins and two children, Mrs and Miss Vlc• or
and two children, Mrs. Dowlans and child, Mrs. Wet-
leins and two children, Mrs. Meade, son, and child, Mrs.
Barron and two children, Mrs. Grant, son, and child,
Mrs. Golding and three children, Mr, and Mrs. Barre,
Colonel, Mrs., and Miss Lennox, Messrs. Howard,
Vellenoa, and Turner.
A Nzw SCREW FOR STEAM
hEasoAinTvt:te.,..idla!enuetc::-.Bntetaimn
,wlhji.chVehreglicaells the fluted screw. The
st
e'e!
r Frenchary
propeller,navy
improvement is founded on a very nice observation of
the direction taken by the particles of the water displaced
and repelled by the screw. A commission was appointed
to compare the working and results of the old and new
screw,. The personscomposingit embarked atToulon on
beard the Vigilant, an iron steam despatch boat of
60-horse power, fitted with the ordinary screw. Four
trips were' made along a measured distance ; then the
screw was replaced by that of Mr. Vergne's invention,
and four other trips were made along the same line.
The result showed a gain of 17 per cent. in speed
with the new ecree', and the almost complete suppression
of that disagreeable vibration usual in screw steamers,
and which in small vessels renders it necessary to make
the 'hinder part of the ship heavier and more costly than
it otherwise need be. The question has been raised
wheeher the same advantages would be obtained in large
vesaele. Some scientific persons believe that they would
even in a greater degree, and give reasons for 'heir be-
lief.' This question will soon be set at rest, for the
Emperor has ordered the experiment to be renewed, this
time on a ship-of-the-line. As far as the invention has
s et been tested,' it seems well-deserving the attention of
our English naval engineers.
. BIRKENHEAD, Sept. 20.—The portion of the Mediter-
ranean Extension Telegraph Company's cable already I
comp leted, consisting of 5821 miles, was tested on
Saturday by Mr. B. V. Physick, telegraph engineer,
and Mr. Andrea's, superintendent to the Mediterranean
Company. The testing of the entire length of the cable
was most satisfactory. With only two cells of a small
sand battery a distinct signal was obtained, and with
four cells uninterrupted telegraphic communication
was maintained, and messages were transmitted by
means of the single needle instrument throughout
the entire length ; thus demonstrating th% per-
fect electrical integrity of the conducting wire.
The new line will connect Cagliari with Malta
and Corfu, and the entire length to be manu
factored will consist of nearly 1,000 miles. The Mesere
Nessall, by whom the cable is being made, expect to
finish the work by the middle of October, arid the
whole line will be submerged by the end of that month.
The cable consists of a single conducting wire with an
outher protective sheath of iron wire ; but the outer
wires, unlike those of the Atlantic Company's cable, are
not subdivided into 'a number of small filaments, but
each each strand is a solid mass and distinct inntself.
The greatest caution has been exercised at each stage of
the ,manufacture. The gutta percha wire, consibting
of two distinct coverings, has bean supplied by the
Gutta, Percha Compan, and every portion has bpeu de-
livered to the Messrs. Newall in a perfect state and free
from all blemish ' • but the Messrs. Newell have subjected I
every portion so delivered to further and severe testing
in water under hydraulic pressure, so that no possible
means have been left untried by them to turn out a
really perfect cable. We understand that the Messrs.
Newall have undertaken to lay down the cable through-
out the entire length, and to maintain it in working
order for a certain specified time and for a given,sum of
money, and if they should fail in doing this the less will
be 'theire, the company, by the tetme of their agreement,
being protected from elliaerm. We therefore entertain
no tear but that our important military stations in the
Mediterranean will be within a La minutes call from
the mother country in the course of next month.