On the last page of the “Service Message-book” kept at the company’s station, Trinity Bay, this entry was made on the 30th of September:
“Receiving good currents, but no intelligible signals.”
For a short period there was again a feeling of encouragement, and there seemed to be a possibility that the electrical current was not lost, and a full month later the following letter was written:
“To the Editor of the Times:
“Sir,—Eleven p. m. I beg to inform you that I have just received the annexed message from Valentia, which has been transmitted by Mr. Bartholomew, the superintendent of the company at that place. It would appear that by the application of extraordinary and peculiar battery-power at Newfoundland, in accordance with the instructions of Professor Thomson, of Glasgow (one of the directors of the company), it has been possible to convey, even through the defective cable, the few words recorded by Mr. Bartholomew in his message to me this evening.
“This, however, though encouraging, must not be regarded as a permanent state of things, as it is still clear there is a serious fault in the cable, while, at the same time, it is not at present absolutely clear that any, except the most extraordinary and (to the cable) dangerous efforts can be made, more especially on this side, to overcome the existing obstacles in the way of perfect working.
“The following is Mr. Bartholomew’s message:
“ ‘Bartholomew, Valentia, to Saward, London.—I have just received the following words from Newfoundland: “Daniel’s now in circuit.” The signals are very distinct. Give me discretion to use our Daniel’s battery reply.’ ”
“Immediately on receipt of the foregoing I sent the necessary authority to use the Daniel’s battery at Valencia.
“Yours truly,
“George Saward, Secretary.
“22 Old Broad Street, October 20th.”