A complete knowledge of the disaster which has overtaken her (says the correspondent of the London Times, to which we are indebted for the above particulars) will not be obtained until a careful investigation has been made of the hull in dock.  But, from a hasty exploration which was conducted on board, it was evident that the shot had not only dislocated the inner plating of the double bottom, but had penetrated the bunker compartment, stored as it was with coal, that the watertight doors and compartments had ceased to operate, and that water was flowing into the hull through a hundred crevices.  To such an extent was this the case that, though a strong working party was at hand ready for any emergency, it was deemed useless to attempt to free the ship of water until her gashes had been temporarily closed from outside.  When this has been done, she will be pumped out and brought into dock for careful examination.  From what has been said, it will be seen that while the explosion of 95 lb. of gun cotton in actual contact last November simply crippled the Resistance, the explosion of a like charge at the same spot, and under approximately the same conditions, has in this instance not simply disabled, but really sunk the ship.

* * * * *

AN ENGLISH CAR COUPLING.

The new automatic railway coupling illustrated below is the invention of Mr. Richard Hill, and has been practically developed by Mr. B.H.  Thwaite, of Liverpool.  It will be seen that the system is somewhat similar to the parallel motion when in action.

The catch and peculiarly shaped hooks slide over the cross and catch bars.  These latter turn horizontally on a central pivot attached to the jaw end of the drawbar.  The cross catch bars adjust themselves to the direction of the line of pull in the drawbar.  The cranking of the drawbar allows for the deflection of the buffer springs.

The arrangement of uncoupling, or throwing hooks out of gear, is extremely simple and effective.  The cranked part of the rod passing across the end of the wagon, and with handles at each end workable from the 6 ft. way, is attached to the catch hooks by means of a light chain.  On throwing the handle over, and against the end of the wagon, the crank moves over and below the center, lifting up the catch into a position out of range of action, and from this position it cannot fall except it is released by the shunter.  A shackle and links hang from the end of the drawbar for attachment to ordinary wagons.

After a long and costly series of experiments the form of coupling shown in illustration was adopted.  Part of the experimental couplings used were made by the Hadfield Steel Foundry Company, but the couplings used at a recent trial at Gloucester were forged by the Gloucester Wagon Company.

[Illustration:  An English Car coupling.]