Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Invention, Telegraphy, Technology

    A series of spoof news reports of extraordinary events that reflect Punch's anticipation of false messages via the soon to be completed submarine telegraph linking Britain and America. Reports on a New Hampshire miller who claims to have discovered a 'new motive power for turning his mill' by adding cognac to water, an 'Irish Oculist' who had developed a theory of the origins of potato disease and developed 'Potato Eye Snuff' as a result, and David W Mitchell who is trying to 'domesticate the famous breed of Kilkenny Cats'.