This trouble we could count upon as long as the road was wet; after noon, when the sun came out and the road began to dry, we had less trouble.
When about half-way to Batavia the spark began to show blue; the reserve set of dry batteries was put in use, but it gave no better results.

Apparently there was either a short circuit, or the batteries were used up; the bad showing of the reserve set puzzled us; every connection was examined and tightened.

The wiring of the carriage was so exposed to the weather that it was found completely saturated in places with oil and covered with mud.

The rubber insulation had been badly disintegrated wherever oil had dropped on it.

The wires were cleaned as thoroughly as possible and separated wherever the insulation seemed poor.