eight o'clock
George and his father , James Ingram , experimenting with chemical energy , had already discovered a galvanic element which enabled them to furnish electrical energy direct from coal and the oxygen of the air , but this important discovery was kept a secret . The chief object of George Ingram 's visit abroad was to follow the footsteps of other great scientists and manufacturers to the edge or frontier of their discoveries and practical workings . It was two o'clock that night before George could close his eyes , but promptly at 6:30 o'clock next morning he was ready for his bath and shave , and later he and the colonel ate the usual European breakfast of eggs , rolls , and coffee . The eight o'clock train was taken for the great works of Siemens Brothers & Co. , Limited , which are located at Woolwich , down the Thames . This firm , the pioneers of ship lighting by electricity , has already fitted out hundreds of vessels with electric lights . They also manufacture submarine and land telegraphs in vast quantities , having aided largely in enclosing the globe in a network of cables . All the Siemens brothers have shown much ability .