,illustration3 ,,the ,,atlantic ,,telegraph ,,by ,w ,h ,,russell1 ,,lld ,,illustrated ,,by ,,robert ,,dudley ,,dedicated ,,by ,,special ,,permission ,,to ,,his ,,royal ,,highness ,,albert ,,edward1 ,,prince ,,of ,,wales ,,day ,,son ,,limited #f ,,gate ,,street ,,london ,r4 ,dudley ,,the ,,atlantic ,,telegraph 7#ahfe7 ,,the ,,atlantic ,,telegraph 7#ahfe7 by ,w4 ,h4 ,,russell ,,naval ,,institute ,,press ,international ,standard ,book ,number #j-hgjba-hjf-i ,library of ,congress ,catalog ,card ,number #ge-ahdfbj ,first published in #ahfe ,published and ,distributed in the ,united ,states of ,america by the ,naval ,institute ,press ,printed in ,great ,britain ,,list ,,of ,,illustrations ,weighing anchor off the ,maplin ,sands1 ,nore1 ,july #ae1 #ahfe ii ,,opposite ,,page ,the reels of gutta-percha-covered conducting-wire conveyed into tanks at the works at ,greenwich #ad ,valentia in #aheg-aheh at the time of the laying of the former cable #ae ,trinity ,bay1 ,newfoundland3 ,exterior view of ,telegraph ,house in #aheg-aheh #bf ,telegraph ,house1 ,trinity ,bay1 ,newfoundland3 ,interior of messroom1 #aheh #bg ,h4,m4,s4 ,agamemnon laying the ,atlantic telegraph cable in #aheh3 ,a whale crosses the line #cj ,coiling the cable in the large tanks at the works at ,greenwich #ca ,the cable passed from the works into the hulk lying in the ,thames at ,greenwich #ch ,the old frigate with her freight of cable alongside the ,great ,eastern at ,sheerness #ci ,paying-out machinery #dj ,coiling the cable in the after-tank on board the ,great ,eastern at ,sheerness3 ,visit of ,h4,r4,h4 ,the ,prince of ,wales on ,may #bd #da ,foilhummerum ,bay1 ,valentia1 looking seawards from the point at which the cable reaches the shore #dd ,the cliffs1 ,foilhummerum ,bay3 ,point of the landing of the shore end of cable1 ,july #bb #de ,foilhummerum ,bay1 ,valentia1 from ,cromwell ,fort3 ,the ,caroline and boats laying the earth-wire1 ,july #ba #dh ,the ,great ,eastern under weigh1 ,july #bc3 ,escort and other ships introduced being the ,terrible1 the ,sphinx1 the ,hawk1 and the ,caroline #di ,chart1 showing the track of the steamship ,great ,eastern on her voyage from ,valentia to ,newfoundland #ef ,splicing the cable 7after the first accident7 on board the ,great ,eastern1 ,july #be #eg ,view 7looking aft7 from the port paddle-box of ,great ,eastern3 ,showing the trough for cable1 etc4 #fb ,the forge on deck2 ,night of ,august #i3 ,preparing the iron plating for capstan #fc ,searching for fault after recovery of the cable from the bed of the ,atlantic1 ,july #ca #gb ,in the bows1 ,august #b3 ,the cable broken and lost3 ,preparing to grapple #gc ,getting out one of the large buoys for launching1 ,august #b #hj ,general view of ,port ,magee1 c41 from the heights below ,cora ,beg3 ,the ,caroline laying the shore end of the cable1 ,july #bb #ha ,interior of one of the tanks on board the ,great ,eastern3 ,cable passing out #hf ,launching buoy on ,august #h1 in lat4 #ea #be #cj2 long4 #cj #ef 7marking spot where cable had been grappled7 #hg ,forward deck cleared for the final attempt at grappling1 ,august #aa #ib ,,the ,,atlantic ,,telegraph4 ,i shall not detain the readers of this brief narrative with any sketch of the progress of electrical science4 ,there are text-books1 cyclopdias1 and treatises full of information concerning the men who worked in early days1 and recording the labours of those who still toil on1 investigating the laws and developing the applications of the subtle agency which has long attracted the attention of the most acute1 ingenious1 and successful students of natural philosophy4 ,for the last two centuries the greater number of those whose names are known in science have made electrical experiments a favourite pursuit1 or turned to them as an agreeable recreation from severer studies4 ,the rapidity with which electricity travels for considerable distances through insulated conductors soon suggested its use as a means of transmitting intelligence2 but the high tension of the currents from friction machines1 and the difficulty of insulating the conductors1 were practical obstacles to the employment of the devices1 some of them ingenious1 recommended for that purpose from year to year4 ,otto ,von ,guericke1 and his globe of sulphur2 ,grey1 with his glass tube and silken cords2 and ,franklin1 with his kite1 were1 however1 the precursors of the philosophers who have done much1 and whose successors may yet do much more1 for the world4 ,it is not easy to decide whether it is the man who gives a new idea to the world1 or he who embodies that idea in a form and turns it into a fact1 who is deserving of the credit to be assigned to any invention4 ,a vague expression of belief that a certain end may be attained at a future period by means then unknown does not constitute a discovery1 and does not entitle the person who utters it1 verbally or in writing1 to the honour which is due to him who indicates specifically the way of achieving the object1 or who actually accomplishes it by methods he has either invented or applied4 ,the ,marquis of ,worcester certainly did not invent the steam-engine2 neither did ,watson1 ,salva1 ,smmering1 or ,ronalds1 or any other of the many early experimentalists1 discover electric telegraphy4 ,but there is a degree of credit due to those who1 contending with imperfect materials and want of knowledge1 persist in working out their ideas1 and succeed in rescuing them from the region of chimras4 ,the inventions of one render capable of realisation the ideas of another1 which but for them had remained dreams and visions4 ,the introduction of a novel product into commerce1 or the chance discovery of some property in a common material1 may draw a project out of the limbo of impracticabilities4 ,a suggestion at one period may be more valuable than an invention at another1 and adaptations may be more useful than discoveries4 ,indeed1 when the testimony on which men's reputations1 as finders or makers1 rest1 is critically examined1 a suspicion is often generated that there have been many ,vespuccis in the world who have given names to places they never found1 and taken or received credit for what they never did4 ,if any person takes an interest in determining who was the inventor of electric telegraphy1 he should study the works and mark the improvements of the natural philosophers of the last as well as of the present1 century1 and he can then arrive at some result without exciting national jealousy1 or injuring individual susceptibilities4 ,humboldt assigns the credit of making the first electric telegraph to ,salva1 who constructed a line #bf miles long1 from ,madrid to ,aranjuez1 in #agih4 ,russia claims the honour of having invented aerial telegraphic lines1 because ,baron ,von ,schilling proposed a line for the ,emperor from ,st4 ,petersburg to ,peterhoff1 below ,cronstadt1 in #ahcd1 and was laughed at by scientific ,muscovites for his pains4 ,but the ,baron certainly did transmit messages along wires supported by poles in the air4 ,the ,count du ,moncel1 in his recent 8,trait de ,tlgraphie ,electrique10 gives to ,mr4 ,wheatstone the palm as the original inventor of submarine ,cables1 to which award1 no doubt1 there will be some dissent4 ,mr4 ,wheatstone1 however1 as early as #ahdj1 brought before the ,house of ,commons the project of a cable1 to be laid between ,dover and ,calais1 though he does not seem to have had at the time any decided views as to the mode in which insulation was to be obtained4 ,in #ahdc1 ,professor ,morse1 detailing the results of some experiments with an electric magnetic telegraph between ,washington and ,baltimore1 in a letter to the ,secretary of the ,united ,states1 wrote3 8,the practical inference from this law is that a telegraphic communication on the electric-magnetic plan1 may with certainty be established across the ,atlantic ,ocean4 ,startling as this may seem now1 ,i am confident the time will come when this project will be realised40 ,but for the experiments and discoveries of ,oersted1 ,sturgeon1 ,ampre1 ,davy1 ,henry1 and ,faraday1 and a long list of others1 such suggestions would have remained as little likely to be realised as the ,bishop of ,llandaff's notions of a flying-machine1 or the crude theories of the alchemists4 ,he who first produces a practical result--something which1 however imperfect1 gives a result to be seen and felt1 and appreciated by the senses--is the true ,greek3 poits --the maker and inventor1 whom the world should recognise1 no matter how much may be done by others to improve his work1 each of those improvers being1 after his kind1 deserving of recognition for what he does4 ,a year before ,professor ,morse wrote the letter to ,mr4 ,spencer1 he took some steps to show that which he prophesied was practicable4 ,in the autumn of the year #ahdb he stretched a submarine cable from ,castle ,garden to ,governor's ,island in the harbour of ,new ,york1 demonstrated to the ,american ,institute the possibility of effecting electric communication through the sea1 and submitted that telegraphic communication might with certainty be established across the ,atlantic4 ,later in the same year he sent a current across the canal at ,washington4 ,but that was not the first current transmitted under water1 for as early as #ahci1 ,sir ,w4 ,o',shaughnessy1 the late ,superintendent of ,electric ,telegraphs in ,india1 hauled an insulated wire across the ,hooghly at ,calcutta1 and produced electrical phenomena at the other side of the river4 ,in #ahdf1 ,col4 ,colt1 the patentee of the revolver1 and ,mr4 ,robinson1 of ,new ,york1 laid a wire across the river from ,new ,york to ,brooklyn1 and from ,long ,island to ,coney ,island4 ,in #ahdi1 ,mr4 ,walker sent messages to shore through two miles of insulated wire from a battery on board a steamer off ,folkestone4 ,it was in #ahea that an electric cable was actually laid in the open sea1 and worked successfully2 and the wire which then connected ,dover with ,calais was beyond question the first important line of submarine telegraph ever attempted4 ,in the year #ahej1 ,mr4 ,brett obtained a concession from the ,french ,government for effecting this object1--an object regarded at the time as one purely chimerical1 and decried by the press as a gigantic swindle4 ,the cable which was made for the purpose consisted of a solid copper wire1 covered with gutta percha4 ,when tested by ,mr4 ,woollaston1 it was found to be so imperfect from air holes in the gutta-percha1 that the water found its way to the copper wire1--an imperfection which was however shortly repaired4 ,this cable was manufactured at the ,gutta ,percha works1 on the ,wharf ,road1 ,city ,road1 under the superintendence of the late ,mr4 ,samuel ,statham2 was then coiled on a drum1 and conveyed by steam-tug to ,dover1 and in the year #ahej was payed out from ,dover to ,calais4 ,the landing-place in ,france was ,cape ,grisnez1 from which place a few messages passed1 so as to comply with the terms of the concession and test the accuracy of the principle4 ,the communication thus established between the ,continent and ,england was1 after a few hours1 abruptly stopped4 ,a diligent fisherman1 plying his vocation1 took up part of the cable in his trawl1 and cut off a piece1 which he bore in triumph to ,boulogne1 where he exhibited it as a specimen of a rare seaweed1 with its centre filled with gold4 ,it is believed that this 8pescatore ignobile0 returned again and again to search for further specimens of this treasure of the deep3 it is1 at all events1 perfectly certain that he succeeded in destroying the submarine cable4 ,this accident caused the attention of scientific men to be directed to the discovery of some mode of preserving submarine cables from similar casualties1 and a suggestion was made by ,mr4 ,kper1 who was engaged in the manufacture of wire ropes1 to ,mr4 ,woollaston and to ,mr4 ,t4 ,r4 ,crampton1 that the wire insulated with gutta-percha should form a core or centre to a wire rope1 so as to give protection to it during the process of paying out and laying down1 as well as to guard it from the anchors of vessels and the rocks1 and to secure a perfect electrical continuity4 ,mr4 ,crampton1 who had already accepted the contract for laying the cable between ,england and ,france1 and had given up much of his time to the study of the subject1 adopted this idea1 and in #ahea he and several gentlemen associated for the purpose laid the cable between ,dover and ,calais1 where it has since remained in perfect order1 constituting the great channel of electrical communication between ,england and the ,continent4 ,it was made by ,wilkins ,weatherly1 ,newall ,co41 ,kper ,co41 and ,mr4 ,crampton4 ,the exertions of the last-named eminent engineer in laying the first cable under water1 and his devotion to an object towards which he largely contributed in money1 are only known to a few1 and have never been adequately acknowledged4 ,the success of that form of cable having been thus completely established1 several lines of a similar character were laid during the following years between ,england and ,ireland and parts of the ,continent3 one1 #ah miles long1 across the ,great ,belt1 made by ,newall ,co42 one from ,dover to ,ostend1 by the same makers and by ,kper ,co42 one from ,donaghadee to ,portpatrick1 by ,newall ,co42 one from ,holyhead to ,howth2 and one from ,orfordness to the ,hague4 ,the superiority of a line with wire-rope cover to other descriptions of cable was illustrated in #ahec4 ,at that period the ,electric and ,international ,telegraph ,company determined upon laying down four wires between ,england and the ,continent1 but they rejected the heavy cable1 and adopted the suggestion of their engineer to use four separate cables of light wire4 ,the cost of maintaining these light cables from injury by anchors1 c41 was so great that they were picked up1 and heavy cables of great strength were substituted1 which have given no trouble or anxiety1 and have always been in good order4 ,the ,old ,world had twelve lines of submarine cable laid ere the ,united ,states turned their attention to the uses of such forms of telegraph4 ,italy had been connected with ,corsica by a line #aaj miles long1 and ,denmark had joined one of her little islands to the other1 ere the ,great ,republic gave a thought to the matter4 ,but there were excuses for such indifference4 ,the ,telegraphic system1 to which ,morse1 ,bain1 ,house1 and others1 had given such development1 although the first line was not constructed till #ahdd1 extended rapidly all over the vast extent of the ,atlantic and ,gulf ,states4 ,the people were on the same continent1 the land was all their own1 their greatest rivers could be traversed by wires2 and so it was that1 whilst ,mr4 ,morse was engaged in protecting his patents1 and the ,americans1 self-contained1 were not looking beyond the limits of their shores1 a ,british ,north ,american ,province took the first step which was made at the other side of the ,atlantic to lay down a submarine cable4 ,in #ahea-b a project was started in ,newfoundland1 to run a line of steamers between ,galway and ,st4 ,john's in connection with a telegraph to ,cape ,ray1 where a submarine ,cable was to be laid to ,cape ,breton1 and thence the news was to be carried by means of another cable from ,new ,brunswick to ,prince ,edward's ,island4 ,the ,roman ,catholic ,bishop of ,newfoundland is stated to have been the original proposer of a scheme for connecting the island with the ,united ,states1 but the credit of actually laying down the first submarine cable at the other side of the ,atlantic belongs to ,mr4 ,f4,n4 ,gisborne1 an ,english engineer4 ,he had been previously engaged in the telegraph department at ,montreal1 and had some knowledge of the subject1 but he happened to be in ,london at the time of ,brett's success4 ,on his return to ,america he applied himself to get up a ,company for the purpose of facilitating telegraphic communication between ,europe and the ,united ,states4 ,after much difficulty the ,company was formed1 and an ,act was passed by the ,legislature of ,newfoundland1 in #aheb1 conferring the important privileges upon it1 in event of the completion of the project in ,newfoundland1 which are now possessed by the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company4 ,mr4 ,gisborne was superintendent and engineer of the ,company1 and he set to work with energy to construct a road from ,st ,john's to ,cape ,ray1 over a barren and resourceless tract of #djj miles1 and made a survey of the coast line1 during which he was exposed to great hardships4 ,he succeeded at last in laying an insulated cable1 made by ,newall ,co41 from ,new ,brunswick to ,prince ,edward's ,island across the ,straits of ,northumberland1 #aa miles long1 in #bb fathoms of water2 but was not successful in a similar attempt to connect ,newfoundland with ,cape ,breton4 ,meantime the ,company became involved in pecuniary difficulties1 and ,mr4 ,gisborne1 early in #ahed1 on the suspension of the works1 proceeded to ,new ,york1 where he hoped to find money to enable him to carry out the telegraphic scheme among the keen speculators and large-pursed merchants4 ,through an accidental conversation at the hotel in which he was staying1 he obtained an interview with ,mr4 ,cyrus ,field4 ,he laid his plans before that gentleman1 who had no desire to resume an active career1 having just returned from travelling in ,south ,america1 with the intention of enjoying the fortune his industry and sagacity had secured ere he had arrived at the middle term of life4 ,but ,mr4 ,field listened to ,mr4 ,gisborne with attention1 and then began to think over the project--8,to lay these submarine cables so as to connect ,newfoundland with ,maine8--,good4 ,to run a line of steamers from ,st4 ,john's to ,galway8--,certainly4 ,it would shorten the time of receiving news in ,new ,york from ,europe four or five days40 ,and so the brain worked and thought4 ,then suddenly1 8,but if a cable can be laid in the bed of these seas--if the ,great ,atlantic itself could be spanned80 ,here was an idea indeed4 ,deep and broad seas had been traversed in ,europe1 but here was one of the great oceans of the world1 of depth but faintly guessed at1 and of nigh #bjjj miles span from shore to shore6 ,would it be within the limits of human resources to let down a line into the watery void1 and to connect the ,old ,world with the ,new8 ,what a glorious thought6 ,was it a vision1 or was it one of those inspirations from which originate grand enterprises and results which change the destinies of the world8 ,mr4 ,field terminated his reflections that night by an eminently practical measure4 ,ere he retired to rest he sat down and wrote two letters1--one to ,lieut4 ,maury1 ,u4,s4,n41 to ask his opinion concerning the possibility of laying down a cable in the bottom of the ,atlantic2 the other to ,professor ,morse1 to inquire whether he thought it practicable to send an electric current through a wire between ,europe and ,america4 ,lieut ,maury1 in answering in the affirmative1 wrote1 8,curiously enough1 when your letter came ,i was looking over my letter to the ,secretary of the ,navy on that very subject40 ,and1 in fact1 on the #bbnd ,february1 #ahed1 ,lieut4 ,maury made a long communication to ,mr4 ,dobbin1 ,secretary1 ,united ,states ,navy1 from the ,observatory1 ,washington1 respecting a series of deep-sea soundings made by ,lieut4 ,berryman1 ,u4,s4,n41 brig ,dolphin1 from ,newfoundland to ,ireland1 in connection with researches on the winds and currents1 carried on for the ,national ,observatory4 ,it is obvious that ,lieut4 ,maury1 as well as many others probably1 had thought of the same idea as ,mr4 ,field4 ,he says1 8,the result is highly interesting1 in so far as the bottom of the sea is concerned1 upon the question of a submarine telegraph across the ,atlantic20 and he goes on to make it the subject of a special report1 in which occur the following passages2-- 8,this line of deep-sea soundings seems to be decisive of the question as to the practicability of a ,submarine ,telegraph between the two continents1 in so far as the bottom of the deep sea is concerned4 ,from ,newfoundland to ,ireland1 the distance between the nearest points is about #a1fjj miles2#a and the bottom of the sea between the two places is a plateau1 which seems to have been placed there especially for the purpose of holding the wires of a ,submarine ,telegraph1 and of keeping them out of harm's way4 ,it is neither too deep nor too shallow2 yet it is so deep that the wires1 but once landed1 will remain for ever beyond the reach of vessels' anchors1 icebergs1 and drifts of any kind1 and so shallow that the wires may be readily lodged upon the bottom4 ,the depth of this plateau is quite regular1 gradually increasing from the shores of ,newfoundland to the depth of from #a1ejj to #bjjj fathoms as you approach the other side4 ,the distance between ,ireland and ,cape ,st4 ,charles1 or ,cape ,st4 ,lewis1 in ,labrador1 is somewhat less than the distance from any point of ,ireland to the nearest point of ,newfoundland4 ,but whether it would be better to lead the wires from ,newfoundland or ,labrador is not now the question2 nor do ,i pretend to consider the question as to the possibility of finding a time calm enough1 the sea smooth enough1 a wire long enough1 a ship big enough1 to lay a coil of wire #a1fjj miles in length2 though ,i have no fear but that the enterprise and ingenuity of the age1 whenever called on with these problems1 will be ready with a satisfactory and practical solution of them4 8,i simply address myself at this time to the question in so far as the bottom of the sea is concerned1 and as far as that the greatest practical difficulties will1 ,i apprehend1 be found after reaching soundings at either end of the line1 and not in the deep sea4 99 99 ,therefore1 so far as the bottom of the deep sea between ,newfoundland1 or the ,north ,cape1 at the mouth of the ,st4 ,lawrence1 and ,ireland1 is concerned1 the practicability of a ,submarine ,telegraph across the ,atlantic is proved40 ,professor ,morse1 in #ahdc1 indicated his conviction that a magnetic current could be conveyed across the ,atlantic1 and his reply to ,mr4 ,field was now given with increased confidence to the same effect4 ,thus encouraged1 ,mr4 ,field took measures to form a ,company to purchase the rights of the ,newfoundland ,company1 and to connect ,newfoundland with ,ireland by means of a submarine telegraph across the ,atlantic4 ,he entered into an agreement with ,mr4 ,gisborne for the purchase of the privileges of the ,company for #hjjjl41 under certain conditions4 ,then he put down the names of ten of the principal capitalists in ,new ,york1 and proceeded to unfold his project to each in succession2 and having secured the adhesion of ,mr4 ,cooper1 ,mr4 ,taylor1 ,mr4 ,roberts1 ,mr4 ,white1 and the advice of his brother1 ,mr4 ,d4 ,field1 he called a meeting of these gentlemen at his house on #gth ,march4 ,similar meetings took place at his residence on #hth1 #ith1 and #ajth1 and after full discussion and consideration it was resolved to form 8,the ,new ,york1 ,newfoundland1 and ,london ,telegraph ,company10 of which ,peter ,cooper was ,president2 ,moses ,taylor1 ,treasurer2 ,cyrus ,field1 ,c4 ,white1 ,m4 ,o4 ,roberts1 ,directors2 and ,d4 ,d4 ,field1 ,counsel4 ,mr4 ,c4 ,field1 his brother1 and ,mr4 ,white were commissioned to proceed to ,newfoundland1 to obtain from the ,legislature an act of incorporation1 and set out for that purpose on ,march #aeth4 ,on their arrival at ,st4 ,john's1 the ,governor convoked the ,executive ,council4 ,he also sent a special message to the ,legislature1 then in session1 recommending them to pass an act of incorporation1 with a guarantee of interest on the ,company's bonds to the amount of #ej1jjjl41 and to make them a grant of fifty square miles of land on the island of ,newfoundland1 conditional on the completion of the ,telegraph4 ,after some little delay1 the ,legislature1 with one adverse member only1 granted the valuable privileges to the ,company which were subsequently transferred to the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company4 ,they constitute1 in fact1 a monopoly of telegraphic rights in ,newfoundland1 the value of which was enhanced afterwards by similar concessions from the state of ,maine1 ,nova ,scotia1 ,prince ,edward's ,island2 and liberal encouragement from ,canada4 ,there is much to be said against concessions1 and monopolies1 and patents1 on abstract grounds2 but it is quite clear that in certain circumstances men will not venture money and spend time1 without the prospect of the ulterior advantages such protection is calculated to ensure4 ,the ,government has1 however1 informed ,colonial and ,provincial ,legislatures that in future ,her ,majesty will be advised not to give her ratification to the creation of similar monopolies4 ,by their chartered rights the new ,company obtained the exclusive privilege for fifty years of landing cables on ,newfoundland and ,labrador1 which embraces a coast extending southwardly to ,prince ,edward's ,island1 ,cape ,breton1 ,nova ,scotia1 the ,state of ,maine1 and their respective dependencies2 and westwardly to the very entrance of ,hudson's ,straits4 ,the ,company also secured a grant of fifty square miles of land on the completion of ,telegraph to ,cape ,breton2 a similar concession of additional fifty square miles when the ,cable shall have been laid between ,ireland and ,newfoundland2 a guarantee of interest for twenty years at #e per cent4 on #ej1jjjl42 a grant of #ejjjl4 in money towards building a road along the line of the ,telegraph2 and the remission of duties on the importation of all wires and materials for the use of the ,company4 ,the ,company also obtained from the ,legislature of ,prince ,edward's ,island1 in ,may1 #ahed1 the exclusive privilege for fifty years of landing cables on the coast2 a free grant of one thousand acres of land2 and a grant of #cjjl4 currency per annum for ten years4 ,from ,canada the ,company obtained an ,act authorising the building of telegraph lines throughout the ,provinces1 accompanied by the remission of duties on all wires and materials imported for the use of the ,company4 ,nova ,scotia1 in #ahei1 gave the ,company a grant of exclusive privilege1 for twenty-five years1 of landing telegraphic cables from ,europe on the shores of the ,province4 ,the ,state of ,maine accorded the ,company a grant of the exclusive privilege1 for twenty-five years1 of landing ,european telegraph cables on the seaboard4 ,from ,great ,britain eventually the ,company obtained an annual subsidy of #ad1jjjl4 sterling until the net profits of the ,company should reach #f per cent4 per annum1 on the whole capital of #cej1jjjl4 sterling1 the grant to be then reduced to #aj1jjjl4 sterling per annum1 for a period of twenty-five years2 two of the largest steamships in the navy to lay the cable1 and two steamers to aid them2 and a careful examination of the soundings by vessels of the ,royal ,navy4 ,from the ,united ,states the ,company obtained an annual subsidy of #gj1jjj until the net profits yielded #f per cent4 per annum1 then to be reduced to #ej1jjj per annum1 for a period of twenty-five years1 subject to termination of contract by ,congress after ten years1 on giving one year's notice4 ,the ,united ,states government also granted the steamship ,arctic to make soundings1 and steam-ships ,niagara and ,susquehanna to assist in laying the cable4 ,a government steamer was also ordered to make further soundings on the coast of ,newfoundland4 ,long ere the ,company had been placed in possession of such beneficial rights1 and obtained such a large amount of favour1 ,mr4 ,field1 who threw every energy of body and mind into the work1 and was entrusted by his brother directors with the general management of affairs1 proceeded to carry out the engagements the ,company had entered into with the local legislatures4 ,it has been said that the greatest boons conferred on mankind have been due to men of one idea4 ,if the laying of the ,atlantic ,cable be among these benefits1 its consummation may certainly be attributed to the man who1 having many ideas1 devoted himself to work out one idea with a gentle force and a patient vigour which converted opposition and overcame indifference4 ,mr4 ,field may be likened either to the core1 or to the external protection1 of the ,cable itself4 ,at times he has been its active life2 again he has been its iron-bound guardian4 ,let who will claim the merit of first having said the ,atlantic ,cable was possible1 to ,mr4 ,field is due the inalienable credit of having made it possible1 and of giving to an abortive conception all the attributes of healthy existence4 ,the first step in the great enterprise1 now fairly inaugurated1 was the connection of ,st4 ,john's with the telegraphic lines already in operation in ,canada and the ,united ,states4 ,mr4 ,field was despatched to ,england1 as there were no firms established for the manufacture of submarine cables in the ,united ,states1 to order the necessary work to be done1 and to raise money4 ,he previously ordered specimens of cable to be made1 so that when he landed in ,england they were ready for his inspection2 and soon after his arrival he entered into a contract with ,messrs4 ,kper ,co4 7subsequently ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co47 for a cable to be laid across the ,gulf of ,st4 ,lawrence4 ,he held interviews with eminent engineers and electricians1 among whom were ,mr4 ,brunel1 ,mr4 7now ,sir ,c47 ,bright1 ,mr4 ,brett1 and ,mr4 ,whitehouse1 respecting his larger project1 which led to extended and valuable experiments4 ,the cable for ,newfoundland was formed in three strands1 and had three conducting wires2 and ,mr4 ,field undertook to lay it1 under the direction of ,mr4 ,canning4 ,in ,august1 #ahee1 the first attempt was made2 but off ,cape ,ray a violent gale arose1 and it was deemed necessary by the master of the vessel to cut the cable4 ,this disappointment was not in the least a discouragement4 ,another contract was made by ,mr4 ,field with ,messrs4 ,kper ,co4 to make and lay a cable at their own risk1 which was executed by ,mr4 ,canning in the ,propontis the following year4 ,the station is at ,point-au-,basque1 near the western extremity of ,newfoundland1 and the telegraph runs across the island to ,trinity ,bay4 ,the opportunities for scientific experiments afforded by the manufacture of these cables were not neglected4 ,the possibility of transmitting signals under water without fatal loss of power from the increased length of circuit was the first fact determined4 ,the attention of the experimentalists was then directed to ascertain whether1 having regard to existing theories1 it would be possible to carry even a single conductor across the ,atlantic without the aid of a cable so ponderous and so costly as to render it useless in a commercial point of view4 ,a series of direct experiments were at once undertaken1 which resulted in the establishment of the following facts3--first1 that retardation of movement1 in consequence of increasing distance1 did not occur at a rate which could seriously affect a cable across the ,atlantic2 secondly1 that increased dimensions in insulated marine conductors augmented the difficulties in obtaining velocity1 so that bulk in a cable would not be requisite2 and1 thirdly1 that a velocity and facility which would satisfy all mere commercial and financial requirements in a line crossing the ,atlantic1 might be attained in the largest circuits4 ,the next step was to actually make signals through #bjjj miles of wire4 ,this was accomplished through the kindness of the directors of the ,english and ,irish ,magnetic ,company1 who placed at the disposal of the experimentalists #ejjj miles of under-ground wire4 ,on the #ith of ,october1 #ahef1 in the quiet of the night time1 the experiment was tried successfully4 ,signals were distinctly and satisfactorily telegraphed through #bjjj miles of wire1 at the rate of #baj1 #bda1 and #bgj per minute4 ,there was still a matter of the last importance to be determined4 ,was the state of the bed of the ,atlantic really such as to warrant the conclusion that a wire #bjjj miles long could be deposited and remain there without injury8 ,mr4 ,field1 in order to ascertain this fact1 obtained from the government of ,america the assistance of ,lieut4 ,berryman1 ,u4,s4,n41 in the steam-ship ,arctic1 who succeeded1 in ,july1 #ahef1 in taking soundings across the ,atlantic at distances varying from #cj to #ej miles1 and1 by means of scoops1 or quills1 bringing up specimens of the bottom1 which1 upon microscopic examination1 proved to be composed of fine shells and sand4 ,as capital was needed for the execution of the enterprise which the confidence of moneyed men in the ,united ,states did not induce them to supply1 and as it was desirable to enlist the support of the capitalists of ,great ,britain1 ,mr4 ,field was now authorised to form a company1 with branches in both countries4 ,having secured the services of ,mr4 ,brett1 ,mr4 7now ,sir ,c47 ,bright1 ,mr4 ,woodhouse1 and others1 on the #ast of ,november1 #ahef1 as ,vice-,president of the ,new ,york1 ,newfoundland1 and ,london ,telegraph ,company1 he issued an elaborate1 able1 and argumentative circular in ,london1 headed1 8,atlantic ,telegraph10 and made a tour through the great towns1 addressing meetings in support of the project4 ,on the #fth of ,november1 #ahef1 the prospectus was issued1 with a nominal capital of #cej1jjjl41 represented by #cej shares of #ajjjl4 each1 and within one month the entire of the capital had been subscribed for1 and the first instalment of #gj4jjjl4 paid up4 ,one hundred and six shares were taken in ,london1 eighty-eight in the ,united ,states1 eighty-six in ,liverpool1 thirty-seven in ,glasgow1 and the remainder in other parts of ,england4 ,mr4 ,field stood as subscriber of #hh1jjjl41 and represented all ,america4 ,but it was not only from the public of ,great ,britain the project met encouragement4 ,ere the new company was formed1 ,mr4 ,field 7#acth ,september1 #ahee7 addressed ,lord ,clarendon1 requesting aid1 and protection and privileges1 and on the #bjth ,november received a reply from the ,secretary to the ,treasury1 engaging to furnish ships for soundings1 and to consider favourably any request for help in laying the ,cable1 to pay #ad1jjjl4 7#d per cent4 on capital7 as remuneration for ,government messages1 till the net profits were #f per cent41 when the payment was to become #aj1jjjl4 for twenty-five years1 and the ,royal assent was given to the ,act of ,incorporation of the ,company ,july #bgth1 #aheg4 ,mr4 ,field received far more encouragement in ,great ,britain1 in ,parliament and out of it1 than he did at home4 ,his bill was nearly rejected in the ,united ,states ,senate1 and it is stated only twenty-seven shares of the first stock were at first subscribed for in the ,states4 ,on the motion of ,mr4 ,seward1 a resolution was passed in the ,senate1 ,united ,states1 on the #bcrd ,december1 in compliance with which the ,president transmitted a copy of an application from the ,new ,york ,office of the ,new ,york1 ,newfoundland1 and ,london ,telegraph ,company1 dated ,december #aeth1 in which the ,directors set forth 8their earnest desire to secure for the ,united ,states ,government equal privileges with those stipulated for by the ,british ,government in a work prosecuted thus far with ,american capital10 and then recounted the terms agreed to by the ,lords of the ,treasury4 ,on ,january #ith1 #aheg1 ,mr4 ,seward introduced a bill in the ,senate to give and receive precisely the same privileges on the part of the ,united ,states ,government4 ,it was violently opposed1 was only carried by one vote1 and was not approved till ,march #crd following4 ,the money being now forthcoming1 the ,provisional ,directors of the ,company proceeded to order the ,atlantic ,cable4 ,mr4 ,field was anxious that the order should be given to the firm which had manufactured the ,st4 ,lawrence ,cable1 but the ,board thought it would be better to divide the contract1 and on the #fth ,december1 #ahef1 they entered upon agreements with the ,gutta ,percha ,company for the supply of #b1ejj miles of core1 consisting of copper wire1 with a triple covering of insulating substance1 at #djl4 per mile2 and also with ,messrs4 ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co41 of ,east ,greenwich1 and ,messrs4 ,newall ,co41 of ,birkenhead1 respectively1 for the supply from each of #a1bej miles of the completed ,cable for #fb1jjjl4 ,within six months from that day1 namely1 on the #fth of ,july1 #aheg1 the entire ,cable was completed4 ,the policy of dividing the contract for the manufacture of the ,cable was questioned at the time4 ,when one portion of the ,cable was to be made at ,east ,greenwich and the other at ,birkenhead1 how was it possible that there could be any uniformity of supervision1 any integrity of design1 or any individual responsibility8 ,again1 how was it possible that the textile strength or conducting power of the ,cable could be tested as satisfactorily as would have been the case were its manufacture entrusted to one firm8 ,and1 as it happened1 the twist ran from right to left in one half1 and from left to right in the other half of the ,cable4 ,before the prospectus was issued1 every attention was paid that the characteristics of the ,cable should be suited to its work2 that it should not be too dense1 lest its weight should render it unmanageable in the sea--nor too light1 lest it should be at the mercy of the currents as it went down4 ,it was decided that it should weigh a ton per mile1 should be just so much heavier than the water which it displaced in sinking1 and of such structure as could be easily coiled and yet be a rigid line1 while its centre should be composed of wire capable of conveying electrical symbols through an extent of more than #bjjj miles1 and should retain complete insulation when immersed in the ocean4 ,it was a subject of close and anxious inquiry how to obtain a ,cable of this form and character4 ,no fewer than sixty-two different kinds of rope were tested before one was determined on4 ,in the ,cable finally adopted1 the central conducting wire was a strand made up of seven wires of the purest copper1 of the gauge known in the trade as ,no4 #bb4 ,the strand itself was about the sixteenth of an inch in diameter1 and was formed of one straightly drawn wire1 with six others twisted round it2 this was accomplished by the central wire being dragged from a drum through a hole in a horizontal table1 while the table itself revolved rapidly1 under the impulse of steam1 carrying near its circumference six reels or drums each armed with copper wire4 ,every drum revolved upon its own horizontal axis1 and so delivered its wire as it turned4 ,this twisted form of conducting wire was first adopted for the rope laid across the ,gulf of ,st4 ,lawrence in #ahef1 and was employed with a view to the reduction to the lowest possible amount of the chance of continuity being destroyed in the circuit4 ,it seemed improbable in the highest degree that a fracture could be accidentally produced at precisely the same spot in more than one of the wires of this twisted strand4 ,all the seven wires might be broken at different parts of the strand1 even some hundreds of times1 and yet its capacity for the transmission of the electric current not destroyed1 or reduced in any inconvenient degree4 ,the copper used in the formation of these wires was assayed from time to time during the manufacture to insure absolute homogeneity and purity4 ,the strand itself1 when subjected to strain1 stretched #bj per cent4 of its length without giving way1 and indeed without having its conducting power much modified or impaired4 ,the copper strand of the ,cable was rolled up on drums as it was completed1 and was then taken from the drums to receive a coating of three separate layers of refined gutta percha2 these brought its diameter up to about three-eighths of an inch4 ,the coating of gutta percha was made unusually thick1 for the sake of diminishing the influence of induction1 and in order that the insulation might be rendered as perfect as possible4 ,this latter object was also furthered by the several layers of the insulating material being laid on in succession2 so that if there were accidentally any flaw in the one coat1 the imperfection was sure to be removed when the next deposit was added4 ,to prove the efficacy of the proceeding1 a great number of holes were made near together in the first coating of a fragment of the wire1 and the second coat was then applied in the usual way4 ,the insulation of the strand was found to be perfect under these circumstances1 and continued so even when the core was subjected to hydraulic pressure1 amounting to five tons on the square inch4 ,the gutta percha which was employed for the coating of the conducting strand1 was prepared with the utmost possible care4 ,lumps of the crude substance were first rasped down by a revolving toothed cylinder1 placed within a hollow case1 the whole piece of apparatus somewhat resembling the agricultural turnip machine in its mode of action4 ,the raspings were then passed between rollers1 macerated in hot water1 and well churned4 ,they were next washed in cold water1 and driven at a boiling-water temperature1 by hydraulic power1 through wire-gauze sieves1 attached to the bottom of wide vertical pipes4 ,the gutta percha came out from the sieves in plastic masses of exceeding purity and fineness1 and those masses were then squeezed and kneaded for hours by screws1 revolving in hollow cylinders1 called masticators2 this was done to get the water out1 and to render the substance of the gutta percha sound and homogeneous everywhere4 ,at each turn of the screw1 the plastic mass protruded itself through an opening left for feeding in the upper part of the masticator1 and was then drawn back as the screw rolled on4 ,when the mechanical texture of the refined mass was perfected by masticating and kneading1 it was placed in horizontal cylinders1 heated by steam1 and squeezed through them by screw pistons1 driven down by the machinery very slowly1 and with resistless force4 ,the gutta percha emerged1 under this pressure1 through a die1 which received the termination of both cylinders1 and which at the same time had the strand of copper wire moving along through its centre4 ,the strands were drawn by revolving drums between the cylinders1 and through the die4 ,they entered the die naked bright copper wire1 and issued from it thick1 dull-looking cords1 a complete coating of gutta percha having been attached to them as they traversed the die4 ,six strands were coated together1 ranging along side by side at the first covering4 ,then a series of three lengths of the strand received the second coat together4 ,the third coat was communicated to a solitary strand4 ,the strand and its triple coating of gutta percha were together designated 8the core40 ,illustration3 ,f4 ,jones1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,the ,,reels ,,of ,,gutta ,,percha ,,covered ,,conducting ,,wire ,,conveyed ,,into ,,tanks ,,at ,,the ,,works ,,at ,,greenwich4 ,illustration3 ,r4 ,m4 ,bryson1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,valencia ,,in #aheg-aheh ,,at ,,the ,,time ,,of ,,the ,,laying ,,of ,,the ,,former ,,cable4 ,the copper strand was formed and coated with gutta percha in two mile lengths4 ,each of these lengths1 when completed1 was immersed in water1 and then carefully tested to prove that its continuity and insulation were both perfect4 ,the continuity was ascertained by passing a voltaic current of low power through the strand from a battery of a single pair of plates1 and causing it to record a signal after issuing from the wire4 ,a different and very remarkable plan was adopted to determine the amount of insulation4 ,one pole of a voltaic battery1 consisting of #ejj pairs of plates1 was connected with the earth2 the other pole was united to a wire which coiled round the needle of a very sensitive horizontal galvanometer1 and then ran on into the insulated strand of the core1 the end of which was turned up into the air1 and left without any conducting communication4 ,if the insulation was perfect1 the earth would form one pole of the battery1 and the end of the insulated strand the other pole1 and the circuit be quite open and uninterrupted2 consequently no current would pass1 and the needle of the galvanometer would not be deflected in the slightest degree4 ,if on the other hand there was any imperfection1 or permeability in the sheath of gutta percha1 a portion of the electricity would force its way from the strand through the faulty places and surrounding water to the earth1 a current would be set up1 and the needle of the galvanometer deflected2 the deflection being in proportion to the current which passed1 and therefore its degree would become a measure of the amount of imperfection4 ,when about fifty of the two-mile lengths of core were ready1 these were placed in the water of the canal which ran past the gutta percha works1 and were joined up by their ends into one continuous strand of #ajj miles1 the joints being covered with gutta percha4 ,the hundred-mile length was then put through a careful scrutiny in the same way that the smaller portions were tried1--and next it was halved1 quartered1 and separated into groups of twenty1 ten1 and finally two miles1 and each of these were again separately examined1 and tested in comparison with similar lengths previously approved4 ,whenever separate lengths of the gutta percha covered core were to be joined together1 the gutta percha was scraped away for a short distance from the ends1 and these were made to overlap4 ,a piece of copper wire was then attached by firm brazing1 an inch or two beyond the joint on one side1 tightly bound round until it reached to the same extent on the other side1 and then was there firmly brazed on again4 ,a second binding was next rolled over the first in the same fashion1 and extended a little way beyond it1 and finally several layers of gutta percha were carefully laid over1 and all round the joint by the agency of hot irons4 ,if the core on each side of the joint was dragged opposite ways until the joint yielded1 the outer investment of the wire unrolled spirally as the ends were pulled asunder1 and so the conducting continuity of the strand was maintained1 although the mechanical continuity of the strand itself was broken4 ,the two-mile coils of completed and proved core were wound on large drums with projecting flanges on each side1 the rims of which were shod with iron tires1 so that they might be rolled about as broad wheels1 and made to perform their own locomotive offices as far as possible4 ,when the core was in position on these channelled drums1 the circumference of the drum was closed in carefully by a sheet of gutta percha1 which thus constituted its core-filled channel a sort of cylindrical box or packing case4 ,in this snug nest each completed coil of core was wheeled and dragged away to be transferred to the manufactory1 either at ,birkenhead or ,greenwich4 ,the core-filled drums1 having arrived at the factory of the ,cable1 the drums were mounted by axles1 and kept ready so that one extremity of the length of core might be attached to the ,cable as it was spun out1 when the drum previously in use had been exhausted4 ,during the unrolling of the core from the drum1 it was wound tightly round by a serving of hemp1 saturated with a composition made chiefly of pitch and tar1 the winding being effected by revolving bobbins as the core was drawn along4 ,this hempen serving constituted a bed for the external coat of metallic wires1 and prevented the insulating sheath of gutta percha from being injured by pressure during the final stage of the construction4 ,each new length of core was attached to the ,cable by precisely the same operation as that used at the gutta percha works in joining the two-mile coils for testing2 shortly before an old drum was exhausted1 its remainder was rapidly pulled off and placed in the joiner's hands1 so that it might be made continuous with the core on a new drum1 before the outgoing ,cable began to draw upon it4 ,when the core was covered in with its great coat of hemp and tar1 and carefully gauged to ascertain the equality of its dimensions everywhere1 it was ready to be turned into the completed ,cable4 ,this final operation was effected as the core was drawn up through the centre of a horizontally revolving wheel or table4 ,the table turned with great rapidity1 and carried near its circumference eighteen bobbins or drums4 ,each of these drums was filled with a strand of bright charcoal iron wire1 and had two motions1 one round its horizontal axis1 and one round an upright pivot1 inserted into the revolving table1 so that it delivered its strand always towards the centre of the table as it was carried swiftly round by the revolution4 ,the iron strand was of the same diameter as that which was used for the copper core4 ,there were also seven iron wires in each strand1 exactly like those for the copper strand4 ,eighteen iron strands were thus firmly twisted round the central core1 as the 8closing machine0 whirled4 ,the core1 acted on by the rollers of the machinery1 rose through the middle of the table1 and went up towards the ceiling4 ,the iron strands danced round it1 as it went up1 in a filmy-looking spectre-like cone1 which narrowed and grew more matter-of-fact and distinct as it ascended1 until it glittered in a compact metallic twist1 tightly embracing the core4 ,the eighteen strands of seven-thread wire were used for this metallic envelope in place of eighteen simple wires of the same size as the strand1 because by this means greater flexibility and strength were obtained for the weight of material employed4 ,each strand machine worked day and night1 and in the twenty-four hours spun ninety-eight miles of wire into fourteen miles of strand4 ,there were several strand machines at work in the factories1 and these every twenty-four hours made #b1jeh miles of wire into #bid miles of strand4 ,as much as thirty miles of ,cable were made in a single day4 ,the entire length of wire1 copper1 and iron employed in the manufacture1 amounted to #ccb1ejj miles1 enough to girdle the earth thirteen times4 ,as the closed ,cable was completed1 it was drawn out from the wall of the factory1 and passed through a cistern containing pitch and tar1 and was then coiled in broad pits in the outer yard 7each layer of the coil having been again brushed over with pitch and tar71 and there remained until embarked on board the vessel which conveyed it to its final home4 ,at both the ,greenwich and ,birkenhead works1 four ,cables1 each three hundred miles long1 were simultaneously in process of construction4 ,these were finally united together into one continuous rope1 as the ,cable was stowed away in the vessel which carried it to sea4 ,such is a description of the ,cable finally adopted1 and which when completed weighed from nineteen hundredweight to one ton per mile1 and bore a direct strain of from four to five tons without breaking4 ,the next question which arose for consideration was1 how the ,cable was to be laid in the ocean4 ,the ,great ,eastern1 then known as the ,leviathan1 alone could embrace it within her gigantic hold2 but then the vast fabric had never been tried4 ,she might prove a failure1 and in doing so1 involve that of a far greater and a far more important experiment4 ,it was then determined that the responsibility should be divided1 and the burden be entrusted to two vessels of smaller dimensions4 ,the ,british ,government placed at the service of the ,company the ,agamemnon line-of-battle ship1 and the government of the ,united ,states of ,america sent over the ,niagara4 ,the ,agamemnon was considered to be admirably adapted for receiving the ,cable1 by reason of her peculiar construction2 her engines being situated near the stern1 and there1 being amidships a magnificent hold1 forty-five feet square and twenty feet deep between the lower deck and the keel4 ,in this receptacle one half of the ,cable was distributed round a central core in a compact1 single1 and nearly circular coil4 ,she lay moored off the wharf at ,greenwich1 and the ,cable was drawn into her hold by a small journeyman engine of twelve-horse power1 the rope running over sheaves borne aloft upon the masts of two or three barges1 so moored between the wharf and the ship as to afford intermediate support4 ,the ,niagara1 though not by construction well adapted for the ,cable1 was rendered so by judicious alterations at ,portsmouth4 ,she arrived in the ,mersey on #bbnd ,june1 and was regarded with much curiosity and interest in ,liverpool1 where ,captain ,hudson and his officers received every attention4 ,the ,cable was coiled on board her in three weeks4 ,cork ,harbour was selected as the place where these vessels should rendezvous1 and make all final arrangements2 from whence they were to proceed to the completion of the task1 piloted by the ,u4,s4 frigate ,susquehanna and ,h4,m4 frigate ,leopard1 both paddle-wheel steamers of great power4 ,within the barony of ,iveragh1 in the county of ,kerry1 on an island six miles long by two broad1 lies the village of ,knightstown and harbour of ,valentia1 the most westerly port in ,europe4 ,it is at the southern entrance of the open bay of ,dingle towards the sea4 ,doulas ,head on the east1 and ,reenadroolan ,point on the west1 mark the entrance to the narrows4 ,it can boast of two forts erected by ,cromwell4 ,the ,skelligs--two picturesque and rugged pinnacles of slate--pierce the surface of the sea about eight miles ,s4,w4 of the harbour2 and one of these1 the 8,great ,skellig10 crowned with a light-house1 towers to a height of #gjj feet4 ,it was decided by the ,company that the ,niagara should land the shore end in ,valentia1 and pay it out till her cargo was exhausted mid-way1 where the ,agamemnon was to take up the tale and carry it on to ,newfoundland4 ,the time best adapted for depositing the ,cable in the ocean was determined after much thought and deliberation4 ,the result of ,lieutenant ,maury's observations was1 that in the months of ,june and ,july the risk of storms is very small1 unless immediately on the coast of ,ireland1 while the records of the ,meteorological ,departments1 both in ,england and ,america1 showed that for fifty years no great storm had taken place at that period4 ,it was finally arranged to adopt ,lieutenant ,maury's views1 8that between the #bjth ,july and the #ajth of ,august both sea and air were in the most favourable condition for laying down the ,cable10 and that the vessels should be dispatched so as to reach the rendezvous in mid-ocean1 where the ,cable was to be spliced1 as soon after the #bjth of ,july as possible4 ,it had been ascertained that the distance over which the ,cable was to be laid was #a1hcd miles1 but #fjj additional miles of ,cable were provided1 being an allowance of #cc per cent4 of 8slack40 ,arrangements had been made that when the vessels joined company off ,cork the entire length of the ,cable should be temporarily joined up for the purpose of being tested through its entire length1 as also to allow of some experiments being made to prove the efficiency of the signalling apparatus4 ,the ,cable was arranged so as to come up from the hold of the ship sweeping round a central block or core planted in the midst1 to prevent any interference of the unrolling strands with one another1 or too sudden turns1 which might twist the ,cable into kinks2 having reached the open space above the deck1 it was to be wound out and in1 round four grooved sheaves1 geared together by cogs1 and planted so firmly on girders as to render it impossible that they should be thrown out of the square4 ,from sheaves accurately grooved the ,cable proceeded three or four feet above the poop-deck1 until it passed over a fifth grooved sheave standing out upon rigid arms over the stern4 ,from this it would make its plunge into the deep still sea1 and as the vessel moved away to be dragged out by its own weight1 and by the hold which it would have acquired upon the bottom of the sea4 ,the paying-out sheaves were large grooved drums1 five feet in diameter1 and set in a vertical plane1 one directly before the other1 and having a friction drum geared to them in such a way that its shaft revolved three times as fast as theirs1 the axis of the drum being encircled by two blocks of hard wood1 which could be gripped close upon its circumference by screw power1 so as either to retard or arrest altogether the movement of the sheaves4 ,the screw was worked by a crank1 at which a trustworthy officer was stationed1 to keep a wary eye upon an indicator near to express the exact amount of strain thrown upon the ,cable at each instant4 ,in the electrician's department there were to be signals every second by electrical currents passing through the entire length of the ,cable1 from shore-end1 or from ship to ship4 ,at the side of the vessels patent logs hung down into the water1 to measure the velocity of the ship4 ,one of these wheels1 in the immersed log1 was arranged to make and break an electric circuit at every revolution1 a gutta percha covered wire running up from the revolving wheel on to the deck of the ship1 that it might carry the current whenever the circuit was made1 and record there1 upon a piece of apparatus provided for the purpose1 the speed of the vessel4 ,the brakesman was to watch the tell-tale which would indicate the strain on the rope1 and work his crank and loosen his grip whenever this seemed to be too great2 or tighten his grip if ever the bell ceased to report that the electrical way from end to end of the ,cable was free and unimpaired4 ,an external guard had been placed over the screws of the vessels to defend the ,cable from fouling in case any necessity should arise for backing the vessels4 ,the ,agamemnon had been jury-rigged for the service1 her heavy masts and rigging removed1 and lighter ropes and spars substituted4 ,in the event of sudden and unforeseen storm1 arrangements had been made to slip the ,cable4 ,on the decks of the paying-out vessels two large reels were placed1 each wound round with two and a-half miles of a very strong auxiliary ,cable composed of iron-wire only1 and capable of resisting a strain of ten to twelve tons4 ,should the ,telegraph ,cable be endangered it would be divided1 and the sea end attached to one of the strong supernumerary cords stored upon the reel2 this being rapidly let out1 would place the ,cable in a depth of ocean where its safety would be secured until all danger had passed4 ,in fine1 every possible contrivance that ingenuity could devise or scientific knowledge could suggest1 according to the experience then attained1 had been adopted in order to secure success4 ,those who had toiled so long with wearied brain and anxious heart1 undismayed by difficulties--not disheartened by failure1 hoping when hope seemed presumptuous1 but not despairing even when despair seemed wisdom1 now felt that their part had been accomplished1 that the means of securing the result had now passed beyond man's control1 and rested solely with a ,higher ,power4 ,on the #bith of ,july1 #aheg1 the ,u4,s4,n4 frigate ,niagara arrived at ,queenstown1 having been preceded by ,h4,m4,s4 ,leopard and ,h4,m4,s4 ,cyclops1 which latter steamer had taken the soundings of the intended bed of the ,cable4 ,the ,niagara was accompanied by the ,u4,s4,n4,s4 ,susquehanna1 to act as her convoy4 ,h4,m4,s4 ,agamemnon had already arrived4 ,the ,earl of ,carlisle1 ,lord-,lieutenant of ,ireland1 ever anxious to give such encouragement as his presence could afford to any undertaking which promised to do good1 came down from ,dublin to ,valentia1 and attended a djeuner given by the ,knight of ,kerry to celebrate an event in which the keenest interest was evinced1 although the heart of the country was thrilled by the dreadful intelligence of ,indian mutinies and revolt4 ,the country people flocked to the little island1 and expressed their joy by merrymakings1 dances1 and bonfires4 ,in an eloquent speech ,lord ,carlisle declared that though disappointment might be in store for the promoters1 it would be almost criminal to feel discouragement then--8that the pathway to great achievements has frequently to be hewn out amidst perils and difficulties1 and that preliminary failure is ever the law and condition of ultimate success40 ,these were prophetic words2 in others1 still to be fulfilled1 8,let us hope10 he said4 8,we are about1 either by this sun-down or by to-morrow's dawn1 to establish a new material link between the ,old ,world and the ,new4 ,moral links there have been--links of race1 links of commerce1 links of friendship1 links of literature1 links of glory2 but this1 our new link1 instead of superseding and supplanting the old ones1 is to give them a life and intensity they never had before4 ,the link which is now to connect us1 like the insect in a couplet of our poet1 #8,while exquisitely fine1 ,feels at each thread and moves along the line4'0 ,if anything could overcome the tendency of men to vaticinate1 it surely would be the sad history of the last few years in the ,united ,states4 ,the condition of affairs in that lamentable period is illustrated by another passage of his lordship's speech1 which also points out the inestimable value of the telegraph as a conservator of peace4 8,we may as we take our stand here on the extremest rocky side of our beloved ,ireland1 leave1 as it were1 behind us the wars1 the strifes1 and the bloodshed of the older ,europe1 and pledge ourselves1 weak as our agency may be1 imperfect as our powers may be1 inadequate in strict diplomatic form as our credentials may be2 yet1 in the face of the unparalleled circumstances of the place and the hour1 in the immediate neighbourhood of the mighty vessels whose appearance may be beautiful upon the waters1 even as are the feet upon mountains of those who preach the ,gospel of peace--as a homage due to that serene science which often affords higher and holier lessons of harmony and goodwill than the wayward passions of man are always apt to learn--in the face and in the strength of such circumstances1 let us pledge ourselves to eternal peace between the ,old ,world and the ,new4 ,why1 gentlemen1 what excuse would there be for misunderstanding8 ,what justification could there be for war1 when the disarming message1 when the full explanation1 when the genial and healing counsel may be wafted even across the mighty ,atlantic1 quicker than the sunbeam's path and the lightning's flash80 ,at that moment ,great ,britain was just disengaged from a war with ,russia and a war with ,persia1 and was actively engaged in a war with ,china1 and with mutinies in ,india4 ,france was preparing to deal ,austria a deadly blow2 ,america looked pityingly across the ,atlantic1 and wondered at our folly and our crimes4 ,on ,august the #eth1 #aheg1 the shore end of the ,cable was secured in the little cove selected for the purpose in ,valentia1 on the cliffs above which a telegraphic station had been erected1 and was hauled up amidst the greatest enthusiasm1 ,lord ,carlisle participating in the joy and the labour4 ,on the evening of ,friday1 ,august #gth1 the squadron sailed1 and the ,niagara commenced paying out the ,cable very slowly4 ,about four miles of the shore ,cable had been payed out1 when it became entangled with the machinery1 by the carelessness of one of the men in charge1 and broke2 all hands were engaged in trying to underrun and join the ,cable1 but it was too rough1 and the ,niagara came to anchor for the night4 ,next day a splice was mode1 the ship resumed her course1 and at noon on ,sunday1 ,august #ith1 #ie miles had been payed out4 ,the paying-out gear proved to be defective in the course of the #ajth4 ,on the evening of ,tuesday1 the #aath1 all signals suddenly ceased4 ,the ,cable had broken in #bjjj fathoms of water1 when about #ccj nautical miles were laid1 at a distance of #bhj miles from ,valentia4 ,at the time the ship was going from three to four knots1 and was able to pay out #e to #e miles per hour1 the pressure shown by the indicator being #cjjjlb41 but the strain being no doubt much greater4 ,this loss proved fatal to the first attempt to lay the ,atlantic ,cable1 as on consultation among the officers and engineers it appeared to be unwise to renew the attempt with only #a1hdg miles on board the ships1 or an excess of #ab per cent4 on the quantity required by the whole distance4 ,nothing daunted by the failure1 ,mr4 ,field started off at once in ,h4,m4,s4 ,cyclops for ,england1 and1 on his arrival1 urged the immediate renewal of the enterprise2 but it was resolved by the directors in ,london to postpone it to the following year4 ,an addition to the capital of the ,company was proposed and agreed to4 ,the greater part of the autumn was devoted to preparations for the renewed efforts of the ,company4 ,the part of the ,cable which was left was landed at ,keyham1 #ec miles of the shore-end were recovered1 and the ,company again applied to the ,british and ,american ,governments for the services of the same vessels which had been previously lent to them4 ,messrs4 ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co41 were entrusted by the directors of ,the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company to manufacture a further length of #ijj miles1 to replace that which was lost or damaged1 thus making a total of #c1jab miles of ,cable1 so as to guard against accidents by giving an allowance of #dj per cent4 of slack4 ,the paying-out apparatus was also improved1 so that the engineer in charge alone should control the egress of the ,cable1 instead of using the hand-wheel1 which1 upon the former occasion1 had caused much danger in rough weather4 ,the manufacturers of the machinery were ,messrs4 ,easton ,amos1 of ,southwark1 under the superintendence of ,mr4 ,penn1 ,mr4 ,field1 ,mr4 ,lloyd1 ,mr4 ,everett1 and ,mr4 ,bright4 ,the important part of the apparatus consisted of ,appold's self-regulating brake1 so adjusted and constructed as always to exert a certain amount of resistance1 regulated by the revolution of the wheels to which it was applied4 ,more than this fixed amount of resistance1 whatever it might be1 it could not produce1 no matter whether the machine was hot or dry1 or covered with sand2 neither could it be worked at less than this amount4 ,it was made of bars of wood laid lengthwise across the edge of the wheel1 over which it lapped down firmly1 and to which it was held with massive weights fixed to the ends of levers1 which regulated the degree of resistance to the revolutions of the wheel1 and which1 of course1 enabled those in charge of the machine to fix the pressure of the brake4 ,in the new apparatus the brake was attached over two drums connected with the two main grooved wheels1 round which the actual ,cable passed in running out4 ,the latter were simply broad1 solid1 iron wheels1 each cut with four very deep grooves in which the ,cable rested1 to prevent it flying up or 8overriding40 ,it passed over these two main wheels1 not in a double figure of eight1 as in the old ponderous machine of four wheels1 but simply wound over one1 to and round the other1 and so on four times1 till it was finally payed down into the water4 ,thus1 the wire was wound up from the hold of the vessel1 passed four times over the double main wheels1 connected with the brake or friction drums1 past the register which indicated the rate of paying out and the strain upon the ,cable1 and then ran at once into the deep4 ,the strain at which the ,cable would break was #fb cwt41 and to guard against any chance of mishap1 not more than half this strain was put upon it4 ,the brakes1 as a rule1 were fixed to give a strain of about #af cwt41 and the force required to keep the machine going1 or about #h cwt4 more1 was the utmost that was allowed to come upon the wire4 ,the brake of the paying-out machine used on the occasion of the first attempt was capable1 by a movement of the hand1 of exerting prodigious resistance4 ,in the new machine any one could in a moment ease it1 until there was no resistance at all beyond the #h cwt4 strain on the wire4 ,at a few feet from the paying-out machine1 the ,cable passed over a wheel1 which registered precisely the strain in pounds at which the coil was running out4 ,facing this register was a steering wheel1 similar to that of an ordinary vessel1 and connected in the same way with compound levers1 which acted upon the brake4 ,the officer in charge of the apparatus stood by this wheel1 and watched the register of strain or pitch of the vessel1 opening the brakes by the slightest movement of his hand1 and letting the ,cable run freely as the stern rose4 ,the same officer1 however1 could not by any possible method increase the actual strain on the ,cable1 which remained always according to the friction at which the brake was at first adjusted by the engineer4 ,all was ready for the expedition before the time indicated1 and the directors and the public looked with confidence to the result4 ,instead of landing a shore-end at ,valentia1 and making a junction of the ,cable1 it was decided that the ships should proceed together to a point midway between ,trinity ,bay and ,valentia1 there splice the ,cable1 and then turn their bows east and west1 and proceed to their destinations4 ,on ,thursday1 the #ajth of ,june1 #aheh1 ,h4,m4,s4 ,agamemnon and ,u4,s4,n4,s4 ,niagara1 accompanied by ,h4,m4,s4 ,valorous and ,h4,m4,s4 ,gorgon1 left ,plymouth1 the two former having previously made an experimental cruise in the ,channel with the ,cables1 which were very satisfactory1 in all respects4 ,experienced mariners gazed with apprehension at their depth in water as they left the shore4 ,it was1 however1 such glorious weather as to cause some anxiety lest there should be no wind1 and that the stock of coals might be exhausted before their mission was accomplished4 ,before midnight1 however1 a gradually increasing gale gathered to a storm1 while the barometer marked #bi4 ,for seven consecutive days the tempest1 so eloquently described by ,mr4 ,woods in the ,times1 continued1 the ,agamemnon under close-reefed topsails striving to reach the rendezvous1 ,lat4 #eb #b1 ,long4 #cc #ah1 rolling #de degrees1 and labouring fearfully4 ,on the #aith and #bjth the gale reached its height4 ,the position of the ship1 carrying #b1hdj tons of dead-weight1 badly stowed1 had become most critical1 from her violent lurching as she sunk into the troughs of the sea1 and struggled violently to right herself--the coal bunkers gave way1 and caused alarm and confusion4 ,were the masts to yield1 the ship would rock still more violently1 the ,cable would shift1 and carry every one with it to destruction4 ,captain ,preedy had but two courses open in order to save the ship without sacrificing the ,cable--either was fraught with peril--to wear the ship1 or to run before the gale and risk the chances of being pooped by the monster seas in pursuit4 ,on the #bast the ,agamemnon was enabled to bear up for the rendezvous in mid-ocean1 which she reached on the #beth1 after sixteen days of danger and apprehension1 her companion1 the ,niagara1 having passed through the dreadful ordeal with less danger and difficulty4 ,at half-past two o'clock on the #bfth1 the ,agamemnon and ,niagara first spliced the ,cable2 it however became foul of the scraper on the latter ship1 and broke4 ,a second splice was immediately made1 and the vessels started4 ,the ,agamemnon had paid out #cg miles1 when suddenly the continuity of the electric current ceased1 and the electricians declared that the ,cable had broken at the bottom4 ,as the ,niagara was hauling in the ,cable1 of which she had payed out #dc miles1 it snapped close to the ship4 ,on the #bhth1 the third and final splice was effected4 ,the ,niagara started ,n4,w4 ,n4 ,at #d p4m4 on the #bith1 when #aaa miles had been paid out1 the electricians on board reported that continuity had ceased4 ,the cause was soon known4 ,the ,agamemnon had run #aah miles1 and paid out #adf miles of ,cable1 when the upper deck coil became exhausted4 ,speed was slackened1 in order to shift the ,cable to the lower deck1 when suddenly it snapped1 without any perceptible cause1 under a strain of only #bbjj pounds4 ,the weather was calm2 the speed moderate--about five knots2 the strain one-third less than breaking strain2 everything favourable2 and yet the ,cable parted1 silently and suddenly4 ,the ,niagara had to cut the ,cable1 as she had no means of recovering the portion payed out1 and lost #add miles of it4 ,on the #abth ,july1 the ,agamemnon1 after an eventful cruise of thirty-three days1 reached ,queenstown1 having left the rendezvous on the #fth1 whither she had gone in the hope of meeting the ,niagara4 ,a special meeting of the ,company was called1 and the expedition was ordered to go to sea4 ,there was still quite sufficient ,cable remaining1 and it was determined to make another attempt immediately4 ,the way in which the ,cable parted on the third occasion was the only thing calculated to create doubt and apprehension4 ,the two other breakages might be accounted for1 and guarded against for the future1 but there was something in the latter not so easy of explanation1 and which seemed to point to some mysterious agency existing in the depths of the ocean1 beyond the perception of science or man's control4 ,at midnight on the #bhth of ,july1 #aheh1 the ,agamemnon and ,niagara once more met in mid-ocean1 and on the following morning spliced the ,cable1 which was this time destined to tend so much towards solving the great problem4 ,on the #cjth1 #bfe miles had been paid out4 ,on the #cast1 #edj miles4 ,on the #ast ,august1 #hhd miles4 ,on the #bnd1 #abef miles4 ,on the #dth1 #ahed miles2 and on the #eth1 #bjbb miles4 ,the ,agamemnon now anchored in ,dowlas ,bay1 ,valentia1 and preparations were made to join the ocean and shore ends4 ,on the same day1 at #ade a4m41 the ,niagara anchored in ,trinity ,bay1 ,newfoundland1 and in an hour after she received a signal across the ,atlantic that the ,cable had been landed from the ,agamemnon4 ,mr4 ,field at once telegraphed the news to the ,new ,york press1 and the intelligence flew all over the ,union1 where it was received with the most extraordinary manifestations of delight4 ,the information was received more equably in ,england4 ,on the #gth of ,august1 many an anxious heart was lightened by reading in the ,times the following telegram3-- 8,,valentia1 ,august #fth4 8,end of ,cable safely landed1 close by pier1 at ,knightstown1 being carried on the paddle-boxes of the ,valorous--expect to be open to public in three weeks40 ,mr4 ,field's dispatch to the ,associated ,press of ,new ,york was followed by two to the ,president1 to which ,mr4 ,buchanan sent a suitable reply4 ,a message was sent to the ,mayor of ,new ,york also1 to which an answer was returned next day4 ,on ,august the #ith the telegraphic wires reported that 8,newfoundland still answered1 but only voltaic currents40 ,on the #ajth it was stated 8,coil currents had been received--#dj per minute easily0--followed by the modest words1 8,please send slower for the present40 ,on the #adth a message of #ad words was transmitted1 and on the #ahth the ,directors in ,england thus spoke to their brethren in the other hemisphere3 8,europe and ,america are united by telegraphic communication4 #8,glory to ,god in the highest1 on earth peace1 goodwill towards men4'0 ,this message occupied #ce minutes in transmission4 ,it was rapidly followed by a message from the ,queen of ,england to the ,president of ,america1 which occupied #fg minutes in transmission1 and was repeated4 ,the text was as follows3-- 8,,to ,,the ,,president ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states1 ,,washington3 8,the ,queen desires to congratulate the ,president upon the successful completion of this great international work1 in which the ,queen has taken the deepest interest4 8,the ,queen is convinced that the ,president will join with her in fervently hoping that the ,electric ,cable which now connects ,great ,britain with the ,united ,states will prove an additional link between the nations whose friendship is founded upon their common interest and reciprocal esteem4 8,the ,queen has much pleasure in communicating with the ,president1 and renewing to him her wishes for the prosperity of the ,united ,states40 ,illustration3 ,r4,m4 ,bryson1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,trinity ,,bay1 ,,newfoundland4 ,,exterior ,,view ,,of ,,telegraph ,,house ,,in #aheg-aheh4 ,illustration3 ,g4 ,mc,culloch1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,telegraph ,,house ,,trinity ,,bay1 ,,newfoundland4 ,,interior ,,of 8,,mess ,,room0 #aheh ,,the ,,reply ,,of ,,the ,,president4 8,washington ,city1 ,august #af1 #ahef4 8,,to ,,her ,,majesty ,,victoria1 ,,queen ,,of ,,great ,,britain3 8,the ,president cordially reciprocates the congratulations of ,her ,majesty the ,queen on the success of the great international enterprise accomplished by the science1 skill1 and indomitable energy of the two countries4 ,it is a triumph more glorious1 because far more useful to mankind1 than was ever won by conqueror on the field of battle4 8,may the ,atlantic ,telegraph1 under the blessing of ,heaven1 prove to be a bond of perpetual peace and friendship between the kindred nations1 and an instrument destined by ,divine ,providence to diffuse religion1 civilisation1 liberty1 and law throughout the world4 ,in this view will not all nations of ,christendom spontaneously unite in the declaration that it shall be for ever neutral1 and that its communications shall be held sacred in passing to their places of destination1 even in the midst of hostilities8 7,signed7 8,,james ,,buchanan40 ,on the same day a message was received from ,mr4 ,c4 ,field1 consisting of #ch words1 which occupied #bb minutes in transmission4 ,the mighty agency which had been made subservient to the dictates of man1 had touched the hearts of two nations by expressing mutual esteem and respect1 but had not yet exercised its higher prerogatives4 ,on the #bast of ,august it flashed tidings of great joy1 and brought relief to those who1 but for it1 would have languished in very weariness and pining4 ,the ,europa and ,arabia1 each thickly freighted with human lives1 had come into collision in mid-ocean4 ,so much was known1 but there was nothing to appease the anxiety of those whose friends and relatives were on board4 ,fourteen days must elapse before the arrival of the next steamer4 ,within fourteen hours1 however1 the ,atlantic telegraph wires allayed intense dread and anxious fears3 8,newfoundland4--,europa and ,arabia have been in collision--one has put into ,st4 ,john's--no lives are lost--all well40 ,on the #beth of ,august it was announced that 8the ,cable works splendidly10 and shortly after the ,new ,york journals recorded how the entire continent had gone mad for very joy1 how feasting was the order of the day1 and how ,american intellect had achieved the greatest scientific triumph of the age4 ,on the #gth of ,september1 #aheh1 the following letter appeared in the ,times1 addressed to the editor3-- 8,september #fth1 #aheh4 8,,sir1--,i am instructed by the ,directors to inform you that1 owing to some cause not at present ascertained1 but believed to arise from a fault existing in the ,cable at a point hitherto undiscovered1 there have been no intelligible signals from ,newfoundland since one o'clock on ,friday the #crd inst4 ,the ,directors are now in ,valentia1 and1 aided by various scientific and practical electricians1 are investigating the cause of the stoppage1 with a view to remedying the existing difficulty4 ,under these circumstances no time can be named at present for opening the wire to the public4 8,,geo4 ,,saward40 ,such was the foreshadowing of the great calamity that was so soon to follow4 ,public excitement became intense4 ,the market value of the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,stock assumed a downward tendency1 and fell rapidly4 ,but the projectors had not been idle4 ,a rigid inquiry had been immediately instituted by ,professor ,thomson1 ,mr4 ,varley1 and ,sir ,charles ,bright1 which enabled them to arrive at a conclusion that the fault must lie on the ,irish coast4 ,consequently the ,cable was underrun for three miles1 cut and tested2 but no defect being found1 it was again spliced4 ,during all this period its electrical condition had become so much deteriorated that such messages as passed required to be constantly repeated4 ,so matters went1 hope and fear alternating1 until the insulation of the wire became suddenly worse1 and at last the signals ceased to be intelligible at ,newfoundland altogether4 ,scientific inquiry tended to show that the fault lay about #bgj miles from ,valentia1 at the mountain range which divides the depths of the ,atlantic from the shallow water on the ,irish shore4 ,this steep range1 or sloping bank1 which1 on being sounded1 showed a difference of #g1bjj feet in elevation in a distance of eight miles1 had been crossed by the ,agamemnon an hour before the expected time1 and it was said a sufficient quantity of slack had not been thrown out1 so that the ,cable was suffered to hang suspended in the water4 ,but this was of course mere conjecture1 and the failure most probably was precipitated by injudicious attempts to overcome defective insulation by increased battery power4 ,the conclusions finally arrived at by the ,scientific ,committee appointed to report as to the causes of the failure of the ,cable were1 first1 that it had been manufactured too hastily2 secondly1 that a great and unequal strain was brought on it by the machinery2 and thirdly1 that the repeated coilings and uncoilings it underwent served to injure it4 ,to such causes was the failure to be attributed1 not to any original defect in the gutta percha4 ,mr4 ,varley stated his opinion that there must have been a fault in the ,cable while on board the ,agamemnon1 and before it was submerged2 but none of the theories accounted for the destruction of a ,cable on which half a million of money had been expended1 and which 7if successful7 two governments had contracted to subsidise to the gross amount of #bh1jjjl4 yearly4 ,thus were annihilated1 silently and mysteriously1 all those hopes which had survived so many disappointments1 and which for a moment had been so abundantly realised4 ,but in ,england1 as no ebullitions of joy had been indulged in when success seemed certain1 neither was there now any yielding to despair4 ,in the month of ,april1 #ahfj1 the ,directors of the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company sent out ,captain ,kell and ,mr4 ,varley to ,newfoundland to endeavour to recover some portion of the ,cable2 their efforts showed that the survey which had been taken must have been very insufficient1 and the ground was much worse than was expected4 ,they recovered five miles of the ,cable1 and ascertained two facts1 namely1 that the gutta percha was in no degree deteriorated1 and that the electrical condition of the core had been improved by three years' submersion4 ,in #ahfb several attempts were also made to recover some of the ,cable from the ,irish side1 but with no practical advantage2 and in consequence of violent storms the attempt was abandoned4 ,the great ,civil ,war in ,america stimulated capitalists to renew the attempt2 the public mind became alive to the importance of the project1 and to the increased facilities which promised a successful issue4 ,mr4 ,field1 who compassed land and sea incessantly1 pressed his friends on both sides of the ,atlantic for aid1 and agitated the question in ,london and ,new ,york4 ,on the #bjth of ,december1 #ahfb1 the ,atlantic ,company issued its prospectus1 setting forth the valuable privileges it had acquired--amongst others1 the exclusive right to land telegraph wires on the ,atlantic coast of ,labrador1 ,newfoundland1 ,prince ,edward's ,island1 and the ,state of ,maine--and invited public subscriptions4 ,the firm of ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co41 sent in tenders to provide a ,cable at a cost of #gjj1jjj2 a sum of #acg1jjj1 being #bj per cent4 upon the capital of the ,company1 to be paid to them in old unguaranteed shares of the ,company1 provided they were successful4 ,on the #dth of ,march1 #ahfc1 a large number of the leading merchants in ,new ,york assembled in the ,chamber of ,commerce in that city1 for the purpose of hearing some new and interesting facts relative to the ,atlantic ,telegraph enterprise4 ,the many advantages which would arise to ,america were apparent1 and1 among others1 was the improvement of the agricultural position of the country by extending to it the facilities1 already enjoyed by ,england and ,france1 of commanding the foreign grain markets2 as well as the avoidance of misunderstandings between ,america and other countries4#b ,since #aheh1 what was a mere experiment had become a practical reality4 ,the ,gutta ,percha ,company had prepared no less than forty-four submarine ,cables1 enclosing #ijjj miles of conducting wire1 which were in daily use1 and not one of which had required to be repaired1 except at the shore end1 where they were exposed to ships' anchors4 ,at the meeting in ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,field read a letter from ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co41 in which they offered to undertake to lay the ,cable between ,ireland and ,newfoundland on the most liberal conditions4 ,the terms which they proposed were1--,first1 that all actual disbursements for work and material should be recouped each week3 secondly1 that when the ,cable was in full working order1 #bj per cent4 on the actual profits of the ,company should be paid in shares to be delivered monthly1 while at the same time they offered to subscribe #be1jjj towards the ordinary capital of the ,company4 ,the ,english ,government also agreed to guarantee interest on the capital at #h per cent41 during the operation and working of the ,cable1 and to grant a yearly subsidy of #ad1jjj4 ,mr4 ,field further directed the attention of the meeting to the line to ,san ,francisco 7a single ,state71 as evidence of what business might be expected4 ,the estimated power of the ,cable was a minimum of #ab and a maximum of #ah words per minute4 ,if it were to be worked for sixteen hours per day for #cjj days in each year1 at a charge of #bs4 #f;d4 per word1 the income would amount to #dac1jjj a year1 which would be a return of #dj per cent4 upon a single ,cable4 ,after the failure of the last ,cable a ,commission of ,inquiry1 consisting of nine members1 had sat for two years1 and1 by their report1 afforded valuable information4 ,the ,british ,government had also dispatched surveying expeditions1 which reported most favourably as to ,newfoundland4 ,in reference to the objection1 that in case of war the ,cable would be under the sole control of the ,english ,government1 it was to be remembered that it would be laid under treaty stipulations4 ,after a lengthened discussion on various matters connected with the project1 it was proposed by ,mr4 ,a4 ,low1 and unanimously resolved1 8,that1 in the opinion of this meeting1 a ,cable can1 in the present state of telegraphic science1 be laid between ,newfoundland and ,ireland with almost absolute certainty of success1 and will when laid prove the greatest benefit to the people of the two hemispheres1 and also profitable to the shareholders4 ,it is1 therefore1 recommended to the public to aid the undertaking40 ,illustration3 ,r4 ,m4 ,bryson1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,h4,m4,s4 8,,agamemnon0 ,,laying ,,the ,,atlantic ,,telegraph ,,cable ,,in #aheh4 ,a ,,whale ,,crosses ,,the ,,line4 ,illustration3 ,r4 ,m4 ,bryson1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,coiling ,,the ,,cable ,,in ,,the ,,large ,,tanks ,,at ,,the ,,works ,,at ,,greenwich4 ,messrs4 ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co4 had long successfully manufactured ,cables in accordance with all the improvements that had taken place in machinery1 as well as in the manufacture of gutta percha1 since the laying of the ,cable of #aheh4 ,their experience as contractors in laying lines might be estimated by the report of the ,jurors of the ,exhibition of #ahfb4 ,they had been identified with the history of submarine telegraphy from its earliest existence1 and now1 having previously incorporated the ,gutta ,percha ,company1 they accepted the offer made by capitalists of influence and became absorbed in 8,the ,telegraph ,construction and ,maintenance ,company10 of which ,mr4 ,pender1 ,m4,p41 was chairman1 and ,mr4 ,glass managing director4 ,the ,british ,government were willing to assist by subsidy and guarantee1 and there lay the ,great ,eastern1 the only vessel in the world suited for the undertaking1 seeking for a purchaser4 ,the huge ship1 which cost #fdj1jjj1 was chartered by the ,directors of the ,telegraph ,construction and ,maintenance ,company1 who seemed bent upon solving the problem of its existence1 and on showing what great things it was destined to accomplish4 ,captain ,james ,anderson1 an accomplished officer of the ,cunard line1 was asked to take the command1 and received leave to do so1 and it was with satisfaction the ,directors learned his willingness to undertake the task4 ,in ,may1 #ahfd1 a contract previously entered into was ratified1 providing that all profit should be contingent on success1 and that all payments were to be made in unissued shares of the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company4 ,a resolution was also passed1 authorising the raising of additional capital by the issue of #h per cent4 guaranteed shares1 of which ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co41 were to receive #bej1jjjl41 and also #ajj1jjjl4 in debentures4 ,the form of the ,cable selected was similar in its component parts to that of #aheh1 but widely different in the construction and quality of the materials4 ,it had been reported on most favourably by the ,committee of ,selection1 and was at once accepted by the contractors2 the ,directors of the ,company recognising the assiduity and skill of ,mr4 ,glass in the investigations as to the best description of ,cable4 ,the following official account#c states so minutely every particular connected with the ,cable during the process of formation1 down to its shipment on board the ,great ,eastern1 that no better description can be given3-- ,it differed from the ,cable of #aheg-h1 as to its size1 as to the weight and method of application of the materials of which it was composed1 as to its specific gravity1 and as to the mode adopted for its external protection4 ,for the same reason as before1 the copper conductor employed in the ,cable was not a solid rod1 but a strand1 composed of seven wires1 each of which gauged #jdh parts of an inch4 ,it was found practically that this form of conductor1 in which six of the wires were laid in a spiral direction around the seventh1 was a most effectual protection against the sudden or complete severance of the copper wire4 ,the severance1 or 8breach of continuity10 as it is usually called1 is one of the most serious accidents that can happen to a submerged ,cable1 when unaccompanied by loss of insulation--owing to the great difficulty in discovering the locality of such a fault4 ,even the best description of copper wire can seldom be relied upon for equality of strength throughout1 and in some instances an inch or even a less portion of the wire will prove to be slightly crystallised1 and consequently incapable of resisting the effects of coiling or paying out if brought to bear upon the part1 though no external difference be at all apparent between the weak portion and the remainder of the sample4 ,by proceeding1 however1 as in the present case1 the conductor was divided into seven sections1 and the risk of seven weak places occurring in the same spot being exceedingly remote1 the probability of a breach of continuity in a strand conductor was almost nil4 ,the weight of the new conductor was nearly three times that of the former one--being #cjj pounds to the nautical mile against #ajg pounds per knot to the conductor of #aheg4 ,the adoption of this increased weight had reference to the increase of commercial speed in the working of the new ,cable expected to accrue therefrom1 and was founded upon the principles of conduction and induction1 now well understood1 which consist in the law that the conductivity of the conductor is as its sectional area1 while its inductive capacity 7whereby speed of transmission is retarded7 is as its circumference only2 and1 as the maximum speed at which the original ,cable was ever worked did not exceed two and a-half words per minute1 it would follow by calculation1 taking into account the thickness of the dielectric surrounding the present conductor1 that1 using the same instruments as in #aheh1 a speed of three and a-half to four words per minute might be expected from the new ,cable2 but it was stated by the electricians that owing to the improved modes of working long ,cables that have been discovered since #aheh1 an increase of speed up to six or even more words per minute might be secured by the adoption of suitable apparatus4 ,the purity of the copper employed1 a very important item1 affecting the rate of transmission1 had been carefully provided for4 ,every portion of the conductor was submitted to a searching test1 and all copper of a lower conductivity than #he per cent4 of that of pure copper was carefully rejected4 ,the covering of the conductor with its dielectric or insulating sheath was effected as follows3--,the centre wire of the copper strand was first covered with a coating of gutta percha1 reduced to a viscid state with ,stockholm tar1 this being the preparation known as 8,chatterton's ,compound40 ,this coating must be so thick that1 when the other six wires forming the strand were laid spirally and tightly round it1 every interstice was completely filled up and all air excluded4 ,the object of this process was two-fold2 first1 to prevent any space for air between the conductor and insulator1 and thus exclude the increase of inductive action attendant upon the absence of a perfect union of those two agents1 and1 second1 to secure mechanical solidity to the entire core2 the conductors of some earlier ,cables having been found to be to some extent loose within the gutta percha tube surrounding them1 and thereby much more liable to permanent extension1 mechanical injury1 and imperfect centricity than those in which the preliminary precaution just described had been made use of4 ,the whole conductor next received a coating of ,chatterton's ,compound outside of it2 this1 when the core was completed1 quickly solidified1 and became almost as hard as the remainder of the subsequent insulation4 ,it was then surrounded with a first coating of the purest gutta percha1 which being pressed around it while in a plastic state by means of a very accurate die1 formed a first continuous tube along the whole conductor4 ,over this tube was laid by the same process a thin covering of ,chatterton's ,compound1 for the purpose of effectually closing up any possible pores or minute flaws that might have escaped detection in the first gutta percha tube4 ,to this covering of ,chatterton's ,compound succeeded a second tube of pure gutta percha1 then another coating of the compound1 and so on alternately until the conductor had received in all four coatings of compound and four of gutta percha4 ,the total weight of insulating material thus applied was #djj pounds to the nautical mile1 against #bfa pounds in the ,cable of #aheg-h4 ,the core1 completed as described1 and which had previously and repeatedly been under electrical examination1 was at length submerged in water of a temperature of #ge deg4 ,fah41 and so remained during twenty-four hours4 ,this was done that the subsequent electrical tests for conductivity and insulation might be made under circumstances the most unfavourable to the manufacture1 from the well-known fact1 that the insulating power of gutta percha is sensibly decreased by heat4 ,it also ensures uniformity of condition to the core under test1 and1 the temperature in which it was tested being higher by #bj deg4 than that of the water of the ,north ,atlantic1 there was plenty of margin against any disappointment from the effects of temperature after submersion4 ,at the expiration of the term of soaking1 the coils of core submitted to that process were expected to show an insulation of not less than #e1gjj1jjj of ,varley's standard units1 or of #aej1jjj1jjj of those of ,siemens's standard4 ,this of itself was a very severe test1 but no portion of the core showed a less perfection than that of double of either of the above high standards4 ,having passed this ordeal1 and having been tested on separate instruments and by a different electrical process by the officers of the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company1 in order to verify the observations of the contractors1 the core was tested for insulation under hydraulic pressure1 after which it was carefully unwound from the reels on which it had been wound for that purpose1 and every portion was carefully examined by hand as it was rewound on to the large drums on which it was sent forward to the covering works at ,east ,greenwich1 to receive its external protecting sheath4 ,it was then again submerged in water1 and required once more to pass the full electrical tests above referred to4 ,finally1 each reel of core was very carefully secured and protected from injury1 and in this state was sent to ,east ,greenwich1 where it was immediately placed in tanks provided for it4 ,in these it was covered with water1 and the lids of the tanks being fastened down and locked1 it remained until demanded for completion4 ,the manufacture and testing of the 8core0 of the ,atlantic ,cable having been completed at the ,gutta ,percha works as described1 a telegraphic line was thereby produced which1 without further addition of material or substance1 beyond that of copper and gutta percha1 proportionable to any required increase in its length1 would be perfect as an electrical communicator through the longest distances and in the deepest water1 in which element moreover it appears to be chemically indestructible1 if the experience of some fourteen years may be taken as evidence4 ,at this point1 however1 the final form to be assumed by the deep-sea ,cable was subject to important mechanical considerations1 which came into play across the path of those purely electrical2 and upon the manner in which these considerations are met and dealt with1 depend1 not merely the primarily successful submersion1 but the ultimate durability and commercial value of deep-sea ,cables4 ,the problem in the case of the ,atlantic ,telegraph enterprise may be thus stated4 ,given a submarine telegraph core like that already described1 constructed on the best known principles and perfect as to its electrical conductivity and insulation--it is required to lower the same through the sea to a maximum depth of two and a-half miles1 so as not merely not to allow the insulating medium to be torn or strained1 but so as not even to bring its normal elasticity into play against the more tensile but perfectly inelastic material of the conductor4 ,for if the core were lowered into very deep water like that referred to without further protection1 even supposing it to escape actual fracture by the adoption of extraordinary precaution and by the aid of fine weather1 it is evident that whenever1 as would be highly probable1 either in the act of paying out1 during the lifting or manuvring of the ship1 or even from the effects of its own weight1 the gutta percha sheath became extended to the limit of its elasticity1 the copper in the centre would be stretched to a corresponding extent1 and1 the tension being removed1 the gutta percha in returning to its original length would pull back the now elongated copper1 which thenceforward would in every such case 8buckle up10 and exert a constant lateral thrust against the gutta percha2 ending1 probably1 in its ultimate escape to the outside1 and the consequent destruction of the core as an electrical agent4 ,moreover1 in the event of an electrical fault being discovered in any submerged portion of the ,cable during the process of 8paying-out0 in deep water1 it is of paramount importance towards its recovery and repair1 that the engineer should have such an assurance in the quality and strength of his materials as will enable him confidently to exert a known force in hauling back the injured part1 without apprehension of damage to the vital portion of the ,cable4 ,the solution of this question must therefore be found in adding mechanical strength externally to the core1 by surrounding it with such materials and in such a manner as to relieve it from all that strain which it will unavoidably meet in depositing it in its required position4 ,in the case of the original ,atlantic ,cable this was attempted by first surrounding the core with tarred hemp1 which in its turn was enveloped spirally by eighteen strands of iron wire2 each strand consisting of seven ,no4 #bb gauge wires4 ,the entire weight of the ,cable so formed was1 in air #bj cwt4 per knot1 and in water #acc per knot4 ,being capable of bearing its own weight in about five miles perpendicular depth of water1 and the greatest depth on the route being two-and a half miles1 its strength was calculated at about as much again as was absolutely requisite for the work4 ,this was thought at the time to be a sufficient margin1 and certainly in #aheh1 owing to the greatly improved machinery employed1 this ,cable was payed-out with great facility and without undue strain1 although portions of it had been lost by breaking during several previous attempts in the same summer4 ,subsequent investigation and experience1 however1 led to the conclusion1 that in respect1 not only to its mechanical properties1 but especially with regard to its relative specific gravity1 and to other points in its construction1 the ,cable of #aheh was very imperfect2 and1 with a view to ensure every practicable improvement in the structure of their new line1 the promoters of the undertaking1 so soon as they found themselves in funds1 during #ahfc1 issued advertisements with a view to stimulate inquiry into the subject1 inviting tenders for ,cables suitable for the proposed work4 ,the specimens that were sent in1 as the result of this public appeal1 were submitted to the scientific advisers of the ,company1 who1 after careful experiments with all the specimens1 unanimously recommended the ,atlantic ,company to adopt the principle of the ,cable proposed by ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co41 whose experience and success in this description of work are well known4 ,the ,committee1 however1 stipulated that they should settle the actual material of which the ,cable was to be ultimately composed1 and that these should be carefully and separately experimented on before finally deciding upon it2 and in consequence of this stipulation upwards of one hundred and twenty different specimens1 being chiefly variations of the principle adopted by the ,committee1 were manufactured and subjected to very severe experiment1 as were also the various descriptions and quantities of iron1 hemp1 and ,manilla proposed as components of these respective ,cables4 ,the result of it all was that the ,committee recommended the ,cable that was adopted as being1 in their opinion1 8the one most calculated to insure success in the present state of our experimental knowledge respecting deep-sea ,cables10 taking care at the same time1 by enforcing a stringent specification and constant supervision1 to guard against any possible laxity in the details of its construction4 ,the ,cable so decided on weighed #ce cwt4 per knot in air1 but in water it did not exceed #ad cwt41 being only a fraction heavier in that medium than the old ,cable1 though bearing more than twice the strain--the breaking strain of the new ,cable being #g tons #ae cwt4 ,in water it was capable of bearing eleven miles of its own length perpendicularly suspended1 and consequently had a margin of strength of more than four and a-half times that which was absolutely requisite for the deepest water4 ,the core having been received from the gutta percha works1 and carefully tested to note its electrical condition1 was first taken to receive its padding of jute yarn1 whereby the gutta percha would be protected against any pressure from the external iron sheath1 which latter succeeded the jute4 ,on former occasions this padding of jute had been saturated in a mixture of tar before being applied to the gutta percha2 but experience had shown that this proceeding might lead to serious fallacies as to the electrical state of the core1 cases having been repeatedly found where faults existed in the core itself--amounting to an almost total loss of insulation--which1 however1 were only discovered after being submerged and worked through1 owing to the partial insulation conferred for a time upon the bad place by means of the tarred wrapping4 ,the ,atlantic core1 therefore1 was wrapped with jute which had been simply tanned in a solution of catechu1 in order to preserve it from decay1 and as fast as the wrapping proceeded the wrapped core was coiled into water1 in which1 not only at this stage1 but ever afterwards until finally deposited in the sea1 the ,cable1 complete or incomplete1 was stored1 and the water being able to freely pass through the tarred jute to the core1 the least loss of insulation was at once apparent by the facility offered by the water to conduct away to earth the whole or a portion of the testing current4 ,the iron wire with which the jute cover was surrounded was specially prepared for this purpose1 and is termed by the makers 7,messrs4 ,webster ,horsfall7 8,homogeneous ,iron40 ,it was manufactured and rolled into rods at their works at ,killamarsh1 near ,sheffield1 and drawn at their wire factory at ,hay mills1 near ,birmingham4 ,this wire approaches to steel in regard to strength1 but by some peculiarity in the mode of preparing it1 is deprived entirely of that springiness which prohibits altogether the use of steel as a covering for the outsides of submarine cables4 ,ten wires were laid spirally round the core1 and each of these wires was of ,no4 #ac gauge1 and was under contract to bear a strain of #hej to #a1ajj lb41 with an elongation of half an inch in every fifty inches within those breaking limits4 ,the ,cable1 as completed and surrounded by these wires1 had not the slightest tendency to spring1 as would be the case if the metal were hard steel1 and could be handled with great facility4 ,before1 however1 these ten wires surrounded the core1 each separate wire had to be itself covered with a jacket of tarred ,manilla yarn1 the object of which is at once to protect the iron from rust and to lighten the specific gravity of the mass1 while adding also in some degree to the strength of the external portion of the ,cable4 ,the wire was drawn horizontally forward over a drum through a hollow cylinder1 on the outside of which bobbins filled with ,manilla yarn revolved vertically1 and the yarns from these bobbins1 being made to converge around the wire as it issued from the end of the cylinder1 were thus spun tightly round the former4 ,these ,manilla-covered wires being wound upon large drums ready for use1 the core1 which we left some time back surrounded with jute1 was passed round several sheaves1 which conducted it below the floor of the factory1 from whence it was drawn up again through a hole in the centre of a circular table1 around the circumference of which were ten receptacles for ten drums1 containing the ,manilla-covered wire4 ,between these drums massive iron rods1 fastened to the circumference of the table1 rose1 and converged around a small hollow cone of iron through the upper flooring of the factory1 at a height of #ab or #ad feet above the table4 ,the jute-covered core was pulled up vertically1 and passed on straight through the hollow interior of the cone already mentioned1 which latter formed the apex of the converging rods4 ,this done1 the ten wires from the ten drums were drawn up over the outside of the same cone1 and as they rose beyond it converged around the core1 which latter1 being free from the revolving part of the machinery1 was simply drawn out2 while the circular table being now set revolving by steam power1 the ten wires from the drums were spun in a spiral around the core1 thus completing the ,cable1 which was hauled out of the factory by the hands of men1 who at the same time coiled it into large iron tanks1 where it was covered with water1 and was daily subjected to the most careful electrical tests1 both by the very experienced staff of the contractors and by the agents of the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company4 ,the distance from the western coast of ,ireland to the spot in ,trinity ,bay1 ,newfoundland1 selected as the landing-place for the ,cable1 was a little over #a1fjj nautical miles1 and the length of ,cable contracted for1 to cover this distance1 including the 8slack10 was #b1cjj knots1 which left a margin of #gjj knots1 to cover the inequalities of the sea-bed1 and to allow for contingencies4 ,on the first occasion #b1ejj statute miles were taken to sea1 the distance to the ,newfoundland terminus on that occasion being #a1fdj nautical miles2 and1 after losing #che miles in #aheg1 and setting apart a further quantity for experiments upon paying-out machinery1 sufficient new ,cable was manufactured to enable the ,niagara and ,agamemnon to sail in #aheh with an aggregate of #b1ifc statute miles on board the two ships1 of which about #dej statute miles were lost in the two first attempts of that year1 and #b1aaj miles were finally laid and worked through4 ,the greatly increased weight and size of the ,cable would have made the question of stowage a very embarrassing one had it not been for the existence of the ,great ,eastern steamship1 there being no two ordinary ships afloat that would be capable of containing1 in a form convenient for paying-out1 the great bulk presented by #b1cjj miles of a ,cable of such dimensions4 ,this bulk1 and the now acknowledged necessity for keeping ,cables continuously in water1 made their influence to be felt in a very expensive manner to the ,company and to the contractors throughout the progress of the work1 even at this early stage4 ,the works at ,morden ,wharf had to be to a very large extent remodelled to meet these contingencies4 ,eight enormous tanks1 made of five-eighths and half-inch plate iron1 perfectly watertight1 and very fine specimens of this description of work1 were erected on those premises1 and these tanks then received an aggregate of #hj miles of ,cable per week4 ,four of the tanks were circular in shape1 and each contained #aec miles of cable1 being #cd ft4 in diameter and #ab ft4 deep4 ,the other four were slightly elliptical1 being #cf ft4 long by #bg ft4 wide1 and #ab ft4 deep1 and contained each #adj miles4 ,the contents of all these1 as they became full1 were transferred to the ,great ,eastern at ,sheerness1 for which service the ,lords of the ,admiralty granted the loan of two sailing-ships1 laid up in ordinary at ,chatham1 namely--the ,amethyst and the ,iris4#d ,these ships had to undergo very considerable alteration to render them suitable for the work1 portions of the main deck having to be removed--fore and aft--to make room for watertight tanks1 which here1 as elsewhere1 were to be the medium for holding the ,cable4 ,the dimensions of the two tanks on board the ,amethyst were #bi ft4 diameter by #ad ft4 #f in4 in depth1 and each held #aec miles of ,cable2 of those on the ,iris1 one was #bi ft4 diameter and #ad ft4 #f in4 deep1 and held #aec miles1 and the other held #aaj miles1 and was #bd ft4 wide1 and #ag ft4 deep4 ,illustration3 ,f4 ,jones1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,the ,,cable ,,passed ,,from ,,the ,,works ,,into ,,the ,,hulk ,,lying ,,in ,,the ,,thames ,,at ,,greenwich4 ,illustration3 ,t4 ,picken1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,the ,,old ,,frigate ,,with ,,her ,,freight ,,of ,,cable ,,alongside ,,the 8,,great ,,eastern0 ,,at ,,sheerness4 ,the ,great ,eastern steamship was fitted up with three tanks to receive the ,cable1 one situated in the forehold1 one in the afterhold1 and the third nearly amidships4 ,the bottoms and the first tier of plates were of five-eighths iron1 and each tank1 when completed to this height1 and tested as to its tightness by filling it with water1 and found or made to be perfectly watertight1 was let down from its temporary supports on to a bed of ,portland cement1 three inches in thickness1 and the building up and riveting of the remaining tiers was continued4 ,the beams beneath each tank were shored up from the floor beneath it down to the kelson with nine inches ,baltic baulk timber1 and it will give some idea of the magnitude of the work to state that upwards of #cjj loads of this material were required for this purpose alone4 ,the dimensions of the fore tank were #ea ft4 #f in4 diameter by #bj ft4 #f in4 in depth1 and its capacity was for #fic miles of ,cable4 ,the middle tank was #eh ft4 #f in4 broad1 and #bj ft4 #f in4 deep1 and held #hii miles of ,cable1 and the after tank was #eh ft4 wide and #bj ft4 #f in4 deep1 and contained #hih miles4 ,the three tanks were therefore capable of containing in all #b1dij miles of the new ,cable4 ,the experience gained on board the ,agamemnon and ,niagara1 and the practical knowledge obtained by the telegraphic engineers1 were turned to good account in erecting the new machinery on the deck of the ,great ,eastern for paying-out the ,cable4 ,over the hold was a light wrought-iron ,v wheel1 the speed of which was regulated by a friction wheel on the same shaft4 ,this was connected with the paying-out machinery by a wrought-iron trough1 in which1 at intervals1 were smaller wrought-iron ,v wheels1 and at the angles vertical guide wheels4 ,the paying-out machinery consisted of a series of ,v wheels and jockey or riding wheels 7six in number72 upon the shafts of the ,v wheels were friction wheels1 with brake straps weighted by levers and running in tanks filled with water3 and upon the shafts of the jockey wheels were also friction straps and levers1 with weights to hold the ,cable and keep it taut round the drum4 ,immediately before the drum was a small guide wheel1 placed under an apparatus called the knife1 for keeping the first turn of the ,cable on the drum from riding or getting over another turn4 ,the knives1 of which there were two1 could be removed and adjusted with the greatest ease by slides similar to a slide-rest of an ordinary turning-lathe4 ,one knife only was used1 the other being kept ready to replace it if necessary4 ,the drum1 round which the ,cable passed1 was #f feet diameter and #a foot broad1 and upon the same shaft were fixed two ,appold's brakes1 running in tanks filled with water4 ,there was also a duplicate drum and pair of ,appold's brakes fitted in position and ready for use in case of accident4 ,upon the overhanging ends of the shafts of the drums driving pulleys were fitted1 which could be connected by a leather belt for the purpose of bringing into use the duplicate brakes1 if the working brakes should be out of order4 ,between the duplicate drum and the stern wheel were placed the dynamometer and intermediate wheels for indicating the strain upon the ,cable4 ,the dynamometer wheel was placed midway between the two intermediate wheels1 and the strain was indicated by the rising or falling of the dynamometer wheel on a graduated scale of cwts4 attached to the guide rods of the dynamometer slide4 ,the stern wheel1 over which the ,cable passed when leaving the ship1 was a strong ,v wheel1 supported on wrought-iron girders overhanging the stern1 and the ,cable was protected from injury by the flanges of this wheel by a bell-mouthed cast-iron shield surrounding half its circumference4 ,close to the dynamometer was placed an apparatus similar to a double-purchase crab1 or winch1 fitted with two steering wheels1 for lifting the jockey or riding wheels with their weights and the weights on the main brakes of the drum1 as indications were shown upon the dynamometer scale4 ,all the brake wheels ran in tanks supplied with water by pipes from the paddle-box tanks of the ship4 ,the ,cable passed over the wrought-iron ,v wheel over the tank along the trough1 between the ,v wheels and jockey wheels in a straight line2 four turns round the drum where the knife comes into action over the first intermediate wheel1 under the dynamometer wheel1 and over the other intermediate and stern wheels into the sea4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,paying-,,out ,,machinery4 ,illustration3 ,t4 ,picken1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,coiling ,,the ,,cable ,,in ,,the ,,after ,,tank ,,on ,,board ,,the ,,great ,,eastern ,,at ,,sheerness4 ,,visit ,,of ,h4,r4,h4 ,,the ,,prince ,,of ,,wales ,,on ,,may #bdth4 ,this dynamometer was only a heavy wheel resting on the rope1 but fixed in an upright frame1 which allowed it to slide freely up and down1 and on this frame were marked the figures which showed exactly the strain in pounds on the ,cable4 ,thus1 when the strain was low the ,cable slackened1 and the dynamometer sunk low with it2 when1 on the contrary1 the strain was great1 the ,cable was drawn 8taut10 and on it the dynamometer rose to its full height4 ,when it sunk too low1 the ,cable was generally running away too fast1 and the brakes had to be applied to check it2 when1 on the contrary1 it rose rapidly the tension was dangerous1 and the brakes had to be almost opened to relieve it4 ,the simplicity of the apparatus for opening and shutting the brakes was most beautiful4 ,opposite the dynamometer was placed a tiller-wheel1 and the man in charge of it never let it go or slackened in his attention for an instant1 but watched the rise and fall of the dynamometer as a sailor at the wheel watches his compass4 ,a single movement of this wheel to the right put the brakes on1 a turn to the left opened them4 ,a good and experienced brakeman would generally contrive to avoid either extreme of a high or low strain1 though there were few duties connected with the laying of submarine cables which were more anxious and more responsible while they last1 than those connected with the management of the brakes4 ,the whole machine worked beautifully1 and with so little friction that when the brakes were removed1 a weight of #bjj lb4 was sufficient to draw the ,cable through it4 ,in order to guard against any possible sources of accident1 every preparation was made in case of the worst1 and1 in the event of very bad weather1 for cutting the ,cable adrift and buoying it4 ,for this purpose a wire rope of great strength1 and no less than five miles long1 having a distinctive mark at every #ajj fathoms1 was taken in the ,great ,eastern4 ,this1 of course1 was only carried in case of desperate eventualities arising1 and in the earnest hope that not an inch of it would ever be required4 ,if1 as unfortunately happened1 its services were wanted1 the ,cable could be firmly made fast to its extremity1 and so many hundred fathoms of the wire rope1 according to the depth of water the ,cable was in1 measured out4 ,to the other end of the rope an immense buoy was attached1 and the whole would then be cut adrift and left to itself till better weather4 ,on the #bdth of ,may1 ,his ,royal ,highness the ,prince of ,wales1 accompanied by many distinguished personages1 paid a long visit to the ,great ,eastern1 for the purpose of inspecting the arrangements made for laying the ,cable4 ,his ,royal ,highness was received by ,mr4 ,pender1 the ,chairman of the ,telegraph ,construction ,company2 ,mr4 ,glass1 ,managing ,director2 and a large number of the electricians and officers connected with the undertaking4 ,after partaking of breakfast1 the ,prince visited each portion of the ship1 and witnessed the transmission of a message sent through the coils1 which then represented in length #a1cie nautical miles4 ,the signals transmitted were seven words1 8,i ,,wish ,,success ,,to ,,the ,,atlantic ,,cable10 and were received at the other end of the coils in the course of a few seconds--a rate of speed which spoke hopefully of success4 ,on ,monday1 the #bith of ,may1 the last mile of this gigantic ,cable was completed at ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co4's works2 an event celebrated in the presence of all the eminent scientific men who had laboured so zealously in the promotion of the undertaking at ,greenwich4 ,when the tinkling of the bell gave notice that the machine was empty1 and the last coil of the ,cable stowed away1 the mighty work1 the accomplishment of which was their dream by night and their study by day1 stood completed4 ,for eight long months the huge machines had been in a constant whirl1 manufacturing those twenty-three hundred nautical miles of ,cable destined to perform a mission so important1 and yet it would be difficult to point to a single hour during which they did not yield something to cause care and anxiety4 ,on ,wednesday1 the #adth of ,june1 the ,amethyst completed her final visit1 and commenced to deliver the last instalment of the ,cable to the ,great ,eastern4 ,on the #bdth the ,great ,eastern left the ,medway for the ,nore1 carrying #gjjj tons of ,cable1 #bjjj tons of iron tanks1 and #gjjj tons of coal4 ,at the ,nore she took in #a1ejj additional tons of coal1 which brought her total dead-weight to #ba1jjj tons4 ,mr4 ,gooch1 ,m4,p41 ,chairman of the ,great ,eastern ,company and ,director of the ,telegraph ,construction and ,maintenance ,company2 ,mr4 ,barber 7,great ,eastern71 ,mr4 ,cyrus ,field1 ,captain ,hamilton1 ,directors of the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company2 ,m4 ,jules ,despescher2 ,mr4 ,h4 ,o',neil1 ,a4,r4,a42 ,mr4 ,brassey1 ,mr4 ,fairbairn1 ,mr4 ,dudley1 the representatives of some of the principal journals1 and several visitors1 went round in the vessel from the ,nore to ,ireland4 ,the whole of the arrangements for paying-out and landing the ,cable were in charge of ,mr4 ,canning1 principal ,engineer to the ,telegraph ,construction and ,maintenance ,company1 ,mr4 ,clifford being in charge of the machinery4 ,these gentlemen were assisted by ,mr4 ,temple1 ,mr4 ,london1 and eight experienced engineers and mechanists4 ,a corps of ,cable layers was furnished by the ,telegraph ,construction and ,maintenance ,company4 ,the ,electrical ,staff consisted of ,c4 ,v4 de ,sauty ,chief4 ,h4 ,saunders ,electrician to the ,malta and ,alexandria ,telegraph4 ,willoughby ,smith ,electrician to the ,gutta ,percha ,company4 ,w4 ,w4 ,biddulph ,assistant ,electrician4 ,h4 ,donovan ,do4 ,o4 ,smith ,do4 ,j4 ,clark ,do4 ,j4 ,t4 ,smith ,instrument ,clerk from ,malta and ,alexandria ,telegraph4 ,j4 ,gott ,do4 ,do4 ,do4 ,l4 ,schaefer ,mechanician4 ,the ,staff at ,valentia was composed of ,j4 ,may ,superintendent4 ,t4 ,brown ,assistant ,electrician4 ,w4 ,crocker ,do4 ,g4 ,stevenson ,instrument ,clerk from ,malta and ,alexandria ,telegraph4 ,e4 ,george ,do4 ,do4 ,do4 ,h4 ,fisher ,do4 ,do4 ,do4 ,all the arrangements at ,valentia were under the direction of ,mr4 ,glass4 ,mr4 ,varley1 chief electrician to the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company1 was appointed to report on the laying of the ,cable1 and to see that the conditions of the contract were complied with4 ,associated with him was ,professor ,w4 ,thomson1 ,,ll4,d41 ,f4,r4,s41 of ,glasgow4 ,his staff was composed of ,mr4 ,deacon1 ,mr4 ,medley1 ,mr4 ,trippe1 and ,mr4 ,perry4 ,several young gentlemen interested in engineering and science were accommodated with a passage on board4 ,at noon on ,july #aeth the ,great ,eastern1 in charge of ,mr4 ,moore1 ,trinity pilot1 drawing #cd ft4 #d in4 forward1 and #bh ft4 #f in4 aft1 got up her anchor1 and at midnight on ,july #afth was off the ,lizard4 ,on ,monday1 #agth1 she came up with the screw steamer ,caroline1 freighted with #bg miles of the ,irish shore end of the ,cable1 weighing #edj tons1 and took her in tow4 ,then a gale set in1 which gave occasion to the ,great ,eastern to show her fine qualities as a sea-boat when properly handled4 ,even those who were most prejudiced or most diffident1 admitted that on that score no vessel could behave better4 ,this trial gave every one1 from ,captain ,anderson down1 additional reason to be satisfied with the fitness of the great ship for the task on which she was engaged4 ,next day1 ,tuesday1 ,july #ahth1 she encountered off the ,irish coast a strong gale with high westerly sea1 through which she ran at the rate of six knots an hour4 ,the ,caroline1 which rolled so heavily and pitched so vigorously as to excite serious apprehensions1 broke the tow rope in the course of the day1 and ran for ,valentia harbour1 where she arrived safely1 piloted by the ,great ,eastern2 and the ,great ,eastern1 passing inside the ,skelligs1 stood in close to ,valentia ,lighthouse1 and sent a boat ashore to communicate4 ,h4,m4,s4 ,terrible1 ,captain ,napier1 and ,h4,m4,s4 ,sphinx1 ,captain ,v4 ,hamilton1 were visible in the offing1 having sailed at the end of the previous week from ,queenstown for the rendezvous1 outside ,valentia4 ,captain ,anderson having fired a gun to announce his arrival1 steamed for ,berehaven1 in ,bantry ,bay1 and anchored inside the island on ,wednesday morning1 ,july #aith1 in #ag fathoms4 ,here the ,great ,eastern lay1 preparing for her great errand--perhaps1 as it may prove1 her exclusive 8mission10--on ,thursday1 #bjth1 ,friday1 #bast1 and ,saturday1 #bbnd ,july1 whilst the ,caroline was landing the shore end of the ,cable in ,foilhummerum ,bay in ,valentia4 ,during her stay in ,bantry ,bay1 many visitors1 high and low1 came on board the ,great ,ship1 but it was believed all over the country that she was going to ,foilhummerum4 ,the greater portion of those anxious to see her made the best of their way to that secluded spot1 to which there was once more attached an interest of a civilised character2 for1 if country legends be true1 there must have been some regard paid to ,foilhummerum ,bay by no less a person than ,oliver ,cromwell1 testified yet by the grey walls of a ruined fort1 and traces of a moat and outer wall1 on the greensward above the point which forms the northern entrance to the lonely bay4 ,this crisp greensward1 glistening with salt1 lies in a thin crust over the cliffs1 which rise sheerly from the sea some three or four hundred feet2 and for what ,oliver ,cromwell or any one else could have erected a fortalice thereon1 may well baffle conjecture1 unless the builder1 having a far-reaching mind1 saw the importance of watching the most westerly portion of ,europe1 or anticipated the day when ,valentia would be recognised as one of the landmarks created by the necessities of commercial and social existence4 ,taking advantage of the shelter afforded by a gradual descent inland of the soil1 a few cabins have been placed by the natives--half-fishermen1 half-husbandmen--,archytas-like1 spanning land and sea1 and making but poor subsistence from their efforts on both4 ,the little bay1 which is not much above a mile in length1 contracts from a breadth of half so much1 into a watery cul-de-sac1 terminated by steep banks of shale1 earth1 and high cliff1 furrowed by watercourses2 and on the southernmost side it is locked in by the projecting ledges of rock forming the northern entrance to the ,port ,magee channel4 ,it is so guarded from wind and sea1 that on one side only is it open to their united action1 but as the entrance looks nearly west1 the full roll of the ,atlantic may break in upon it when the wind is from that point2 and indeed there is not wanting evidence that the wild ocean swell must tumble in there with frightful violence4 ,jagged fragments of masts and spars are wedged into the rocks immovably by the waves1 and the cliffs are gnawed out by the restless teeth of the hungry water into deep caves4 ,but then a sea from that point would run parallel with the line of the ,cable1 and would sweep along with and not athwart its course1 so that the strands would not be driven to and fro and ground out against the bottom4 ,except for a couple of hundred feet near the shore at the top of this cove1 indeed1 the bottom is sandy1 and the rocks inside the sand line were calculated to form a protection to the ,cable1 once deposited1 as the greater part of its course lay through a channel which had been cleared of the boulders with the intention of rolling them back again at low water1 to cover in the shore end4 ,lieutenant ,white1 and the hardy and hard-working sailors of the ,coastguard ,station at ,valentia1 had been indefatigable in sounding and buoying out a channel from the beach clear out to sea1 within which the ,caroline was to drop the ,cable4 ,a few yards back from the cliff1 at the head of the cove1 the temporary ,telegraph ,station reared its proportions in imitation of a dwarf ,brompton boiler--a building of wood much beslavered with tar and pitch1 of exceeding plainness1 and let us hope of corresponding utility4 ,inside were many of the adjuncts of comfort1 not to speak of telegraphic luxury1 galvanometers1 wires1 batteries1 magnets1 ,siemens's and ,b4 ,a4 unit cases1 and the like1 as well as properties which gave the place a false air of campaigning4 ,a passage led from end to end1 with rooms for living and sleeping in to the right and left1 and an instrument room at the far extremity4 ,here1 on a narrow platform1 were the signal and speaking apparatus connected with the wires from the end of the ,cable1 which was secured inside the house4 ,outside the wires were carried by posts in the ordinary way to the station at ,valentia1 whence they were conveyed to ,killarney1 and placed in communication with the general ,telegraphic system over the world4 ,the ,telegraphic staff and operators were lodged in primitive apartments like the sections of a ,crimean hut1 and did not possess any large personal facility for enjoying social intercourse with the outer world1 although so much intelligence passed through their fingers4 ,but ,foilhummerum may in time become a place with something more real than a future4 ,if vessels from the westward do not like to make their number outside1 there is nothing to prevent their running into ,valentia for the purpose1 at all events4 ,on the plateau between the station and the cliff1 day after day hundreds of the country people assembled1 and remained watching with exemplary patience for the ,big ,ship4 ,they came from the mainland across ,port ,magee1 or flocked in all kinds of boats from points along the coast1 dressed in their best1 and inclined to make the most of their holiday1 and a few yachts came round from ,cork and ,bantry with less rustic visitors4 ,tents were soon improvised by the aid of sails1 some cloths of canvas1 and oars and boathooks1 inside which bucolic refreshment could be obtained4 ,mighty pots of potatoes seethed over peat fires outside1 and the reek from within came forth strongly suggestive of whisky and bacon4 ,flags fluttered--the ,irish green1 with harp1 crown surmounted2 ,fitzgerald1 green with its blazon of knight on horse rampant1 and motto of 8,malahar aboo0--faint suspicion of ,stars and ,stripes and ,union ,jack1 and one temperance banner1 audaciously mendacious1 as it flaunted over ,john ,barleycorn4 ,nor was music wanting4 ,the fiddler and the piper had found out the island and the festive spot1 and seated on a bank1 played planxty and jig to a couple or two in the very limited circle formed in the soft earth by plastic feet or ponderous shoemasonry1 around which1 sitting and standing1 was a dense crowd of spell-bound1 delighted spectators4 ,in the bay below danced the light canvas-covered canoe or coracle in which the native fishermen will face the mountain billows of the ,atlantic when no other boat will venture forth2 and large yawls filled with country people passed to and fro1 and the bright groupings of colour formed on the cliffs and on the waters by the red1 scarlet1 and green shawls of the women and girls1 lighted up the scene wonderfully4 ,illustration3 ,t4 ,picken1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,foilhummerum ,,bay1 ,,valencia1 ,,looking ,,seawards ,,from ,,the ,,point ,,at ,,which ,,the ,,cable ,,reaches ,,the ,,shore4 ,illustration3 ,t4 ,picken1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,the ,,cliffs ,,foilhummerum ,,bay1 ,,point ,,of ,,the ,,landing ,,of ,,the ,,shore ,,end ,,of ,,cable ,,july #bb,,nd4 ,it would be gratifying if in such a primitive spot one could shut his eyes to the painful evidence that the vices of civilisation--if they be so--had crept in and lapt the souls of the people in dangerous pleasures4 ,but it could not be denied that the spirit of gambling and gourmandise were there4 ,seated in a ditch1 with a board on their knees1 four men were playing 8,spoil ,five0 with cards1 for discrimination of which a special gift must have been required2 but they were as silent1 eager1 and grave1 as though they had been ,union or ,portland champions contesting last trick and rub4 ,near them was one who summoned mankind to tempt capricious ,fortune by means of an iron skewer1 rotating an axis above a piece of tarpaulin stretched on a rude table1 which was enlivened by rays of vivid colour4 ,at the end of each ray was an object of art--the guerdon of success--an old penknife1 brass tobacco-box1 tooth-comb1 thimble1 wooden nutmeg1 or the like4 ,a very scarecrow professor of legerdemain and knavery hid his pea1 and challenged detection1 and divided public attention with a wizard who presided over a wooden circle with a spinning needle in the centre to point to radii1 at end of which were copper moneys deposited by the adventurers1 who generally saw them whisked off into the magician's grimy pocket4 ,an ancient woman1 spinning1 and guarding a basket of most atrabilious confectionery1 and a stall garnished with buttons and gingerbread1 completed the attractions of ,foilhummerum during this festive time4 ,the matter of wonder was1 what the people flocked to see1 for it must soon have been known the ,great ,eastern was not there4 ,the ,hawk and the ,caroline1 as they went into ,valentia1 did duty successfully for the ,big ,ship1 and the steam-yacht ,alexandra1 belonging to the ,dublin ,ballast ,board1 and ,h4,m4 tender ,advice1 created a sensation as they appeared in the offing on their way to the same rendezvous4 ,all that related to the ,cable and the laying of it possessed the utmost interest for the country people1 simply because the ,cable went westwards across the ocean to the home of their hopes4 ,many of the poor people believed that it would facilitate communications with their friends in the land to which their thoughts are for ever tending1 remembering perhaps the words of ,lord ,carlisle when he told them of the advantages the ,telegraphic ,cable would confer upon them4 ,the village of ,knightstown witnessed an unusual influx of visitors1 and those whom the hospitable roof of ,glenleam could not stretch its willing eaves over1 found something more than shelter in the inn and in the comfortable houses which acted as its succursales on the occasion4 ,but there was in the midst of all the pleasurable excitement of the moment a tinge of dissatisfaction1 because the people had persuaded themselves that if they were not to see the ,great ,eastern in the harbour1 they would at least have ,h4,m4,s4,s4 ,terrible and ,sphinx1 and the satellites of the ,leviathan in their anchorage1 and all they beheld of the men of war was their smoke and faint outlines on the distant horizon4 ,the ,terrible and ,sphinx might have coaled in ,valentia1 and waited there for the arrival of the ,great ,eastern1 of which they could have heard by telegraph1 instead of towing colliers to ,cork and going into ,berehaven1 where there is no telegraph4 ,now1 as to this harbour1 let it be admitted at once that its entrance is only #ahj yards broad4 ,but the 8,narrows0 of ,valentia ,harbour is like a very short neck to a bottle1 and after less than a ship's length1 the channel enlarges sufficiently to allow several vessels to sail abreast in water which is never rough enough to prevent the passage of boats to ,begennis or ,renard ,point4 ,indeed1 ,capt4 ,wolfe's report to the ,hydrographer to the ,admiralty expresses an opinion that the ,needles' passage is more intricate and dangerous4 ,the ,skelligs on one side and the ,blasketts on the other mark the approach very distinctly4 ,inside1 there is #fjj acres1 or more than a square mile1 of harbour1 with good holding ground1 having a maximum of six furlongs and a minimum of three furlongs water4 ,the disappointment caused by the cautious indifference of the ,terrible and ,sphinx to the advantages of lying snugly inside ,valentia ,harbour was felt acutely4 ,the ,knight of ,kerry1 who has taken such an interest in the undertaking1 and all the inhabitants1 regarded it as a mark of distrust in the safety of the anchorage and in the facility of access to it1 which was without any justification1 and some ascribed it to less creditable influences and objects2 but no one could believe that the officers in command of the ships kept out at sea in such weather1 wearying the crews and wasting coals1 without direct orders1 or that they would hesitate to run in1 if left to themselves1 as soon as it was evident the point of rendezvous ten miles from shore was not intended as a permanent station4 ,the harbour had been visited by ,h4,m4,s4,s4 ,stromboli1 ,hecate1 ,leopard1 ,cyclops1 the ,u4,s4 frigate ,susquehanna1 and many large merchantmen1 including the ,carrier ,dove1 a vessel of #b1djj tons4 ,on ,july #aith a channel was made down the cliff to the beach for the shore end of the ,cable1 which was carried down in an outer case through a culvert of masonry1 and deposited in a cut made as far into the sea as the state of the tide would admit4 ,on the #bast an 8earth0 ,cable1 with a zinc earth1 on ,mr4 ,varley's plan1 was carried out into the bay from the station1 and safely deposited outside the channel marked for the ,cable4 ,the ,caroline went round from ,valentia to ,foilhummerum1 and on ,july #bbnd the shore end of the ,cable was carried from her over a bridge formed of twenty-five yawls belonging to the district1 amid great cheering1 and hauled up the cliffs to the station4 ,the safe arrival of the terminal wire in the building1 in the presence of a large assemblage1 took place at #abde1 ,greenwich time1 and as the day was fine1 the scene1 to which the fleet of boats in the bay gave unusual animation1 was witnessed to the greatest advantage4 ,when the excitement caused by the landing of the ,cable was abated1 the ,knight of ,kerry was called on to speak to the people assembled outside the ,instrument ,room1 and said3--8,i feel that in the presence of so many who have taken an active and a useful part in this undertaking1 it may seem almost presumptuous in me to open my mouth on this occasion2 but from the very beginning ,i have felt an interest which ,i am sure the humblest person here has also felt in the success of this the greatest undertaking of modern times4 ,i believe there never has been an undertaking in which1 not to speak disparagingly of the commercial spirit and the great resources and strength of the land1 that valuable spirit has been mixed up with so much that is of a higher nature1 combining all the most noble sentiments of our minds1 and the feelings intended for the most beneficial purpose1 which are calculated to cement one great universe1 ,i may say1 with another4 ,i do not think we should be quite silent when such an undertaking has been inaugurated4 ,it has been discussed whether this ceremony should be opened with a prayer or not4 ,whether that shall be done or not1 ,i am sure there is not a person present who does not feel the utmost thankfulness to the ,giver of all ,good for having enabled those who have taken an active part in it to bring this great undertaking to what ,i am sure will have a happy issue4 ,i do not think anything could be fitly added to the sentiment of the first message which was conveyed1 namely--#8,glory to ,god in the highest1 on earth peace1 good will toward men4' ,i shall not detain you with another word1 but will only ask you all to give the heartiest cheers for the success of the undertaking4 ,i will also take the liberty of asking you1 when you have done that1 to give three cheers for a gentleman who has come here at great inconvenience1 and has done us very great honour in doing so1 and who deserves them1 not only from his position and character1 but also from the interest which he has always shown in this undertaking4 ,i call upon you to give three hearty cheers for ,sir ,robert ,peel40 ,illustration3 ,g4 ,mc,culloch1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,foilhummerum ,,bay1 ,,valencia ,,from 8,,cromwell ,,fort0 ,,the ,,caroline ,,and ,,boats ,,laying ,,the ,,earth ,,wire ,,july #ba,,st4 ,illustration3 ,t4 ,picken1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,,the ,,great ,,eastern ,,under ,,weigh ,,july #bc,,rd4 7,,escort ,,and ,,other ,,ships ,,introduced ,,being ,,the ,,terrible1 ,,the ,,sphinx1 ,,the ,,hawk ,,the ,,caroline7 ,the meeting responded very heartily to the call1 and when silence was restored1 ,sir ,robert ,peel said3 8,gentlemen1 as the ,knight of ,kerry has well observed1 this is one of the most important works that this country could have been engaged in1 inasmuch as it tends to draw us together in a link of amity and friendship with a mighty continent on the other side of the ,atlantic4 ,i trust1 as the ,knight of ,kerry has so justly observed1 that it may tend not only to promote the peace and commerce of the world1 but that it may also lead to a union of feeling and to good fellowship between those two great countries2 and ,i trust that as it has been so happily inaugurated to-day1 so it may be successful under the exertions of those who have taken part in it to-day and for some time past4 ,gentlemen1 ,i think the progress of this undertaking deserves that we should pay the highest compliment to those who have been actively engaged in carrying it out to the stage at which it has arrived4 ,we are about to lay down1 at the very bottom of the mighty ,atlantic1 which beats against your shores with everlasting pulsations1 this silver-toned zone1 to join the ,united ,kingdom and ,america4 ,along that silver-toned zone1 ,i trust1 may pass words which will tend to promote the commerce and the interest of the two countries2 and ,i am sure we will offer up prayers for the success of an undertaking1 to the accomplishment of which persevering industry and all the mechanical skill of the age have been brought to bear4 ,nothing has been wanting in human skill1 and therefore for the future1 as now1 let us trust the hand of ,divine ,providence will be upon it2 and that as the great vessel is about to steam across the ,atlantic no mishaps or misfortune may occur to imperil or obstruct the success of the work which has now been so happily commenced4 ,i ask you all to give a cheer in honour of my noble friend here1 the ,knight of ,kerry1 who has just begun the work40 ,the demand was enthusiastically complied with1 for the ,knight is an immense favourite with all the dwellers in his little dominion4 ,sir ,robert ,peel then said3 8,now1 gentlemen1 probably one of the first messages that will be sent by this ,cable will be a communication from the ,sovereign of this great country to the great ruler of the mighty continent at the other side of the ,atlantic4 ,i will ask you to give three cheers for her ,majesty the ,queen40 7,cheers47 ,sir ,robert ,peel in conclusion1 said3 8,i give you1 with hearty good will1 health and happiness to the ruler of the ,united ,states1 ,president ,johnson40 7,the toast was received with loud cheers47 ,mr4 ,glass1 who was called on to acknowledge the hearty reception given to his name and the ,company's1 said3 8,on behalf of myself and those connected with me in this undertaking1 ,i beg to return you thanks4 ,i am glad that our labours have been appreciated by those around us4 ,i assure you that the work that has been so far completed has been a source of great anxiety to us all2 but that anxiety has been relieved very much by the fact that we have now landed a ,cable which we one and all believe to be perfect4 ,i believe that nothing can interfere with the successful laying of the ,cable but the hand of the ,almighty1 who rules the winds and waves4 ,so far as human skill has gone1 ,i believe we have produced all that can be desired4 ,we now offer up our prayers to the ,almighty that ,he will grant success to our undertaking40 ,the ,doxology was then sung1 with which this part of the proceedings closed1 and the electricians busied themselves with securing the shore end confided to their charge in its new home4 ,at #b o'clock in the afternoon the ,caroline1 towed by the ,hawk1 and attended by the ,princess ,alexandra and ,advice1 proceeded to sea1 veering out the shore end of the ,cable in the channel marked by ,lieutenant ,white1 and at #ajcj p4m4 buoyed the end #bf miles ,w4,n4,w4 of ,valentia1 in #ge fathoms of water4 ,a message was sent through the ,cable to ,foilhummerum1 and a dispatch was forwarded to the ,great ,eastern1 in ,bantry ,bay1 to come round with all speed4 ,this order was obeyed with such diligence that her appearance off the harbour of ,valentia was reported in ,knightstown soon after #g o'clock next morning1 ,july #bc4 ,h4,m4,s4 ,terrible and ,h4,m4,s4 ,sphinx were in company4 ,the ,hawk1 which returned from the ,caroline in the course of the night1 got up steam and left ,valentia ,harbour about #aj o'clock a4m41 ,july #bc1 with a party of visitors and passengers for the ,great ,eastern1 among the former being ,sir ,r4 ,peel1 the ,knight of ,kerry1 and ,captain ,lord ,john ,hay4 ,by #c p4m4 the ,hawk had reached the flotilla1 which lay around the buoy1 preparing for the great enterprise4 ,she was just in time2 the end of the shore ,cable was about to be spliced and joined with the landward end of the main ,cable from the after tank of the ,great ,eastern1 and the boats of the ,great ,ship and of the two men-of-war1 were engaged in carrying the end of the main ,cable to the ,caroline4 ,sir ,r4 ,peel1 the ,knight of ,kerry1 ,lord ,john ,hay1 ,mr4 ,canning1 and others1 got on board the ,great ,eastern in successive trips of the ,hawk's boats2 but the ladies1 who had come so far and had suffered too in order to see the famous vessel1 could not venture1 as there was a swell on which made it difficult to embark or approach the gangway ladders4 ,after an hour's enjoyment of the almost terrestrial steadiness of the ,great ,eastern1 the visitors departed1 amid loud cheers1 to the ,hawk1 and at #eaj p4m4 it was reported by the electricians that the tests of the splice between the main ,cable and the shore end were complete1 and that the shore end was much improved in its electrical condition by its immersion in the water4 ,the boats were hoisted in by the men-of-war and by the ,great ,eastern1 adieux and good wishes were exchanged1 and1 with hearts full of confidence1 all on board set about the work before them4 ,the bight of the ,cable was slipped from the ,caroline1 at #gae p4m41 and the ,great ,eastern stood slowly on her course ,n4,w4,w4 ,then the ,terrible and ,sphinx1 which had ranged up alongside1 and sent their crews into the shrouds and up to the tops to give her a parting cheer1 delivered their friendly broadsides with vigour1 and received a similar greeting4 ,their colours were hauled down1 and as the sun set a broad stream of golden light was thrown across the smooth billows towards their bows as if to indicate and illumine the path marked out by the hand of ,heaven4 ,the brake was eased1 and as the ,great ,eastern moved ahead the machinery of the paying-out apparatus began to work1 drums rolled1 wheels whirled1 and out spun the black line of the ,cable1 and dropped in a graceful curve into the sea over the stern wheel4 ,the ,cable came up with ease from the after tank1 and was payed-out with the utmost regularity from the apparatus4 ,the system of signals to and from the ship was at once in play between the electricians on board and those at ,foilhummerum4 ,on board there were two representative bodies--the electricians of the ,telegraph ,construction and ,maintenance ,company1 under ,m4 de ,sauty1 and the electricians of the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company1 ,mr4 ,varley1 ,professor ,thomson1 and assistants4 ,the former were to test the electrical state of the ,cable as it was being payed-out1 and to keep up signals between the ship and the shore4 ,the latter1 who had no power of interference or control1 were simply to report on the testing1 and to certify1 on their arrival in ,newfoundland1 whether the ,cable fulfilled the conditions specified in the contract4 ,the mechanical arrangements for paying-out the cable were in charge of ,mr4 ,canning1 engineer-in-chief to the ,telegraph ,construction and ,maintenance ,company1 who might be considered as having supreme control over the ship ad hoc4 ,in the space on deck between the captain's state-room and the entrance to the grand saloon1 was the ,testing-,room--a darkened chamber1 into which were led conducting wires from the ends of the ,cable1 for the ordeal to which they were subjected by the electricians1 at a table whereon were placed galvanometers and insulation and resistance-testing machines4 ,the instructions for signalling1 determined upon by the electricians of the ,telegraphic ,construction and ,maintenance ,company1 were as follows3-- #a4 ,during the paying-out of the ,cable1 from the moment of starting until the end is landed at ,newfoundland1 electrical tests will be applied without intermission4 #b4 ,the tests will be for insulation1 for continuity1 and to determine the resistance of the conductor1 the whole length of ,cable being joined up in one length4 #c4 ,each series of tests will commence at the hour 7,greenwich time71 and will last one hour4 #d4 ,the insulation test will consist of #cj minutes' electrification of the ,cable1 commencing at the hour1 and lasting till #cj minutes past the hour4 ,readings of the galvanometer to be taken every minute1 commencing one minute after contact with the battery1 the battery to consist of #dj cells4 #e4 ,at #cj minutes past the hour signals will be received from the shore for #aj minutes4 ,unless the ship wishes to communicate with shore by special speaking instruments1 in which case1 instead of receiving signals from the shore1 ship will put on a ,c to ,e current to oppose deflection on shore4 ,galvanometer to arrest shore attention1 and when joined1 give the call as in paragraph #i3 the ordinary signals will be #e reversals of #b minutes each4 #f4 ,at #dj minutes1 ,c of ,cable will be taken to #aj minutes4 #g4 ,at #ej minutes signals will be sent to the shore1 and for the ordinary signals #e reversals1 #b minutes each1 commencing ,c to ,e4 #h4 ,then a repetition of the same tests to be made and continued without any interval4 #i4 ,in case it becomes necessary to speak to shore by speaking instruments1 the signal will be given at the #ej minutes1 and at the #cj minutes1 as in paragraph #e1 by sending #h minutes' reversals1 commencing ,z to ,e1 and changing over to the speaking instruments1 on receiving acknowledgment of call from shore 7which will be also #h minutes' reversals71 communication or message to be sent1 and when acknowledgment of message and reply 7if any7 is received1 then the system of testing is to be resumed1 as if no interruption had taken place4 #aj4 ,every #ej nauts4 of ,cable payed-out will be signalled at the same time 7viz41 at the #ej mins471 thus1 instead of #e reversals of #b minutes1 #aj reversals of #a minute will be made commencing ,z to ,e4 #aa4 ,every #ej nauts4 distance run will be signalled to the shore2 the signal will be #b reversals 7commencing ,z to ,e71 each #b minutes' duration--#b reversals1 each #a minute's duration1 and #b reversals1 each #b minutes' duration4 #ab4 ,should any defect in signals be perceived1 or bad time kept1 notice will be given to the shore by signalling at the #ej minutes--thus1 by giving #b reversals of #e minutes' duration1 commencing ,z to ,e4 #ac4 ,in sounding1 signal will be one current of #aj minutes' duration1 ,z to ,e4 #ad4 ,land-in-sight signal will be likewise one current of #aj minutes' duration1 ,z to ,e4 #ae4 ,greenwich time will be kept1 but a column will be devoted in journals and sheets to ship's time4 #af4 ,after the insulation test is taken1 it is to be worked out thus--,the same deflection at the #aeth minute's reading will be obtained with the same battery through resistance1 and a shunt to the galvanometer4 ,the amount of resistance multiplied by multiplying power of the shunt1 and galvanometer multiplied by the length of the ,cable1 will give the ,g4 p4 ,r4 pr4 nt4 #ag4 ,the copper resistance of the ,cable will be taken after #e minutes' electrification4 #ah4 ,no change in the instruments1 wires1 or connections 7other than the batteries1 if necessary71 to be made on any account1 unless such instruments1 c41 become defective--any necessary change to be made as quickly as possible4 #ai4 ,should the rolling of the ship generate a magnetic current of sufficient strength to embarrass the signals1 a stronger current for the signals will be put on on shore1 and a shunt used with the galvanometer on board1 notice to the shore to put on more power will be given by one current of #e minutes1 commencing ,z to ,e1 and #e reversals of #a minute's duration4 #bj4 ,the iron earth of the ,cable will be used both on board and on shore--other earths1 however1 to be in readiness for use1 if necessary4 #ba4 ,full particulars of every test and every occurrence in the testing-room to be entered in journal1 together with the name of the electricians on duty1 and the time of their coming on and going off duty4 #bb4 ,after the end is landed1 should signals fail1 the paying-out system to be resumed until signals are re-established4 #bc4 ,in case of a minute fault appearing1 such as will partially affect the signalling1 but which will not stop the communication entirely1 notice will be given to shore to reduce battery power4 ,such notice will be given at the #ej minutes1 by sending #e reversals of #a minute each1 commencing ,z to ,e1 and #a current of #e minutes' duration4 #bd4 ,a proper supply of lamps1 glasses1 oil1 and wicks2 instrument ink and instrument paper1 in sufficient quantities2 paraffin1 wicks1 and spare lamp-glasses for the instrument lamps2 lamp-brushes1 tools1 sulphate of copper1 stationery1 c41 to be always ready for use4 #be4 ,no person except those on duty1 and the engineers and the officers authorised by the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company1 to be allowed in the instrument room on any pretence4 #bf4 ,the batteries to be kept in an efficient state1 especially those for sending reversals--their force taken periodically1 and if any variety occur1 they must be renewed1 or brought up to the original force4 #bg4 ,supplies of every material needful for such purpose to be in constant readiness4 #bh4 ,the actual end of the ,cable to be brought to the instrument tables1 and well insulated4 ,,ship',s ,,signals4 #bi4 ,ordinary4--#e reversals1 commencing ,c to ,e1 each #b minutes4 ,to open communication4--#h reversals1 commencing ,z to ,e1 each minute4 #ej nauts4 payed out4--#aj reversals1 commencing ,z to ,e1 each #a minute4 #ej nauts4 distance run1 signal will be1 #b reversals1 each #b minutes1 commencing ,z to ,e4 8 8 8 #b 8 8 #a 8 8 8 8 8 8 #b 8 8 #b 8 8 8 ,defective signals4--#b reversals1 commencing ,z to ,e1 each #e minutes4 ,in soundings4--#a current of #aj minutes1 ,z to ,e4 ,land in sight4--#a 8 8 8 8 ,notice to increase power4--#a current of #e minutes1 commencing ,z to ,e1 and #e reversals of #a minute's duration4 ,notice to reduce power4--#e reversals of #a minute1 commencing ,z to ,e1 and #a current of #e minutes4 ,,shore4 #a4 ,during the paying-out of the ,cable1 from the moment of starting until the end is landed at ,newfoundland1 a system of testing will be applied without intermission4 #b4 ,the tests will be for insulation1 for continuity1 and to determine the copper resistance of the conductor4 #c4 ,each series of tests will commence at the hour 7,greenwich time71 and will last #a hour4 ,both the insulation and ,c ,r tests will be made on board4 #d4 ,the insulation test will be made on board1 and to enable that to be done1 the end of the ,cable must be insulated on shore for #cj minutes1 commencing at the hour4 #e4 ,at the #cj minutes past the hour1 signals will be sent to the ship for #aj minutes4 ,should ship at this time desire to open communication1 ship will put on a current so as to oppose shore's current on his galvanometer1 to arrest shore's attention1 and will1 when gained1 give the call as in paragraph #aj4 #f4 ,the ordinary signal will be #e reversals of #b minutes' duration1 commencing ,c to ,e4 #g4 ,at the #dj minutes1 ,cable to be put to earth direct1 without any instrument being in circuit4 #h4 ,at the #ej minutes1 signals will be received from the ship4 ,the ordinary signal will be #e reversals1 each #b minutes' duration4 #i4 ,then a repetition of the same series to be made and continued4 #aj4 ,should ship desire to open communication by special speaking instruments1 notice will be received by a signal of #h reversals 7giving a deflection the opposite to the ordinary signals7 of minute's duration4 #aa4 ,after returning the same signal to the ship as an acknowledgment1 the speaking instruments to be put in circuit1 and the message from the ship received1 and when acknowledgment of message1 or reply1 is given1 the regular system of signals to be resumed as if no interruption had occurred4 #ab4 ,every #ej nauts4 of the ,cable payed-out will be signalled to the shore by signal 7instead of the ordinary signals74 ,this signal will be #aj reversals of #a minute each--the first current giving a deflection the opposite side to the first current of the ordinary signals4 #ac4 ,every #ej nauts4 distance run will be signalled to the shore3 the signal will be #b reversals of #b minutes' duration1 #b reversals of #a minute's duration1 and #b reversals of #b minutes' duration--the first current giving a deflection opposite to the first deflection of the first current of the ordinary signal4 #ad4 ,should ship receive weak or defective signals1 or bad time kept1 notice will be given by sending #b reversals of #e minutes each1 commencing the opposite side to the ordinary signals4 #ae4 ,when the ship gets into soundings1 notice will be given by sending one current of #aj minutes' duration1 the opposite side to the first current of the ordinary signals4 #af4 ,when land is in sight1 notice will be given by the same signal4 #ag4 ,greenwich time to be kept1 but a column to be devoted to local time in the journals and sheets4 #ah4 ,no change in instruments1 wires1 or connections 7other than the batteries1 if necessary71 to be made on any account1 unless such instruments become defective1 and any necessary change to be made as quickly as possible4 #ai4 ,should the rolling of the ship generate a magnetic current of sufficient strength to embarrass the signals1 a stronger current for the signals must be put on by shore on receiving notice from the ship2 the notice will be given by #a current of #e minutes'1 and #e reversals of #a minute's duration4 #bj4 ,the iron earth of the ,cable to be used both on board and on shore3 copper earths1 however1 will be in readiness for use if necessary4 #ba4 ,full particulars of every occurrence in the testing-room will be entered in journals1 together with the names of the electricians on duty1 and the time of their coming on and going off duty4 #bb4 ,when the end is landed at ,newfoundland1 should signals fail at any time1 the paying-out system to be resumed until signals pass again freely4 #bc4 ,on receiving a signal of #e reversals of #a minute's1 and a current of #e minutes' duration1 shore must reduce the battery power used for sending reversals by one-half1 and on a repetition of the same signal again reduce the power one-half1 until 7should notice continue to be given to that effect7 the minimum of power be reached4 #bd4 ,shore must not have the privilege of opening a conversation1 or to use or call for the use of the special speaking instruments1 under any circumstances1 except to give notice of any accident that may cause an interruption of signals1 or that may affect the safety of the ,cable or signals4 #be4 ,should any interruption of signals from the ship occur by reason of an accident on board1 shore will continue to free the ,cable at the usual time1 and to put to earth direct at the usual time1 and in the intervals to put into circuit with the ,cable a galvanometer1 and watch the same for signals1 and continue doing so until communication with the ship is restored1 or information is received by other means from the ship4 #bf4 ,on re-establishment of communication1 shore must not ask any questions1 but take the resumption of signals as an indication of all being well again1 and will continue to follow the series of tests as if nothing had happened4 #bg4 ,shore will take time from the ship2 should any irregularity in the reception of signals from the ship occur1 such irregularity must be entered in journals1 and must not form a ground for shore's altering his time1 but shore must follow blindly every change 7should one take place71 as if the most correct time had been kept4 #bh4 ,a proper supply of lamps1 glasses1 oil1 and wicks2 instrument ink and instrument paper1 in sufficient quantities2 paraffin1 wicks1 and spare lamp-glasses for the instrument lamps2 lamp-brushes1 tools1 sulphate of copper1 stationery1 c41 to be always ready for use4 #bi4 ,no person1 except those on duty1 and the officers authorised by the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company1 to be allowed in the instrument room on any pretence4 #cj4 ,the batteries to be kept in an efficient state1 especially those for sending reversals--their force taken periodically1 and if any variation occur1 they must be renewed1 or brought up to the original force4 #ca4 ,supplies of all materials necessary for such purpose to be in constant readiness4 #cb4 ,the actual end of the ,cable to be brought to the instrument tables1 and well insulated4 ,,shore ,,signals4 #cc4 ,ordinary4--#e reversals1 each two minutes1 commencing ,c to ,e4 #cd4 ,to open communication on acknowledgment4--#h reversals1 each minute1 commencing ,z to ,e4 ,as the voyage of the ,great ,eastern promised to be so interesting to electricians and engineers1 several young gentlemen who worked in the testing-room and in the engineer's department received a passage1 as we have mentioned1 but there was no person on board who was not in some way or other engaged on the business of both companies1 or connected with the management of the ship4 ,the voyage commenced most favourably4 ,the rate of speed was increased to #c knots1 then to #d knots1 then to #e knots1 and finally1 to #f knots an hour1 and the ,cable flew from each coiled flake as if it were eager to push up through the controlling bands of the so-called crinoline1 and to plunge into the sea4 ,at #ajp4m41 ,greenwich time1 #ej miles of ,cable had been payed-out1 and the process continued to midnight with equal ease and regularity4 ,in order to make each day's proceedings distinct1 and to take the reader over the course so that he can follow the expedition readily by the aid of the accompanying chart1 ,i propose recording events in the form of a diary4 ,illustration3 ,,atlantic ,,telegraph ,,cable #ahfe4 ,chart ,shewing the ,track of ,,the ,,steam ,,ship 8,,great ,,eastern0 ,,on ,,her ,,voyage ,,from ,,valentia ,,to ,,newfoundland ,,with ,,the ,,soundings1 ,,the ,,daily ,,latitude ,,and ,,longitude1 ,,the ,,distance ,,run ,,and ,,the ,,number ,,of ,,miles ,,of ,,cable ,,paid ,,out 8888 ,,day ,,son 7,,limited7 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london4 ,d4,t ,sou4 ,limited4 ,lilh4 ,,splicing ,,the ,,cable 7,,after ,,the ,,first ,,accident7 ,,on ,,board ,,the ,,great ,,eastern ,,july #be,,th4 ,monday1 ,july #bdth4--,the morning was exceedingly fine1 and the ship proceeded steadily at an average rate of #f knots an hour1 with a light favouring wind and a calm sea4 ,those who were up betimes had just taken a turn or two on deck1 watching for the early dawn1 when they observed some commotion in the neighbourhood of the ,testing-,room1 and soon afterwards the ship's engines were slowed and stopped4 ,according to ,professor ,thomson's galvanometer1 which is used in the system employed in testing1 a ray of light reflected from a tiny mirror suspended to a magnet travels along a scale1 and indicates the resistance to the passage of the current along the ,cable by the deflection of the magnet1 which is marked by the course of this speck of light4 ,if the light of the mirror travels beyond the index1 or out of bounds1 an escape of the current is taking place in the ,cable1 and what is technically called a fault has occurred4 ,at #cae a4m41 when #hd miles of ,cable had been paid out1 the electrician on duty saw the light suddenly glide to the end of the scale1 and then vanish4 ,the whole staff were at once aroused--the news soon flew through the ship4 ,after testing the ,cable for some time by signalling to and from the shore1 ,mr4 de ,sauty satisfied himself that the fault which had occurred was of a serious character1 and measures were taken accordingly to rig up the picking-up apparatus at the bow1 to take in the ,cable till the defective portion was reached and cut out4 ,such an early interruption to our progress caused a little chagrin1 but the veterans of submarine telegraphy thought nothing of it4 ,whilst the electricians were testing1 to obtain data respecting the locality of the fault1 the fires were got up in the boilers of two small engines on deck to work the picking-up machinery4 ,at #d a4m4 a gun was fired by the ,great ,eastern to call the attention of the ,terrible and ,sphinx to our proceedings1 and they were also informed by signal of the injury4 ,notwithstanding the skill and experience of the scientific gentlemen on board1 there was a great vagueness of opinion among them respecting the place where the fault lay4 ,some believed the defective part was near the shore1 and probably at the splice of the shore end with the main ,cable2 others thought it was eastward or westward of the same place2 and calculations1 varied by uncertain indications given by the currents showing that the fault itself was of a variable character1 and permitted the currents of electricity to escape irregularly1 were made by the scientific staff1 which fixed it at points from #bb to #db miles--one at #fj miles--from the ship4 ,but repeated observations gave closer results4 ,mr4 ,varley came to the conclusion that the fault was not very far from the ship2 and ,mr4 ,sanders1 a gentleman who had much experience in fault-finding1 arrived at the conviction that it was not more than #i or #aj miles astern4 ,the best test taken by ,mr4 ,saunders1 #acj a4m41 ,greenwich time1 ,july #be1 after the ,cable had been cut down to #ghe miles1 gave-- ,resistance1 shore end disconnected1 #b1fjj units4 8 8 to earth1 #cab 8 ,let a and b be the lengths of ,cable-conductor1 having resistances equal to the first and second of these numbers2 l the length of ,cable1 and ,d the distance of the fault4 ,the ordinary formula gives ,db--7a-b77l-b7 ,hence1 l being #ghe1 and a and b being calculated from the observed copper-resistance of the conductor in the after-tank1 and various assumed temperatures of the sea1 we should have1 were the measurements perfect1 results as follows3-- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------- ,copper resistance of ,cable ,distances of the fault calculated in after tank1 per nautical mile1 accordingly from end in ship1 observed #d4dd units at #fa temperature4 when cut at #gh4e miles of cable from shore end4 ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------- ,hence #ddb units at #ei temperature #fg miles4 #dcg 8 #ec 8 #aja 8 #dbe 8 #dj 8 #bbj 8 #djb 8 #ce 8 #bgb 8 ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------- ,this would give #bb miles for the most probable distance of the fault1 as #dj is the most probable mean temperature of the first submerged length of #ge miles4 ,the true distance proved to be very nearly #c miles4 ,the discrepance is owing partly of course to want of absolute accuracy in the measurements1 but probably more to the variation of the resistance of the fault during the interval between the two measurements4 ,iron chains were lashed firmly to the ,cable at the stern1 and secured to the wire rope carried round outside the ship to the picking-up apparatus at the bows4 ,as the paying-out stopped1 a strain came on the ,cable1 which was down in #djj fathoms of water1 and it needed nice management to keep the ship steady1 as she had no steerage way4 ,the ,cable1 having been shackled and secured1 was severed at #hej a4m41 and flew with its shackling into the sea1 plump astern4 ,the stoppers which held the wire rope were released1 and the rope was payed-out rapidly as the ,cable sunk1 in order that the ship's head might be brought round1 if possible1 so as to take the ,cable in over the bows in a straight line with its course4 ,the ,great ,eastern dropped to leeward when her engines stopped4 ,when the end of the ,cable was got in over the bows1 and the picking-up engine was set to work1 it was discovered that the locomotive boiler intended to keep up a head of steam for the machinery1 was defective4 ,steam was then supplied by one of the boilers of the ship3 the drums and wheels of the picking-up machinery began to revolve1 slowly dragging in the ,cable over the bows1 with a strain which at times rose from #aj cwt4 to #cj cwt41 leaving a very large margin before the breaking point was reached4 ,the ship's bows were kept up to the line of the ,cable with great cleverness1 and ,mr4 ,canning and his assistants were perfectly satisfied with their progress4 ,it would be too much to expect that all on board should be so easily contented2 for in fact the process of picking-up is of the slowest--a mile an hour was considered to be a fair rate of speed1 and a mile and a-quarter was something to be very thankful for4 ,still1 the prospect of returning to ,ireland and getting back to the shore end1 at the highest of these retrogressive celerities1 did not prove attractive4 ,our position1 by observation at noon1 was ,lat4 #eb #b #cj1 ,long4 #ab #ag #cj4 ,as the ,cable was in fair working order1 ,mr4 ,canning transmitted a message to ,mr4 ,glass at ,knightstown1 to send out the ,hawk1 in order that he might return in her1 and ascertain if the shore end of the ,cable were defective4 ,if that were not the case1 he proposed to sacrifice the portion of ,cable already laid1 to return and make a new splice of the main line with the shore end1 and to start afresh4 ,in the course of the evening a message was received from ,mr4 ,glass1 informing ,mr4 ,canning that the ,hawk should be sent out as soon as she had coaled the ,caroline4 ,the ,terrible sent her ,first ,lieutenant1 ,mr4 ,prowse1 on board1 to see if she could render us any assistance4 ,the ,sphinx was busied in taking soundings all round the ship1 which showed depths varying from #djj to #dhj fathoms4 ,the operation of picking up proceeded all day and all night--the weather being fine but cloudy4 ,tuesday1 ,july #beth4--,the ,hawk was observed soon after daybreak coming towards the ,great ,eastern4 ,the wind was still light and the sea moderate4 ,all during the night the process of picking up was carefully carried on1 the ,big ,ship behaving beautifully1 and hanging lightly over the ,cable1 as if fearful of breaking the slender cord which swayed up and down in the ocean4 ,indeed1 so delicately did she answer her helm and coil in the film of thread-like ,cable over her bows1 that she put one in mind of an elephant taking up a straw in its proboscis4 ,at #gae a4m41 ,greenwich time1 #i miles of ,cable had been picked up from the sea1 and the thin greyish coating of mud which dropped from it showed that the bed of the ,atlantic here was of a soft ooze4 ,the ,cable had been cut twice on board1 to enable the electricians to apply tests separately to the coils in the tanks4 ,at #i a4m41 ship's time1 when somewhat more than #aj miles had been hauled in1 to the joy of all the 8fault0 was discovered4 ,the ,cable came in with flagrant evidence of the mischief4 ,the cause of so much anxiety1 delay1 and bitter disappointment turned out to be a piece of wire of the same kind as that used in the protecting strands of the ,cable itself4 ,it was two inches long or so--rather bent in the middle1 with one end sharp and bright1 as if from a sharp fracture or being cut by a pair of pliers--the other end blunt and jagged4 ,this piece of wire had been forced through the outer covering of the ,cable into the gutta percha1 so as to injure the insulation1 but no one could tell how it got into the tank4 ,the general impression was1 that it was a piece of ,cable or other wire which had been accidently carried into the tank1 and forced into the coil by the pressure of the paying-out machinery as the ,cable flew between the jockey-wheels4 ,measures were at once taken to make a new splice and joint1 rejecting the ,cable picked up1 a good deal of which had been strained in the process4 ,signals were made to the fleet that the enemy had been detected1 at #i a4m41 and the ,terrible replied1 8,i congratulate you40 ,first a splice was made in the ,cable where it had been cut1 for the purpose of testing between the after and fore tanks1 and all admired the neatness and strength with which it was performed--the conducting wires soldered and lapped over--the gutta percha heated and moulded on the junction2 and1 finally1 the strands carried over the core and secured4 ,during the operation the ,hawk returned to ,valentia with our letters1 and with the good news1 which1 however1 must have been anticipated by the ,cable itself4 ,the splice and joint of the end of ,cable towards the shore and the end from the after tank was next made4 ,then these splices were carefully tested and found perfect1 and the stream of electricity was once more sent direct to ,valentia4 ,after a detention of some twelve hours1 the paying-out machinery was again put in action1 and the ,cable glided out rapidly astern4 ,all seemed to go well4 ,about half a mile of wire had been paid out1 when suddenly all communication between the shore and ship ceased altogether6 ,from great contentment there was sudden blank despair6 ,the operators were in consternation4 ,the news spread from end to end of the ship1 which again lay in restless quiet on the waters4 ,the faces of the most cheerful became overcast--gloomy forebodings filled men's minds all at once4 ,why had the ,hawk been sent back8 ,why were not more tests made before she left8 ,away worked the electricians in their room1 connecting and disconnecting1 putting in and taking out stops--intensifying and reducing currents4 ,not a sign6 ,not a shadow of a sign6 ,mr4 de ,sauty suggested they had got hold of the wrong wires1 and professors opined that the operators had done wrong in spending time over the splice between the two tanks at the critical moment when they should have been watching the signals from the shore4 ,anxious groups gathered round the ,testing-,room1 and the bolder popped in their heads1 as if they could learn anything from the dumb mute wires and the clicking of the chronometers1 or from the silent operators who bent over the instruments4 ,at #cae p4m4 the ,cable between the two tanks was again cut1 and examination was made to make sure no error had been made in the communications4 ,again the wearisome energy of the picking-up apparatus was to be called into play--once more the ,cable was to be shackled and thrown overboard1 and hauled up to the bows and pulled out of the water4 ,such a ,penelope's web in #bd hours1 all out of this single thread1 was surely disheartening4 ,the ,cable in the fore and the main tanks answered to the tests most perfectly4 ,but that ,cable which went seaward was sullen1 and broke not its sulky silence4 ,even the gentle equanimity and confidence of ,mr4 ,field were shaken in that supreme hour1 and in his heart he may for a moment have sheltered1 though he did not nurture1 the thought that the dream of his life was indeed but a chimra4 ,who could bear up against a life of picking-up8 ,and our paying-out seemed to have such an undue share of the reverse process attached to it6 ,but there was a change in the fortunes of the ship and of its freight4 ,the index light suddenly reappeared on its path in the ,testing-,room1 and the wearied watchers were gladdened by the lighting of the beacon of hope once more4 ,again there was one of those mutations to which the flesh of submarine telegraph layers is born heir1 and after a few moments of breathless solicitude1 it was announced that the signals between the ship and the shore had been restored1 and that every instant developed their strength4 ,mr4 de ,sauty came out of the ,testing-,room to inform ,professor ,thomson of the fact1 and ,mr4 ,canning's operations at the bows of the ship for picking up were most gratefully suspended by the intelligence that the machinery would not be required4 ,at #dae p4m4 the ship steamed on ahead again1 and the ,terrible and ,sphinx were signalled to come on1 #cg hours and #aj minutes having been lost by the fault1 and consequent detentions4 ,our position1 at noon was found to be1 ,lat4 #ea #eh1 ,long4 #ab #aa2 total distance from ,valentia1 #ff miles2 total ,cable payed-out #gd miles 7per centage of slack being #ad miles71 distance from ,heart's ,content1 #a1eif miles4 ,the communication with shore continued to improve1 and was1 in the language of telegraphers1 ,o4 ,k4 ,the alternations of hope and fear to which we had been exposed were now pleasantly terminated for the evening1 and the saloon became the scene of joyous and animated conversation1 and of a good deal of scientific discussion1 till the approach of midnight4 ,the cause of the detention was argued fully1 but it was not easy to determine how it came to pass the signalling had been interrupted2 it was generally accounted for by the supposition that the order of the tests had become deranged whilst the splices were being made on board1 and some of the electricians were inclined to think that the system was defective1 because the intervals were so long that the fault might be overboard some time before it could be detected4 ,as the sea and wind rose a little1 the speed of the ship was diminished from #f knots to #e knots1 at which rate the ,cable ran out beautifully throughout the night4 ,july #bfth4--,the course of the ,cable ran smoothly all throughout the night4 ,at #h a4m4 the ,great ,eastern was #aej miles from ,valentia1 and #afa miles of ,cable1 including the shore end1 had been laid--the loss by slack being only #gfc per cent4 ,the morning was hazy1 and a strong wind from the north-west brought up rather a heavy sea1 but the ,great ,eastern was as steady as a ,thames steamer2 indeed the stability of the vessel was a never-ending theme of admiration4 ,our consorts were not so indifferent to the roll of the ,atlantic4 ,the ,terrible thumped through the heavy sea1 and buried her bows in foam with dogged determination4 ,the ,sphinx gave very unmistakable indications of having a harder enigma than she bargained for1 as she engaged in her task of taking soundings1 which now had become important4 ,we were getting into deep water1 having passed the bank on which there is only #bjj fathoms1 and had come suddenly to the slope beginning with #gjj fathoms1 and running in one degree to #a1gej fathoms4 ,this slope is not1 however1 severer than that of ,holborn-hill1 though it looks very severe upon the map4 ,towards noon the sea and wind increased4 ,the ,sphinx1 which first sent down topgallant masts1 finally sent down topmasts1 but was unable to make head in the sea way1 and dropped further and further astern4 ,at noon our course was ,w4,n4,w4 ,w41 the wind being strong on the port bow1 and the weather thick all round1 with drizzling mist4 ,our position was made out to be ,lat #eb #ah #db1 ,long4 #ae #aj1 distance run #aaa miles1 ,cable paid out #abe miles1 total distance from ,valentia #agh miles4 ,at #ade p4m4 the ,terrible signalled that the ,sphinx was unable to keep up with us1 but the ,cable was running so easily it was resolved not to diminish our speed4 ,later in the afternoon1 the ,terrible sent down topgallant masts2 later again1 she signalled that we were going too fast for the ,sphinx2 but as the ,great ,eastern was not exceeding #f knots an hour1 at which rate the ,cable rolled off easily from the drums1 the engineers did not think it advisable to reduce her speed1 and so the ,sphinx was left further astern1 till at length she was hull down on the grey horizon4 ,each hour it became more important to know what depth of water we were in2 and the inconvenience of parting with the ,sphinx was felt1 as well1 perhaps1 as the defective nature of the arrangements with the ,admiralty1 which had furnished only one sounding apparatus4 ,the ,terrible had got no deep-sea sounding apparatus4 ,there was none on board of the ,great ,eastern4 ,in deep-sea soundings a special apparatus is requisite1 and the leads and the lines ordinarily used by men-of-war only penetrate the upper strata of the waters of the ,atlantic4 ,it was conjectured that we had passed over the #b1jej fathoms' soundings1 and the ,cable proved1 by a slightly increased pressure on the dynamometer1 that its trail was lengthening in the watery waste ere it ruffled the smooth surface of the ooze two miles below4 ,the insulation tests showed an improvement1 and the transmission of signals between the ship and the shore afforded most satisfactory indications4 ,at night the wind came round to the north-west1 the sea somewhat decreased1 and as evening closed in1 the ,terrible drew up on our beam1 working two boilers2 but when night fell1 the ,sphinx was scarcely visible on the distant horizon4 ,illustration3 ,e4 ,walker1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons4 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,view 7,,looking ,,aft7 ,,from ,,the ,,port ,,paddle ,,box ,,of ,,great ,,eastern ,,showing ,,the ,,trough ,,for ,,cable c4 ,illustration3 ,g4 ,mc,culloch1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,the ,,forge ,,on ,,deck4 ,,night ,,of ,,august #i,,th ,,preparing ,,the ,,iron ,,plating ,,for ,,capstan4 ,july #bgth4--,morning broke on a bright bounding sea and clear blue sky4 ,from the ,testing-,room came gratifying reports of the improved insulation of the ,cable1 which had been caused by the immersion of the ,cable in colder water4 ,we were now approaching an undulation in the bed of the ,atlantic in which the soundings decreased rather abruptly from #b1ajj to #a1ebi fathoms4 ,the engineers were perfectly satisfied with the manner in which the machinery was working1 and the mode in which the ,cable ran out4 ,the complete success of the enterprise1 after this fair start1 appeared to be a matter beyond doubt4 ,the fore tank was now got ready for the paying-out of the ,cable as soon as the coils in the after tank should be exhausted1 and the framework for the crinoline was erected over the hatchway4 ,at noon1 our position by observation was ,lat4 #eb #cd #cj1 ,long4 #ai #j #cj1 distance run #ada miles1 distance from ,valentia #cbj miles1 ,cable paid out #aeh miles4 ,the ,terrible was on our port beam at some distance1 but the ,sphinx was nowhere visible1 although our speed had not much exceeded #f knots an hour4 ,there was in the universal benevolence of the moment a feeling of sympathy for our lagging guardians4 ,the conviction grew that the work was nearly accomplished4 ,some were planning out journeys through the ,united ,states1 others speculated on the probability of sport in ,newfoundland3 the date of our arrival was already determined upon4 ,the sound of the piano1 a tribute to our own contentment1 rose from the saloon1 and now and then the notes of a violin became entwined in the melodious labyrinth through which the amateur professors wandered with uncertain fingers4 ,the artists sketched vigorously4 ,men stretched their legs lustily along the decks1 or penetrated1 with easy curiosity for the first time into the recesses of the ,leviathan that bore them4 ,none of them indeed found out the hiding-place of the ghost who haunts the ship2 but they discovered crypts under the tanks1 and meandered and crept about the shafts and boilers of the tremendous gloominess--vast and dark as the ,halls of ,eblis4 ,the ghost on board the ,great ,eastern1 to which ,i have alluded1 is believed to be the disembodied essence of a poor plate-riveter1 who disappeared in some aperture of the nascent ship1 never to be seen of mortal eye again1 and who was supposed to have been riveted up by the hammers of preparation so closely that not even his spirit could escape4 ,and so it1 or he1 is heard at all hours1 with ghostly hammer1 tap-tap-tapping on the iron walls of his prison as incessant as that cruel ,raven1 even through the clangour of donkey-engines and the crash of matter4 ,there was now and then a slight indication of unsteadiness1 which made one uncertain whether the wine was very strong or the ,great ,eastern unusually frolicsome2 but1 as a matter of fact and truth1 not a man aboard could imagine as he sat in the grand saloon that he was at sea at all4 ,every hour on board the ship increased our regard for all her qualities1 except her capacity of making noise and producing smoke1 but both of these were tokens and necessary conditions of her high working energies4 ,july #bhth4--,a night more of joyous progress--all going on most successfully--not a hitch in ,cable1 machinery1 or ship4 ,it was worth while to go aft and look at the ,cable as1 every inch scanned by watchful eyes1 and noted in books1 it flew through the whole apparatus of jockeys and drums and dynamometers1 and then in a gentle curve skimmed the surface of the ocean more than #bjj feet astern ere it went 8plump1 plunging down amid the assembly of the whales40 ,our course was ,n4,w4 ,w41 and the wind at ,w4,n4,w41 not too strong1 was just what we desired4 ,the ,terrible kept on our port beam4 ,the ,sphinx was not to be seen4 ,our position at noon was ,lat4 #eb #de1 ,long4 #bc #ah #d 7another reading gave #bc #ae #de71 distance run since yesterday #aee miles1 ,cable paid out #agd miles4 ,distance from ,valentia #dgd miles2 distance from ,heart's ,content #a1ahhe miles4 ,the water was supposed to vary from #a1ebi to #aiej fathoms in depth4 ,there was something almost monotonous in our success2 no ships to be seen1 only our severe-looking consort1 with her black hull and two funnels and paddle-boxes1 on the round blue shield of which the ,great ,eastern was the boss4 ,even the sea-birds had begun to leave us1 and a whale and a few porpoises which revealed their beauties to a favoured few were regarded as an envied treat4 ,as the departure of the ,sphinx had left one flank open1 and that the most vulnerable1 the ,great ,eastern signalled to the ,terrible to prevent any vessel from the ,n4,w4 crossing our course1 and soon afterwards the man-of-war steamed and took up her station on our starboard quarter1 where she remained throughout the day and night4 ,there was a sense of companionship in seeing her near us4 ,saturday1 ,july #bith4--8,everything has gone on most admirably during the night40 ,such was the report from electricians1 and engineers1 and officers this morning4 ,the electrical condition of the ,cable furnished results most satisfactory to ,mr4 ,varley and to ,professor ,thomson4 ,the tests showed that in copper-resistance1 insulation1 and every other particular1 the ,cable was exhibiting an excellence far beyond the specified standard4 ,coil after coil whirled off from the tank and passed away to sea as easily as the lightning flash itself2 and ,valentia was joined to us by a lengthening thread1 which seemed stronger and more sentient as it lengthened4 ,in the night the ,terrible had vanished1 but she came in sight in the morning1 and drew up closer to us4 ,as the sea was calm1 and the ,cable ran out so beautifully1 the speed of the steamer1 and consequent rate of paying-out of the ,cable1 were increased2 and it looked as if there was really no limit to the velocity at which the process could be conducted under favouring circumstances4 ,yes2 8,heart's ,content0 on ,august #eth was certain4 ,what could prevent it8 ,the fault which had occurred was caused by an accident most unlikely to happen again4 ,so we pored over our maps and marked out the soundings in the little bay in ,newfoundland1 and imagined what sort of place it was1 as men will do of spots they have never visited4 ,at noon our position was1 ,lat4 #eb #cc #cj 7another reading1 #eb #ch #cj71 ,long4 #bg #dj4 ,distance run1 #afj miles4 ,distance from ,valentia1 #fcdd miles4 ,distance to ,heart's ,content1 #a1jbh miles4 ,the ,great ,eastern had passed over the valley in the plateau where the ,atlantic deepens to #b1djj fathoms4 ,at #i a4m4 we had shoaled our water to #bjjj fathoms1 or #b nautical miles4 ,happy is the ,cable-laying that has no history4 ,here might the day's record have well been closed4 ,but it was not so to be4 ,at #aaj p4m4 7ship's time71 an ill-omened activity about the ,testing-,room1 which had been visible for some time1 reached its climax4 ,the engines were slowed1 in five minutes the great ship was motionless4 ,in an instant afterwards every one was on deck1 and the evil tidings flew from lip to lip4 ,something was wrong with the ,cable again4 ,but the worst was not known4 8,another fault10 was the word4 ,when ,i went into the ,testing-,room and found all the electricians so grave1 ,i suspected more serious mischief than a diminution of insulation2 and so it was4 ,they had found 8dead earth0--in other words1 a complete destruction of insulation1 and an uninterrupted escape of the current into the sea4 ,about #gaf miles 7nautical7 had been payed-out when the ship stopped so suddenly4 ,up to #bdj o'clock1 p4m4 7,greenwich time71 signals had been received from the shore in regular routine4 ,at #c o'clock the electricians on board began to send the current through to the shore1 and in three minutes afterwards the galvanometer indicated 8dead earth40 ,so it was pretty clear the injury was close to the ship1 and had gone over in the interval between #bdj p4m4 and #cd p4m4 ,at #c;h #c #cj 7,greenwich time71 the electrician on duty saw the index light of ,thomson's galvanometer fly out of bounds whilst he was passing a current to ,valentia4 ,the nature of the injury was so decided as to admit of no doubt4 ,but in order to make assurance doubly sure two cuts were made in the ,cable1 whilst the steam was being got up forward to be in readiness for the most retrograde of all backward movements--picking-up4 ,the whole length of ,cable in the tanks was first tested1 and found to be in admirable condition4 ,then a test outward gave 8dead earth0 not far overboard4 ,the next cut at the bottom of the coil in the after tank gave the same result4 ,the third cut was near the top of the coil in the after tank1 and confirmed the testimony of the other two tests4 ,the usual preparations were then made to shackle the ,cable ere it was cut and cast overboard with its tow rope of iron wire1 an operation which always caused the gravest misgivings4 ,it was admitted that there was a certain amount of danger in it1 and more in the picking-up2 but then1 when the question was asked 8,what would you do80 the answer was not so easy4 ,at first it might appear natural to back the ship1 and take up the ,cable from the stern2 but unfortunately ships in general will not steer stern foremost1 and the ,great ,eastern certainly would not4 ,it was obvious that if ,cables could not be secured against 8faults10 the mode of taking them in would have to be amended4 ,this was one of the most harassing days we had yet encountered2 but it proved not to be the most trying we were to endure in our short eventful history4 ,all our calculations were falsified4 ,newfoundland was seen at its true distance1 the piano ceased1 men discussed various schemes for avoiding the transfer of the ,cable from stern to the bow1 on every occasion of picking-up4 ,but all our difficulty had been overcome with such certainty1 and it was so evident all would go well if no more faults existed in the ,cable1 that faith1 in the ultimate success of the enterprise became1 strengthened rather than diminished4 ,whilst the tests were being made the ,cable was running out by its own weight and the drifting of the ship1 at a strain varying from #h cwt4 to #bj cwt41 giving at every fathom an increase of labour in the subsequent picking up4 ,the sailors regarded the process of cutting the ,cable with distrust2 but the ,cable men1 accustomed to it1 had no such serious apprehensions4 ,still the whole system of iron chains1 iron rope1 stoppers1 and bights1 is very complicated4 ,the ,cable cannot be checked in such cases till an instant before it is cut1 and must be let run out for fear of the ship dragging upon it2 and to the inexperienced eye it looked as if the ,great ,eastern were bent on snapping the thin black thread which cut the waves like a knife-blade as she rose and fell on the swell4 ,when the strain increased1 the ,cable ran with an edge of seething foam frittering before it backwards and forwards in the track of the ship1 taut as a bar of steel4 ,it was a relief to see the end cut at last1 and splash over1 with shackle chain and wire rope1 into the water4 ,then began an orderly tumult of men with stoppers and guy ropes along the bulwarks and in the shrouds1 and over the boats1 from stern to stem1 as length after length of wire rope flew out after the ,cable4 ,the men under the command of ,mr4 ,canning were skilful in their work2 but as they clamoured and clambered along the sides1 and over the boats1 and round the paddle-boxes1 hauling at hawsers1 and slipping bights1 and holding on and letting go stoppers1 the sense of risk and fear for the ,cable could not be got out of one's head4 ,the chief officer1 ,mr4 ,halpin1 by personal exertion1 made himself conspicuous1 and rendered effectual assistance2 and ,capt4 ,anderson1 on the bridge1 watched and directed every movement of the ship with skill and vigilance4 ,but still pitches and foulings would take place for an instant1 and it needed all our confidence in ,mr4 ,canning and his staff to tolerate this picking-up system with any temper4 ,thousands of fathoms down we knew the end of the cable was dragging along the bottom1 fiercely tugged at by the ,great ,eastern through its iron line4 ,if line or ,cable parted1 down sank the ,cable for ever4 ,at last our minds were set at rest by the commencement of the restorative process4 ,the head of the ,great ,eastern was got round slowly1 and pointed eastwards4 ,the iron wire rope was at length coming in over the bows through the picking-up machinery4 ,in due1 but in weary time1 the end of the ,cable appeared above the surface1 and was hauled on board and passed aft towards the drum4 ,the stern is on these occasions deserted2 the clack of wheels1 before so active1 ceases2 and the forward part of the vessel is crowded with those engaged in the work1 and with those who have only to look on4 ,the little chimneys of the boilers at the bows vomit forth clouds of smoke1 the two eccentric-looking engines working the pick-up drums and wheels make as much noise as possible1 brakesmen take their places1 indicator and dynamometer play their parts1 and all is life and bustle forwards1 as with slow unequal straining the ,cable is dragged up from its watery bed4 ,the day had been foggy or rather hazy4 ,light grey sheets of drizzling cloud flew over the surface of the sea1 and set men talking of icebergs and ,arctic storms2 but towards evening the wind fell1 and a cold clammy vapour settled down on ship and sea1 bringing with it a leaden calm2 so that the waves lost their tumbled crests1 and slept at last in almost unmurmuring slumber4 ,but the big ship slept not4 ,the clank and beat of machinery ceased never1 and the dull mill-like clatter of ,cable apparatus seemed to become more active as the night wore on4 ,the forge fires glared on her decks1 and there1 out in the midst of the ,atlantic1 anvils rang and sparks flew2 and the spectator thought of some village far away1 where the blacksmith worked1 unvexed by ,cable anxieties and greed of speedy news4 ,as the blaze shot up1 ruddy1 mellow1 and strong1 and flung arms of light aloft and along the glistening decks1 and then died into a red centre1 masts1 spars1 and ropes were for the instant touched with a golden gleaming1 and strange figures and faces were called out from the darkness--vanished--glinted out again--rushed suddenly into foreground of bright pictures1 which faded soon away--flickered--went out--as they were called to life by its warm breath1 or were buried in the outer darkness6 ,outside us all was obscurity2 but now and then vast shadows1 which moved across the arc of lighted fogbank1 were projected far away by the flare2 and one might well pardon the passing mariner whose bark drifted him in the night across the track of the great ship1 if1 crossing himself and praying with shuddering lips1 he fancied he beheld a phantom ship freighted with an evil crew1 and ever after told how he had seen the workshops of the ,inferno floating on the bosom of the ocean4 ,it was indeed a most wondrous and unearthly sight6 ,the very vanes on the mastheads1 the ring-bolts in the bulwarks and decks1 the blocks and the cordage1 were touched with such brightness that they shone as if on fire2 whilst the whole of the fore part of the ship was in darkness2 and on looking aft1 it appeared as though the stern were on fire1 or that blue lights were being burned every moment4 ,for hour after hour1 the work of 8picking-up0 went on4 ,the term is objectionable2 it rather indicates a brisk1 lively process--a bird picks up a worm--a lady picks up a pin--a sharper picks up a flat--but the machine working at the bows of the ,great ,eastern assuredly was not in any one way engaged in brisk or lively work4 ,most doggedly at times did the ,cable yield4 ,as if it knew its home was deep in the bed of the ,atlantic1 and that its insulation and all the objects of its existence would be gained and bettered by remaining there1 it strained against the power which sought to pull it forth2 and the dynamometer showed that the resistance of the rigid cord was equivalent to #b tons4 ,at times1 again1 it came up merely with coy reluctance1 and again became sullen as though it were already troubled by the whims of two worlds and partook of their fancies4 ,no trace was visible of its having touched the bottom for the #b miles which were hauled in1 but the men observed signs of animal life on it1 and certain creatures which they called 8worms0 were detached and fell on deck1 a specimen of which ,i sought for in vain4 ,as the ,cable was hauled in1 the men who coiled it aft1 and guided it through the machinery1 felt it carefully with their hands to detect any 8fault0 or injured part1 and the line of large ship's lanterns hung up along the deck showed how carefully they did their work4 ,it was #edj p4m41 ,greenwich time1 or about #cdj p4m41 ship's time1 when the end of the ,cable came in board2 but it was not till six hours and ten minutes had elapsed 7#iej p4m41 ship's time7 that the part of the ,cable where the mischief lay was picked up4 ,the defective portion was found at the very part of the ,cable which was going over the stern when the ocean galvanometer indicated 8dead earth40 ,it was at once cut out1 and reserved to be examined by ,mr4 ,canning4 ,the necessary steps were next taken to test the rest of the ,cable4 ,the shore end was spliced and jointed to a fresh end of the ,cable from the after tank4 ,these operations were finished before midnight2 but it was not judged expedient to resume the process of paying-out till the morning4 ,as yet no one knew the nature of the injury to the ,cable4 ,no one could account for the hitch2 but it certainly did not affect any one's belief in success4 ,mr4 ,field1 to whom such accidents are never discouraging1 remarked pleasantly during the crisis of picking-up1 8,i have often known ,cables to stop working for two hours1 no one knew why1 and then begin again4 ,most likely it's some mistake on shore40 ,what can discourage a believer8 ,it was even comfort to him to remember that this very day eight years ago1 a splice was made in the first ,atlantic ,cable1 very much in the same place4 ,but to all it had been a most trying day4 ,and when night came1 and some retired to the rest they had won so well1 there1 constant on the paddle-box1 stood ,captain ,anderson1 watching the course and conduct of his ship4 ,if the paying-out could have been stopped at once1 and the ,cable taken in over the stern1 the delay would have been very trifling2 but that was impossible4 ,the picking-up 7necessarily slow under the most favourable circumstances7 was rendered unusually tedious by the inefficiency of the boilers4 ,an interval of #ai hours had occurred1 and these faults and stoppages had caused so much labour and anxiety that ,captain ,anderson was obliged to remain on deck for #bf hours1 whilst ,mr4 ,halpin1 ,mr4 ,clifford1 ,mr4 ,canning1 the electricians1 and the whole staff1 were exposed to an equal strain till the ,cable was over the paying-out wheels again4 ,july #cjth 7,sunday74--,the weather was exceedingly thick all night--a fog hung round the ship1 and the drizzling rain was so cold as to give an impression there was ice close at hand1 but the water showed it was erroneous1 as the temperature was #eh4 ,it was a dead calm1 and the ,great ,eastern seemed to float on a grey and polished surface of cloud4 ,the preparations for paying-out were completed and tested4 ,there would have been a better result had not an accident occurred this morning as the ,cable was being passed aft from the bow1 in order to transfer it from the picking-up to the paying-out machinery4 ,owing to a sudden jar it flew off from the drum1 and before the machinery could be stopped several fathoms had become entangled amid the wheels1 and were so much injured that it was necessary to cut out the pieces1 and make two new splices and joints4 ,at #ajh a4m4 7ship's time being #haj a4m47 the ,cable was veered out astern once more1 our communications with ,valentia being most satisfactory4 ,the ,cable electrically was all that could be desired1 its condition being represented by #a1ejj1jjj1jjj ,british ,association units4 ,at noon our position was ,lat4 #eb #cj1 ,long4 #bh #ag2 distance from ,valentia1 #fejf miles2 ,cable payed-out1 #gde miles4 ,the ,cable which was recovered yesterday was strained1 and lay twisted in hard curves1 presenting a very different appearance from the easy ductile lines in which it lay in the tank4 ,the defective portion of the ,cable was not examined to-day1 and divine service was postponed till #bcj1 in order to give some time for sleep and rest to the exhausted and hard-worked staff and workers of all kinds on board the ship4 ,the weather continued thick and hazy1 a fresh breeze from the ,n4,n4,w4 not dispersing the cold grey clouds and mist4 ,the ,terrible alone was in sight1 and it was conjectured that the ,sphinx must have passed on during the night1 and that she would arrive in ,heart's ,content before us4 ,the sound and sight of the wheels and drums revolving again after so long a rest were very gratifying1 and it was fondly hoped that this fault or dead earth would be the last1 as it was now evident nothing else was to be feared1 and nothing else humanly speaking could prevent the ,cable being laid4 ,in the ,cable itself lay all the sources of mischief4 ,if there were no faults or dead earth1 the paying-out was a matter of the most easy routine and most positive certainty4 ,when the operation had to be reversed1 the whole condition of affairs was reversed also4 ,a swerve of the helm1 a rolling billow1 an unseen weakness1 a moment's neglect1 the accident of an instant1 and down went the thread of thought between two continents1 with all which depended on it1 to rest and rust in the depths of the sea4 ,my mind could never get rid of the image of the ,great ,eastern pulling at the ,cable as if she were animated by a malevolent desire1 when she caught some one off the watch1 to use her giant's strength to tear it asunder4 ,captain ,anderson only expressed the feelings of all who watched the struggle whilst ,cable and ,ship were adjusting their mutual relations1 when--admitting the task was more difficult than he had anticipated1 in consequence of the obstacles to the management of the ship1 arising from want of steerage way as soon as the engines were stopped--he said1 8,one feels so powerless--one can do so little to govern events while the affair of picking-up is going on40 ,the weather was favourable1 the ship perfection1 and yet here were these delays arising from causes no one could foresee or prevent or remedy in any but the one way1 and that a way fraught with danger4 ,a visit to the stern1 where the ,cable was rolling away into #bjjj fathoms water as easily as the thread flies from the reel in a lady's workbasket1 always created a conviction that the enterprise must be carried out2 and it was not till the machinery stopped and the words 8another fault0 recalled us to a sense of the contingencies on which it depended1 that we could entertain a doubt of its speedy consummation4 ,for the most indifferent somehow or another became soon interested in the undertaking4 ,there was a wonderful sense of power in the ,great ,ship and in her work2 it was gratifying to human pride to feel that man was mastering space1 and triumphing over the winds and waves2 that from his hands down in the eternal night of waters there was trailing a slender channel through which the obedient lightning would flash for ever instinct with the sympathies1 passions1 and interests of two mighty nations1 and binding together the very ends of the earth4 ,and then came 8a fault0--or 8dead earth0 spoke to us4 ,monday1 ,july #cast4--,we have been passing over the valley in the ,atlantic which is more than two miles deep4 ,with the morning came the news that all had gone well during the night4 ,some had got up an hour after midnight to watch the transfer of the coil from the after to the fore tank1 which was looked forward to with interest1 as it was supposed to be attended with some little difficulty4 ,but they were agreeably disappointed2 the operation was effected with the utmost facility4 ,at #ccj o'clock a4m4 the ship was stopped1 to permit the transfer to be made4 ,at #cej a4m4 the ,cable was running out of the fore hold1 passing down the trough1 and going out over the stern as she steamed ahead again4 ,the ,great ,eastern was now near a fatal spot--somewhere below us lay the bones of three ,atlantic ,cables4 ,but all during the forenoon1 engineers and electricians1 agreed in the most favourable statements respecting the ,cable and its progress4 ,at #i a4m4 7,greenwich time7 #hfh miles had been run out1 and #ggj miles made from land4 ,in the forenoon ,mr4 ,canning brought to trial the coils in which the peccant part that had wrought such mischief existed4 ,the ,court was held at the door of the ,testing-,room4 ,mr4 de ,sauty acted as judge4 ,the jury consisted of cells1 wires1 and galvanometers4 ,the accused cable1 cut in junks1 was subjected to a silent examination1 and many fathoms were pronounced not guilty1 flake by flake1 till at last the criminal was detected and at once carried off by ,mr4 ,canning4 ,the process of examination was conducted in ,mr4 ,clifford's cabin1 to which a few anxious spectators were admitted4 ,the core was laid bare by untwisting the strands of ,manilla covered with iron1 and before a foot of it was uncovered an exclamation literally of horror escaped our lips6 ,there1 driven right through the centre of the coil so as to touch the inner wires1 was a piece of iron wire1 bright as if cut with nippers at one end and broken off short at the other4 ,it was tried with the gauge1 and found to be of the same thickness as the wire used in making the protecting cover of the ,cable4 ,on examining the strands a mark of a cut was perceived on the ,manilla where the wire had entered1 but it did not come through on the other side4 ,in fact1 it corresponded in length exactly with the diameter of the ,cable1 so that the ends did not project beyond the outer surface of the covering4 ,now here was at once1 we thought1 demonstration of a villanous design4 ,no man who saw it could doubt that the wire had been driven in by a skilful hand4 ,and as that was so1 was it not likely that the former fault had been caused in a similar manner1 and that it was not the result of accident8 ,then1 again1 it was curious that the former fault occurred when the same gang of men were at work in the tank4 ,it was known there were enemies to the manufacturers of the ,cable2 whispers went about that one of the cablemen had expressed gratification when the first fault occurred4 ,it was a very solicitous moment1 and ,mr4 ,canning felt a great responsibility4 ,he could not tell who was guilty1 and in trying to punish them or him he might disgust the good men on whom so much depended4 ,he at once accepted an offer made by the gentlemen on board the ship to take turn about in doing duty in the tank and superintending the men engaged in paying-out the ,cable4 ,then he caused the cablemen to be summoned at the bows1 and showed them the coil and the wire4 ,after they had examined it curiously1 he asked the men what they thought of the injury1 and they one and all1 without hesitation1 expressed their opinion that it must have been done on purpose by some one in the tanks4 ,lynch law was talked of1 and if the man could have been pounced upon1 and left to the mercy of his fellows1 he would have fared ill that day4 ,nor was the feeling of anger and indignation diminished by the knowledge that the punishment awarded by law for offences of such a character was a paltry fine and short imprisonment4 ,the men who were engaged in the tank at the time of the occurrence were transferred to other duties1 and the volunteer inspectors established a roster1 and began their course of duty--one going on for two hours at a time1 and being relieved in order1 so that night and day the men engaged in paying-out the ,cable were under the eyes of very vigilant watchmen4 ,it was a painful thing to have to do1 but the men admitted it was not only justifiable but necessary1 and declared they were very glad the measure was adopted4 ,it was fondly hoped that this surveillance would save us from a recurrence of the delay to which the expedition had been subjected1 and ulterior steps were postponed till the shore was reached1 when it was intended to institute a rigid inquiry4 ,at noon our position was1 ,lat4 #eb #i #bj1 ,long4 #ca #ec4 ,length of ,cable payed-out since yesterday #acd miles3 total length paid out1 #ijc miles4 ,distance1 from ,valentia1 #gic miles2 from ,heart's ,content1 #hgai miles4 ,we had crossed the centre of the arc of the great circle4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,searching ,,for ,,fault ,,after ,,recovery ,,of ,,the ,,cable ,,from ,,the ,,bed ,,of ,,the ,,atlantic4 ,,july #cast4 ,illustration3 ,from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,in ,,the ,,bows ,,august #bnd4 ,,the ,,cable ,,broken ,,and ,,lost ,,preparing ,,to ,,grapple4 ,tuesday1 ,august #ast4--,the ,great ,eastern continued on her way without let or hindrance all night and early morning1 increasing her speed to #g knots an hour1 although there was a strong breeze at times4 ,the sea continued to favour us greatly1 and the ship's deck scarcely ever varied from a horizontal plane4 ,at noon our position was1 ,lat4 #ea #eb #cj1 ,long4 #cf #c #cj3 making #aee miles run since yesterday4 ,cable paid out #ajhaee miles4 ,distance from ,valentia1 #idh miles3 distance from ,heart's ,content1 #gag miles4 ,we were without soundings2 but it was supposed we were passing over the line on the chart where they varied from #aige to #bbej fathoms4 ,the ,terrible was at her usual station1 about two miles away2 but we gave up all hopes of seeing the ,sphinx till we reached ,heart's ,content4 ,it was calculated that at our present rate we would see land on ,friday evening1 or first thing on ,saturday morning4 ,in preparation for our arrival the crew were employed in transferring the shore end of the ,cable from the main to the after tank4 ,it would be painful to dwell on the tenour of our conversation4 ,the wisest men forgot the lessons of the past few days4 ,it seemed quite certain that the right step had been taken1 and that the man1 or men1 who had caused the previous mishaps had been effectually checkmated4 ,the praises of the ,great ,eastern were on every tongue4 ,had no fault occurred1 our task would have been nearly ended by this time4 ,her mission is undoubtedly the laying of ,atlantic ,cables1 and she did it nobly as far as in her lay on this occasion4 ,wednesday1 ,august #bnd4--,in the course of the night the wind1 accompanied by a dense fog1 rose from the westward4 ,then it suddenly shifted to ,n4,n4,w42 but although the sea was high1 there was no rolling or pitching1 and none of the sleepers were aroused from slumber1 which was favoured by the ceaseless rumble of the machinery4 ,they were1 however1 awakened but too speedily4 ,again the great enterprise on which so much depended1 and on which so many hearts and eyes were fixed1 was rudely checked4 ,as ,i have said1 the gale did not in the least affect the ship4 ,she went on through the heavy sea steady as an island1 running out the ,cable at the rate of #g knots an hour2 and when the wind shifted to ,n4,n4,w4 our course was altered to ,n4,w4 by ,w4 ,w41 through a sea which fell as rapidly as it had risen4 ,the crisis was now at hand4 ,i was aroused about #h o'clock a4m41 ,greenwich time 7ship's time being more than two hours earlier71 by the slowing of the engines1 and on looking out of my port saw1 from the foam of the paddles passing ahead1 that the ship was moving astern4 ,in a moment afterwards ,i stood in the ,testing-,room1 where ,mr4 de ,sauty1 the centre of a small group of electricians1 among whom was ,professor ,thomson1 was bending over the instruments1 surrounded by his anxious staff4 ,the chronometer marked #hf a4m41 ,greenwich time4 ,in reply to my question as to what was wrong1 ,professor ,thomson whispered1 8,another bad fault40 ,this was indeed surprising and distressing4 ,in order to make the history of the day consecutive1 ,i will relate as closely as possible what occurred4 ,mr4 ,field went on duty in the tank in the early morning1 relieving ,m4 ,jules ,despescher4 ,some twenty minutes before the fault was noticed1 whilst ,mr4 ,field was watching1 a grating noise was heard in the tank as the coil flew out over the flakes4 ,one of the men exclaimed1 8,there goes a piece of wire40 ,the word was passed up through the crinoline shaft to the watcher4 ,but he either did not hear what was said1 or neglected to give any intimation1 as the warning never reached ,mr4 ,temple1 who was on duty at the stern at the time4 ,at #h a4m41 ,greenwich time1 being the beginning of an hour1 and therefore the time when in regular series the electricians on board the ,great ,eastern began to send currents to the shore1 the gentleman engaged in watching the galvanometer1 saw the unerring index light quiver for an instant and glide off the scale4 ,the fact was established that instead of meeting with the proper resistance1 and traversing the whole length of the ,cable to the shore1 a large portion of the stream was escaping through a breach in the gutta percha into the sea4 ,if the quantity of the current escaping had been uniform1 the electricians could calculate very nearly the distance of the spot where the injury had taken place4 ,in the present instance1 however1 the tests varied greatly1 and showed a varying fault4 ,when the current is sent through a wire from one pole it produces an electro-chemical action on the wire1 and at the place of the injury1 which leads to a deposit of a salt of copper in the breach1 and impedes the escape of electricity2 and when the opposite current is returned1 the deposit is reduced1 and hydrogen gas formed1 a globule of which may rest in the chink1 and1 by its non-conducting power1 restore the insulation of the ,cable for a time4 ,the fault in the present instance was so grave that it was resolved to pick up the ,cable once more1 till we cut it out1 and re-spliced it4 ,how far away it was no one could tell precisely2 but from a comparison of time it was imagined that the faulty part was not far astern1 and that it was in the portion of ,cable which went over at #h o'clock in the morning1 or a little before it2 and although the time was not accurately fixed when ,mr4 ,field heard it1 the grating noise was supposed to arise from some cause connected with the fault4 ,had the engineers foreseen what subsequently occurred they might have resolved to go on1 and take the chance of working through the fault4 ,professor ,thomson has since given it as his opinion that the fault could have been worked through1 and that the ,cable could have transmitted messages for a long time at the rate of four words a minute--making an amply remunerative return4 ,mr4 de ,sauty also entertained the belief that the ,cable could have worked for several months1 at all events4 ,but it does not appear that ,mr4 ,canning had any reason to act on the views of these gentlemen1 and it was quite sure1 when the end was landed in ,heart's ,content1 ,mr4 ,varley could not have given his certificate that the ,cable was of the contract standard4 ,neither ,mr4 ,varley nor ,mr4 ,professor ,thomson had any power to interfere1 or even to express their opinions1 and electricians and engineers are generally inclined to regard with exclusive attention their own department in the united task1 and to look to it solely4 ,nothing was left but to pick up the cable4 ,steam was got up in the boilers for the picking-up machinery1 the shackles and wire rope were prepared1 and1 meantime1 as the ship drifted the ,cable was let run out1 and the brakes were regulated to reduce the strain below #cj cwt4 ,as they were cutting the ,cable near the top of the tank in the forenoon to make a test1 one of the foremen perceived in the flake underneath that which had passed out with the grating noise when the fault was declared1 a piece of wire projecting from the ,cable1 and when he took it in his fingers to prevent it catching in the passing coil1 the wire broke short off4 ,i saw it a few minutes afterwards4 ,it was a piece of the wire of the ,cable itself1 not quite three inches long2 one end rather sharp1 the other with a clean bright fracture1 and bent very much in the same way as the piece of wire which caused the first fault4 ,this was a very serious discovery4 ,it gave a new turn to men's thoughts at once4 ,after all1 the ,cable might carry the source of deadly mischief within itself4 ,what we had taken for assassination might have been suicide4 ,the piece of wire in this case was evidently bad and brittle1 and had started through the ,manilla in the tank4 ,how many similar pieces might have broken without being detected or causing loss of insulation8 ,the marks of design in the second fault were very striking2 but the freaks of machinery in motion are extraordinary1 and what looked so like purposed malice might1 after all1 be the effect of accidental mechanical agency4 ,there were thenceforth for the day two parties in the ship--those who believed in malice1 and those who attributed all our disasters to accident4 ,in the end the latter school included nearly all on board the ship1 and it was generally thought that in the ,cable1 or1 rather1 in what had been intended as its protection1 was the source of its weakness and ruin4 ,before the end of the ,cable was finally shackled to the wire rope1 tests were applied to the portion in tanks4 ,the first cut was made at the old splice1 between the main and fore tanks1 and the ,cable was found perfect4 ,the second cut1 at three miles from the end of the ,cable1 showed the fault to be overboard4 ,whilst the tests were going on1 and the cablemen got the picking-up gear in readiness1 the dynamometer showed a strain on the ,cable astern varying from #bj to #bh cwt4 ,the chain and rope were at last secured to the ,cable1 under the eyes of ,mr4 ,canning4 ,it was then #iec a4m4 ,the indicator stood at #cgfeie1 showing that #a1ahf miles of ,cable had been payed-out4 ,at #ieh a4m4 7,greenwich time71 the ,cable was cut and slipped overboard astern1 fastened to its iron guardians4 ,the depth of water was estimated at #bjjj fathoms4 ,as it went over and down in its fatal dive1 one of the men said1 8,away goes our talk with ,valentia40 ,mr4 de ,sauty did not inform the operator at ,valentia of the nature of the abrupt stoppage4 ,we had now become so hardened to the dangers of the slip overboard1 and the sight of the ,cable straining for its life in contest with the ,big ,ship1 that the cutting and slipping excited no apprehension2 but nothing could reconcile men to the picking-up machinery1 and its monotonous retrogression4 ,the wind was on our starboard beam1 and the ,cable was slipped over at the port quarter1 and carried round on the port side towards the ship's bows1 in order that the vessel might go over it1 and then come up more readily to the ,cable1 head to wind1 when the picking-up began4 ,the drift of the ship was considerable1 and it was not easy--indeed1 possible--to control her movements2 but1 notwithstanding all this1 the wire buoy-rope was got up to the machinery in reasonable time4 ,still the ship's head--do what ,capt4 ,anderson would1 and he did as much as any man could--did not come round easily4 ,even a punt will not turn if she has no way on her1 and it takes a good deal of way--more than she could get with safety to the ,cable--to give steerage to the ,great ,eastern4 ,as she slowly drifted and came round by degrees quite imperceptible to those who did not keep a close watch on the compass1 the wire rope was payed-out2 and at last1 as the ship's bows turned1 it was taken in over the machinery1 and was passed aft through the drums1 and the picking-up apparatus coiled it in very slowly away till the end of the ,cable was hauled up out of the sea4 ,it was #ajcj a4m41 ,greenwich time1 when the ,cable came in over the bow4 ,we were now in very deep water1 but had we been a few miles more to the west we should have been over the very deepest part of the ,atlantic ,plateau4 ,it was believed the fault was only six miles away1 and ere dead nightfall we might hope to have the fault on board1 make a new splice1 and proceed on our way to ,heart's ,content1 geographically about #fjj miles away4 ,the picking-up was1 as usual1 exceedingly tedious1 and one hour and forty-six minutes elapsed before one mile of ,cable was got on board2 then one of the engines' eccentric gear got out of order1 and a man had to stand by with a handspike1 aided by a wedge of wood and an elastic band1 to aid the machinery4 ,next the supply of steam failed2 and as soon then as the steam was got up1 there was not water enough in the boiler1 and so the picking-up ceased altogether4 ,but at last all these impediments were remedied or overcome1 and the operation was proceeded with before noon4 ,let the reader turn his face towards a window and imagine that he is standing on the bows of the ,great ,eastern1 and then on his right will be the starboard1 on his left the port side of the ship4 ,the motion of the vessel was from right to left1 and as she drifted1 she tugged at the ,cable from the right hand side1 where he seemed to be anchored in the sea4 ,there was not much rolling or pitching1 but the set of the waves ran on her port-bow4 ,there are in the bows of the ,great ,eastern two large hawse-pipes1 the iron rims of which project beyond the line of the stem2 against one of these the ,cable caught on the left-hand side whilst the ship was drifting to the left1 and soon began to chafe and strain against the bow4 ,the ,great ,eastern could not go astern1 lest the ,cable should be snapped1 and without motion there was no power of steerage4 ,at this critical moment1 too1 the wind shifted1 so as to render it more difficult to keep the head of the ship up to the ,cable4 ,as the ,cable chafed so much that there was danger of its parting1 a shackle1 chain1 and rope belonging to one of the ,cable-buoys were passed over the bows1 and secured in a bight below the hawse-pipe to the ,cable4 ,these were then hauled so as to bring the ,cable to the right-hand side of the bow1 the ship still drifting to the left1 and the oblique strain on the wires became considerable1 but it was impossible to diminish it by veering out1 as the length of ,cable after it was cut at the stern for the operation of picking-up left little to spare4 ,in the bow there is a large iron wheel with a deep groove in the circumference 7technically called a ,v wheel71 by the side of which is a similar but smaller wheel on the same axis4 ,the ,cable and the rope together were brought in over the bows in the groove in the larger wheel1 the ,cable being wound upon a drum behind by the picking-up machinery1 which was once more in motion1 and the rope being taken in round the capstan4 ,but the rope and ,cable did not come up in a right line in the ,v in the wheel1 but were drawn up obliquely4 ,still1 up they came4 ,the strain shown on the dynamometer was high1 but was not near the breaking point4 ,the part of the ,cable which had suffered from chafing was coming in1 and the first portion of it was inboard2 suddenly a jar was given to the dynamometer by a jerk1 caused either by a heave of the vessel or by the shackle of wire-rope secured to the ,cable1 and the index jumped far above #fj cwt41 the highest point marked on it4 ,the chain shackle and wire-rope clambered up out of the groove of the ,v wheel1 got on the rim1 and rushed down with a crash on the smaller wheel1 giving a severe shock to the ,cable4 ,almost at the same moment1 as the ,cable and the rope travelled slowly along through the machinery1 just ere they reached the dynamometer the ,cable parted1 flew through the stoppers1 and with one bound leaped over intervening space and flashed into the sea4 ,the shock of the instant was as sharp as the snapping of the ,cable itself4 ,no words could describe the bitterness of the disappointment4 ,the ,cable gone6 gone for ever down in that fearful depth6 ,it was enough to move one to tears2 and when a man came with the piece of the end lashed still to the chain1 and showed the tortured strands--the torn wires--the lacerated core--it is no exaggeration to say that a feeling of pity1 as if it were some sentient creature which had been thus mutilated and dragged asunder by brutal force1 moved the spectators4 ,captain ,moriarty was just coming to the foot of the companion to put up his daily statement of the ship's position1 having had excellent observations1 when the news came4 8,i fear10 he said1 8we will not feel much interested now in knowing how far we are from ,heart's ,content40 ,however1 it was something to know1 though it was little comfort1 that we had at noon run precisely #aafd miles since yesterday2 that we were #a1jfbd miles from ,valentia1 #fjff miles from ,heart's ,content2 that we were in ,lat4 #ea #be1 ,long4 #ci #f1 our course being #gf ,s4 and #be ,w4 ,but instant strenuous action was demanded6 ,alas6 action6 ,there around us lay the placid ,atlantic smiling in the sun1 and not a dimple to show where lay so many hopes buried4 ,the ,terrible was signalled to1 8the ,cable has parted10 and soon bore down to us1 and came-to off our port beam4 ,after brief consideration1 ,mr4 ,canning resolved to make an attempt to recover the ,cable4 ,never1 we thought1 had alchemist less chance of finding a gold button in the dross from which he was seeking aurum potabile1 or philosopher's stone4 ,but1 then1 what would they say in ,england1 if not even an attempt1 however desperate1 were made8 ,there were men on board who had picked up ,cables from the ,mediterranean #gjj fathoms down4 ,the weather was beautiful1 but we had no soundings1 and the depth was matter of conjecture2 still it was settled that the ,great ,eastern should steam to windward and eastward of the position in which she was when the ,cable went down1 lower a grapnel1 and drift down across the course of the track in which the ,cable was supposed to be lying4 ,although all utterance of hope was suppressed1 and no word of confidence escaped the lips1 the mocking shadows of both were treasured in some quiet nook of the fancy4 ,the doctrine of chances could not touch such a contingency as we had to speculate upon4 ,the ship stood away some #ac or #ad miles from the spot where the accident occurred1 and there lay-to in smooth water1 with the ,terrible in company4 ,the grapnel1 two five-armed anchors1 with flukes sharply curved and tapering to an oblique tooth-like end--the hooks with which the giant ,despair was going to fish from the ,great ,eastern for a take worth1 with all its belongings1 more than a million1 were brought up to the bows4 ,one of these1 weighing #c cwt41 shackled and secured to wire buoy rope1 of which there were five miles on board1 with a breaking strain calculated at #aj tons1 was thrown over at #cbj1 ship's time1 and 8whistled thro'0 the sea1 a prey to fortune4 ,at first the iron sank slowly1 but soon the momentum of descent increased1 so as to lay great stress on the picking-up machinery1 which was rendered available to lowering the novel messenger with warrant of search for the fugitive hidden in mysterious caverns beneath4 ,length flew after length over cog-wheel and drum till the iron1 warming with work1 heated so as to convert the water thrown upon the machinery into clouds of steam4 ,the time passed heavily4 ,the electricians' room was closed2 all their subtle apparatus stood functionless1 and cell1 zinc1 and copper threw off superfluous currents in the darkened chamber4 ,the jockeys had run their race1 and reposed in their iron saddles4 ,the drums beat no more1 their long rveille ended in the muffled roll of death2 that which had been broken could give no trouble to break1 and man shunned the region where all these mute witnesses were testifying to the vanity of human wishes4 ,all life died out in the vessel1 and no noise was heard except the dull grating of the wire-rope over the wheels at the bows4 ,the most apathetic would have thought the rumble of the ,cable the most grateful music in the world4 ,away slipped the wire strands1 shackle after shackle3 ocean was indeed insatiable2 8more0 and 8more10 cried the daughter of horse-leech from the black night of waters1 and still the rope descended4 ,one thousand fathoms--fifteen hundred fathoms--two thousand fathoms--hundreds again mounting up--till at last1 at #ef p4m41 the strain was diminished1 and at #b1ejj fathoms1 or #ae1jjj feet1 the grapnel reached the bed of the ,atlantic1 and set to its task of finding and holding the ,cable4 ,where that lay was of course beyond human knowledge2 but as the ship drifted down across its course1 there was just a sort of head-shaking surmise that the grapnel might catch it1 that the ship might feel it1 that the iron-rope might be brought up again--and that the ,cable across it might--here was the most hazardous hitch of all--might come up without breaking4 ,but #b1ejj fathoms6 ,alas6--and so in the darkness of the night--not more gloomy than her errand--the ,great ,eastern1 having cleared away one of the great buoys and got it over her bows1 was left as a sport to the wind1 and drifted1 at the rate of #gj feet a minute1 down upon the imaginary line where the ,cable had sunk to useless rest4 ,august #crd4--,all through the night's darkness the ,great ,eastern groped along the bottom with the grapnel as the wind drifted her1 but cunning hands had placed the ship so that her course lay right athwart the line for which she was fishing4 ,there were many on board who believed the grapnel would not catch anything but a rock1 and that if it caught a rock or anything else it would break itself or the line without anyone on board being the wiser for it4 ,others contended the ,cable would be torn asunder by the grapnel4 ,others calculated the force required to draw up two miles and a-half of the ,cable to the surface1 and to drag along the bottom the length of line needed to give a bight to the ,cable caught in the grapnel1 so as to permit it to mount two and a-half miles to the deck of the ,great ,eastern4 ,after the grapnel touched the bottom1 which was at #gde o'clock1 p4m41 last night1 when #b1ejj fathoms of rope were payed-out1 the strain for an hour and a-half did not exceed #ee cwt42 but at #aj p4m4 it rose to #hj cwt4 for a short time1 and the head of the ship yielded a little from its course and came up to the wind4 ,it then fell off as the strain was reduced to #ee cwt4 which apparently was the normal force put on the ship by the weight of the rope and grapnel4 ,this morning the same strain was shown by the dynamometer1 and it varied very slightly from midnight till #f o'clock a4m4 ,then the bow of the ship and the index of the dynamometer coincided in their testimony1 and whilst the ,great ,eastern swayed gradually and turned her head towards the wind1 the index of the machine recorded an increasing pressure4 ,it began to be seen that there was some agency working to alter the course of the ship1 and the dynamometer showed a strain of #gj cwt4 ,the news soon spread2 men rushed from compass to dynamometer4 8,we have caught it6 we have caught it60 was heard from every lip4 ,there was in this little world of ours as much ever-varying excitement1 as much elation and depression1 as if it were a focus into which converged the joys and sorrows of humanity4 ,when the ,great ,eastern first became sensible of the stress brought upon her by the grappling iron and rope she shook her head1 and kept on her course1 disappointing the hopes of those who were watching the dynamometer1 and who saw with delight the rising strain4 ,this happened several times4 ,it was for a long time doubtful whether the grapnel held to anything more tenacious than the ooze1 which for a moment arrested its progress and then gave way with a jerk as the ship drifted2 but in the early morning1 the long steady pull made it evident the curved prongs had laid their grip on a solid body1 which yielded slowly to the pressure of the vessel as she went to leeward1 but at the same time resisted so forcibly as to slew round her bow4 ,the scientific men calculated the force exercised by grapnel and rope alone to be far less than that now shown on the dynamometer4 ,and if the ,great ,eastern had indeed got hold of a substance in the bottom of the ,atlantic at once so tenacious and so yielding1 what could it be but the lost ,cable8 ,illustration3 ,e4 ,walker1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,getting ,,out ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,large ,,buoys ,,for ,,launching ,,august #b,,nd4 ,illustration3 from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,general ,,view ,,of ,,port ,,magee c4 ,,from ,,the ,,heights ,,below ,,cora ,,beg4 ,,the ,,caroline ,,laying ,,the ,,shore ,,end ,,of ,,the ,,cable ,,july #bb,,nd4 ,at #fdj a4m41 ,greenwich time1 the bow of the ship was brought up to the grapnel line4 ,the machinery was set to work to pull up the #b1ejj fathoms of rope4 ,the index of the dynamometer1 immediately on the first revolutions of the wheels and drums1 rose to #he cwt4 ,the operation was of course exceedingly tedious1 and its difficulty was increased by the nature of the rope1 which was not made in a continuous piece1 but in lengths of #ajj fathoms each1 secured by shackles and swivels of large size1 and presumably of proportionate strength4 ,it was watched with intense interest4 ,the bows were crowded1 in spite of the danger to which the spectators were exposed by the snapping of the wire-rope1 which might have caused them serious and fatal injuries4 ,at #gae o'clock1 a4m41 the first #ajj fathoms of rope were in1 and the great iron shackle and swivel at the end of the length were regarded with some feelings of triumph4 ,at #gee a4m4 the second length of #ajj fathoms was on board1 the strain varying from #fe to #ge cwt4 ,at #haj a4m41 when #djj fathoms had been purchased in and coiled away1 the driving spur-wheel of the machinery broke1 and the rope snapped1 the strain being #ij cwt4 at the time4 ,the whole of the two miles of wire rope1 grapnel and all1 would have been lost1 but that the stoppers caught the shackle at the end1 and saved the experiment from a fatal termination4 ,the operation was suspended for a short time1 in order to permit the damage to be made good1 and the rope was transferred to the capstan4 ,the hazardous nature of the work1 owing to the straining and jerking of the wire rope1 was painfully evinced by the occurrence of accidents to two of the best men on ,mr4 ,canning's staff--one of whom was cut on the face1 and the other had his jaw laid open4 ,at noon nearly half a mile of rope was gathered in4 ,with every length of ,cable drawn up from the sea1 the spirits of all on board became lighter1 and whilst we all talked of the uncertainty of such an accomplishment1 there was a sentiment stronger than any one would care to avow1 inspiring the secret confidence that1 having caught the ,cable in this extraordinary manner1 we should get it up at last1 and end our strange eventful history by a triumphant entry to ,heart's ,content4 ,already there were divers theories started as to the best way of getting the ,cable on board1 for if ,mr4 ,canning ever saw the bight1 the obvious question arose1 8,what will he do with it80 ,the whole of our speculations were abruptly terminated at #bej o'clock1 p4m4 ,as the shackle and swivel of the eleventh length of rope1 which would have made a mile on board1 were passing the machinery1 the head of the swivel pin was wrung off by the strain1 and the #a1djj fathoms of line1 with grapnel attached1 rushed down again to the bottom of the ,atlantic1 carrying with it the bight of ,cable4 ,the shock was bitter and sharp4 ,the nature of the mishap was quite unforeseen4 ,the engineers had calculated that the wire rope might part1 or that the ,cable itself might break at the bight1 but no one had thought of the stout iron shackles and swivels yielding4 ,to add to the gloominess of the situation1 the fog1 which had so long been hanging round the ship1 settled down densely1 and obliged the ,great ,eastern to proceed with extreme caution4 ,but although the event damped1 it did not extinguish1 the hopes of the engineers4 ,mr4 ,canning and ,mr4 ,clifford at once set their staff to bend #b1ejj fathoms of spare wire rope to another grapnel1 and to prepare a buoy to mark the spot as nearly as could be guessed where the rope had parted1 and gone down with the bight of the ,cable4 ,the ,great ,eastern was to steam away to windward of the course of the ,cable1 and then drift down upon it about three miles west of the place where the accident occurred4 ,fog whistles were blown to warn the ,terrible of our change of position1 and at #acj1 ship's time1 the ,great ,eastern1 as she steamed slowly away1 fired a gun1 to which a real or fancied response was heard soon afterwards4 ,as she went ahead1 guns were fired every #bj minutes1 and the steam-whistles were kept going1 but no reply was made1 and she proceeded on her course alone4 ,it was impossible to obtain a noon-day observation1 and the only course to be pursued was to steam to windward for #ad or #ae miles1 then to lay-to and drift1 in the hope of procuring a favourable position for letting go the second grapnel1 and catching the ,cable once more4 ,august #dth4--,the morning found the ,great ,eastern drifting in a dense fog4 ,in order to gauge the nature of the task before them1 the engineers fitted up a sounding tackle of all the spare line they could get1 and hove it overboard with a heavy lead attached4 ,the sinker1 it is believed1 touched bottom at #b1cjj fathoms1 but it never came up to tell the tale4 ,the line broke when the men were pulling it in1 and #bjjj fathoms of cord were added to the maze of ,cable and wire rope with which the bed of the ,atlantic must be vexed hereabouts4 ,the fog cleared away in the morning1 and the ,terrible was visible astern4 ,presently one of her boats put off1 with a two-mile pull before her1 for the ,great ,eastern4 ,lieutenant ,prowse was sent to know what we had been doing1 and what we intended to do4 ,he returned to his ship with the information that ,mr4 ,canning1 full of determination1 if not of hope1 would renew his attempt to grapple the ,cable1 and haul it up once more4 ,at noon1 ,captain ,anderson and ,staff-,commander ,moriarty1 who had been very much perplexed at the obstinate refusal of the sun to shine1 and might be seen any time between #h a4m4 and noon parading the bridge sextant in hand1 taking sights at space1 succeeded in obtaining an observation1 which gave our position ,lat4 #ea #cd #cj1 ,long4 #cg #ed4 ,the ,great ,eastern had drifted #cd miles from the place where the ,cable parted1 and as she had steamed #ab miles1 her position was #df miles to the east of the end of the ,cable4 ,meantime the engineers' staff were busy making a solid strong raft of timber balks1 #h feet square1 to serve as a base to a buoy to be anchored in #b1ejj fathoms1 as near as possible to the course of the ,cable1 and some miles to the westward of the place where the grapnel-rope parted4 ,a portion of ,cable1 which had been a good deal strained1 was used as tackle1 for the purpose of securing the raft and buoy to a mushroom anchor4 ,the buoy1 which we shall call ,no4 #a1 was painted red1 and was surmounted by a black ball1 above which rose a staff1 bearing a red flag4 ,it was securely lashed on the raft4 ,at #aj p4m41 ,greenwich time1 the buoy ,no4 #a was hove overboard1 and sailed away over the grey leaden water till it was brought up by the anchor in ,lat4 #ea #bh1 ,long4 #ch #db #cj4 ,the ,great ,eastern1 having thus marked a spot on the ocean1 proceeded on her cruise1 to take up a position which might enable her to cross the ,cable with the new grapnel1 and try fortune once more4 ,some researches made among the coils of telegraph ,cable confirmed the opinion1 that the iron wires in the outer protective coating were the sources of all our calamities1 and fortified the position of those who maintained that the faults were the result of accident4 ,in some instances the wires were started2 in others they were broken in the strands4 ,by twisting the wire1 great variations in quality became apparent4 ,some portions were very tough1 others snapped like steel4 ,it is to be regretted that the scientific council who recommended the ,cable did not test some parts of it in the paying-out apparatus with a severe strain1 as they might have detected the inherent faults in the fabric4 ,it is quite possible hundreds of broken ends exist in the ,cable already laid1 though they have done no harm to the insulation4 ,saturday1 ,august #eth4--,there was no change in the weather4 ,a grey mist enveloped the ,great ,eastern from stem to stern1 blanket-like as sleep itself4 ,the haze--for so it was rather than a fog--got lighter soon after #ab o'clock1 but it was quite out of the question to attempt an observation of a longitudinal character4 ,the steam-whistles pierced the fog-banks miles away4 ,shoals of grampuses1 black fish1 porpoises1 came out of the obscure to investigate the source of such dread clamour1 and blew1 spouted1 and rolled on the tops of the smooth unctuous-looking folds of water that undulated in broad sweeping billows on our beam4 ,our great object was to get sight of the buoy1 and by that means make a guess at our position4 ,at #abcj p4m4 the ,terrible was sighted on the port beam1 and our fog music was hushed4 ,at #bcj o'clock1 p4m41 the ,terrible signalled that the buoy was three miles distant from her4 ,this was quite an agreeable incident4 ,every eye was strained in search of the missing buoy1 and at last the small red flag at the top of the staff was made out on the horizon4 ,at #cde o'clock1 p4m41 the ,great ,eastern was abreast of the buoy1 which was hailed with much satisfaction4 ,it bore itself bravely1 though rather more depressed than we had anticipated1 and it was like meeting an old friend1 to see it bobbing at us up and down in the ocean4 ,it was resolved to steer ,n4,w4 by ,n4 for #e or #f miles1 so as to pass some miles beyond the ,cable1 and then1 if the wind answered1 to drift down and grapple4 ,the ,great ,eastern signalled to the ,terrible1 8,please watch the buoy20 and1 under her trusty watch and ward1 we left the sole mark of the expedition fixed on the surface of the sea1 and stood towards the northward4 ,the wind1 however1 did not answer1 and the grapnel was not thrown overboard4 ,aug4 #fth1 ,sunday4--,it was very thick all through the night--fog1 rain1 drizzle alternately1 and all together4 ,when morning broke1 the ,terrible was visible for a moment in a lift of the veil of grey vapour which hung down from the sky on the face of the waters4 ,the buoy was of course quite lost to view1 nor did we see it all day4 ,at #ajde a4m4 ,captain ,anderson read prayers in the saloon4 ,at noon it was quite hopeless to form a conjecture respecting the position of the sun or of the horizon1 but ,captain ,moriarty and ,captain ,anderson were ready to pounce upon either1 and as the least gleam of light came forth1 sextants in hand1 like the figures which indicate fine weather in the ,german hygrometers4 ,the sea was calm1 rolling in lazy folds under the ship1 which scarcely condescended to notice them4 ,she is a wonder6 ,in default of anything else1 it was something to lie on a sofa in the ladies' saloon1 and try to think you really were on the bosom of the ,atlantic1--not a bulkhead creaking1 not a lamp moving1 not a glass jingling4 ,under the influence of an unknown current1 the ,great ,eastern was drifting steadily against the wind4 ,when the circumstance was noticed1 it could only be referred to the 8,gulf ,stream10 which is held answerable for a good many things all over the world4 ,at #d p4m4 the buoy was supposed to be #ae miles ,n4,w4 ,n4 of us1 the wind being ,e4,s4,e41 but it was only out of many calculations ,captain ,moriarty and ,captain ,anderson created a hypothetical position4 ,there had been no good observation for three days1 and until we could determine the ship's position exactly1 and get a good wind to drift down on the ,cable1 it would be quite useless to put down the grapnel4 ,the buoy was supposed to be some #ab miles distant from the end of the ,cable1 and not far from the slack made by the ,great ,eastern4 ,if we got this slack1 the ,cable would come up more easily on the grapnel4 ,of course1 if the buoy had been ready when the ,cable broke1 it would have been cast loose at the spot where the wire rope and grapnel sank4 ,if the ,cable could be caught1 it was proposed either to place a breaking strain upon it1 so as to get a loose end and a portion of slack1 and then to grapple for it a second time within a mile or so of the end1 or to try and take it inboard without breaking4 ,some suggested that the ,great ,eastern should steam at once to ,trinity ,bay1 where the fleet was lying1 and ask the admiral for a couple of men-of-war to help us in grappling2 but those acquainted with our naval resources declared that it would be useless1 as the ships would have no tackle aboard fit for the work1 and could not get it even at ,halifax4 ,others recommended an immediate return to ,england for a similar purpose1 to get a complete outfit for grappling before the season was advanced1 and to return to the end of the ,cable1 or to a spot #ajj miles east of it1 where the water is not so deep4 ,what was positive was1 that more than #a1ajj miles of the most perfect ,cable ever laid1 as regards electrical conditions1 was now lying three-quarters of the way across from ,valentia to ,newfoundland4 ,monday1 ,aug4 #gth4--,during the night it was raining1 fogging1 drizzling1 clouding over and under1 doing anything but blowing1 and of course as we drifted hither and thither1--the largest float that currents and waves ever toyed with1--we had no notion of any particular value of our whereabouts4 ,but at #d a4m4 a glimpse was caught of the ,terrible lying-to about #f miles distant1 and we steered gently towards her and found that she was keeping watch over the buoy1 which was floating apparently #b miles away from her4 ,our course was ,w4,n4,w4 till we came nearly abreast of the buoy shortly before #i a4m41 when it was altered to ,n4,w4 ,the wind was light and from the northward1 and the ,great ,eastern steamed quietly onwards that she might heave over the grapnel and drift down on the line of the ,cable when the fog cleared and the wind favoured4 ,the feat of seamanship which was accomplished1 and the work so nearly consummated1 was so marvellous as to render its abrupt and profitless termination all the more bitter4 ,the remarkable difficulty of such a task as ,staff-,commander ,moriarty and ,captain ,anderson executed cannot be understood without some sort of appreciation of the obstacles before them4 ,the ,atlantic ,cable1 as we sadly remember1 dropped into the unknown abyss on ,aug4 #b4 ,we had no soundings4 ,in the night the ,great ,eastern drifted and steamed #be miles from the end of the ,cable--then bore away with a grapnel overboard1 and #b1ejj fathoms of wire rope attached1 and steered so as to come across the course of the ,cable at the bottom4 ,on the morning of ,aug4 #crd1 the increasing strain on the line which towed the grapnel gave rise to hope at first1 and finally to the certainty1 that the ship had caught the ,cable4 ,at #cbj o'clock1 p4m41 ,greenwich time1 when about #ijj fathoms of grapnel line had been hauled in1 the head of a swivel pin broke1 and #a1djj fathoms of line1 with grapnels and ,atlantic ,cable1 went down to the bottom4 ,then the ,great ,eastern drifted again in a fog whilst preparing for another trial to drag the ,cable up from the sea1 and on #dth ,august1 with an apparatus devised on board1 got doubtful soundings1 from which it was estimated that the water was about #b miles deep4 ,a buoy placed on a raft1 which sunk so deep that only a small flagstaff and black bulb were visible1 was let go1 with a mushroom anchor and #b miles of ,cable attached to it1 into this profound2 but as it was not ready when the ,cable broke1 the buoy was slipped over at the distance of some miles from the place where the fatal fracture took place1 in the hope and belief that the anchor would come up somewhere near the slack caused by the picking-up operations4 ,still in fog1 which shut the ,terrible out of sight1 the ,great ,eastern prepared for another attempt4 ,next day 7,august #e71 with the assistance of the ,terrible1 she came upon the buoy1 and having steamed away to a favourable position1 so as to come down on the course of the ,cable again1 remained drifting and steaming gently1 on the look-out for the buoy1 which it was very difficult to discover owing to the fog and to the current and winds acting on the ship4 ,the weather did not permit any observations for longitude to be made during the whole of this period4 ,on ,aug4 #gth we passed the buoy and steered ,n4,w41 and at #aaaj a4m41 ship's time1 #adg p4m41 ,greenwich time1 another grapnel1 with #b1ejj fathoms of wire rope1 was thrown over1 and the ,great ,eastern1 with a favourable wind1 was let drift down on the course of the ,cable1 about half way between the buoy and the broken end4 ,at #abe ship's time1 the grapnel touched the bottom in #b1ejj fathoms water1 having sunk1 owing to improved apparatus1 in half the time consumed in the first operation4 ,in six hours afterwards1 the eyes which were watching every motion of the ship so anxiously1 perceived the slightest possible indication that the grapnel was holding on at the bottom1 and that the ship's head was coming up towards the northward4 ,it is not possible to describe the joyous excitement which diffused itself over the ,great ,eastern as1 with slowly-increasing certitude1 she yielded to the strain from the grapnel and its prize1 and in an hour and a-half canted her head from ,e4 by ,s4 ,s41 to ,e4 ,north4 ,the screw was used to bring up her bow to the strain1 and the machinery of the picking-up apparatus1 much improved and strengthened1 was set in motion to draw in the grapnel by means of the capstan and its steam power4 ,the strain shown by the indicator increased from #dh cwt4 to #ff cwt4 in a short time2 but the engines did their work steadily till #haj1 when one of the wheels was broken by a jerk1 which caused a slight delay4 ,the grapnel-rope was1 however1 hauled in by the capstan at a uniform rate of #ajj fathoms in #dj minutes2 but the strain went on gradually increasing till it reached #gj cwt4 to #ge cwt4 ,at #aacj p4m41 ship's time1 or #be a4m41 ,greenwich1 #cjj fathoms were aboard1 and at midnight all those who were not engaged on duty connected with the operation retired to rest1 thankful and encouraged4 ,in the words of our signal to the ,terrible1 all was going on 8hopefully40 ,throughout our slumbers the clank of the machinery1 the shrill whistles to go on ahead1 or turn astern1 sounded till morning came1 and when one by one the citizens of our little world turned up on deck1 each felt1 as he saw the wheels revolving and the wire rope uncoiling from the drums1 that he was assisting at an attempt of singular audacity and success4 ,a moonlight of great brightness1 a night of quiet loveliness had favoured the enterprise1 and the links of rope had come in one after another at a speed which furnished grounds for hope that if the end of the day witnessed similar progress1 the ,cable would be at the surface before nightfall4 ,illustration3 ,g4 ,mc,culloch1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,interior ,,of ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,tanks ,,on ,,board ,,the ,,great ,,eastern4 ,,cable ,,passing ,,out4 ,illustration3 ,e4 ,walker1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,launching ,,buoy ,,on ,,august #h,,th ,,in ,,lat #ea #be #cj ,,long4 #ch #ef 7,,marking ,,spot ,,where ,,cable ,,had ,,been ,,grappled74 ,august #hth4--,this morning1 about #gcj1 one mile--one thousand fathoms--had been recovered1 and was coiled on deck4 ,the ,cable1 however1 put out a little more vigour in its resistance1 and the strain went up to #hj cwt41 having touched #ij cwt4 once or twice previously4 ,no matter what happened1 the perseverance of the engineers and seamen had been so far rewarded by a very extraordinary result4 ,they had caught up a thin ,cable from a depth of #b1ejj fathoms1 and had hauled it up through a mile of water4 ,they were hauling at it still1 and all might be recovered4 ,but it was not so to be4 ,our speculations were summarily disposed of--our hopes sent to rest in the ,atlantic4 ,shortly before #h o'clock1 an iron shackle and swivel at the end of a length of wire rope came over the bow1 passed over the drums1 and had been wound three times round the capstan1 when the head of the swivel bolt 8drew10 exactly as the swivel before it had done1 and the rope1 parting at once1 flew round the capstan1 over the drums1 through the stops1 with the irresistible force on it of a strain1 indicated at the time or a little previously1 of #ij cwt4 ,it is wonderful no one was hurt4 ,the end of the rope flourished its iron fist in the air1 and struck out with it right and left1 as though it were animated by a desire to destroy those who might arrest its progress4 ,it passed through the line of cablemen with an impatient sweep1 dashed at one man's head1 was only balked by his sudden stoop1 and menacing from side to side the men at the bow1 who fortunately were few in number1 and were warned of the danger of their position1 splashed overboard4 ,all had been done that the means at the disposal of engineers and officers allowed4 ,the machinery had been altered1 improved1 tested--every shackle and swivel had been separately examined1 and several which looked faulty had been knocked off and replaced1 but in every instance the metal was found to be of superior quality4 ,it was #gdc a4m41 ship's time1 exactly1 when the rope parted4 ,the sad news was signalled to the ,terrible1 which had been following our progress anxiously and hopefully during the night4 ,her flags in return soon said1 8,very sorry10 and she steamed towards the ,great ,eastern immediately4 ,mr4 ,canning and ,mr4 ,gooch1 and others1 consulted what was best to be done1 and meantime the buoy and raft which had been prepared in anticipation of such a catastrophe as had occurred1 were lowered over the bows with a mooring rope of #b1ejj fathoms long1 attached to a broken spur-wheel4 ,the buoy was surmounted by a rod with a black ball at the top over a flag red1 white1 and red1 in three alternate horizontal stripes1 and on it were the words and letters3--8,telegraph1 ,no4 #c40 ,it floated rather low on a strong raft of timber1 with corks lashed at the corners1 and by observation and reckoning it was lowered in ,lat4 #ea #be #cj1 ,long4 #ch #ef4 ,the old buoy at the time it was slipped bore ,s4,e4 by ,e4 #ac miles from the ,great ,eastern4 ,as there were still nearly #a1ijj fathoms of wire rope on board1 and some #ejj fathoms of ,manilla hawser1 ,mr4 ,canning resolved to make a third and last attempt ere he returned to ,sheerness4 ,captain ,anderson warned ,mr4 ,canning that from the indications of the weather1 it was not likely he could renew his search for two or three days1 but that was of the less consequence1 inasmuch as it needed nearly that time for ,mr4 ,canning's men to secure the shackles and prepare the apparatus for the third trial4 ,at #idj a4m41 just as the buoy had gone over1 a boat came alongside from the ,terrible1 and ,mr4 ,prowse1 the ,first ,lieutenant1 boarded us to know what we were going to do1 to compare latitude and longitude1 and to report to ,captain ,napier the decision arrived at by the gentlemen connected with the management of the ,expedition4 ,the ,great ,eastern had still about #c1ejj tons of coal remaining1 and the ,terrible could wait three days more1 and still keep coal enough to enable her to reach ,st4 ,john's4 ,at #aacj the ,great ,eastern stood down to the second buoy1 for the purpose of fixing its exact locality by observation4 ,soon afterwards the weather grew threatening1 and at #b p4m4 we were obliged to put her head to the sea1 which gradually increased till the ,great ,eastern began for the first time to give signs and tokens that she was not a fixture4 ,the ,terrible stood on ahead on our port side1 and for some time we kept the buoy equi-distant between us4 ,at night1 the wind increased to half a gale1 and it was agreed on all sides that though the ,great ,eastern could have paid out the ,cable with the utmost ease1 she could not have picked up1 and certainly could not have kept the grapnel line and ,cable under her bows in such weather4 ,but the steadiness of the vessel was the constant theme of praise4 ,during the night she just kept her head to the sea4 ,the ,terrible1 which got on our port and then on our starboard bow1 signalled to us not to come too close1 and before midnight her lights were invisible on our port quarter--one funnel down4 ,aug4 #ith4--,our course was ,w4,n4,w4 during the night2 weather thick and rainy--strong southerly wind2 sea running moderately high4 ,at #f a4m41 having run by reckoning #ce miles from the buoy1 our course was altered to ,e4,s4,e41 so as to bring us back to it4 ,the state of the weather delayed the artificers in their work4 ,it rained heavily1 the deck was by no means a horizontal plane1 and it was doubtful if ,mr4 ,canning and ,mr4 ,clifford1 using all possible diligence1 could get tackle and machinery in order before the following forenoon1 so that it was not necessary to make any great speed4 ,the reputation of the ship was enhanced in the eyes and feelings of her passengers by the manner in which she had behaved in the undoubtedly high breeze and heavy sea4 ,the former was admitted by sailors to be a 8gale10 though they seemed to think the force of the wind was affected by the addition of the prefix 8summer10 as if it mattered much at what time of the year a gale blows4 ,the latter1 when we turned tail and went before it1 soon developed a latent tendency in the ,great ,eastern to obey the rules governing bodies floating on liquids under the action of summer gales4 ,she rolled with a gravity and grandeur becoming so large a ship once in every #aa or #ab seconds2 but on descending from the high decks to the saloon1 one found no difficulty in walking along from end to end of it without gratuitous balancings or unpremeditated halts and progresses4 ,it was a grey1 gloomy1 cloudy sea and sky--not a sail or a bird visible4 ,in the forenoon the ,terrible came in sight1 lying-to with her topsail set1 and it was hoped she was somewhere near the buoy4 ,at noon our position was ascertained by observation to be ,lat4 #ea #bi #cj1 ,long4 #ci #f #j4 ,great ,eastern1 as soon as she was near enough1 asked the ,terrible1 8,do you see the buoy80 ,after a time1 the answer flew out1 8,no40 ,then she added that she was 8waiting for her position10 and that she 8believes the buoy to be ,s4,s4,e40 of us4 ,our course was altered ,s4 by ,e4 ,e1 and the look-out men in the top swept the sea on all sides4 ,the ,terrible also started on the search4 ,at #cbj p4m4 the two ships were within signalling distance again--sea decreasing1 wind falling fast4 ,the ,terrible asked1 8,did you see buoy80 which was answered in negative1 and then inquired if the ,great ,eastern was going to grapple again1 which was replied to in the affirmative--,captain ,anderson busy in one cabin and ,staff-,commander ,moriarty busy in another1 working diagrams and calculations1 and coming nearer and nearer to the little speck which fancies it is hidden in the ocean3 with very good reason1 too1 for the search after such an object on such a field as the ,atlantic1 ruffled by a gale of wind1 might well be esteemed of very doubtful success4 ,but the merchant captain and the naval staff-commander were not men to be beaten1 and in keen friendly competition ran a race with pencils and charts to see who could determine the ship's position with the greatest accuracy1 being rarely a mile apart from each other in the result4 ,the only dubious point related to the buoy itself1 for it might have drifted in the gale1 it might have gone down at its moorings1 or the ,cable might have parted4 ,there were strong currents1 as well as winds and waves4 ,the moment the weather moderated in the forenoon1 the whole body of smiths and carpenters1 and workers in iron1 metal1 and wood1 were set to work at the alterations in the machinery for letting out the grapnel and taking it in again4 ,a little army of skilled mechanics were exercising on deck2 workshops and forges were established1 and some of the many chimneys which rise above the bulwarks of the ,great ,eastern1 and put one in mind of the roofs of the streets seen from the railway approaches to ,london1 began to smoke4 ,the smiths forged new pins for the swivels1 and made new shackles and swivels2 the carpenters made casings for capstan2 ropemakers examined and secured the lengths of wire rope1 and a new hawser was bent on to make up for the deficiency of buoy rope4 ,at last1 the much-sought-for object was discovered--the buoy was visible some #b miles distant4 ,the ,great ,eastern made haste to announce the news to the ,terrible1 and just as her flags were going aloft1 a fluttering of bunting was visible in the rigging of the ,terrible1 and the signalman read her brief statement that the buoy was where we saw it was1 thus proving that both vessels dropped on it at the same time4 ,the finding of the little black point on the face of the ,atlantic was a feat of navigation which gave great satisfaction to the worthy performers and the spectators4 ,a little before #e o'clock the ,great ,eastern was abreast of the buoy4 ,the ,terrible came up on the other side of it1 and the ,great ,eastern and the man-of-war lay-to watching the tiny black ball1 which bobbed up and down on the ,atlantic swell1 intending to stay by it as closely as possible till morning4 ,by dint of energetic exertion1 ,mr4 ,canning hoped to have his grapnel and tackle quite ready the moment the ship was in position on the morrow4 ,it was a sight to behold the deck at night--bare-armed ,vulcans wielding the sledge--,brontes1 ,steropes1 and ,pyracmon at bellows1 forge1 and anvil--fires blazing--hailing sparks flashing along the decks--incandescent masses of iron growing into shape under the fierce blows--amateurs and artists admiring--the sea keeping watch and ward outside1 and the hum of voices from its myriad of sentry waves rising above the clank of hammers which were closing the rivets up of the mail in which we were to do battle with old ocean for the captive he holds in his dismal dungeons below4 ,will he yield up his prisoner8 ,aug4 #ajth4 ,a more lovely morning could not be desired--sea1 wind1 position--all were auspicious for the renewed attempt1 which must also be the last if our tackle break4 ,a light breeze from the west succeeded to the gale1 and a strong current setting to the eastward prevailed over it1 and carried the ,great ,eastern nearly #g miles dead against the wind from #i p4m4 last night till #d a4m4 this morning1 thus taking her away from the buoy4 ,the swell subsided1 and such wind as there was favoured the plan to drift across the course of the ,cable about a mile to westward of the place where the last grapnel was lost4 ,without much trouble the ,great ,eastern1 having come upon the first buoy1 caught the second buoy1 and both were in sight at the same moment4 ,authorities differed concerning their distance4 ,one maintained they were #g miles1 the other that they were #aj miles apart4 ,at #ajcj1 ,greenwich time1 when we were between #a and #a mile distant from the course of the ,cable1 the buoy bearing ,s4,s4,e41 the grapnel was thrown over1 and #b1dfj fathoms of wire rope and hawser were paid out in #dh minutes4 ,as there was a current still setting against the easterly wind1 which had increased in strength1 ,captain ,anderson at first got all fore-and-aft canvas on the ship1 to which were added afterwards her fore and maintopsails2 her course was set ,n4,w4 by ,n41 but she made little headway1 and drifted to ,s4,w4 ,at #aaaj a4m41 ship's time1 an increased strain on the grapnel line was shown by the dynamometer1 and at the same time the head of the ,great ,eastern began to turn slowly northwards from her true course4 ,the square-sails were at once taken in4 ,great animation prevailed at the prospect of a third grapple with the ,cable4 ,but in a few moments the hope proved delusive1 and the ship continued to drift to ,s4 and ,w41 the buoy bearing ,s4,e4 ,the bow swept round1 varying from ,w4 and by ,n4 to ,n4 ,w4 and by ,n4 ,at noon the ,great ,eastern1 if all reckonings were right1 was but half a mile from the ,cable1 and the officers hoped she would come across it about half a mile west of the spot where she last hooked it4 ,but at #ccj p4m4 the last hope vanished4 ,the ship must by that time have long passed the course of the ,cable4 ,captain ,anderson had an idea that we grappled it for a moment soon after noon1 when the ship's head came #c points to the ,n41 and the strain increased for a moment to #fj cwt4 ,the buoy was now #b to #c miles ,e4--ship's head being ,w4,n4,w4 ,all that could be done was to take up grapnel1 and make another cast for the ,cable4 ,the wind increased from eastward4 ,at #dae p4m4 ship's head was set ,n4 by ,e4 by screw1 in order to enable the grapnel line to be taken in1 and the capstan was set to haul up the grapnel4 ,the wire rope came over the bows unstranded1 and in very bad condition4 ,much controversy arose respecting the cause of this mischief4 ,some1 the practical men1 maintaining it was because there were not swivels enough on it2 others1 the theoretical men1 demonstrating that the swivels had nothing to do with the torsion or detorsion2 and both arguing as keenly with respect to what was happening #b miles below them in the sea as if they were on the spot4 ,the process of pulling up such a length of wire is tedious1 and although no one had expressed much confidence in the experiment1 every one was chagrined at the aspect of the tortured wire as it came curling and twisting inboard from its abortive mission4 ,at midnight #ajjj fathoms had been hauled in4 ,august #aath4--,nothing to record of the night and early morning1 save that both were fine1 and that the capstan took in the iron fishing-line easily till #ebj a4m41 ship's time1 when the grapnel came up to the bows4 ,the cause of the failure was at once explained3 the grapnel could not have caught the ,cable1 because in going down1 or in dragging at the bottom1 the chain of the shank had caught round one of the flukes4 ,from the condition of the rope it was calculated that we were in only #a1iej fathoms of water1 for nearly #ejj fathoms of it were covered with the grey ooze of the bottom4 ,the collectors scraped away at the precious gathering all the morning1 and for a time forgot their sorrows4 ,it was now a dead calm1 and ,mr4 ,canning mustered his forces for another attempt for the ,cable6 ,he overhauled the wire rope1 and exorcised hawsers out of crypts all over the ship4 8,hope lives eternal in the human breast40 ,illustration3 ,e4 ,walker1 lith from a drawing by ,r4 ,dudley ,london1 ,day ,sons1 ,limited1 ,lith4 ,,forward ,,deck ,,cleared ,,for ,,the ,,final ,,attempt ,,at ,,grappling4 ,,august #aa,,th4 ,although the previous trials1 with better gear1 had proved unsuccessful2 although the tackle now used was a thing of shreds and patches2 although ,mr4 ,canning and others said1 8,we are going to make this attempt because it is our duty to exhaust every means in our power10 and thereby implied they had little or no confidence of success2 there was scarcely a man in the ship who did not think 8there is just a chance10 and who would not have made the endeavour had the matter been left to his own decision4 ,it was some encouragement to ascertain that there were only #a1iej fathoms of water below us4 ,it was argued that1 if the ,cable could be broken at the bight1 another drift about a mile from the loose end would be certain to succeed1 as the loose end would twist round the eastward portion of the ,cable1 and come up at a diminished strain to the surface4 ,a grapnel with a shorter shank was selected for the next trial4 ,the cablemen were set to work to coil down the new rope and hawsers between a circular enclosure1 formed by uprights on the deck behind the capstan4 ,ropemakers and artificers examined the rope which had been already used4 ,they served the injured strands with yarn1 renewed portions chafed to death1 tested bolts and shackles and swivels1 and bent on new lengths of rope and hawser1 whilst the ship was proceeding to take up her position for another demonstration against the ,cable4 ,the line now employed1 the last left in the ship1 was a thing of shreds and patches4 ,it consisted of #a1fjj fathoms of wire rope1 #bbj fathoms of hemp1 and #eaj fathoms of ,manilla hawser1 of which #a1gfj fathoms could be depended upon1 the rest being 8suspicious40 ,the morning was not very fine2 but the wind was light1 and on the whole favourable1 and the only circumstance to cause doubt or uneasiness was the current1 the influence of which could not be determined4 ,the observations of the officers rendered it doubtful whether the buoy ,no4 #b had drifted1 and it was rather believed that in the interval between the breaking of the grapnel and the letting-go of the buoy1 the ,great ,eastern herself had drifted from the place1 and thus caused the apparent discrepancy in position4 ,at #gde a4m4 the ship was alongside buoy ,no4 #b once more1 and thence proceeded to an advantageous bearing for drifting down on the ,cable with her grapnel4 ,the ,terrible kept about two miles away1 regarding our operations with a melancholy interest4 ,at #aacj a4m41 ship's time1 the ,great ,eastern signalled 8,we are going to make a final effort10 and soon afterwards1 8,we are sorry you have had such uncomfortable waiting40 ,at #aef p4m41 ,greenwich time1 when buoy ,no4 #b was bearing ,e4 by ,n4 about two miles1 the ship's head being ,w4 and by ,s41 the grapnel was let go1 and soon reached the bottom1 as the improvements in the machinery and capstan enabled the men to pay it out at the rate of fifty fathoms a minute4 ,the fore-and-aft canvas was set1 to counteract the force of the current1 and the ,great ,eastern drifted to ,n4,e1 right across the ,cable1 before a light breeze from ,s4,w4 ,at first there was only a strain of #db cwt4 shown1 and the ship went quite steadily and slowly towards the ,cable4 ,at #ccj p4m4 the strain increased1 and then the ,great ,eastern gave some little sign of feeling a restraint on her actions from below1 her head describing unsteady lines from ,w4,n4,w4 to ,w4 by ,s4 ,the screw engines were gently brought into play to keep her head to the wind4 ,the machinery and capstan1 which had been put in motion some time previously to haul in the grapnel cable1 now took it in easily and regularly1 except when a shackle or swivel jarred it for a moment4 ,every movement of the ship was most keenly watched1 till the increasing strain on the dynamometer showed that the same grip on the bottom which had twice turned the head of the ,great ,eastern1 was again placed on the grapnel she was dragging along the bottom of the ,atlantic4 ,the index of the dynamometer rose3 it marked #fj cwt41 then it jerked up to #fe cwt41 then it reached #gj cwt41 then #ge cwt43 at last its iron finger pointed to #hj cwt4 ,it was too much to stand by and witness the terrible struggle between the crisping1 yielding hawser1 which was coming in fast1 the relentless iron-clad capstan1 and the fierce resolute power in the black sea1 which seemed endued with demoniacal energy as it tugged and swerved to and fro on the iron hook4 ,but it was beyond peradventure that the ,atlantic ,cable had been hooked and struck1 and was coming up from its oozy bed4 ,what alternations of hope and fear--what doubts1 what sanguine dreams1 dispelled by a moment's thought1 only to revive again6 ,what need to say how men were agitated on board the ship8 ,there was in their breasts1 those who felt at all1 that intense quiet excitement with which we all attend the utterance of a supreme decree1 final and irrevocable4 ,some remained below in the saloons--fastened their eyes on unread pages of books1 or gave expression to their feelings in fitful notes from piano or violin4 ,others went aft to the great ,sahara of deck where all was lifeless now1 and whence the iron oasis had vanished4 ,some walked to and fro in the saloon2 others paced the deck amidships4 ,none liked to go forward1 where every jar of the machinery1 every shackle that passed the drum1 every clank1 made their hearts leap into their mouths4 ,captain ,anderson1 ,mr4 ,canning1 ,mr4 ,clifford1 and the officers and men engaged in working the ship and taking in the grapnel1 were in the bows of course1 and shared in the common anxiety4 ,at dinner-time #ejj fathoms of grapnel rope had been taken in1 and the strain was mounting beyond #hb cwt4 ,nothing else could be talked of4 ,the boldest ventured to utter the words 8,heart's ,content0 and 8,newfoundland0 once more4 ,all through the unquiet meal we could hear the shrill whistle through the acoustic tube from the bow to the bridge1 which warned the quartermasters to stop1 reverse1 or turn ahead the screw engines to meet the exigencies of the strain on the grapnel rope4 ,the evening was darkling and raw4 ,at #fcj ,i left the saloon1 and walked up and down the deck1 under the shelter of the paddle-box1 glancing forward now and then to the bow1 to look at the busy crowd of engineers1 sailors1 and cablemen gathered round the rope coming in over the drum1 which just rose clear of one of the foremasts1 and listening to the warning shouts as the shackles came inboard1 and hurtled through the machinery till they floundered on the hurricane deck4 ,about #bj minutes had elapsed when ,i heard the whistle sound on the bridge1 and at the same time saw one of the men running aft anxiously4 8,there's a heavy strain on now1 sir10 he said4 ,i was going forward1 when the whistle blew again1 and ,i heard cries of 8,stop it60 or 8,stop her60 in the bows1 shouts of 8,look out60 and agitated exclamations4 ,then there was silence4 ,i knew at once all was over4 ,the machinery stood still in the bows1 and for a moment every man was fixed1 as if turned to stone4 ,there1 standing blank and mute1 were the hardy constant toilers1 whose toil was ended at last4 ,our last bolt was sped4 ,just at the moment the fracture took place1 ,staff-,commander ,moriarty had come up from his cabin to announce that he was quite certain1 from his calculations1 that the vessel had dragged over the ,cable in a most favourable spot4 ,it was #idj p4m41 ,greenwich time1 and #gfe fathoms had been got in1 leaving little more of the hempen tackle to be recovered1 when a shackle came in and passed through the machinery1 and at the instant the hawser snapped as it was drawn to the capstan1 and1 whistling through the air like a round shot1 would have carried death in its course through the crowded groups on the bows1 but for the determination with which the men at the stoppers held on to them1 and kept the murderous end straight in its career1 as it sped back to the ,atlantic4 ,it was scarcely to be hoped that it had passed harmlessly away4 ,mr4 ,canning and others rushed forward1 exclaiming1 8,is any one hurt80 ere the shout 8,it is gone60 had subsided4 ,the battle was over6 ,then the first thought was for the wounded and the dead1 and ,god be thanked for it1 there were neither to add to the grief of defeat4 ,nigh two miles more of iron coils1 and wire1 and rope were added to the entanglement of the great labyrinth made by the ,great ,eastern in the bed of the ocean4 ,in a few seconds every man knew the worst4 ,the bow was deserted1 and all came aft and set about their duties4 ,mr4 ,clifford1 with the end of a hempen hawser in his hand1 torn in twain as though it were a roll of brown paper--,mr4 ,canning already recovered from the shock1 and giving orders to stow away what had come up from the sea--,captain ,anderson directing the chief engineer to get up steam1 and prepare for an immediate start4 ,the result was signalled to the ,terrible1 which came down to us1 and as she was bound to ,st ,john's to take in coals to enable her to return to ,england1 all who had business or friends in ,america prepared their dispatches for her boat4 ,the wind and sea were rising1 as if anxious to hurry us from the scene of the nine days' struggle4 ,the ,great ,eastern's head was already turned westwards4 ,all were prompt to leave the spot which soon would bear no mark of the night and day long labours--for the buoys which whirled up and down and round in the seaway would probably become waifs and strays on the ocean1 and all that was left of the expedition for a time were the entries in log books--8,lat4 #ea #bd ,long4 #ch #ei2 end of ,cable down ,n4 #ej ,w4 #a mile0--and such memories as animate men who1 having witnessed brave fights with adverse fortune1 are encouraged thereby to persevere1 in the sure conviction that the good work will in the end be accomplished4 ,it was wild and dark when ,lieutenant ,prowse set off to regain his ship4 ,the flash of a gun from the ,terrible to recall her cutter lighted up the gloom1 and the glare of an answering blue light1 burned by the boat1 revealed for an instant the hull of the man-of-war on the heaving waters4 ,there was a profound silence on board the ,big ,ship4 ,she struggled against the helm for a moment as though she still yearned to pursue her course to the west1 then bowed her head to the angry sea in admission of defeat1 and moved slowly to meet the rising sun4 ,the signal lanterns flashed from the ,terrible1 8,farewell60 ,the lights from our paddle-box pierced the night1 8,good-by6 ,thank you10 in sad acknowledgment4 ,then each sped on her way in solitude and darkness4 ,the progress of the undertaking excited the utmost interest1 not only in ,great ,britain1 but over all the civilised world4 ,twice a day the telegraph at ,foilhummerum spread to all parts of the earth a brief account of the doings of the ,great ,ship4 ,almost as soon as one of the unexpected impediments which marred the successful issue of the enterprise arose1 the public were informed of it1 and could mark on the map the spot where sailor1 engineer1 and electrician were engaged in their work on the bosom of the wide ,atlantic ere their labours were over4 ,the ,great ,eastern's position could be traced on the chart1 and the course of the ,cable1 in its unseen resting-place1 could be followed from day to day4 ,the 8faults0 caused more surprise perhaps on shore than on board1 because those engaged in paying-out the ,cable were re-assured by the certainty with which the faults were detected1 and the comparative facility with which the ,cable was taken up from the sea4 ,although the various delays which occurred produced some discouragement and uneasiness among those who had worked so hard and embarked so much in the grand project1 the ease with which communication was restored as often as it was injured or interrupted by faults and dead earth1 inspired confidence in the eventual success of the attempt4 ,but only those actually witnesses of the wonderful facility with which the ,cable was paid out felt the conviction that the ,cable could be laid4 ,the public only knew the general results1 and did not appreciate properly the nature of the difficulties to which the frustration of their hopes was due4 ,when the last fault occurred1 the electricians at ,valentia were left without any precise indications of the nature of the obstruction1 or of the proceedings of those on board2 but they actually calculated within a few fathoms the exact locality of the injury2 and when the end of the ,cable sank into the depths of the ocean1 the practical wizards of ,foilhummerum could tell where it was to be found1 though they could not see and could not hear4 ,when all communication ceased with the ,great ,eastern no uneasiness was excited1 because a similar event had occurred before for many hours1 and the ship spoke after all4 ,but hour after hour passed away on leaden wings1 and day followed day1 and the needle was still1 and the light moved not in the darkened chamber at ,foilhummerum4 ,it may be conceived with what solicitude the men1 in whose watchfulness all the sleeping and waking world were interested1 looked out for some sign of the revival of the current in the dull veins of the subtle mechanism4 ,the directors and shareholders of the two companies represented something more than the enormous stake they had put in the undertaking4 ,their feelings were shared by the mass of the people1 and ,her ,majesty was animated by the same solicitude as her subjects4 ,for there had been prophets of evil before the expedition sailed1 and now their voices were raised again1 and found credence among those who distrusted the magnificent ship which was then calmly breasting the billows of the ,atlantic--the envy of her guardians--as well as among the class whose normal condition is despair of every scheme1 good1 useful1 novel1 or great4 ,the newspapers began to admit speculations and argumentative letters into their columns1 and although the original articles did not indicate any apprehension of a catastrophe1 it was evident the public mind was becoming uneasy4 ,the feeling increased4 ,the correspondence augmented in volume1 and1 let it be said1 in wildness of conjecture and unsoundness of premises and conclusions4 ,those who were inclined to believe that the ,great ,eastern had gone to the bottom were comforted by the reflection that the two men-of-war would save those who were on board4 ,had they known that the ,sphinx had disappeared1 and that the ,great ,eastern was much better able to help the ,terrible1 in a time of watery trouble1 than the ,terrible would be to aid her1 they would have despaired indeed4 ,all the while those on board engaged in their work--grappling and lifting1 drifting and sailing--were enjoying themselves as far as the uncertainty attendant on their work would allow them1 and were in a state of repose barely disturbed1 as the time wore on1 by surmises that people at home might begin to entertain doubts as to what had become of the expedition4 ,even these speculations would have had no agitating influence had the electricians on board communicated with the shore before they cut the end of the ,cable on the last occasion4 ,it would have surprised and amused officers and crew if they could have known that the vessel1 which they were never tired of praising and admiring1 was pronounced by eminent engineers to need strengthening2 that she had sunk in the middle1 or had fagged2 or if they could have read confident assertions that the grand fabric in which they were so comfortably lodged and entertained and borne was unsafe and radically faulty2 that good authorities had declared she was hogged4 ,undoubtedly there were grounds of anxiety1 but none for anticipations and predictions of the worst4 ,it would not be fair to omit to mention that in some instances the most correct and close conjectures were made concerning the position of the ship and the work in which she was engaged1 as well as the causes of the long-continued silence4 ,several letters appeared1 in which the writers tried1 with singular justice of reasoning1 to stem the current of alarm4 ,the press generally abstained from any adverse speculations2 but it was rather behind the public feeling in that respect4 ,it cannot be denied that the news-agent who hailed the ,great ,eastern at ,crookhaven with the words1 8,we did not know what to make of you4 ,many think you went down10 expressed the conviction of a great number of persons all over the kingdom1 on the #agth ,august4 ,early on the morning of that day the ,great ,eastern came in sight of land1 and soon after #g o'clock a4m4 steamed into ,crookhaven1 to land a few passengers and to communicate with the telegraph station at that solitary and romantic spot4 ,ere noon the news of the safety of the ship relieved many an anxious thought1 silenced many a tongue and pen1 and dissipated many a gloomy apprehension4 ,it may be said that the return of the ,great ,eastern was a subject of national rejoicing4 ,every newspaper in the kingdom contained articles on the topic4 ,the narrative of the voyage1 which was written on board1 and sent to all the principal journals before the ,great ,eastern arrived at the ,nore1 so that the public were at once placed in possession of every fact connected with the proceedings1 almost simultaneously1 was read with the utmost avidity1 and when the facts were known1 all men concurred in the justice of the leading articles which1 without exception of note1 drew fresh hopes of success from the record of the causes which led to the interruption of the enterprise4 ,the energy1 skill1 and resolution displayed in the attempt to recover the ,cable were admitted and praised on all hands4 ,but what most excited attention was the fact that the ,cable had actually been hooked three times at a depth of two nautical miles1 and carried up halfway to the top4 ,the most sceptical were convinced when they became aware of the hard material evidence on that point4 ,next in point of interest perhaps was the conduct of the ,great ,eastern herself4 ,a great revulsion of sentiment took place in favour of the vessel which had hitherto been unfortunate in her management1 or in the conditions under which she had been tried4 ,whilst the most profound ignorance respecting the fate of the ,great ,eastern prevailed1 an ,extraordinary ,general ,meeting of the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company was held on #hth ,august1 in pursuance of a notice issued on #bdth ,july previous1 to consider the expediency of converting into ,consolidated ,eight per ,cent4 ,preferential ,stock the ,eight per ,cent4 ,preferential ,capital of the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company1 consisting of #abj1jjj shares of #el4 each1 and of converting into ,ordinary ,consolidated ,stock the whole of the ,ordinary ,share ,capital1 consisting of #cej shares of the par value of #ajjjl41 and #e1dfc shares of the par value of #bjl41 and to issue either in ordinary stock or in shares the sum of #acg1adjl4 of ordinary capital1 authorised at the ,extraordinary ,general ,meeting of ,march #cast1 #ahfd1 and agreed to be issued in instalments fully paid up1 to the contractors from time to time after the successful completion of their contract4 ,the directors also gave notice that they intended to seek authority from the shareholders to issue such amounts of new capital as may be required for the construction and laying of a second ,atlantic ,telegraph ,cable under powers of their ,act of ,parliament1 and to attach to such capital such privileges and such advantages and conditions as might be determined4 ,the ,right ,hon4 ,j4 ,s4 ,wortley1 chairman1 who has exhibited unshaken confidence and untiring energy in the post he occupies1 had a difficult task before him1 but even then he could exhort his hearers to courage and perseverance4 ,as he well said1 8,but there are two things from which we may derive considerable consolation4 ,this great enterprise has been the subject of discussion in every civilised nation in the world4 ,the eyes of science have been fixed upon it2 and the acuteness of criticism has been brought to bear on it4 ,we have had our detractors1 and there have been sceptics2 and what are the two main points on which they have founded their scepticism8 ,one is1 that the great depth of nearly three miles must bring extraordinary pressure on the ,cable1 must injure it by perforating the covering1 and must in fact destroy the insulation4 ,the other point was the impossibility1 as they contended1 of communicating intelligible signals through so great a length1 or #8leap' as they term it1 as #a1fjj miles4 ,but we had a scientific committee1 who made experiments1 and who assured themselves that there was nothing in either of those objections2 and now we have in addition the much more practical and valuable proof of experience4 ,what are the facts8 ,some days before the interruption of the messages the ,great ,eastern passed over the deepest portion of the ocean 7with one slight exception7 which we have to traverse between ,europe and ,america4 ,she passed safely over a depth of #b1djj fathoms1 telegraphing perfect signals4 ,this entirely disproves and refutes the first objection and doubt which existed in the minds of those sceptical gentlemen1 because the ,cable was laid in great depths1 varying from #a1ejj to #bjjj1 fathoms1 and even in #b1djj fathoms2 and so far from the great pressure at that depth injuring the ,cable1 the ,company's signals appear from their telegrams to have improved every yard they went2 and the signals through #b1djj fathoms of water were as perfect as1 if not more perfect than1 those at a less depth4 ,that is in confirmation of the old ,cable having worked at those depths4 ,then ,i say that our scientific committee1 and those who said that the pressure would not have an injurious effect1 have been fully borne out2 and that the result has proved that1 so far from injuring it1 pressure improves the ,cable4 ,in spite of these facts1 ,i see here a communication from a gentleman to one of the public journals only yesterday1 in which he says1 that looking at the pressure of a column of water equal to so many atmospheres1 it must destroy the ,cable2 and he adds with confidence1 that the ,cable must be at the present moment a perfect wreck6 ,and then he says that the ,company never made experiments to satisfy themselves what this number of atmospheres would do to the ,cable4 ,he writes in perfect ignorance1 that the scientific committee has the means afforded them by this ,company of applying a weight of #fjjjlb4 to the square inch2 but after having proceeded to a certain extent with that experiment1 and tried a very large amount of pressure1 and finding that the ,cable1 so far from deteriorating1 was improved by the compression of its elements1 they thought it unnecessary to carry the experiments further4 ,and now we have the result to corroborate their views40 ,on ,october #ab1 an ,extraordinary ,general ,meeting of the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company was held1 at which the ,chairman1 the ,right ,hon4 ,j4 ,s4 ,wortley1 proposed a ,resolution rescinding those passed at the ,general ,meeting in ,august4 ,he reminded them the ,capital was originally issued in #ajjjl4 shares4 ,after that an additional amount of capital was raised in #bjl4 shares2 and after the first failure a further capital of #fjj1jjjl4 in #el4 shares1 and an #h per cent4 preference1 was raised4 ,under these circumstances they succeeded in raising the necessary sum enabling them to send out the last expedition1 and they now proposed that notwithstanding that guarantee of #h per cent4 to issue a new preferential capital at the rate of #ab per cent4 ,they had negotiated with the same contractors who had hitherto had charge of laying the ,cable1 and they were willing for the sum of #ejj1jjjl4 to take out a sufficient quantity of ,cable1 together with that which was left in the ship amounting to about #ajjj miles1 and in the first place to go across and lay a new ,cable1 and then to come back and pick up the old one1 splice it1 and continue it to ,newfoundland4 ,he might say at once1 that not only the contractors1 but all who were engaged in the undertaking1 were represented there that day1 as well as the able staff of scientific men to whom they were so much indebted upon the last expedition1 and he said in their presence that they all had extreme confidence that they would not only be able to lay the new ,cable but to pick up the old one1 mend it1 and relay it4 ,it was proposed that in addition to the #ejj1jjjl4 there should1 if the ,cable was successfully laid1 be a contingent profit to the contractor1 which would be paid in money4 ,it was apprehended that the additional #ajj1jjjl4 asked for would be quite sufficient to meet any contingency that might arise4 ,the formal ,resolutions rescinding those passed at the meeting in ,august last were carried unanimously2 and it was ,resolved1 8,that the ,capital of the ,company be increased to an amount not exceeding #b1jjj1jjjl41 by the creation and issue of not exceeding #afj1jjj new shares of #el4 each1 and that such new shares shall bear and be entitled to a preferential dividend at the rate of #abl4 per cent4 per annum on the amount for the time being paid up thereon1 in priority to any dividend or on any other capital of the ,company1 and shall also1 in proportion to the amount for the time being paid up thereon1 be entitled to participate equally with the other capital of the ,company in any moneys applicable to dividend1 which upon each declaration of dividend may remain after paying or providing for the said dividend of #abl4 per cent4 per annum1 the preferential dividend of #hl4 per cent4 per annum payable on the consolidated #h per cent4 preferential stock of the ,company1 and a dividend at the rate of #d per cent4 per annum on the consolidated ordinary stock and ordinary shares of the ,company40 ,in their ,prospectus1 the ,directors stated that the ,telegraph ,construction and ,maintenance ,company1 in consideration of the sum of #ejj1jjjl41 which has been agreed on as the cost price of the ,cable if paid for in cash1 have already commenced the manufacture of the new ,cable1 to be laid down during #ahff between ,ireland and ,newfoundland4 ,the contractors1 if the said ,cable be successful1 but not otherwise1 are to have in shares and cash a profit at the rate of #bj per cent4 upon the cost4 ,the contractors also undertake during #ahff1 without any further charge whatever1 to go to sea with sufficient ,cable1 including that now left on board the ,great ,eastern1 and all proper appliances and apparatus such as experience has shown to be necessary1 and to use their best endeavours--in the success of which they express entire belief--to recover1 repair1 and complete in working order between ,ireland and ,newfoundland1 the present broken ,cable1 which has been ascertained by recent careful electrical tests to be in perfect order throughout its entire length4 ,it will be seen that circumstances have thus enabled the ,board to effect a very considerable economy in the ,company's present operations1 for in the event of success the ,company will be in possession of two efficient ,cables for a considerably less amount than would have been expended if the ,cable of this year had been successfully laid1 and another had been purchased separately4 ,subscriptions were invited for the sum of #fjj1jjjl41 in #abj1jjj shares of #el4 each4 ,this new capital will not only create fresh property1 but probably resuscitate the old2 and the experience of the present year shows that by these means the existing #h per cent4 ,preference ,stock will1 in all probability1 be again placed at par in the market before the sailing of the ship next year4 ,these new ,shares will accordingly be entitled to take precedence as to dividend over all the other existing stock of the ,company1 and to participate pro rat in all subsequent dividends1 bonuses1 or benefits1 after #h per cent4 shall have been paid upon the second preference stock and #d per cent4 upon the ordinary stock4 ,the profits to be expected on the completion of this work1 if each of the two proposed ,cables can be worked at the very low rate of only five words per minute upon each ,cable for sixteen hours a day at five shillings per word1 the traffic1 after paying the dividend charges of #ab1 #h1 and #d per cent4 respectively1 amounting together to #add1jjjl4 upon the capital comprised in those different stocks1 and after paying the very large sum of #ej1jjjl4 a year for working expenses1 would leave a very large balance for paying further dividends or bonuses on the ,company's total capital1 both ordinary and preferential1 or for reserve funds if preferred4 ,a calm examination of the courses which led to the suspension of the ,great ,eastern's work1 inspired those whose judgments were free from prejudice with the belief that a series of accidents1 in their nature easily guarded against in future1 had been the sole causes of the frustration of the enterprise4 ,if the external coating had not been injured1 no faults could have occurred1 and if there had been no faults1 the ,cable would have been laid with the utmost ease4 ,the success of the ,telegraph becomes assured the moment the occurrence of faults can be obviated1 or their detection can be followed by immediate reparation4 ,these objects are to be attained1 and the ,directors1 encouraged by the confidence of the public1 and by the enormous gains which must reward even a temporary success1 set about to secure them4 ,an arrangement was entered into with the ,directors of the ,great ,ship ,company by which the ,telegraph ,construction and ,maintenance ,company secured the ,great ,eastern for a term of years1 and another negotiation ended in obtaining the services of ,captain ,anderson in charge of her4 ,now it may be fairly concluded1 from our experience of the 8,atlantic ,telegraph ,expeditions0 in #aheg1 #aheh1 and #ahfe1--,that a submarine telegraph ,cable can be laid between ,ireland and ,newfoundland1 because it was actually done in #aheh4 ,that messages can be transmitted through a ,cable so laid1 because #bga messages were sent from ,newfoundland to ,valentia1 and #abi messages from ,valentia to ,newfoundland1 in #aheh4 ,that the insulation of a ,cable increases very much after its submersion in the cold deep water of the ,atlantic1 and that its conducting power is considerably improved thereby4 ,that the steamship ,great ,eastern1 from her size and constant steadiness1 and from the control over her afforded by the joint use of paddle and screw1 renders it possible and safe for her to lay an ,atlantic ,cable without regard to the weather4 ,that the egress of a ,cable in the course of being laid from the ,great ,eastern may be safely stopped on the appearance of a fault1 and with strong tackle and good hauling-in machinery1 the fault may be lifted from a depth of over #bjjj fathoms1 and cut out on board the ship1 and the ,cable respliced and laid in perfect condition4 ,that in a depth of two miles a ,cable can be caught at the bottom1 because four attempts were made to grapple the ,cable in #ahfe1 and in three of them the ,cable was caught by the grapnel4 ,the paying-out machinery1 constructed by ,messrs4 ,canning and ,clifford1 and used on board the ,great ,eastern in #ahfe1 worked perfectly1 and can be confidently relied on for laying ,cables across the ,atlantic4 ,with the improved telegraphic instruments1 for long submarine lines1 of ,professor ,w4 ,thomson and ,mr4 ,varley1 a speed of more than eight words per minute can be obtained through such a circuit as the ,atlantic ,cable of #ahfe1 between ,ireland and ,newfoundland2 as the amount of slack actually payed-out did not exceed #ad per cent41 which would have made the total ,cable laid between ,valentia and ,heart's ,content less than #a1ijj miles4 ,the ,cable of #ahfe1 though capable of bearing a strain of #g tons1 did not experience more than #ad cwt4 in being payed-out into the deepest water of the ,atlantic between ,ireland and ,newfoundland4 ,there is no difficulty in mooring buoys in the deep water of the ,atlantic between ,ireland and ,newfoundland2 a buoy1 even when moored by a piece of the ,atlantic ,cable itself which had been previously lifted from a depth of over #bjjj fathoms1 has ridden out a gale4 ,more than four miles of the ,atlantic ,cable have been recovered from a depth of over two miles1 and the insulation of the gutta-percha-covered wire was in no way whatever impaired1 either by the depth of water or the strains to which it had been subjected by lifting and passing through the hauling-in apparatus4 ,the ,cable of #ahfe1 owing to the improvements introduced into the manufacture of the gutta percha1 insulated more than one hundred times better than ,cables made in #aheh1 then considered perfect1 and still working4 ,the improvements effected since the beginning of #ahea in the conducting power of the copper wire1 by selecting it1 has increased the rate of signalling possible through long submarine ,cables by more than #cc per cent4 ,electrical testing can be conducted at sea with such certainty as to discover the existence of faults in less than a minute of their occurrence4 ,if a steam-engine be attached to the paying-out machinery1 so as to permit of hauling-in the ,cable immediately a fault is discovered1 and a slight modification made in the construction of the external sheath of the ,cable1 the cause of the faults experienced will be entirely done away with2 and should a fault occur1 it can be picked up even before it has reached the bottom of the ,atlantic4 ,the ,great ,eastern is now undergoing the alterations which will render her absolutely perfect for the purpose of laying the new ,cable and picking up the old1 and next year will see the renewal of the enterprise of connecting the ,old ,world with the ,new by an enduring link which1 under ,god's blessing1 may confer unnumbered blessings on the nations which the ocean has so long divided1 and add to the greatness and the power which this empire has achieved by the energy1 enterprise1 and perseverance of our countrymen1 directed by ,providence1 to the promotion of the welfare and happiness of mankind4 ,remembering all that has occurred1--how well-grounded hopes were deceived1 just expectations frustrated1--there are still grounds for confidence1 absolute as far as the nature of human affairs permits them in any calculation of future events to be1 that the year #ahff will witness the consummation of the greatest work of civilised man1 and the grandest exposition of the development of the faculties bestowed on him to overcome material difficulties4 ,the last word transmitted through the old ,telegraph from ,europe to ,america1 was 8,forward10 and 8,forward0 is the motto of the enterprise still4 ,,finis4 ,,appendix4 ,a4 ,the following is a list of the ,gentlemen connected with the project for the year #ahfe ,,new ,,york1 ,,newfoundland1 ,,and ,,london ,,telegraph ,,company4 ,,peter ,,cooper1 ,esq4 ,,president4 ,,cyrus ,w4 ,,field1 ,esq4 ,,vice-,,president4 ,,moses ,,taylor1 ,esq4 ,,treasurer4 ,,prof4 ,s4 ,f4 ,b4 ,,morse ,,electrician4 ,,david ,,dudley ,,field1 ,esq4 ,,counsel4 ,,directors4 ,,peter ,,cooper1 ,esq4 ,,moses ,,taylor1 ,esq4 ,,cyrus ,w4 ,,field1 ,esq4 ,,new ,,york4 ,,marshall ,o4 ,,roberts1 ,esq4 ,,wilson ,g4 ,,hunt1 ,esq4 ,,secretary4 ,,robert ,w4 ,,lowber1 ,esq4 ,,general ,,superintendent4 ,,alexander ,m4 ,,mackay1 ,esq41 ,st4 ,john's1 ,newfoundland4 ,,atlantic ,,telegraph ,,company4 ,,directors4 ,,the ,,right ,,hon4 ,,james ,,stuart ,,wortley1 ,chairman4 ,,curtis ,m4 ,,lampson1 ,esq41 ,vice-,chairman4 ,g4 ,p4 ,,bidder1 ,esq4 ,c4,e4 ,,francis ,,le ,,breton1 ,esq4 ,,edward ,,cropper1 ,esq4 ,,sir ,,edward ,,cunard1 ,bart4 ,,samuel ,,gurney1 ,esq41 ,m4,p4 ,,captain ,a4 ,t4 ,,hamilton4 ,,edward ,,moon1 ,esq4 ,,george ,,peabody1 ,esq4 ,,john ,,pender1 ,esq41 ,m4,p4 ,,honorary ,,director--,w4 ,h4 ,,stephenson1 ,esq4 ,,honorary ,,directors ,,in ,,the ,,united ,,states4 ,e4 ,m4 ,,archibald1 ,esq41 ,c4,b41 ,h4,m4 ,consul1 ,new ,york4 ,,peter ,,cooper1 ,esq4 ,new ,york4 ,,william ,e4 ,,dodge1 ,esq4 ,new ,york4 ,,cyrus ,w4 ,,field1 ,esq4 ,new ,york4 ,,wilson ,g4 ,,hunt1 ,esq4 ,new ,york4 ,a4 ,a4 ,,low1 ,esq4 ,new ,york4 ,,howard ,,potter1 ,esq41 ,new ,york4 ,,honorary ,,directors ,,in ,,british ,,north ,,america4 ,,hugh ,,allen1 ,esq41 ,montreal1 ,canada4 ,,william ,,cunard1 ,esq41 ,halifax1 ,nova ,scotia4 ,,walter ,,grieve1 ,esq41 ,st4 ,john's1 ,newfoundland4 ,,thomas ,c4 ,,kinnear1 ,esq41 ,halifax1 ,nova ,scotia4 ,,consulting ,,scientific ,,committee4 ,,william ,,fairbairn1 ,esq41 ,f4,r4,s41 ,manchester4 ,,captain ,,douglas ,,galton1 ,r4,e41 ,f4,r4,s41 ,london4 ,,professor ,,wm4 ,,thomson1 ,f4,r4,s41 ,glasgow4 ,,professor ,c4 ,,wheatstone1 ,f4,r4,s41 ,london4 ,,joseph ,,whitworth1 ,esq41 ,f4,r4,s41 ,manchester4 ,,honorary ,,consulting ,,engineer ,,in ,,america--,,general ,,marshall ,,lefferts1 ,new ,york4 ,offices--#ab1 ,st4 ,helen's ,place1 ,bishopsgate ,street ,within1 ,london4 ,,secretary ,,and ,,general ,,superintendent--,,george ,,saward1 ,esq4 ,,electrician--,,cromwell ,f4 ,,varley1 ,esq4 ,,solicitors--,,messrs4 ,,freshfields ,,newman4 ,,auditor--,h4 ,w4 ,,blackburn1 ,esq41 ,bradford1 ,yorkshire1 ,public ,accountant4 ,,bankers4 ,in ,london--,the ,bank of ,england1 and ,messrs4 ,glyn1 ,mills1 ,co4 ,in ,lancashire--,the ,consolidated ,bank1 ,manchester4 ,in ,ireland--,the ,national ,bank and its ,branches4 ,in ,scotland--,the ,british ,linen ,company and its ,branches4 ,in ,new ,york--,messrs4 ,duncan1 ,sherman1 ,co4 ,in ,canada and ,nova ,scotia--,the ,bank of ,british ,north ,america4 ,in ,newfoundland--,the ,union ,bank of ,newfoundland4 ,b4 ,,the ,,telegraph ,,construction ,,and ,,maintenance ,,company 7,uniting the ,business of the ,gutta ,percha ,company with that of ,messrs4 ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,company7 is constituted as follows3-- ,,directors4 ,,john ,,pender1 ,esq41 ,m4,p41 ,chairman4 ,,alexander ,,henry ,,campbell1 ,esq41 ,m4,p41 ,vice-,chairman4 ,,richard ,,atwood ,,glass1 ,esq41 7,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co471 ,managing ,director4 ,,henry ,,ford ,,barclay1 ,esq4 7,gutta ,percha ,co47 ,,thomas ,,brassey1 ,esq4 ,,george ,,elliot1 ,esq4 7,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co47 ,,alexander ,,struthers ,,finlay1 ,esq41 ,m4,p4 ,,daniel ,,gooch1 ,esq41 ,c4,e41 ,m4,p4 ,,samuel ,,gurney1 ,esq41 ,m4,p4 ,,lord ,,john ,,hay4 ,,john ,,smith1 ,esq4 7,smith1 ,fleming1 ,co47 ,,bankers--,,the ,,consolidated ,,bank1 ,london and ,manchester4 ,,solicitors4 ,,messrs4 ,,bircham1 ,,dalrymple1 ,,drake1 ,,ward4 ,,messrs4 ,,baxter1 ,,rose1 ,,norton1 ,co4 ,,secretary--,,william ,,shuter1 ,esq4 ,offices--#ed1 ,old ,broad ,street1 ,london4 ,works--,wharf ,road1 ,city ,road1 ,n41 and ,east ,greenwich1 ,s4,e4 ,c4 ,,the following will be some of the ,improvements in the ,picking-up ,machinery and in the ,vessel to fit her for her next voyage1 and it is believed that the ,great ,eastern will be as perfect and as admirably adapted for her work as human hands can make her4 ,the whole apparatus will be strengthened and improved by grooved drums1 and more boiler power added1 and other drums will be provided for lowering away buoy-rope when grappling4 ,the paying-out machinery will have steam-power added to it1 the spare drum fitted on the machine will be used for picking-up in connection with the paying-out drum2 an extra drum and brake-wheel will also be placed near the stern for the purpose of paying-out grapnel lines and buoy-rope1 in case it is found more convenient than at the bow4 ,the grapnel-rope1 with shackles1 swivels1 c41 will be made sufficiently strong to lift or break the bight of the ,cable in the deepest water4 ,the hawse-pipes and stem of the ship will be guarded to prevent the ,cable from being injured4 ,a guard will be placed round the screw to prevent the ,cable and buoy-rope fouling4 ,d4 ,,statement ,,of ,,knots ,,run ,,and ,,cable ,,payed-,,out ,,per ,,day4 ,sunday1 ,july #bc4--,left ,berehaven at #ade a4m4 ,passed ,skelligs at #hj a4m42 bore away ,n4,w41 and came up with ,caroline at #hcj a4m41 about #be miles ,n4,w4 of ,valencia4 #ajcj a4m41 ,end got out of afterhold4 #aaj a4m41 ,terrible and ,sphinx came alongside4 #abce p4m41 ,caroline got up end of shore-end ,cable4 #abde p4m41 passed end of deep-sea ,cable to ,caroline over stern-sheave of ,great ,eastern4 #ebj p4m41 splice finished on board ,caroline1 and bight of ,cable slipped4 #fej p4m41 took hands on board from ,caroline4 #hj p4m41 paddle and screw engines started4 ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,date4 ,made ,good4 ,lat4 ,n4 ,long4 ,w4 ,distance #ab ---------------------- from ,noon4 ,course4 ,dist4 ,obs4 ,obs4 ,valencia ---------------------------------------- -------------- ,july #bc ,splice to ,shore end4 #ea #ej #j #aa #b #bj #bd #bd ,picking up ,cable #eb #b #cj #ab #ag #cj #gca #be #ea #eh #j #ab #aa #j #fhe #bf ,n4 #gi41 #bj4 ,w4 #aaae #eb #ah #db #ae #aj #j #ahj #bg ,n4 #ha41 #cj4 ,w4 #adbe #eb #cd #cj #ai #j #cj #cbjh #bh ,n4 #hf41 #cj4 ,w4 #aeee #eb #de #j #bc #ae #de #dgfd #bi ,s4 #hg41 #dj4 ,w4 #afjj #eb #ch #cj #bg #dj #j #fcfd #cj ,s4 #gj41 #j4 ,w4 #bd #eb #cj #cj #bh #ag #j #feif #ca ,s4 #ha41 #j4 ,w4 #acd #eb #i #bj #ca #ec #j #gic ,aug4 #a ,s4 #hc41 #de4 ,w4 #aee #ea #eb #cj #cf #c #cj #idh ,s4 #gf41 #be4 ,w4 #aaed #b ,returned #b miles #ea #be #j #ci #a #j #ajfcd before ,cable broke ,,dr4 #c -- -- #ea #cf #j #ch #bg #j -- ,,obs4 #d -- -- #ea #cd #cj #cg #ed #j -- #e -- -- #ea #be #j #ch #cf #j -- -- -- ,,obs4 #f -- -- #ea #be #j #ch #bj #j -- #g -- -- #ea #bi #cj #ci #d #cj -- #h -- -- #ea #bh #j #ch #ef #j -- #i -- -- #ea #bi #cj #ci #f #j -- #aj -- -- #ea #bf #j #ch #ei #j -- #aa -- -- #ea #bd #j #ch #ei #j ,d4,r4 ---------------------------------------- -------------- ---------------------------------------- -------------- ,date4 ,miles ,slack ,heart's ,content4 #ab payed- per --------------------------------- ,noon4 out4 ,cent4 ,bearing4 ,distance4 ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,july #bc #bgjj -- ,n4 #hj41 ,w4 #afche #bd #hdgia #aeii -- -- #be #gdeia #hhi -- #aeife #bf #aiaif #ffd ,n4 #bd41 #ba ,w4 #adhe #bg #cegee #aade ,n4 #hg41 #ci ,w4 #acddb #bh #ecaeg #aaaf ,s4 #hh41 #ce ,w4 #aahhf #bi #gjgcf #aaae ,s4 #hd41 #ed ,w4 #ajbhf #cj #gdej #abid ,s4 #hd41 #dh ,w4 #ajjed #ca #ijcj #aeac ,s4 #hb41 #bj ,w4 #hgai ,aug4 #a #ajhaee #adji ,s4 #gh41 #bb ,w4 #gaga #b #aahfj #aaef ,s4 #gf41 #ag ,w4 #fjcf #c -- -- -- -- #d -- -- ,end of ,cable4 ,s4 #gf41 ,w41 #dd ,m4 #e -- -- 8 8 ,w4 7true7 #ae ,m4 #f -- -- 8 8 ,w4 8 #bf ,m4 #g -- -- 8 8 ,s4 #bc41 ,e41 #e ,m4 #h -- -- ,no4 #b ,buoy ,w4,s4,w41 #c ,m4 #i -- -- 8 8 ,s4 #ch1 #f or #g ,m4 #aj -- -- ,end of ,cable ,s4 #ef1 ,w41 #b ,m4 #aa -- -- 8 8 ,n4 #ej1 ,w4 #a ,m4 ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,,temperature ,,of ,,the ,,sea-,,water4 -------------------------- ,date4 ,time4 ,degrees4 -------------------------- #ahfe4 ,july #bfth ,noon4 #ei 8 #bgth 8 #fe 8 #bhth 8 #ef 8 #bith 8 #ee 8 #cjth 8 #ec 8 #cast 8 #ef ,august #ast 8 #ei 8 #bnd 8 #ei 8 #crd 8 #ed 8 #dth 8 #ee 8 #eth 8 #ee 8 #fth 8 #ee 8 #gth 8 #ed 8 #hth 8 #ei 8 #ith 8 #ee 8 #ajth 8 #eg 8 #aath 8 #eg 8 #abth 8 #ed -------------------------- ,s4 ,,cannng4 ,e4 ,,the ,,following ,,is ,a ,,table ,,of ,,the ,,cables ,,already ,,laid ,,in ,,the ,,seas ,,and ,,oceans ,,of ,,the ,,world4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------- ,iron4 ,no4 ,cable4 -------------------- lbs4 ,weight4 ,length4 ,g4 ,p4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------ #a ,dover and ,cape ,grisnez #ac1bcj #b ,dover and ,calais #cad1fjj #bfj #ad1hbj #c ,holyhead1 ,howth #aef1dhj #ifj #aa1djj #d ,portpatrick and #caf1bjj #cjj #bj1cab ,donaghadee #e ,denmark #afd1gdh #afb #edjj #f ,dover1 ,ostend #a1ach1cbj #ajhj #gc1abe #g ,frith of ,forth #gg1hjj #bjj #hahj #h ,italy1 ,corsica #a1eig1bjj #acbj #ajd1idj #i ,corsica1 ,sardinia #ade1bjj #abj #iedj #aj ,holyhead1 ,howth #bie1fdj #gfj #ae1ejd #aa ,do4 #bie1fdj #gfj #ae1ejd #ab ,portpatrick and #cbh #hdh #cab ,whitehead #ac ,sweden1 ,denmark #acg1jbj #acj #eeeh #ad ,black ,sea #ef1gfc ,prince ,edward's #af ,island1 ,new #df1eab #add #aije ,brunswick #ag ,england1 ,hanover #hjg1fhj #ccfj #ff1cfj #ah -- ,holland #b1dci1hdj #acff #aaj1igf #ai ,liverpool1 ,holyhead #afa1djj #cjj #eibe #bj ,channel ,islands #dej1cjf #hcg #ad1ghg #ba ,isle of ,man #aic1fhj #cfj #gcdd #bb ,england1 ,denmark #b1gcd1bjj #dbjj #abd1dbe #bc ,folkestone1 ,boulogne #dbi1abj #bhh #bj1ebj #bd ,singapore1 ,batavia #efd1cjj #iijj #aab1bjj #be ,sweden1 ,gottland #bdh1jfd #gfh #aj1agf #bf ,tasmania #icc1fjj #bdjj #ch1afj #bg ,denmark1 ,great ,belt #bjc1bhj #afh #ac1cfe #bh ,dacca1 ,pegu #aai1jaf #bjhh #ba1bbh #bi ,newfoundland1 ,cape #bij1gjj #ijj #ac1eae ,breton #cj ,first ,atlantic #e1adj1hjj #dbh1djj #gdh1jjj #ca ,sardinia and ,malta3 #c1cbf1djj #ab1fjj #aaa1cjj ,dardanelles to ,scio and ,candia from #cb ,scio1 ,athens1 to #fca1ajd #hcjd #hb1eba ,syra and ,scio #cc ,sardinia1 ,bona #gjg1jjj #aejj #db1gej #cd ,red ,sea and ,india #f1abf1gad #fc1afh #gdc1ijh #ce ,sicily and ,malta #dii1ajj #gjj #aj1jhj #cf ,barcelona1 ,mahon #ech1efj #bhhj #be1ibj #cg ,iviza to ,majorca3 ,st4 #fci1ijj #bgjj #ca1hjj ,antonia to ,iviza #ch ,toulon1 ,algiers #dfe1fjj #dhjj #ic1fjj #ci ,corfu1 ,otranto #dbg1hjj #fjj #aa1gjj #dj ,toulon1 ,corsica #ahi1aej #aiej #ci1jjj #da ,malta1 ,alexandria #e1hbi1icj #bg1fcj #aj1gde #db ,wexford #fhg1bjd #gef #cf1bhh #dc ,england1 ,holland #b1dci1hdj #acfj #aaj1igf #dd ,sardinia1 ,sicily #bbc1ajj #bcjj #db1djj #de ,persian ,gulf #i1fgg1edd #ag1ihh #ceg1ejj ---------------------------------------- ------------------ 7continued7 --------------------------------- ,copper4 ,length ,no4 ------------------- of lbs4 ,length4 ,cable4 -------------------------------- #a #ccjj #cj #cj #b #gjfj #ajd #bf #c #edjj #hj #hj #d #aj1abe #aej #be #e #bjeb #ed #ah #f #cf1dej #edj #ij #g #ah1ebj #bj #e #h #dd1eej #ffj #aaj #i #djej #fj #aj #aj #ea1cjj #gf #gf #aa #ea1cjj #gf #gf #ab #bb1bhj #aj1ecj #afs #bhd #ac #bfcc #ci #ac #ad #bd1jih #ceg #ceg #ae #aa1fgh #agc #agc #af #aacd #hd #ab #ag #cj1bdj #bbdj #bhj #ah #gh1ccf #edd #acf #ai #ccgf #ej #be #bj #aj1bcj #ic #ic #ba #bdcj #cf #cf #bb #fgjj #dbjj #cej #bc #gggf #egf #bd #bd #hf1cej #chej #eej #be #fjdh #ddh #fd #bf #af1dhj #bdj #bdj #bg #efbh #hd #ad #bh #ah1jif #hab #aaf #bi #hejj #eie #he #cj #cdj1jjj #bc1hjj #cdjj #ca #gj1jjj #dijj #gjj #cb #ea1ijj #cfcc #eai #cc #hj1jjj #ejj #abe #cd #edg1djd #bd1efc #ceji #ce #gjjj #dij #gj #cf #af1gdj #abfj #ahj #cg #ah1jjj #abjj #aej #ch #dd1fdj #ccfj #dhj #ci #ehhj #dbj #fj #dj #ah1ace #acfe #aie #da #ecb1fde #aj1gde #aece #db #bc1dcf #agfd #fc #dc #gh1ccf #edd #acf #dd #cf1jjj #afaj #bcj #de #bib1ejj #adii #adii ------------------------------ ,f4 ,,submarine ,,telegraph ,,cables ,now in successful ,working ,order1 the ,insulated ,wires for which were manufactured by the ,gutta ,percha ,company1 ,patentees1 ,wharf ,road1 ,city ,road1 ,london4 ,column ,headings3 ,a3 ,no4 of ,conductors4 ,b3 ,length of ,cable in ,statute ,miles4 ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,date ,no4 when ,from ,to ,a ,b ,laid4 ---------------------------------------- ------------- #a #ahea ,dover ,calais #d #bg #b #ahec ,denmark1 across #c #ah the ,belt #c #ahec ,dover ,ostend #f #hj #d #ahec ,frith of ,forth #d #f #e #ahec ,portpatrick ,donaghadee #f #be #f #ahec ,across ,river ,tay #d #b #g #ahed ,portpatrick ,whitehead #f #bg #h #ahed ,sweden ,denmark #c #ab #i #ahed ,italy ,corsica #f #aaj #aj #ahed ,corsica ,sardinia #f #aj #aa #ahee ,egypt #d #aj #ab #ahee ,italy ,sicily #c #e #ac #ahef ,newfoundland ,cape ,breton #a #he #ad #ahef ,prince ,edward's ,new #a #ab ,island ,brunswick #ae #ahef ,straight of ,canso4 ,cape ,breton1 #c #a ,n4,s4 #af #aheg ,norway 4 across ,fiords #a #di #ag #aheg ,across mouths #a #c of ,danube #ah #aheg ,ceylon ,mainland #a #cj of ,india #ai #aheh ,italy ,sicily #a #h #bj #aheh ,england ,holland #d #adj #ba #aheh ,ditto ,hanover #b #bhj #bb #aheh ,norway across ,fiords #a #af #bc #aheh ,south ,australia ,king's ,island #a #adj #bd #aheh ,ceylon ,india #a #cj #be #ahei ,alexandria #d #b #bf #ahei ,england ,denmark #c #cfh #bg #ahei ,sweden ,gotland #a #fa #bh #ahei ,folkestone ,boulogne #f #bd #bi #ahei ,across rivers #a #aj in ,india #cj #ahei ,malta ,sicily #a #fj #ca #ahei ,england ,isle of ,man #a #cf #cb #ahei ,suez ,jubal ,island #a #bbj #cc #ahei ,jersey ,pirou1 ,france #a #ba #cd #ahei ,tasmania ,bass ,straits #a #bdj 7,great ,belt7 #ce #ahfj ,denmark 7#ad miles #f7 #bh 7#ad miles #c7 #cf #ahfj ,dacca ,pegu #a #aaf #cg #ahfj ,barcelona ,mahon #a #ahj #ch #ahfj ,minorca ,majorca #b #ce #ci #ahfj ,iviza ,majorca #b #gd #dj #ahfj ,st4 ,antonio ,iviza #b #gf #da #ahfa ,norway across ,fiords #a #af #db #ahfa ,toulon ,corsica #a #aie #dc #ahfa ,holyhead ,howth1 ,ireland #a #fd #dd #ahfa ,malta ,alexandria #a #aece #de #ahfa ,newhaven ,dieppe #d #hj #df #ahfb ,pembroke ,wexford #d #fc #dg #ahfb ,frith of #d #f ,forth #dh #ahfb ,england ,holland #d #acj #di #ahfb ,across #d #b ,river ,tay #ej #ahfc ,sardinia ,sicily #a #bdc #ea #ahfd ,persian #a #adej ,gulf #eb #ahfd ,otranto ,avlona #a #fj #ec #ahfe ,la ,calle ,biserte #a #ig #ed #ahfe ,sweden ,prussia #c #ee #ee #ahfe ,biserte ,marsala #a #afd ---------------------------------------- ------------- ,column ,headings3 ,c3 ,length of ,insulated ,wire in ,statute ,miles4 ,d3 ,depth of ,water in ,fathoms4 ,e3 ,length of time the ,cables have been working4 ---------------------------------------- ---------- ,no4 ,c ,d ,by whom ,covered ,e and ,laid4 ---------------------------------------- ---------- ,wilkins ,wetherley1 #a #ajh 4 ,newall ,co41 ,kper #ad year ,co41 and ,mr4 ,crampton4 #b #ed 4 ,r4 ,s4 ,newall ,co4 #ab 8 #c #dhc 4 ,newall ,co41 and #ab 8 ,kper ,co4 #d #bd 4 ,r4 ,s4 ,newall ,co4 #ab 8 #e #aej 4 8 8 #ab 8 #f #h 4 8 8 #ab 8 #g #afb 4 8 8 #aa 8 #h #cf #ad ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co4 #aa 8 #i #ffj #cbe 8 8 #aa 8 #aj #fj #bj 8 8 #aa 8 #aa #dj 4 8 8 #aj 8 #ab #ae #bg 8 8 #aj 8 #ac #he #cfj 8 8 #i 8 #ad #ab #ad 8 8 #i 8 #ae #d 4 ,nova ,scotia ,electric #i 8 ,telegraph ,co4 #af #di #cjj ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co4 #h 8 #ag #c 4 8 8 #j 8 #ah #cj 4 8 8 #j 8 #ai #h #fj 8 8 #g 8 #bj #efj #cj 8 8 #g 8 #ba #efj #cj 8 8 #g 8 #bb #af #cjj 8 8 #g 8 #bc #adj #de ,w4 ,t4 ,henley #g 8 #bd #cj #de 8 8 #g 8 #be #h 4 ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co4 #f 8 #bf #aajd #cj 8 8 #f 8 #bg #fd #hj 8 8 #f 8 #bh #add #cb 8 8 #f 8 #bi #aj 4 8 8 #f 8 #cj #fj #gi 8 8 #f 8 #ca #cf #cj 8 8 #f 8 #cb #bbj 4 ,r4 ,s4 ,newall ,co4 #f 8 #cc #ba #ae ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co4 #e 8 #cd #bdj 4 ,w4 ,t4 ,henley #e 8 #ce #abf #ah 8 8 #e 8 #cf #aaf 4 8 8 #e 8 #cg #ahj #adjj 8 8 #e 8 #ch #gj #bej 8 8 #e 8 #ci #adh #ejj 8 8 #e 8 #dj #aeb #dej 8 8 #e 8 #da #af #cjj ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co4 #d 8 #db #aie #aeej 8 8 #d 8 #dc #fd 4 ,electric ,interna- #d 8 tional ,tel4 ,co4 #dd #aece #dbj ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co4 #c years #de #cbj ,w4 ,t4 ,henley1 laid #d 8 #df #beb #eh ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co4 #c 8 #dg #bd ,electric #c 8 ,international ,tel4 ,co4 #dh #ebj #cj ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co4 #b 8 #di #h ,electric #c 8 ,international ,tel4 ,co4 #ej #bdc #abjj ,glass1 ,elliot1 ,co4 #b 8 #ea #adej #abj ,w4 ,t4 ,henley and #a year ,indian ,government #eb #fj #efi ,w4 ,t4 ,henley #i mths4 #ec #ig ,siemens ,brothers #c 8 #ed #aff ,w4 ,t4 ,henley #a month #ee #afd ,siemens ,brothers #a 8 ---------------------------------------- ----------- ,a great many ,cables of short lengths1 not included in this list1 are now at work in various parts of the world2 and other ,cables1 the ,wires insulated by the ,gutta ,percha ,company1 have been laid by ,messrs4 ,felten ,guilleaume1 of ,cologne1 during the last eight years1 amounting to over #ajjj miles1 and which are now in working order4 ,g4 ,,atlantic ,,telegraph ,,company4 ,report of the ,directors to the ,extraordinary ,general ,meeting of ,shareholders1 held at the ,london ,tavern1 ,bishopsgate ,street1 on ,thursday1 the #adth day of ,september1 #ahfe4 #ab1 ,st4 ,helen's ,place1 ,london1 #acth ,september1 #ahfe4 ,the sensation immediately consequent upon the recent accident to the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,cable was one of profound disappointment1 but this has to a great extent disappeared before the important and encouraging facts which were found to have been brought to light and practice during the expedition4 ,not only has the future permanence of ,deep-sea ,cables been much enhanced by the greater convenience and safety with which they can be coiled and tested and payed-out since the ,great ,eastern has shown herself so well adapted to the work1 but it has now also been proved absolutely that in the event of injury to the insulation1 even after submersion1 and while sunk in the deepest water1 electricians are enabled with ease to calculate minutely the exact distance of the injured spot from ship or shore in a ,cable #b1cjj miles long4 ,it has further been proved that many miles of a ,cable like that selected by the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company can1 if so injured1 be hauled in and repaired during the heaviest weather and from water #bjjj fathoms in depth3 and still more that even when a ,cable is absolutely fractured1 and the broken end lies at the bottom of an ocean #bjjj fathoms deep1 it is perfectly possible to find it and to raise it1 and equally possible1 according to the opinions of all those engaged in the recent expedition1 to bring up the end of the ,atlantic ,cable1 which is in that situation1 and to splice it to the ,cable on board the ,great ,eastern1 so as to complete the communication to ,newfoundland1 so soon as apparatus of suitable strength and convenience can be manufactured4 ,in fact1 so important have been the results of the last expedition in moderating every element of risk attendant on these undertakings1 that the successful ,submersion of submarine ,cables will henceforward take its place as an event insurable for a moderate premium by the ,underwriters4 ,the ,directors1 after careful investigation1 therefore have determined not to relax in striving to bring to a successful issue the great work entrusted to their charge1 but to press forward in the path of experience with increased vigilance and perseverance4 ,they have been encouraged in this view by the fair manner in which they have been met by the ,contractors1 with whom they have already entered into a contract for renewed operations4 ,under this contract the ,telegraph ,construction and ,maintenance ,company undertake for the sum of #ejj1jjjl41 which has been agreed on as the cost price1 at once to commence the manufacture of and during #ahff to lay down1 a new ,cable between ,ireland and ,newfoundland4 ,the ,contractors1 if the said ,cable be successful1 but not otherwise1 are to have1 in shares and cash1 a profit at the rate of #bj per cent4 upon such cost4 ,the ,contractors also undertake1 without any further charge whatever1 to go to sea with sufficient ,cable1 including that now left on board the ,great ,eastern1 and all proper appliances and apparatus such as experience has shown to be necessary1 and to use their best endeavours--in the success of which they entirely believe--to recover and repair and complete in working order between ,ireland and ,newfoundland1 the present broken ,cable4 ,it will be seen that circumstances have thus enabled the ,board to effect a very considerable economy in the ,company's present operations4 ,it would no doubt have been a most gratifying circumstance if the recent accidents had not happened1 and to the ,directors this occurrence has been a grievous disappointment1 but the circumstances surrounding the expedition and the increased confidence which1 in spite of temporary discomfiture1 has been given to the future of ,deep-sea ,cables1 has enabled the ,board to effect a new contract for the repair of the old ,cable and for the submersion of a new one during #ahff1 on terms so satisfactory that if both these operations should succeed1 the ,company will actually be in possession of two efficient ,cables for a less amount by #ajj1jjjl4 than they would have been obliged to expend if the ,cable of this year had been successful and the second ,cable had been required to be purchased separately4 ,but the carrying out of this contract1 so advantageous to the ,atlantic ,telegraph ,company1 involves the strenuous efforts of the ,directors to raise an amount of money ranging from a minimum of #bej1jjjl4 to a maximum of #ejj1jjjl4 in cash4 ,it is impossible that the ,great ,eastern ship could go to sea again this year to mend the existing ,cable1 and therefore such an operation1 as a separate adventure1 must be put out of the question1 and even if undertaken separately would in itself involve an expenditure of some #abj1jjjl41 whereas for a sum of #ejj1jjjl4 the ,contractors are willing to make and lay a new ,cable next year in addition to the restoration of the old one2 they depending entirely upon success for profit4 ,the question which has had to be considered by the ,directors in the interest of the ,shareholders has been how best they might be enabled to raise this money4 ,the ,eight per ,cent4 ,preference ,shares1 though far below their real value1 stand at #bl4 #es4 per share1 and if the ,company were to adopt the alternative of winding-up its affairs1 their intrinsic worth would not be #ajs4 per share4 ,the expenditure of the new money will certainly create fresh property1 and probably resuscitate the old4 ,by its means the existing ,eight per ,cent4 ,preference ,stock will doubtless be placed at par in the market before the sailing of the ship next year4 ,the ,directors are1 however1 compelled to offer an inducement to those who are willing to come in and assist to place in that position the ,company's1 at present1 sinking property4 ,acting under advice1 and believing in the very large profits that undoubtedly await this ,company when successful1 they desire to offer a first dividend of #ab per cent41 with participation in profits1 after #h per cent4 has been paid upon the existing preference shares and #d per cent4 upon the old capital1 to those who consent to supply the requisite funds4 ,the ,shareholders will have the opportunity of subscribing for this new ,preferential ,stock1 which is issued solely to protect their property4 ,those proprietors who subscribe to it are manifestly not injured in any way1 as they absorb the whole profits of the ,company4 ,those who do not subscribe pay in effect a small premium to the subscriber who comes forward to help them4 ,it is considered by the ,board that this is infinitely preferable to winding-up the ,company1 whereby the ,shareholders would have the mortification of seeing the whole of their property sacrificed1 and of seeing an undertaking pass out of their hands1 when on the very eve of success1 upon which so much attention has been bestowed1 and so much experience gained by the expenditure of their own funds4 ,such a sacrifice is totally unnecessary1 for it can be ascertained by any one who will take the trouble to make a small calculation1 that if each of the two proposed ,cables can be worked at the very low rate of only five words per minute upon each ,cable for sixteen hours a day at five shillings per word1 which is believed to be a much lower rate than the pressure of business would admit of in the first instance1 the traffic1 after paying the dividend charges of #ab1 #h1 and #d per cent4 respectively1 amounting together to #add1jjjl4 upon the capital comprised in those different stocks1 and after adding thereto the very large sum of #ej1jjjl4 a-year for working expenses1 would leave an enormous balance for paying further dividends or bonuses on the ,company's total capital1 both ordinary and preferential4 ,,bradbury1 ,,evans1 ,,and ,,co41 ,,printers1 ,,whitefriars4 99 99 99 99 99 ,typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber3 in which occurs the following passages in which occur the following passages pg #g eight-eight in the ,united ,states eighty-eight in the ,united ,states pg #aa assumed tempeatures assumed temperatures pg there1 standing blank and mute ,there1 standing blank and mute pg #id ,s4 ,,cannnng4 ,s4 ,,cannng4 pg #aaa ,kuper ,kper 99 99 99 99 99 ,,footnotes3 #a 8,from ,cape ,freels1 ,newfoundland1 to ,erris ,head1 ,ireland1 the distance is #a1faa miles2 from ,cape ,charles1 or ,cape ,st4 ,lewis1 ,labrador1 to ditto1 the distance is #a1fja miles40 #b ,short-lived as was the former ,cable1 it had survived long enough to prove its value in a financial point of view4 ,amongst #djj messages which it had transmitted1 was one that had been dispatched from ,london in the morning and reached ,halifax the same day1 directing 8that the #fbnd ,regiment were not to return to ,england40 ,this timely warning saved the country an expenditure of #ej1jjjl4 #c ,communicated to the ,mechanics' ,magazine4 #d ,it may here be stated that ,admiral ,talbot1 in command at the ,nore1 gave every aid to the undertaking2 and that ,captain ,hall1 of the ,sheerness ,dockyard1 was indefatigable and most serviceable in forwarding the work whilst the ,great ,eastern lay in the ,medway and at the ,nore4