The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-09 00:00:00

ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH EXPEDITION.

(From a Special Correspondent of the Times)

GREAT EASTERN, BEREHAVEN, July 5

The voyage round to this harbour has been
longer and much more stormy and disagreeable
than could have been reasonably expected at this
season of the year. Strong gales and high seas
have prevailed throughout, and tested the trim and
sea-going qualities of the Great Eastern to the
utmost. At one time the wind was so fierce and so
full ahead as to take a knot and a half an hour off
her speed, and bring her down from nearly seven
to little more than five knots. The heavy swell
and wild chopping sea, too, in the Irish Channel
told not only on her speed but even on her steadi-
ness, and though her rolling was trifling, she plunged
her bows into the heavy sea with a depth and
frequency which she has never done since the me-
morable night when she was so nearly lost in the
gale off Holyhead. Beyond these disagreeables
there is nothing much of incidental interest to re-
cord. The start from the Mouse Light was made
soon after 12 on Sunday. It was intended to
start earlier, but at the last moment a chain was
found to be entangled under the starboard paddle.
This would have been a most serious check, but
that the Great Eastern seems to be provided with
all sorts of apparatus to meet all sorts of emergen-
cies. A diving dress was soon produced from her
stores, with air pump and ample length of hose, and
by the aid of these one of the crew was soon able to
descend. He was some time beneath the water, but
at last succeeded in freeing the chain, and the vessel
started a few minutes before 1. At first only the
screw engines were used, and these but slowly, for
the Alexandra Channel had to be passed, in which
there were some dangerous shoal patches and many
.
very narrow windings. Sometimes it almost seemed
as if the vessel was touching, so muddy and disturbed
did thewater seem around her. She never did touch,
however, though at times there were so few inches
of water between her and the ground that the drag
of the ship must no doubt have stirred up the mud
considerably. Soon after 3 in the afternoon she was
safely through the worst, though it was not till the
open water was fairly before her and the leadsman
reported no bottom at 12 fathom that the word was
given to go ahead at full speed. Up to that time she
had only been moving at from two to three miles an
hour, just enough, with the wash from the screw, to
keep steerage way upon her. But when the paddles
were set going she at once improved to about seven
knots, a rate which she maintained throughout ex-
cept when the worst squalls of wind and rain and
heavy sea were dead against her. The paddle en-
gines worked beautifully and with the most perfect
ease, making from GI to 7 revolutions a minute, the
screw making about 25 in the same time. The con-
sumption of coal averaged as nearly as possible a
ton per knot per hour, while the water was
smooth, but unfortunately this was not for long.
Before the Downs were reached on Sunday
afternoon the weather, which had been very un-
settled, turned dead against the ship's course. The
yachts which were following alongside dipped deeper
and deeper as the wind and sea rose, and though
the Great Eastern remained as immovable as a rock
to the little breakers of the Thames mouth, it made
a serious difference to the smaller craft, which, after
being swept fore and aft by seas, at last signalled
" farewell," and ran for the nearest port for shelter.
Towards sunset the Great Eastern had passed the
Downs, where a whole fleet of shipping was
anchored, for the wind was adverse, and outside the
sea ran high. Neither wind nor sea, however, then
made the slightest difference in the Great Eastern's
steadiness, and it was scarcely possible even by
means of a pendulum to detect that she was moving
at all, far less that she was steaming against a
strong gale axd high cross sea. When nearly off
Deal, the pilot, Lieutenant Brockman, was landed
in a tug which came off for him. It was only with
difficulty that he could get on board it, and the risk
of keeping the small vessel near was so great that,
though many were to have been put ashore, the
steamer at last had to shove off, leaving on board
the great ship a number of disappointed workmen
who ought to have landed, and who will have to
make a forced journey to Berehaven. After
rounding the cliffs of Dover and turning fairly
down Channel to the_ west the weather grew
much worse. The glass fell rapidly, and as fast
as it fell the sea rose. Just towards dusk a
rather startling incident occurred. One of the sea-
men had to go aloft to loose a block 'attached to
the mainstay over the engine-room. The man, as
it afterwards turned out, was ill—that is to say.
sea-sick—and one of his hands was sore, and from
both these causes he lost his nerve when half way up
the ropo, and, seeming as if about to faint, hung
down almost helpless, holding on by both hands to
that part of the rope which was directly over the
paddle engines. It seemed as if nothing could save
him. It appeared impossible to reach him, and his
death was certain and terrible if he fell among the
working engines. Advice, entreaties, directions, and
expostulations were volunteered with their usual
liberality from all the seamen on deck, butthe man's
fate would have been sealed had not Mr. Halpin,
the chief officer, fortunately come forward. He saw
at a glance that not a moment was to be lost, and,
springing to the stay, went up it hand over hand
monkey, and, seizing the sailor on
tahsearcotipvee,iyasa managed to get hold of him in such a way
as enabled him to bring him down over the stay in
safety. It was an anxious moment while Mr. Halpin
with his almost helpless burden was passing over
the open gap which led down to the engines, and it
was not till he had brought his charge actually to the
deck that the suspense was over. Only those who
saw this act of self-devotion can appreciate the cou-
rage and skill which Mr. Ilalpin displayed,
did a man
more certainly risk his own life to avert
almostnr
what appeared an for never
ing t
h o certaintynightofo ofSunday to a
the
wind and sea increased, till at last at about 11 it
burst into a regular storm. The rain poured in tor-
rents, the wind kept up
ad not till then,perfectseream wasthroughany
motion
the ri
rigging,
discernible and then, an
upon the vessel. Yet even this
was so slight that it was only by watching the chan-
deliers in the saloon that it could be detected at all,
and but for the slight but infallible test of these pen-