Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-09-17

The Submarine TELEGRAPH bet,ceen DoUer and Calais
The long promised experimental operations for estab-
fishing continuous Geographic communication between
Great Britain and the continent by means OF wires sunk
between Dover and Calais, were commenced on Tues
day at Dover. At 10 o'clock the steamer Goiiah was
ready with all the necessary apparatus
board, and a crew OF about thirty men, consisting OF
pilots and sailors, superintendent by Dr. Reid, OF the
House OF Commons; Mr. c. J Wollaston, C RI MI.
]. Champion, c. E.; Mr.. T. Edwards and others Be-
the paddle wheels in the centre OF the vessel
gigantic drum wheel, nearly fifteen feet long, and
seven feet diameter, weighing seven tons, and fixed
strong framework. Upon it cooled up ia careful
close convolutions about thirty miles Of telegraphc
wire, one-teuth of an inch III diameter eucased ID
The point proposed to be reached, Cape Grinez the
nearest landmark to the English coast, and between Ca
ais and Boulogne. is a distance OF 81 miles, so that a
surplus of nine miles of wire held in reserve for the
purpose of sIackenng. Capt. Bullock, of Her Maies-
tvs steamship Widgeon, caused the track of the nav
CATION to be marked in as direct route possible by
placing OF pilot bouys with flags the route,
besides beng prepared to accompany the experimental
cruise with his own vessel as tender,
The connecting wires We're placed in readiness al the
Government pier in the habor and likewise at the Cape
where they up the face OF the ACTIVITY, which is
1874 feet above the mark The necessary batter les
and manipuators were all on board but a gale and
rolling Unexpectedly sprung up the operation was
adjourned until Wednesday morning. Soms Interest,"
ing experiments, however, We're made upon a small
scale show the praccabilIty of the plan mile of
wire paid off the deck from the pier to Shakes
peares Cliff, land the sinking process proved he a
practicable performance. commun icaton TO the
following effect also sent through twenty four niles
OF wire; printed by electric telegraph board the
Goiah steamboat" On Wednesday morning, at halt
past ten, the experiment OF sinking submarnely was
practically commenced, The Goliah rode out to the
Government Pier, with her telegraph tackle and ap-
paratus on board, under calm Sea and sky and ia
vorng wind The connection between the 30 miles of
Geographic wire was then made good TO 300 yards OF
the same wire enclosed in a eaden tube on shore to
heinz hrIiSp INV tl,obo
to enable the expermeners, as they proceeded out to
sea, TO send communications on shore. The vessel
being fairly under weigh, steamed out at the rate OF
three or four miles an hour into the open sea in d.
rect track tor Cape GTinez. The wire weighed five
tons and the cylinder two
The operation ofpayng out the 30 miles of wire
commenced on a signal to the sailors to eco ahead
with the wheel, and pay out the Wire" which was con-
tinuously streamed out roller at the stern of
the vessel, the atevery 10th OF a mile being blsly
engaged in riveng to the wire square eaden clamps
or weights OF iron IA lbs to "a lbs. and which had the
effect OF sinking the wire to the bottom OF the sea- which
on the English coast commemorate depth OF 80 feet,
and goes varying from that 10 100 aud 1870 feet which
latter, or 80 iahomS is anywhere the greatest Depth
The whole OF the casting out and sinking was accom-
pished with great precision and success owing to the
favorable state of the day. Various interesting sau-
atons kept up hourly during the whole process of
submergng the wire between the gentlemen on board
and Messrs. J. Il j. W. Brett, the original promoters
OF the enterprise The only conectured difficulties on
the route was at point in mldchanne called the Ridge
between which and another inequality called the
Varne, both well known and dreaded by navieators
there is deep submarine valley surrounded by SHIFT
ing sands, the one being II miles in length and the
other H. and in their vortex, not unlike the voracous
one of the Goodwin Sands, ships encounter danger
lose their anchors and drift and trolling nets ofisher-
men are frequently lost Over this however, the wire
successfully submerged below the reach, it is be-
eyeG, of either ships anchors, animals OF fishing
rets. The remainder OF the route, though rougher on
approaching the coast OF France, was accomplished
cleverly but slowly. A communication dated Cape
Grinez, coast of France halt past eight P Nj and re-
ceived at Dover by submarine telegraph, was as fol-
lows The Goiah had just arrived ia safety and the
complete connection of the underwater wire with that
left at Dover this morning is being run up the face of
the Cliff complimentary nerchanges are passing be-
tween France and England under the strait and
through it for thefirst time.
A Snake Story.-The Charlestown Va Free Press
of Friday, relates the following singular circum-
stance:
A negro in Dinwiddie county, came to his death a
short time since, in the following singular manner:
He sent into field on errand and not returning
as as expected, search made and he was
found lying on the ground nearly dead his ewes strained
from their sockets, and exhibiting the appearance Of
On approaching nearer, twas dscov-
cred that large snake had crawed down his throat
They attempted to draw out the snake by the tail,
which extended few inches out OF the negros mouth
but it drew in two. and the negro died at that instant
1t is supposed that he lay down the ground and fell