The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-09-10
ACCOUNT OF THE Loss OF THE sUBMA-
RINE CABLE.


RISE CABLE.
Inc New York Express notices the arrival q,
nat port Of the James Adger, and give the follow.
ing account OF the unsuccessful attempt to lay Il.
teiegraph wirs that was to connect this continent
with New Feuudlsnd:
Inc telegraph has already acquainted us with
tue iact OF the vessels with the msrine cable on
Doaro not having arrived when the James Adoer
n'st reached Port an Basque, and the steamer
shs ,ns rn goLe 10 So Johns 10 consequences. When
| sae returned, h,,wever, I've now learn) the bark
ttns sarah Bryant,) With the cable, was wsitin
az cape Cove, near Port su Basque.
Every arrangement having been completed the
ses.spn , cable having been fastened to the shore
the bark. too, having been towsd on, of the Cove
Ine steamer (on the 25 b ul, T. A. NJ went out 10
the oark. and attached herself TO the s. L bv
ner nawser, In order to tow her Ia the r. uuired
~ ,sa A"er 'he steamer had been MADE fast
20 'ne bark, IL commenced blowing hard, soon iu.
crsasing 70 gale when, connected as thew were
Win each other, neither having absoIu,s control
over ltseIf, both vessels became Nv manageable
and were driving on the shore, when 10 sav
herself the hawser had to be cut by the steamer
BEFORE the hawser was cut, the steamer had "faI.
len down" upon the bark's starboard ouarter
rendering this step necessary. There was not
much damage done to either vessel however bv the
accident. The wind, at the time blowing direct tv
on the Shore the bark carried fact in that dj
rection, and AZ P. M :, was compelled TO hojst
signal OF disEfess
chored, Immediately slipped her cable, and ran
down 10 the assistance of the bark When ahs
reached the bark, by dexterous maunuvre she
passed directly under the bark's bowspfit, a line
beog at once passed from the steamer 10 a man
sitting on the barks jibboom who caught Il, ,he
steamer passing from under, as the line was mad.
fas', thus imm' diately commanding the muv,men,s
OF the bark ard reieving her from fear of further
danger. The bark had slipped one Cable and an.
chor, and lost the other. AT seven O'clock rhe ves
sells were safety again In the Cove Ia the early
part OF the gsl'. the te.eRrsphc cable had broken
III, but thee was but little of 1t lost, the bark not
having got tar out.
Ou the n at noon, it was again commenced To
get the submarine cable ready for second rial
the connec'ion being made with The shore. There
was gate blowing at the time. and rather heavy
sea. N. xt morning at hall past six everv thing
WAS reauy, when the steamer again took the boas
n tow. eve might state here, that there had
been little house erected on Shore where the ca
Bile was fastened, and there was stationed eenrIe.
man VINO was Ia constant communication with an.
her on the bark, who also had a battery attached
to the other end OF the cable, the design being To
ascertain whether any or all of the three VIII co 10
the cable held firm, or when !, gave way)
AT ~ +. NJ, the steamer Victoria came aIons.
side the James Adger, the captain of which io
formed the party on board the A. that tsoo of the
three telesraphic wires Ia the submarine cable had
broken (Which had been ascertained by the inabii.
ity to communicate as above suggested } and that
the only hopes of success lay In the one remains
log wire. At p. M however the Information
was conveyed to the Adger that the remaining
wire had broken. thus destroying the last hope.-
AS nothing further could be done in view of the
broken wires, the captain of the Sarah L. BRYANT
cut the cable, and all turthur endesvors were of
course abandoned. The Adger still kept the bark
in tow however, and at the request of the captain
towed her into Sydney Harbor, where she came
to anchor on the 30h, at 4.3O p. M. The Adger
then, after some little necessary delay proceeded
on her return voyage.
The submarine cable is rather curiousy construct.
fhFaa tAto
separately encssed in quits percha then placed to
gether-the vacuum between each enclo losed wire be-
wi,h the same material, the whole being bound TO
gether BY twelve Lengths of very thick wire which
Bile something the appearance of a rope The three
wires are Of course, entirely disconnected, 90 many
Ssans u.eo 10 orosL i tnat saoud one or two wires
in this instance all three Of the wires broke
rendering fruitess the immense amount of labor and
expense that had been expended on the effort The
cable itself weighed over four hundred tons and was
coiled away in she hod of the bark from which il
was given the vessel proce eded from the shore
a. though 1t had been rope
When the cable was cot the bark was within sight
OF st. Paups. with hch point the line was to have
connected and thus the greater part of the subma.
rine cable was lost and now lies in the water
IT Ths result. OF course wa: great disappointment,
the guests on the James Adger who had Dsen sctu.
atsd in their trip by curiosity alone.
The voyage itself was throughout, rather a bois-
pleasure of the excursion.
We do not learn what are the further intentions of
tns Fetesrsphlc company, In regard to the estab-
ltshment of communication.
We add the following from the Journal of Com
merce:
We understand that the actual cost of the cable
delivered at Port-au-Basques, Including the ex.
pense of insurance and the cost of transportation
was S75 600, upon which there was q full insurance
iu Eugland-the policy covering the transportation
and the process of laying the cable. There had
been 40 l-2 miles paid out when the cable was cut
and we were within IL miles of st. Paurs where
IL had been determined to make temporary point
Of attachment, and which 10 all probability, would
have been accomplished had It not beeo for a de.
ten,ion of seven hours the night previous. II is
not improbable that part of the lost cable, If not
all of it, may be recovered, but 1t can only be done
by heavy expenditure of time and money. Such
10 the weight OF 1t (betwsen i've and six tons to the
mile) and such the depth of water, and the perils
of the that it will be dangerous and expensive
undertaking.
This cable was coied In the hold of the vessel In
two large horizontal coils, a rope is coiled upon
the floor, filling the entire hold of the vessel A
small hole was made 10 the deck through which
the cable passed over iron roller to q large
iron drum OF twelve feet diameter, around which
1t was passed three times. From this It passed to
a second iron drum of equal size, around which 1t
was passed the same number OF times. From this
point 1t passed over huge iron cylinder on the
stem of the vessel into the sea. These revolving
drums were readily stopped by means of powerful
brakes, whenever 1t was necessary The number
of revolutions was indicated by register attached
thus marking the amount of cable paid out per
hour. Thirty two men were constantly employed
In the hold OF the vessel 10 throwing the coils
of cable, to avoid, az far a. possible any kinks
which might occur from its rigidity, and also to
stand by the brakes whenever kinks should occur.
Notwithstanding all the exercised, IL was i'm
possible to prevent these interruptions, and
ortwo occasions to prevent even break Ia the
cable itself By means of signals shown from the
bark, our steamer promptly stopped at each occur.
renee OF these unfortunate kinks.
Among the many good things In the variegated
memoirs of the Rev Sydney Smith, is the follow.
Ing: when you meet with neglect, let It rouse
You to exertion, instead OF mortify Ing your pride
ser about lessening those defects which expose
you TO neglect and improve those excellencies
wnlcn command attention and respect" This 10
| good advice
FORTRESS MONROE We learn that Surgeon Gen.
era Law,eu has lsft Washington for Fortress Mon.
foe oy dit ecton of the President, to report upon
inc whole SUI 9ject connected with the quarantine
tnefe establish ID, and the question OF the
uauon OF the Fort with reference to ts occupspcy
oy the refugees of Norfolk and Portsmouth, a. re-
qaested BY the committee which recently waited
upon the President. The hospital Of the fort 10 nov
nied With sick sodiers principally raw recruits but
IL roito &.