Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1855-09-12
LAYING of the Submarine Cable

The Tribune oil the 9th instant has a long letter
from Bayard Taylor, written on board the Steamer
Adger which was detailed for laying down the
Submarine wife between the Islands OF New
foundlanL ard Cape BGetun. We publish the iol.
lowing extract:
The method Of paying out the cable on boari
the bark deserves 10 be noticed. Two Large cast
lion wheels, about eight feet IN diameter resting
on iron flames, We're e.ectet! on deck, beside the
ml2Zen-maSt, on the StarUUard side of the vessel.
To these wheels were attached powerful brakes,
by which the motion of the WheelS-a motion
caused entirely by that of the vessel and the uu-
rolling OF the liked cable, could. he instantly ar
rested. The cable then acted as an anchor, and
IFS great strength was more than once tested du-
ring our IOyage. A SEMI cylinder of iron, with
broad tlangeS at each end, was fitted over the
StaTboaTd side OF the poop, the railing of which
had been cut away. This as to give some play
to the cable and allow ii to be paid out smoothly,
without danger OF STAINING. The place where II
issued IUm the hold was near the foremost, where
two small iron lOeS III received it, 10 strengthen
ITS coils before 1t passed upon the wheels. In case
vi accident, therefore, theIe was margin enuugh
To allow the brake 10 be applied 10 the wheels
and the motion OtLhe ship arrested before the Tup-
tured part would have time TO pass over them
Sixteen men were detailed to watch the uncOil-
ing, eight st 4 time being stationed in the hold
|
up as the cable unwound, and kept Clear of all
ENHANCEMENT. This WIS dangerous and difficult
business, US The cable could not be PAID out at Il
slower lale than mile an hour Mr.. Canning
| narrowly escaped beng caught in it on Saturday,
and we were constantly apprehenSive OF some ac-
cldent. The cable was wound in four coils, the
alter one containing seven miles, the next twenty
miles, the principal coil under the main hatch
forty miles, and small coil In the bow seven
| miles. AS they were only sixty tunS OF ballast,
| the bark Ilshtened aft aud sank in proportion as
| the cable " as unwOund-a circumstance which
rendered her situation, already lmpeTiled by her
slippery and shifting reght, still more critical in
the case OF rough weather. Attached to the iron
wheels was an index which pointed out the num-
| Der OF miles paid out. All these arrangements
were very simple and effective, and there would
Seem 10 be no difficulty III laying cable of any
length except III stormy weather.
The evening was glorious. The full mUon rose
like sphere oil gold on 5roundof glowing orange
| luStTe, and threw broad silver wake across the
sea. TheGe was little wind, less swell, and the
cable reeed of so smoothly aud so successfully
that we began to hope there would be more diff
culteS to SurmOunl. Extra watches of two hours
each were established, and the passengers were
called upon TO do duty in looking out for signals
a call TO which they all cheerfuliy responded. By
midnight twenty-six miles OF cable had been paid
out, and we were about eighteen mileS distant from
land. Shortly afterwards tue cable linked, and the
strain upon II broke the copper wires. The brake
was immediately put on, the steamer stopped, and
the workmen commenced splicing. When | arose
AT sunrise this morning, we were still lying idle.
drifting with the current. st. PanPS was full in
sight, with the blue headland OF Cape North be-
yond it, nearly forty miles distant. We finally gu
under way at halt past eight, having lost hos
OF weather which, Tor our purpose, was lrulyT'ce-
| less.
As the day advanced the wind gradug'y shifted
to the southwest and finally 10 the
the sky became overcast AT noon - meek show
ed that we had payed out 81 mill, OF exactly halt
the cable. Our estimated J:'ance nom Cape
tbreatenina, and II was rcessary that we should
nroceed To- Cane a NoTtS the most direct line, as
. few more stoppages Ad deviations from the track
would make the caPe TOO short. But the hinder
apces seemed 10 ircrease in the same proportion
as our anxiety BY the middle of the afternoon
the wind bleF so violently that it was impossible
to keep thesteamertO her course without going