New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-09-23
Transatlantic Telcgraph---Capt. Bergman

Transatlantic Tcicgraph---Capt. Bergman |
and the Arctic. |
Lying at anchor off Queenstown for the last few |
days may have been observed small, unsghtly, i'll
painted, rusty ybottomed screwsteamer without one
point of attraction about her, except the stars and
stripes lnttering in the breeze Yet that boat and
some of the officers she contains have been the world
wonder for season, and have just concluded n
task which is the orerunner of event more wonder
full still. |t' Wy 5A$1 sty @
The Arctic was She vessel sent to rescue Dr. Kane
who had previously been sent to rescue Franklin.
She was successful, and brought home DR.. Kane and
his crew. who had been obliged TO abandon his ship
and search. She was then lightshp on the Ameri-
can coast. She is the bearer of Lieut. Strain, of
Darien notoriety, and Capt Bergman who has be-
fore and again crossed from Newfoundland to
take sonndings of the whole Atlantic, from ST. John
to Valencia, with the view to ascertain the probable
success with which a teleglaphic cable may be laid
between these points The result is most satisfactory
For some so or 60 miles from St. John, and again
this side, is bank, varying from 25 to 120 faith
oms Between these there is plateau nearly Level,
the bottom soft composed of shells so fine that only
the microscope discover them each shell perfect
in its minute beauty proving the absence Of currents
at the bottom and, with due Difference to Stephen
son and Others the want of that vast pressure which
was to be dreaded, and exhibiting at every point
not only capacity, but the most perfect capacity,
for the very for which it is required. The whole
apparatus for arriving at these facts is most perfect
Steam power, separate from that of the ship, works
the axle from which the soundingne is paid out.''
Soundings have been taken to the depth of 1000
fathoms By neat contrivance each sounding shows
not only the depth but the nature of the bottom,
which is brought up in five quills, and the tempera
ture of the water the latter being given by the
pansion or contraction of metallic spiral ribbons
placed round center pin, fixed at the top, and at
tached at bottom to needle and Indicator, the latter
remaining fixed after the other has ceased to act
showing the exact variation between the surface and
| the bottom. Careful drawings have been made by
Mr.. Van Den Berg, Ito whom has been assigned the
special post of draughtsman) of the soundngs show
ing profile of the bottom of the with the greatest
| accuracy.
There can be no doubt that telegrnphic communi-
cations between Ireland and St. John, distance of
GAO geographical miles, may be regarded as a GER
tainty. 1t is in the hands of small American COM
pany but though small. if its members possess but
tthe of the energy of their representative Mr. Cyrus
W. Field who is also here making every inquiry, it
will be enough to overcome every difficulty. Capt.
Bergman laughs at laying the cable. He asks but
miles hour right The company have already
obtained the sole grant for erecting telegraphs
| throughout the whole Of Newfoundland and have
already some LOO miles at work, or will have in
| a few days, which is in connection with the Anler
can lines.
The difficulties and trials of temper in taking these
! soundings have been tremendous Repeatedly after
'payng out y tens of thousands of athoms of line
and getting all up within sixty eighty, it was
snapped and all had to be done again. Six and eight
| hours have been occupied in getting one sounding
only, and these have been made nearly every half
| degree the whole way across. From the captain to
the cabin boy, each has given his willing aid. No
trouble was thought too much-no time too long !;
each appeared tofeel the honor of his nation at stake
and proud in every way to advance the object in view
They have done their work well. Nature has granted
all we could ask art will soon do its part, while na-
ture science and art worked out by mans hand, will
produce one grand whole to benefit mankind.
| [Cork Reporter.