The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-10-29
From the Cork Reporter.
Transatlantic Telegraph-Cap
Bergman and the Arctic.

Bergman and the Arctic.
Lying at anchor off Queenstown for
the last few days may have been oh
served a small, unsightly, ill.painted,
rustybottomed screw-steamer, without
one point of attraction about her, except
the stars futtering in the breeze. Yet
that boat and some of the officers she
contains have been the worlds wonder
for season, and have but just now con-
cluded a task which is the forerunner Of
au event more wonderful still
The Arctic was the vessel sent to res
cue DR.. Kane, who had previously been
sent to rescue Franklin. She was sue
cessful and brought home DR.. Kaue aud
his crew, who had been obliged to aban-
don his ship and search. She was then
light tship on the American coast. She
is now the bearer of Lieut.. Strain. Of
Darien notorioty, and Capt. Bergman,
who has before, and now again, crossed
from New Foundlaud to take SouudiDgs
of the whole Atlantic, from St. John to
Valencia, with the view to ascertain the
probable success with which telegraph.
ic cable may be laid betw cen these points
The result is most satisfactory.
For some fifty or sixty miles from St.
John, and again on this side, i, bank,
varying from 25 to l20 fathoms. Be-
tween these thero is plateau nearly
level, the bottom soft composed Of shells
50 tiue that only the microscope can dis
cover them, each she'll perfect in its mi
mute beauty, proving the absen CO of cur
rents at the bottom, and, with duo de.
ference to Stephenson and others, tho
want Of that vast pressure which was to
be so dreaded. and exhibiting at every
point not only capacity, but the most
perfect capacity, for the very use for
which it is required. The whole appa-
ratus for arriving at these facts is most
perfect Steam power separate from that
of the ship, works tho axle from which
the sounding line is paid out"
Souudings have been taken to the
depth of 1000 fathoms. By ucas
! contrivance each sounding shows not on.
! ly the depth but tho nature Of the bot
tom, which ia brought up in five quills.
and the temperature of the water, the
latter being given by ths expansion or
contraction of metallic spiral ribbons,
! placed around a centre pin, fixed at the
top,and attached at the bottom to anee-
| die and Indicator, the latter naming
fixed after the first has ceased to act,
showing the exact variation between the
surface and the bottom. Careful draw
iugs lave been made by Mr.. Van Den
Berg, Ito whom has been ass gned the
4 - 4 pk
soundings, showing profile of the bot.
tom of the sea with the greatest accu.
! raty.
There can be no doub. that telegraph.
10 communications between ireland and
St. John, distance Of l640 gcograph.
ical miles, may be regarded as a certain.
ty. 1t is in the hands of small Amer.
lean company but though small if it's
members possess bat 1.-THE Of the ener.
| gv of their representative, Mr., Cyrus
W. Field. who ia also here making ev.
cry inquiry, it will be enough to over.
come every difficulty Capt. Bcrryman
laughs at laying the cable. He asks but
a ship large enough, and he viii! under
take to do it at ten miles an hour right
across The company have already OBJ
tanned the sole grant for erecting tele.
graphs throughout the whole Of New.
fouudland; and have already some 100
miles at work, or will have in few days,
which is in connection With the Ameri'
can liues
The difficulties and trials Of temper
in taking these soundngs have been trc'
mendou,, Repeatedly after paying
cut tens Of thousands Of fhthoms Of
line, and getting all up within some six.
ty or eighty, it was snapped, and all had
TO be done again. Six and eight hours
have been occupied i'll getting one sound
ing only, and these have been made near.
" every half degree Of 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 loug each appeared to feel the hon
or of his nation at stake, and proud in
every way TO advance the object in view.
They have done their work well. Ma
ture hns granted all We could ask; art
will soon do its part; while nature, sci
encs and art worked out by mans hand,
will produce one grand whole to benefit
mankind