Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-09-07

The New York Herald had correspondent on
the Niagara sure enough. OF the frst accident
the parting of the cable at Valentia Bay-we have
had the details It appears that there was another
almost an accident, at the point where the shore
end was joined to the great cable. On August 7th,
when the ship fairly under way, the Heralds
correspondent writes:
For the first FIVE or ten minutes the machinery
did net ran as well as could be wished, and
humping sound, that excited the most unpleasant
sensation, made by its passage over the wheels.
But the ear soon became accustomed to this, and
go long as it passed safely into the water every
was satisfied. The coil from which it paid
out was In the fOrepart of the ship, within few
feet of the forecaste, and the distance from that
to the stern was nearly her whole length, num-
Der of men were stationed at intervals, like senti
nels between the two points, to see that every
foot of it reached its destination in safety. Every
thing that could be done done to give it safe
and speedy passage, but it still confined to thump
away at the machinery; and before the last part Of
it left the ship it created such an excitement on
board that all we had previously gone through in
that line seemed trifing in comparison. The part
where the shore cattle is joined to the deep sea line
gave way as it was passing over one OF the wheels,
and in a minute more the broken portion would
have been out over the stern, and lost beyond all
hone of recovery at least in time to permit of the
,
was the most critical moment OF the enterprise
thus far and had it not been for the wise foresight
and precaution Of Captain Hudson, there Is no
doubt that the splicing of that shore cable could
never have been effected then. Tue provision
which he made for such emergency saved 1t,
and the admirable management OF the ship by
which all strain taken of 1t during the process
of splicing is worthy OF all praise. The captain
had ordered strong hawser, OF sulhclent length,
to be placed near the stern of the vessel where II
md khnn cd
with no small degree of anxiety the time when It
should be announced that they were ready to pay
out that portion where the two cables were joined.
At last il was reached and the speed OF the vessel
having been reduced to fraction OF mile, so that
she could only be said to be moving through the
water, it was passed through the hands of the men
as carefully if it the most tender fabric in
the world, and had just gone over one OF the wheels
when it was observed giving away at the joint
The captain at once on the alert, ard "a mo-
ment had it firmly secured TO the hawser. Mr.
Everett the chief engineer of the ship, was at his
post by the speaking tube, which extends from the
poop TO the engine room, and gave the order to
stop or work the engine when 1t became apparent
that there any strain upon the cable. The ac-
cdent occurred at half past eleven, and the ship
was about miles from the point from which
she started that afternoon The other vessels of
course could not have been aware OF its exact n1-
ture but they must have known from the stop
page OF the ship that there was something wrong.
Whatever may have been their anxiety during the
long and weary hour and a half which 1t took to
renew the Splice it certainly did not exceed what
we felt during that time. Not word was spoken
EXCEPT by those in command, and the orders were
promptly and quietly observed. Those who could
take no active part in the work looked on with
something of the feelings with which man awaits
the result of chance on which his very life may
depend. Many an inquirng look was directed TO
that portion of the cable that hung over the stern,
and vhO WEI PmDlOVe0
splicing. Il seemed as if it never would be hnsh-
ed although the iOiners went at it with a will,
knowing how much depended upon their exPedi-
tiou and performed it in halt the time that would
be given to it under other circumstances. The
hemp serving and gutta percha Insulation were
cut of leaving both ends of the copper wire or
conductor perfectly bare. This was done in almost
less time than it takes to relate the circumstances.
The two conductors were then laid together, bound
up with a single wire, and the whole soldered to-
gether. After this the gutta peTcha was placed
over the conductor in perfectly plastic state,
and the Insulation having been thus effected
the hempen strands were sewed upon it, the
iron protecting wire or external armor placed over
that again. and the whole securely bound with
strong hemp. Having been spliced in this way it
was lowered down cautiously the stern, by
the same hawser, so that there little or DO
strain brought upon it, and in less than half an
hour more the ship was on her course, going at
rate of from two or three miles an hour
| have said that this was the most trying and
anxious time We had up to this point; but des-
crption of the scene itself will convey better and
more correct idea of the occurrence than any mere
statement that could be made.
The moment the cable parted, Captain Hudson,
who stood upon the poop, from which he could
see the whole operation and the movements OF eve
ry one, gave orders to hare it attached with the
hawser.
Rack it, rack it, my man, and be quick about
it, said he to the sailor who was securing il with
the cable. "Bring along some hemp, and hold on
hard to your hawser," he added, while the man,
obedient to the order did hold on with redoUbled
strength and with such terrific tenacty that, II the
rope had gone overheard, he would have gone with
il.
The hemp was bl ought and the hawser bound,
or racked, the nautical phrase is, firmly TO the
cable.
''Come, be alive there, men-look sharp there, Z"
the Captain again cries, as he gives the orders to
some of the hands to assist the man in binding the
hawser and in holding on to the cable till the
splice could be made.
Mr.. Bright called to the man at the paying out
machine TO ease off the brake as the strain appears
TO be getting heavier upon the cable.
"Hold OIL your hawser there" said Mr.. Everett
when he heard ths-"you certainly have not your
brakes on now" Then, looking over the stern and
seeing that there was slight strain on the cable,
he passed the word through the speaking tube to
tho engineer on duty to 'back her slow"
the cable was at right angles with the stern-an
indication that it was subject little, il any strain
"Nuw, then, it is al right; toe hawser bears the
weight of the cable Slack little more Of it. he
calls out to the trusty fellow in charge. "Slack
little more Ofit-thats right" he adds, he sees
his order Immediately obeyed.
Many an important look directed toward the
splicer but he is performing bis duty well; he is
working with all possible despatch, aud although we
wish be were quicker, he is doing all man can do
II the cable be lost il will certainly be through no
iault of his. In the midst OF the subdued excite
ment-for, as / have said no attempted TO
speak but in whispers, except those in command
we could not bat think when We looked out up
on the calm as il sparkled under the bright
light OF the full moon, with a feeling of gratitude
upon the iavorbale weather with which our enter
prise had been blessed thus far. Never was a YES
sci more favored than ours and il only per-
mitted to lay this cable, what time OF rejoicing
will have when We get back 60 New ork. IL Is al
most too much 10 hope, and as we think
what We have yet to go through, our sensations
become almost painful in the extreme. Let u.s.
when We return 70 the Empire City, be able TO tell
our friends that the cable is laid and the United
States, zig as they are will not be able TO hold
THIRD DAT oF LAYING THE oABLE-SoT TET our
OF SIGHT OF LASD-THE oABLx DoS'F KgSK
Whatever fears might have been f,lt IN regard
10 kinks, or anything Of that kind, are entirely
groundless. Nothing could be more gratifying than
toe Way 10 which Is CONES up out OF the coil-so
dexible, and yea possessing so much strength
There 10 no trouble whatever with ito twisting
intO kaots, nor entangiiug Of the hakes-bat che
whole process OF uncoiling goes on without the
slightest difficulty. The men WHO stand around the
circle locking oct for accidents have an easy time
Of Il, aud might be Ia New York or Liverpool, or
away ia The Punlaub Tor al their services are re-
a.. a a-HsH