Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-08-28
THE FAILURE OF THE ATLANTIC TELE-
GRAPH.

We briefly announced, yesterday, that the Al
antic telegraph cable had parted about three "a".
dred and thirty miles from it's starting point anu
the ships engaged in the experiment had re'ufne.
Engand. This intelligence ia sad but not SUI ~
There must have been doubts ON The n''no' y. "'
even the moot sanRuiue and scientific OF 'he s'su'
success of he frat attempt to deposit tnat grea' o
tr;c link s.f.lv on the bed Of the ocean, 10 "hat dc
c;dent incident or obstruction this first failure Is al
.r;b,tah,a wa have not yet been advsed- IL ID
ononoh for the present, to know that the anxious
and ardent hopes OF sdmrng millions, on both s'des
~ tho Atlantic have been suddenly chilled by the i'll
fortune of an enterprise which has excited the Won
der of the world to far greater degree tnan any
other event In the annals of adventure or SCIENCE
II had Just been announced that the stean'er
Edinburgh had passed the teegraphc iieet OUT
days ago, more than half way across the ocean' onu
steadily proceeding in the work OF paying out tno
wire. Public expectation had attained an almost
painful pitch. Anticipation was at It's he'sn''-
Doubts were dspelliDg. The ships were supposed 10
be almost in view day or two more and the aoAoa'
su.nanse would be over; the world stood watch'
np with eager gaze for the appearance OF the heet IN
Trinity Bay. The old world waited With GREATNESS
interest for the electric tidings, when both hems'
nberss would have resounded with simultaneous
shout of triumph and pride, not over an election
treaty or battle, but over victory OF CIVILIZATION
and science-an achievement Of the mind and an I'm
posing evidence Of the majesty of man.
Yesterday, however, we published paragraph
which has already carried deep TO those
who but an hour before eated with hope anu
buoysnt with PRIDE The telegraph '''re haa 0roSsn
and tie ressels gone back to England. 1t may al
most be imagined that the sigh of the engines and
tho murmurs of the pillows dsepsned, and the Anne
rcan and British Gage dropped solemnly as the sui
len proys of the ships were turned to rerace their
unsuccessful course.
The first effor. has failed. But the practicability
of the enterprise we trust has been demonstrated be-
yond doubt to those engaged in the experiment Oh
having the oable. That unforeseen sources OF en-
barras.ment would be developed, could not
but be expected. 1t would be unreasonable as
well as contrary to all experience to anticipate per-
fectness of proportion and eIacness in the operation
of every part of the equipments necessary for an nn
dertakng, 80 stupendous, novel and go subjected
10 accidental influences which are beyond the calou
lation and control Of mortal man.
Whatever may have been the cause OF The disas
ter to be hoped it s of such character as to be
readily remsdied, 80 that a second attempt may be
made a. sooa a. the seasons of the will justify It,
The enterprise would be cheapy accomplished at the
cost Of thousand triss. The second aud the third,
and indeed the ninety ninth effort may fail. But who
that appreciates the spirit of the age, can doubt that
the task tcM be performed
Since writing the above we have received addi-
tona intelligence on the subject which will be found
in another column.