, 1857-10-23

HI. report to the directors of the Atlantic
telegraph Company, thus describes the
c,use of the breaking Of the cable. Shares
had declined since the receipt of the news
in England y
Shortly after this the speed of the cable
aimed considerably upon thatof the Ship
snd ND to Q o'clock, while the rate, of the
after was about 3 knots by the> log, the
ssble was running out from 5 l-2 to 5 3-4
Enots per hour. The strain was then
rsised to 25 cwt.; but, the wind and sea
increasing and a current at the'same time
carving the cable at an angle from the
direct line of the ships course, it was not
Soopd sufficient to check the cable, which
Vas at midnight making l-2 knots above
the speed of the ship and sometimes i'm
neriIng the safe. upcoiing in the hold.
Fberetarding force was therefore increased
d2 o'clock to an amount equivalent to 80
evt., and then again, in consequence of
the speed continuing to be more than it
would have been prudent to permit, to 35
eEt. BY this the rate of the cable was
brought to q little short of knots, at
which it continued steadily until 4:45,
when it parted, the length paid out at that
time being 335 miles.
had, up 10 this time, attended person
ally 10 the regulation Of the breakers: but
finding that all was going on well, and
that lit being necessary that should be
temporarily away from the machine to as
certain the rate Of the ship, and to see how
The cable was coming out of the hold, and
also to visit the electrician, the machine
vas for q moment left in charge of me-
chanic who had been engaged from the first
10 its construction and fitting, and was &C.
ouainted with its operation.
was proceeding to the fore part Of the
ship when | heard the machine stop; im-
uediately called out to ease the break and
reverse the engine of the ship, but when
reached the spot the cable was broken.
On examining the machine, which was
otherwise in perfect order, found that
The breaks had not been released, and to
this, or to the hand-wheel of the break be-
irg turned the wrong way, may be attrbu-
ted the stoppage, and the consequent frac-
| ture of the cable. When the rate Of the
wheels grew slower, as the ship dropped
her stern in the swell, the break should
have been eased; this had been done regu-
hrly before, whenever an unusually sudden
descent Of the ship temporarily withdrew
Ihe pressure from the cable in the sea !,
bot owing 10 our entering the deep water
ihe previous morning, and having all hands
ready for any emergency that might occur
there, the chief part Of my staff had been
compelled to give in at night through sheer
exhaustion, and hence, being short handed,
IWas obliged for the time to leave the ma
chine, without, as it proves, sufficient in
ieIgence to control it.
Iperceiye that on the next occasion il
vii be ncedful, from the wearing and anx-
iOus nature of the work, to have three sep
arais relays Of staff, and to employ for at
tentiOn to the breaks, higher degree Of
Mechanical skill
The origin Of the accident was no doubt
the amount Of retarding strain put upon
The cable, but had the machine been prop
erly manipulated at the time, it could not
possibly have taken place.
l 1t has been suggested as cause of the
failure that the machinery is TOO massive
and ponderous. My experience of its ac-
lion teaches otherwise; for three days in
shallow and deep water, as well as in rapid
transition from one to the other, nothing
could be more perfect than its working,
md since it performed its duty so smoothly
iOd efficiently, in the smaller depths, where
iAe weight Of the cable had less ability to
overcome its friction and resistance, it can
Tircely be said to be too heavy for deep
UIer, where it was necessary for the in
asased weight Of cable to restrain its rap
nnoton by applying TO it considerable
dsgee Of additional friction. Its action
vas most complete, and oil parts worked
veil together / sec how it can be i'm
proved by q modification in the form Of
aaTe, by on addition TO the arrangement
Madjusting the breaks, and some other
Asht alterations; but with proper man
H'uent,, without any change, whatever, !
an confident that the whole length Of cable
night have been safely laid by it, and it
nN be remembered, as q test of the work
sach 1t has done, that, unfortunate as
S krmination to the expedition is, the
Mget length Of cable ever laid has been
hd out by it, and that in the deepest wa
EeVer yet passed over.
Alter the accident had occurred sound
AnSere taken by Lieutenant Dayman,
m Ae depth found 10 be 1000 fathoms.
hBllbe remembered that some import
n's vas attached 10 the cables in the Nj.
n and Agamemnon being manufactured
opposite lays. l thought this favora-
opportunity to show that practically
Inference was not Of consequence in
SsIng the junction in mid-ocean. We
asofe made splice between the two
eA and several miles we're then paid
1Eilhout dificultv