The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1857-10-08
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8.


ONE month ago, In all probability, the great
event of the 10Th century occurred the union of
the old world and the new by electric wires. On
the 9th of August the shore end of the Atlantic
telegraph cable was handed to the Lord Lieutenant
of Ireland on the main land near V~alentia, and
laid in a satisfactory manner, and the fleet of
eight steamers took their departure for New
foundland.
1t was in August, 1892, Columbus sailed from
the port of Palos in Spain to discover a new
world, and conquer it. In August, 1857 three
hundred and s~ixty-fve years afterwards, a noble
feet of steamers with a little band of scientific
men, sailed from Yalentia to bind with a chain
of electricity the continent which Columbus dis
covered with that which he left.
All ordinary matters of foreign news are
eclipsed in this experiment of laying the submarine
cable. Should it succeed, it will be the greatest
achievement of human art. The points of connec-
ton, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, and Valentia
Harbor, Ireland, aredistant 1900 miles. Although
there are eight steamers in the feet, the Niagara
and the Aganen1non only have the cable. Each
vessel is supplied with 800 miles of surplus cable.
When the4Agamemnon has laid her portion, the
cable will be spliced to that on board the Niagara,
III utillu Ol OAO III SOa ~
land. tt is supposed they can lay about five knots
per hour or 100 miles per day. Electricians will
constantly exchange signals with the station at
valentia, SO that in England the progress of the
vessels viii be known every day. When the top
masts of the ships have sunk beneath the horizon,
and the lookout men are of no avail, the inter-
oceanic current of electricity will give record OF
all that passes, until the frightening line has
been spun from shore to shore. A bell ON board
each vessel viii sound every second as each por-
ton of the cable is payed out, and its silence will
be the first indication of any mishap arising from
friction or oyer-tension. In such an emergency,
there is an apparatus by which the cable can be
r.coiled, the vessel backing, till the faulty place
is found and restored. In case of a storm, and it
is found necessary to abandon the work, an auxil-
larry cable is provided with huge buoys, flags, &c.
attached-by which the coil may be again recov-
cred and the work resumed.
The month of Angus is indicated by Maury's
chart as the most favorable season of the year in
the Atlantic. 1t has been determined that the
first message across the Atlantic should be ssGlory
to God in the highest and on earth Peace, good
will towards men, This will be followed by
Queen victoria's compliments to the President,
and his reply.
By the next mail by the Fanny Major, we shall
probably receive new of the success or failure of
this great undertaking. If successful, it cannot
be many years before a telegraphic cable will be
laid to San Francisco, and across the Pacific,
connecting, in all probability, with these islands.
The London Times of August 6 gives the fol-
| lowing latest intelligence of the sailing of thefeet
from Ireland
On Thursday morning at daybreak, the Aga
n1ennon came to moorings in Queenstown Har-
/ Dor. at a distance of about a third of a mile
from the United States frigate Niagara. Before
noon one end of each cable was carried to the
| opposite ship, and so joined up as to form a con-
tfnuous length of 2 800 miles, both ends of which
wers on board the Agameunon. One end was
then connected with the apparatus for transmit
ting the electric current, and on o sensitive gal
vanometer being attached to the other end, it
was found to be perfect
As these operations had worn far into the night,
the arrangements for attaching the recording in
rumen to indicate signals were left to be COM
pleted in the morning. The amount Of electric
bower developed at the further end, and exhibit
ted by Mr.. Whitefeuse's ACCOMPLISHMENTS
amounted to an attractive force of % grains. As
three grains ere a sufficient force to record intel
lieible signals upon the receiving apparatus. ii
will be perceived that a considerable surplus OF
electric power remains, a convincing proof, II
any were needed, at once of the perfect integrity
of-the cable and no less of the careful adaptation
Of scientific means to the desired object.
On resuming the operations on Friday morn
ing it was found that all communication was cut
of, and after undermining the portions of ca
j bic laid out between the two ships it was ascer
tafned that one had been completely severed By
entanglement with the mooring chains during