Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-08-13
The Atlantic Submarine Telegraph.

The Atlantic Submarine Telegraph.
The proceedings in regard 10 the Atlantic teie-
graph cable, in England, are exceedingly interest
ing. We extract the following from III article on
the subject in the London Times, of the 2ith ult.
The Agamemnon leaves Greenwich to day, anu
after the djustment Of her compasseS proceeds at
once to Queenstown, where the other vessels COM
posing the squadron-the Niagara, Susquehanna
and Leopard-will also rendezvous. During the
trip from Sheerness to Queenstown experiments
will be made by laying down about twenty miles
of cable, in order to ascertain that every thing is
in good working condition. By this means the
stiffness of the paying out geer, of which consider
able distrust is entertained, will be accurately
tested, and the amount of risk known which the
scheme will have to encounter in mid-ocean.
Those trials, however, are to be strictly private,
and none but those actually connected with the
operations about to be undertaken, will be al
lowed on board. After taking in Goals ut Queens
town the four vessels will start together for Vaen-
tia Bay. 1t has been thought advisable to alter
the arrangement by which the cable was to have
been Joined in mid sea- and the Agamemron and
Niagara then make the hest of their way to shore
the former to America and the latter to ireland.
Now the plan is to submerge the whole cable IN
continuous line from Valentia Bay to Newfound-
land. The Niagara will lay the first half from
Ireland to the middle of the Atlantic; the end will
then be Joined to the other half on board the Aga
memnon, which takes it on to the coast of New
foundland. During the whole process the four
vessels will remain together and give whatever as
sistance is required. While it is being laid down
messages will be sent back to the coast Of Ireland
reporting each days progress, and If necessary,
of course, each hours. Scientific men will look
forward to the result of the undertaking with the
deepest interest, some wonderful electrical phe-
nomena are certain to be observed during the pro-
cess of submerging. Those most nearly interested
in the plan are sangune to all being successful
ly completed within month, and the state Of the
markets at New York known every morning
throughout England. Most earnestly do we hope
that their fullest expectations may be realized,
though it is useless attempting to conceal that the
risks of failure to the present plan are many and
most serious.
The share holders Of the company at Liverpool
had given grand banquet to the officers of the
Niagara and Susquehans, and the completion OF
the shipment of the cable on the Agamamnon had
been celebrated by agrand fete in the park of.Sir
Culling Eardley, near Erith on the Thames
Nearly thousand persons were present at the
latter entertainment, including Professor Morse,
Mr.. Cyrus W. Field, Hon. Henry ]. Raymond,
Capt Sands, of the Susquehanna and others. MIR.
Field, in returning thanks for toast read letter
from President Buchanan stating he should feel
much honored if the first message across the At
lantic should be one from Queen Victoria to the
President of the United States, and that he should
endeavor to answer it in spirit and manner be
coming the great occasion.
The London Times mentions some serious diff
culties likely to arise in laying the cable. 1t says
While looking at the ponderous mass on board
the Agammenon, one cannot fail to be struck BY
the heat of the place in which it is slowed away
q heat which might excite well founded fears a'
to its influence on the gutta percha. If we are
not misinformed the heat Of the sun destroyed
many miles of the wire by melting out the gutta
percha while the cable was lying in Gasse Ell
ott's yard. Proper precautions, should be taker
to avert risk from this point.
We have already explained to our readers how
the cable is coated with closely woven spiral wires
to prevent damage to the core in paying out but
in consequence of the two halves having been mad
at different paces--one at Birkenhead by Messrs
Newall, and the other at Greenwich, by Glasse 8
Elliott, most egregious blunder has been commit
ted 1t will scarcely be credited, but it is never
tholcss true that the twist of the spiral wires o
the Birkenhead half is in exactly the opposite di
rcction to the twist of the wires in the half mad
at Greenwich. Thus, when Joined in the centr'
of the Atlantic they will form right hand and 6
left hand screw, and the tendency of each will b
to assist the other to untwis: and expose the core
By attaching solid weight to the centre joint it
hoped this difficulty and danger may be overcome
but none attempt to conceal that the mistake i
much to be regretted.