Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-07-30
ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO LAY THE
earle.


the Gable. The $500 miles of cable still on
board the ships give surplus of some 30
per ccnt-a liberal allowance, as the ex-
pendture of cable above the distance run,
during the last previous attempts, was only
81 per cent The Cable might not bear keep
ing in mass until another season very well,
and July and August are said to be frcer FROM
storms on the Atlantic than any other month
in the year. With these facts in view the
decision to make another effort is not sur
prising. The fleet was to sail from
Queenstown on tho 18th. Science and enter
prise will yet carry out the idea which has so
strong hold Ct the public mind. When
two such countries as England and America
become as impatient as they are, of the pre-
sent "sow COACH flor such it is felt to be)
mode of communication by steam, and set
their hearts upon quicker method, the
strong uiH will find way. Undoubtedly
other attempts will be made to submerge the
wire on the Atlantic plateau and the NAM
moth steamer, the Levathan, seems to be
looked to, to do the job. We copy some in
teresting extracts on the subject from differ
ent journals on each side the water
Iron the Cork Reporter July5.l
The Niagara and Gorgon, attached to the
squadron for the laying Of the Atlantic
cable, arrived in Queenstown at an early
hour this morning. After having been three
days at sea, the expedition was overtaken by
fearful gale, which continued without in
termission Tor nine days. On the seventh
day of this heavy weather, the ships, which
continued to keep together, had to part COM
pany, and the Agomenanon was obliged to
scud before the wind for SO hours her GOALS
got adrift, and coil of the cable shifted, SO
that her captain for sometime entertained
serious apprehensions for her safety, and
from the immense strain her waterways were
forced open, and one of her ports was broken.
Two of her sailors were severely injured, and
one of the marines lost his reason from fright
Yet such was the consummate skill, good
seamanshp, and intrepidity of her command
er, Captain Priddie that he was enabled to
bring her to the appointed rendezvous, lat.
so deg. min, long. 33 deg. Is min. The
Niagara rode out the storm CALAMITY, having
only carried away her jibboom and one wing
of the figure head. the great American eagle.
All the vessels having at length arrived at
their central point of junction, the first splice
of the cable was made on the Goth After
having paid out two and half miles each =,
owing to an accident on board the Niagara
the cable parted. The ships having again
met, the splice was made good. and they
commenced to give out the cable second
time but after they had each paid out 40
- Al IL.
broken, and no communication could be
made between the ships. Unfortunately, in
this instance, the brcakage must have occur
red at the bottom, us the electricians, from
the fine calculations which their sensitive
instruments allow them to make, were able
to declare such to have been the fact. even
before the vessels came together again. Hav-
ing cast off this loss, they met for the third
time and recovered the connection of the cable
on the 2Sth. They then started afresh, and
the Niagara having paid out over $50 miles
Of cable, all on board entertained the most
sansuine anticipations of success, when the
fatal announcement was made upon Tuesday,
the 29th, at 9 P. NJ, that the electric cur
rent had ceased to flow.
The two principal electricians, Dr. Sanity
and MIR. Lawes, on board the Niagara, are
inclined to believe that the accident occurred
on board the Agamemnon. which, 80 IL would
only impliootc d faulty arrangement OF some
of the apparatus, would still leave hope Of
the ultimate success of the undertaking,
whereas. if the separation has occurred at
the bottom, its effects will be greatly to damp,
if not deter, the enterprising spirit of the
directors from persevering in this gigantic
podject. In this last trial some 500 miles of
hn 11st e l.
estimated that the value of the cable is about
GOO 9, mile, it will be seen that the sacrifice
up to the present L---. ~ extensive as
might at first sight have been supposed.
Iron the London Times, July IL
With regard, then, to the mechanical diff
fculties, and to the provisions made against
them, it cannot be said that this trial was
very hopeful one. Two ships gave a double
chance Of failure. Each was evidently unequal
to its moiety of the work, having neither
proper stowage room for the cable, nor for
the proper quantity of Goals. The Niagara
left our shores So deep in the water as to ex-
cite misgivings in all who saw her; and then
we were told that though the Agamemnon
looked better, she was, in fact, a ship Of less
tonnage. The paying out tackle and the
break had been proved. with success which
the scientific alone could appreciate. The
speculation was, that just now we should
probably have the Atlantic at its calmest,
which, as it turns out, has not been the case
To judge from the picture of the expedition
as it sailed from our shores, the Agamemnon
and the Niagara 50 filed with their huge
freight that the gigantic coils spread from
the hold into every gun room, gunway and
cabin, we were relying too much on the
elements, and Lying ourselves at the mercy
of their caprice. 1t is premature, indeed, to
say that we have been beaten by the elements;
but the next attempt ought to combine every
precaution suggested by the past.
Asnggestion has been made several times
IN these columns, and seems to us worth con-
sldering The Leyiathun is as yet only a
she'll Excepting that it has not even its en-
glnes ON board, It is exactly in that state to
which at great difficulty and cost, the Aga
memnoa and Niagara have been reduced Tor
this service. In the Leviathan any length of.
cable that could possibly be required could
be hcld and slowed in the manner most con-
ycnient for paying out The pitch of that
huge vessel will be quite inconsiderabe in
the toughest seas, and the strain ON the cable
will, therefore, be uniform. Sufficient length
may be taken IN board for the most lavish
use OF the cable, even to twice the distance
from one shore to the other. 1t is plain we
must not be stingy of material, if we are to
succeed. The ingenious writers who enlight-
en- the public on the wonders of the deep, tell
us that currents carry the cable miles out of
the ships course before it touches the bottom;
that, ever so freely payed out, the cable pro-
ably hangs IN icstoons from one submarine
top to another; and that, even il
the cable Is s. fortunate as 10 escape the sharp
edge OF precipicc, mere suspension between
two distant points RAY stretch it beyond its !
strength. II this be SO tho more cable we
have, within reason, the better. No ship |
aaoat but tho Leviathan could carry an am |
pie supply for the whole distance Ii alone
could carry Goals sufficient for paying out the |
VI hole uble AT the rate nf five t',ur ~ ,b,,a