Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-07-03
The Atlantic telegraph.

we have before US quite an interesting ac-
count OF the trial trip of the vessels employ
eo 70 lay the Atlantic Telegraph. They sail
ed from the Bay of Biscay, whence they have
since returned, and are now probably on their
main enterprise. The sterns of the two pay
ing'out sniPs were connected by hawsers, at a
distance OF about GOO feet from each other,
and the end OF the wire cable was sent by
hauling line from the Niagara to the Apam-
emnon, where it was splced to the end of
hers, and both ships commenced paying out.
Although the wire used was piece Of con-
demned cable, put on board to be expended.
and was very defective in many parts. vet II
reached the bottom in perfect safety. and was
wound up afterward nearly to the surface
water but the hawser connecting the yes-
sells having meanwhile parted, of course the
wire was broken when stretched taut be.
tween the ships-both machines winding up
at the same time. This was regarded as
highly encouraging. The experiment was
made at night, under disadvantages, and with
the old cable, too. The machinery perform
ed its part, both in paying out and winding
up, admirably. Telegraphing was constant
between the ships during the process.
The second experiment was with portion
of the good wire, the Atlantic telegraph ca.
BILE proper. This was spliced in the same
way, payed out equally well to the bottom,
and messages sent through 1900 miles.
The wire hung at the stern of the ships
| sustaining its own weight in nearly three
miles of water for an hour, electric communi-
| cation being kept up in the meantime
through 1900 miles, when the Agamemnon
| made signal wire parted" It broke neal
hor ho
and chafe from the motion of the ship. On
board the Niagara the cable was wound up
to within a short distance of the splice
where it had been broken second time, it is
supposed by dragging on the bottom while
being wound up. This wire was bearing a
strain at times of 500 pounds, as shown by
the dynamometer-and when it came in over
the wheels, was so kinked and curled, twisted
and unlaid, as to be entirely unfit for further
sue. In one place it was twisted into half 9
dozen hard knots all together.
The third and last experiment, which de-
serves mention, was the trial of the buoy.
| The splice was made as before described
the cable being the condemned" like thai
in the first experiment the hawser between
the vessels was cut off, and both steamed
away in opposite directions. A gentleman
soon made signal, "cable parted" Niagara
kept on and paid out 81 miles, then attached
the large buoy and small watch buoy, drop
ping them overheard, steaming away from th'
buoys and paying out. She had not gon'
more than 300 yards when the wire partet
on the wheels, from it's own defects. Mag
ara then returned to pick up buoy, but befor'
she reached it, it topped over" showing th'
cable to be detached. On examination it wa
found the wire had cut through three ant
a quarter inch rope, by which it was attached
to the buoy, in forty minutes time, merely
by undulation of the sea-
From these experiments the following de-
ductions may be made -
lst That the machinery is perfect.
I'd. That by constant watching, and by
| putting on the least possible retardation, the
ships going six or seven knots, the cable car
be laid.
Sd. That any attempt TO buoy the cable in
deep water will be time, cable and buoy lost
This has been much insisted on-this buoy
ing; but it is now the general opinion thai
under no circumstances would the cable fai
to twist off in few hours.
4th. That any long stoppage of the shil
by accident to ships, engines, or by repairs
OF defective parts of cables, will be fatal.
The result of this great enterprise will b.
awaited with the deepest interest. Should
it prove successful, the Old and New Worl6
will be brought into immediate connection
and the great cities of Europe may respond
hourly to those of America.