The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-09-07
From the Boston Journal
History OF the Atlantic Telee raph.

hand the following sketch of this grand
undertaking, over whose success the whole
civilized world is now rejoicing.
In the year 1855, Cyrus w. Field visi-
ted England. The result of his visit was
the formation of the Atlantic Telegraph
Company, with capital of G350,0oo,
for tho purpose Of connecting Europe
with America by submarine telegraph ca.
bic. In August, 1857, an attempt was
made to lay the Atlantic Submarine Ca
bic, resulting in disastrous failure.
The cable was 1900 miles in length,
weighing nearly one ton per mile, capable
of bearing direct strain Of over five tons
without fracture. The centre Of cable was
formed by seven fine copper wires, twist
cd into a cord l-l6th of an inch thick.
This strand was coated with gutta percha,
forming small rope of 3.s Of an inch
thick; then coated with hempcn twine
twice soaked in pitch and tar; lastly, an
external sheathing of ls iron wires, each
being strand of seven finer wires, ma
king in all 126 wires.
The submersion was commenced on the
9th of August, 1857. There were present
the six steamers, Niagara, Agamemnon,
Leopold, Susquehanna, Willing, and Mind,
intended to assist in various parts Of tho
operation. The cable came up from the
hold of the ship, around central block, SO
as to open space above decks; it was there
wound round grooved sheaths, geared to-
gether by cogs, and firmly planted on gir-
ders, Then it passed over fifth sheath
out over the stern into the sea, sinking by
its own weight. A trfling accident hap.
pened on the 9th; this was repaired, and
on the llth, $50 miles (statute) had been
submerged. The engineer here concluded
that there was too much 'slack" in the ca
ble's course, and some modification in the
machinery was consequently made. This
appears to have been badly attended to by
a subordinatc, The cable snapped and
thus ended the attempt Of 1857.
1t having been concluded from Lieut..
Maury's calculations that the average state
of the weather WAS much better on Allan
tic in the early part ofsummer, it was de-
eide this year to attempt laying tho cable
in June. 1t was also thought best to be-
gin the submersion in mid ocean and pay
out towards either shore. Accordingly
the telegraph feet, consisting of the Uni
ted States steam frigate Niagara, and Lor
Majesty's steamers Agamemnon, Valorous
and Gorgon, left Plymouth on Thursday,
June 10, 1853. The Niagara had $50
tons, and the Agamemnon 450 tons OF
coal, and each about 1000 nautical miles
of cable on board. The weather, at first
favorable became unusually boisterous, so
that the fleet was not ready to commence
operations until late OH the 25th of June
The first splice was made between the
Niagara and Agamemnon on the morning
Of Saturday, the 26th OF June, and after
each ship had paid out about three miles
owing to its overriding and getting off tft
pully leading to the machine. Both YES
sells pu: about and returned, fresh splice
was made. and again lowered over at 4
The paying out pr( ceeded beautifully un
till early on Sunday morning when the sig
nails suddenly ceased. The cable was Gu
and the Niagara repaired to the rendez
,ous. The cause of the rupture was equal
ly mysterious to those on board the Aga
| mcllluOU, Huu
has since been made.
The cable was again splicod on the 2stl
and the steamers parted. Everything
worked beautifully during that night an
the next day. But at 0 o'clock p. NJ. o.
the Goth the announcement Of NO signals
was made on board the Niagara. A
the time one hundred and forty two mile
Of cable had been paid out. 1t was subse
ouently ascertained that the cable partec
for some reason unknow, about six faithom
from the stern of the Agamemnon.-
About four hundred miles Of cable wer
lost during tho trials, the effect of whic
upon the public confidence in tho final sur
, cess Of the undertaking was most depFe
} ssing.
, But the managers continued indefatig'
Q bic. The feet sailed a second time troI
Queenstown on the 18th Of July, joine
1 the cable on the 29th, and on the 5th
e August the world had tho news OF success