The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-08-28
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A correspondent of the London Times who was
/ on board the Agamemnon, gives an intercstinr ac-
count OF the voyage of that vessel in having the ca
/ Bile. On occasion the electrical continuity
ceased, and it discovered that injured cable had
been payed out. The ship was first stopped, then
the cable was made fast and amid the most intense
anxiety and fears, the injury repaired and the
electric continuity restored. Twice the sue
cess OF the expedition jeoparded by the "careless
ness and stupidity of American vessels one OF
which bore down upon the Agamemnon from dis
tance and a collision-which would have been fatal
was only avoided by the hazardous step of the
Agamemnon's changing her course. The second
time, everybodywas awakened from a sound sleep
by the booming of cannon from all the vessels of the
expedition, to warn off bark that also seemed de-
termlned to run the Agamemnon down. The can
non alarmed every one, since it was the signal
agreed upon to announce the extnguishmcnt of ev-
cry hope. On the first day out they encountered a
whale, and were apPrehensive of collision until
he changed his course.
For the first three hours the shins nrncandd vor,
slowly, paying out a great quantity of slack bnt
after the expiration of this time the speed of the
Agamemnon was increased to five knots pcr bour.
the cable going at about six, without indicatinn
dynamometer.
Shortly after O'Clock very large whale was
seen approaching the starboard bow at 4 great
speed, rolling and tossing the sea into foam all
round, and for the first time felt the possibility
of the suppositon that our second mvsterions
breakage of the cable might have been caused after
all by of these animals getting foul of thunder
the water. 1t appeared as if it were making di-
rect for the cable, and great was the relief of all
When the ponderous living mass was seen slowly
to pass astern Just grazing the cable where it en-
tered the water, but fortunately without doing any
mischief.
All seemed to go well up to about O'Clock; the
cable paid out from the hold with an evenness and
regularity which showed how carefully and pcr-
fecty it had been coed away: and to ruard AGAINST
accidents which might arise in consequence of the
cable having suffered injury during the Storm the
indicated strain upon the dynamometer was never
allowed to go beyond 100 pounds or less than
one quarter what the cable is estimated to bear
and, thus far everything looked promising of sue
cess. but, IN such hazardous work, no one knows
what few minutes may bring forth, for soon after
an injured portion of the cable was discovered
about a mile or two from the portion paving out:
not moment was by Mr.. Canning, the engineer
on duty, IN setting men to work to cObblc up the
INJURY as well as time would permit for the cable
was going out at such rate that the damaged
portion would be paid overheard in less than 20
minutes, and former experience had shown us that
to check either the speed of the ship or the cable
would, in all probability, be attended by the most
fatal results.
Just before the tapping was finished Professor
Thomson reported that the electrical continuity of
the wire ceased, but that the insulation was still
perfect, attention naturally directed to the in
jured piece the probable source of the stoppage
and not a moment lost in cutting the cable at
that point, with the intention Of making perfect
splice.
To the CONSERVATION of all, the electrical tests
applied showed the fault to be overheard and in all
probability some fifty miles from the ship. Not
second was to be lost for it was evident that the
cut portion must be paid overheard in few min
uteS, and in the meantime the tedious and diificuIt
operation of making splice had to be performed.
The ship was Immediately stopped and no more
cable paid out than absolutely necessary to
prevent it breaking. As the stern of the ship was
lifted by the waves scene of the most intense ex-
cltpmpnt followed h.
using the greatest possible speed. and paying out
the least possible amount Of cable that the junction
could be finished before the part was taken out of
the hands of the wOrkmen
The main hold presented an extraordinary scene:
nearly all the officers of the ship and those connect
ed with the expedition, stood in groups about the
coil, watching with intense anxiety the cable as it
slowly unwOund itself nearer and nearer the Joint
while the workmcn, directed by Mr. Canning under
whose superintendent the cable was originally man
utactured, worked at the splice as only men could
work who felt that the life and death ofhe expedition
depended upon their rapdity.
But all their speed was to no purpose as the ca
bic was unwinding within hundred fathOms, and,
as last and desperate resource, the cable was
stopped altogether, and for few minutes the shin
hung on by the end Fortunately, however. it was
only for few minutes the strain was continually
rising above two tons, and it would not hold on
much longer, when the splice was finished the sig
nal was made to loose the stopper. and it passed
overheard safely enough.
narrowly saved the cable, had passed away we
awokc to the consciousness that the case was still
as hopeless as ever, for the electrical continuity was
still entirely wanting. Preparations were conse-
quenty made to pay out little rope as possible
and to hold for six hours in the hopes that the
fault, whatever it might be, might mend itself be-
fore cutting the cable and returning to the rendeZ-
vous to make another splice. The magnetic needles
on the receiving instruments were watched closely
Tor the returning signals; when in Il few minutes
the last hope eXtinguished, by their suddenly
indicating dead earth, which tended to show that
the cable had broken from the Niagara, or that the
insulation had been completely DESTROYED.
In three minutes. however, every one was agree
ably surprised by the intelligence that the stoppage
had disappeared, and that the signals had again ap
pearcd at their regular intervals from the Niagara
1t is needless to say what load of anxiety this
news removed from the minds of every one, but
the general confidence in the ultimate of the
operations was much shaken by the occurrence, for
all felt that every minute similar accident might
occur. For some time, the paying out continued
as usual but towards the morning, another damaged
place was discovered in the cable there was, for
tunatcly, however, time to repair it in the hold
without in any way interfering with the operations
beyond, for a time, slightly reducing the speed of
the ship.
As soon as the inhabitants became aware of our
approach there was general desertion of the place
and hundreds of boats crowded around u.s. their
passengers in the greatest state of excitement to
hear all about our voyage. The Knight of Kerry
was absent in Dngle, but a messenger dis
patched for him, but he soon arrived in Her Maes-
tvs gunboat Shamrock
Soon after our arrival, signal was received from
the Niagara that they were proceeding to land,
having paid out 900 nautical miles of cable, while
the Agamemnon accomplished her portiOn of the
distance with an expenditure of $50 miles, max
ing the total length of the wire submerged 1850
geographical miles
Immediately after the ships cast anchor the pad
dleboX boats Of the VaOrOus We're got ready, and
two miles of cable coled away in them, for the
purpose of landing the end but it was late in the
afternoon before the procession of boats left the
ship, under salute of three rounds of small arms
from the detachment Of marines on board the Aga
memnOn, under the command of Lieutenant Morris.
The progress of the end to the shore very Slow
in consequence of the very stiff wind which blew
at the time but at about o'clock the end was
safely brought on shore at knightstown, Nalentia
by Mr.. Bright and Mr.. Canning, the chief and Sc
cond engineer, to whose exertions the success of
the undertaking is attributable, and the Knight of
Kerry.
The end was Immediately laid in the trench which
had been dug to receive it, while royal salute,
making the neighboring rocks and mountains re-
vertebrate, announced that the communication be
tween the old and new world had been completed.
The end was Immediately taken into the electrical
room by Mr.. Whitehouse, and attached to a gal
vanometer, and the first message was received
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