Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-09-11
The "Trip of the AgamemnOn.

The London Neus has a most interesting
account OF the trip of the Agamemnon in lay
ing her portion Of the Atlantic cable. One
OF the first incidents Of interest occurring af-
ter the separation of the Niagara and Aga
mcnnon is thus related:
";5hortly after six o'clock a very large
whale was seen approaching the starboard
bow at "a great speed, rolling and tossing the
Sea- into u foam all around and for the first
time we felt the possibility of our suppo-
sith'n that our second mysterious breakage
oi the cable mig t have been caused, after all,
by one of these animals getting foul of it un-
der water. l. appeared as if it were making
direct Tor the cable, and great was the relief
OF ali when the ponderous living mass was
seen slowly to pass astern, Just grazing the
cable where 1t entered the water, but fortu-
mattel without dong any mischief"
The nending Of defective spots in the cable
and splicing l., where there was small time
and distance to spare, is thus graphically de-
tailed
" ust before the tapping was finished, Pro-
lessor hom son reported that the electrical
continuity OF the wire had ceased, but that
the Insulation was still perfect. Attention
was naturally directed to the injured piece as
the probable source of the stoppage, and not
moment was lost in cutting the cable at
that point, with the intention Of making q
perfect spice; but, to the CONSERVATION of all,
the electrical rests applied showed the fault
to b. overheard, and in all probability me
fifty miles from the ship. Not second was
10 be lost, for it was evident that the cut Dor
ton must be paid overheard in few minutes,
and in the meantime the tedious and difficult
operation Of making splice had to be per-
formed. The ship was Immediately stopped
and 10 more cable paid out than was abso-
luteiy necessary to prevent the it breaking.
AS the stern of she ship was lifted by the
waves scene of the most intense excitement
followed. 1t seemed impossible, even by
using the greatest possible speed, and paying
out the least amount of cable, that the juno
ton 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 of those
connected with the expedition stood in groups
about the coil, watching with that intense
anxiety which is seldom seen except around
foreign gaming tables the cable as it slowly
unwound itself nearer and nearer the Joint,
while The workmen, directed by Mr. Canning,
under whose superintendence the cable was
originally manufactured, worked at the splice
as only men could work who felt that the life
and death of tie expedition depended upon
their rapidity. But all their speed was to no
purpose, as the cable was unwnding within
hundred fathoms, and as last desperate re-
source the cable was stopped altogether, and
for a lew minutes the ship hung on by the
end. Fortunately, however, it was only for
few minutes, as tie strain was continually RS
ing above two tons, and it could not hold on
much longer, when the splice was finished,
the signal made to loose the stopper, ard it
passed overheard fely enough.