Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-08-26
How the Cable was Laid

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"'@ How the Cable was Laid.
The New York Tribune contains
many important incidents attending the
laying of the Atlantic Cable. In a con
versation with Cyrus Field, the Tribune
obtains the following interesting partic
ulars:-
"Mr. Field describes the feeling
which pervaded all on board the Mag,
ara while the cable was being laid, as
one of the most intense, excitement
Every man exerted himself to the ut.
most to achieve success in the work.
Throughout the six and half days the
most perfect silence and attention per.
vaded the men, lest single moment Of
negligence should destroy the cable.
On the first day after the paying ont
began, it was found that the cable was
being paved out at a rate which, in pro-
portion to the distance, run, would, if
continued, have defeated the enterprise.
This was owing to the fact that the ca
bic on the Niagara had caused so much
local attraction as to seriously derange
the compasses, rendering it impossible
to steer the ship. Next day, Command
er Dayman, of the Gorgon. being APP
prised of the fact, ran ahead of the Nj
agara, steering the most direct course
for Trinity Bay. This he continued to
do day and nightuntil they arrived, new
er leaving the deck except for few
moments, and verifying his position by
repeated observations Of the sun, moon
and stars. HH9l Ind
When his arduous task was accom-
plished, his eyes were swollen and suffu-
sed with blood from long loss of, sleep,
and he was almost Frustrated from the
immense fatigue which lie had under
gone. Without his assistance the cable
would have been exhausted long before
the Niagara reached land, and to his
agency, therefore, the success of the a.
chievement is largely indebted.
On Wednesday morning, August 4th,
at 8 O'Clock, land appeared to them. w.
about thlrty-five miles distant. An hour
later the Agamemnon signaled that she
had paid out nine hundred and twenty
six miles of cable, being precisely the
same quantity as that laid from, the Nj
agara. q AT 7l-2 P. NJ, her Maiesty's
steamer Porcupine hove in sight, and
Capt. Otter, her commander, who had
for some weeks been engaged in survey
ing Trinity Bay and the Bay of Bulls
Arm, boarded the Niagara to pilot her
into the harbor. At P. NJ, Capt. OF
ter reported the telegraph station nine
teen miles off There had been paved
out from the Niagara 995 miles, II faith
oms.
AS it would have periled the safety of
the cable to have waited for daylight be-
fore resuming operations, the steamer
was kept right on through the night
Capt. Otter, who is skillful pilot, is al
so very prudent man. Anticipating
that the Niagara might arrive in the
night, he had caused boats to be station.
ed up the bay, along the course laid out
for her, and at signal the men in them
kindled blazing torches, and people
along shore lighted huge bonfres : to
guide the mariners Oh their way. Ifsl
The Niagara, guided by her careful
pilot, steamed slowly up the bay, and
at ]. II o'clock on the morning of Thurs
day, Aug. 5, she came to anchor close
the shore, in II fathoms of water, having
succeeded in her share of the great I'M
dertaking. She had payed out 1913
miles, and telegraphic signals were con-
stantly flowing through the entire
length. " aH 4'ioH1s 81
Mr.. Field landed near the Telegraph
Station, Trinity Bay, at O'clock in the
morning, and walked to the Station
House, half a mile distant, through the
wilderness, not a person being visible on
the beach. AT the Telegraph House he
found the operators from London fast
asleep, not one of them expecting that
the enterprise would succeed. Indeed
they had not unpacked their trunks, an
ticipating that in week or two they
would be ordered back to London ), the
station house was unfinished, work up
on it had ceased, and none of the instru-
ments had been prepared fol- use. The
astomshment of the operators, when
they learned that the cable was laid,
may be conceived. At 2;45 a. m. sig
nal was received from the Agamemnon
stating that she had payed out 1910
miles ofcable. Mr.. Field then telegraph
ed to the Associated Press the glad It'd
ings of success. o- mos
When day broke, the boats were all
lowered, and 1900 fathoms of cable
were carried ashore. First Lieut.. Jas.
III. North handed the shore end to Capt
Hudson, who placed it on the beach
A procession was then formed, headed
by Capt. Hudson and Mr.. North, follow
ed by the officers of the Niagara, cap
tains ofthe Gorgon and Porcupine, their
officers, crews. and the crew of the Nj
agara. Each taken hold of the cable,
they marched up from the beach to the
telegraph station-house, a distance of
half mile where they deposited the end
of the cable. Capt. Hudson then offer
ed a prayer, and few remarks appro-
pirate to the occasion, when the cere-
mony of landing terminated. The Off
GERS and crews then returned to their re-
spectlve boats, reaching their vessels at
s o'clock in the morning. The Gorgon
and Porcupine carried the American flag
at the fore, the Niagara the English flag
at the fore, and the Telegraph flag at the
miZzen. +, - *.
The Agamemnon telegraphed at / p.
m, on the same day Thursday Aug. s.
that she had landed her end of the cable.
On the announcement of this fact, the
Gorgon fired salute oftwenty-one guns
and her crew manning the rigging gave