The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-07-29
THE TELEGRAPH CABLE FAILURE.
From the Cork Reporter, July 5.


The Niagara and the Gorgon, attached to
the squadron for laying the trans Atlantic
cable, arrived at Queenstown at an early hour
this morning. We regret to announce that the
object of the expedition has for the present
failed, and We shall now give our readers such
particulars of the events which occurred in the
course of the undertaking as we have been able
TO collect.
The Agamemnon and her tender, and the
Niagara and her tender, sailed from Plymouth
on the 10th June, each of the great vessels car.
rylng about one thousand five hundred miles of
cable, with new and improved apparatus for
paying 1t out, which it was calculated would
have allowed for any strain or unequal motion
oil the ships, as the very speed of the vessels
regulated, by automatic arrangements, the rate
al which the coil was to be discharged.
After having been three days at sea, the ex
petition was overtaken by fearful gale, which
continued without intermission for nine days.
On the seventh day of this heavy weather, the
ships, which had continued to keep together,
had to part company, and the Agsmemnon
was Obliged to scud before the wind thirty-six
hours Her Goals got adrif, and coil of the
cable shifted, 80 that her captain for some time
entertained serious apprehensions of her safety,
ana, from the immense strain, her waterways
were forced open, and one of her ports broken.
Two sailors were severely injured and one ma.
nne lost his reason from fright. Yet, uch was
The consummate skill and good seamanship and
lntrepidity of her commander, Captain Priddie,
that he was enabled to bring her to the ap-
pointed rendezvous. The Niagara rode out the
storm gallantly, having only carried away her
jlb boom and one wing of her figure head, the
great American eagle.
A ha
their central point of junction, the first splice
OF the cable was made on the 26.h. After hav.
ing paid out two and a half miles, owing to an
accident on board the Niagara, the cable was
parted; but the ships having again met, the
sphce was made good, and they commenced to
give out the cable q second time; but after they
mad each paid out about 40 miles, it was report
90 that the current had broken, and no commu-
ncatlon could be made between the ships. Un-
fortunately, In this instance, the breakage must
nave occurred at the bottom, as the electricians,
from the hae calculations which their instru-
msI's allow them to make, were able to declare
such 70 have been the fact, even before the ves-
selS came together again. Having cast of this
loss, they met for the third time, and restored
.ue CONNECTION of the cable on the 18th. They
.nen started atresh; the Niagara, having paid
ou' over one hundred and fifty miles of cable,
al on board entertained the most sanguine an.
Aepauons OF success, when the fatal announce
,Ien' was made upon Tuesday, the 18th, at
me l. NJ, that the electric current had ceased
~ now AS soon ss the necessity of abandon.
tas 1ne project for the present was now only
manifest, 1t was considered that an oppor-
ssni'y might as well be svailed Of to test the
strength OF the cable. Accordingly this i'm.
iense vessel, with all her stores, &C., was al.
.oNeo 10 swing to the cable, and in addition
aualn OF four tons was placed on the breaks;
Je.' although it was blowing fresh at the time,
sre cable held her as fast IS If she had been at
of f, Tor over an hour, when heavy pitch
:. Inc sea 81 apped the rope, and the Niagara
oofe away for this port. Before starting, an ar,
ocos ement was made, that should any accident
sSo gu, IA giving out the cable before the ships
sSou u,G have gone one hundred miles, they
o Doulo return 20 their starting place in mid
''ean but that in case that distance should