The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-08-05
IRON tAe oors Reporter. Jaiys.


The Niagara and Gorgon. attached to the
squadron for the laying Of the transatlantic
cable, arrived in Queenstown at an early
hour this morning. We regret having TO
announce that the object OF the expedition
has Tor the present failed, and we shall now
give our readers such particulars Of the
events which occurred In the course Of the
undertaking az we have been able 10 col
lect.
The Agamemnon and her tender, the
Valorous, and the Niagara ard her tender,
the Gorgon, sailed from Plymouth on the
10th Of June each oi the great vessels
carrying abou, 1900 miles Of cable with
new aud improved apparatus for paying u
out, which il was calculated would have al
lowed for any strain or unequal motion Of
the sbiIs, AZ the very speed oil the vessels
regulated by automatic arrangements the
rate at which the coil was 10 be discharged.
After having been three days at sea the OK
petition was oyertakcn by afearful gale,
which continued without intermision for
nine days. On ,hescyenth day Of this heavy
weather the ships which continued tokcepto'
gether, had TO part company, and the Aga
memnon was obliged to scud before the
wind for ,hirtysix hours her coal got
adriit, and coil Of the cable shifted, 40
that for some time her captain entertained
serious apprchensions for her safety, and from
the immense strain her waterways were
forced open, and one Of her ports was broken.
Two of her sailors were severely injured, and
one Of the marines lost his reason from
n W. II Ia. al all I'LL
good seamanship and intrcpidity OF her
commander, Capt. Praede, that he was cna-
bled to bring her TO the appointed rendez
vous, lat. 81 deg. min. long. 80 deg IL
min.
The Niagara rode ont the storm gallant.
ly, having carried away hea jibboom and
one wing Of the 6gurehead, the great Amer
lean eagle.
Al the vessels having arrived ut length
at their central point of junction, the first
splice Of the cable was made on the 2Gth.
After having paid out two and half miles
each. owing 10 an accident on board the Nj.
agara, the cable parted.
The ships having again met, the splice
was made good, and they commenced to pay
out the cable second time but after they
had each paid out forty miles il was report.
ell that the current was broken, and no com.
muncation could be made between the ships.
Unfortunately, IN this instance the breakage
must have occurred at the bottom, az the
electricians. from the line calculations which
their sensitive instruments allow them TO
make, were able TO declare such to have been
the fact, even before the vessels came To-
gether again.
Having c,sst of this loss, they met for the
third time and recovered the connection Of
the cable on tho 18th, They then started
alrcsh, and the Niagara having paid out
over 80 miles Of cable, all on board enter.
tanned the most sanguine antcipations Of
success, when the fatal announcement was
made upon Tuesday, the 10th, at nine p. NJ,
that the electric ilnid had ceased to low,
As the necessity for abandoning the project
for the present was only too manifest Il was
considered that the opportunity might IA
well be awaited OF TO test the strength OF
the cable Accordingly, this immense yes
el, with all her stores, Re, was allowed 10
swing 10 the cable. and, In addition, strain
Of four tons was placed upon the breaks.
yet, although II was blowing fresh at the
time, the cable held her as II she had been
ut anchor. for over an hour, when heavy
pitch Of the sea snapped the rope, and the
Niagara bore away for this port, Before
starting an arrangement was made that
should any accden, occur IN paying out the
cable before the ships should have gone one
hundred miles, they should return to their
starting place in mid ocean, but that in
ease the distance should have been exceeded
before any causalty should happen. they
should make lor Queenstown. Ia accor
dance with this understanding the Niagara,
having made one hundred miles before the
mishap, returned to this port. Upon her
homeward way she must have passed the
Againemnon. but owing to the heavy iogs
which prevailed for the greater portion OF
that time she missed seeing or gaining any
tidings:.of her.
Az the Agamemuon has not yet arrived,
although her destination was directed to-
wards this shore, il ia conjecturcd that she
might not have delivered the arranged quan.
tity OF coil nj the time Of It's failure, and
may have consequently returned to their
place Of meeting, which will unavoidably
protract the suspense which must necessari
ly be- tclt. ~, until she be spoken with, no
thing definite can be learned @ to the occa-
sion of this disaster.
The two principal electricians, Mr.. Sanity
and DIR. LAws. on board the Niagara, are
inclined TO believe that the accident occurred
on board the Agamemnon, which, ~ 1t
would only duplicate faulty arrangement
nl nj The Ina v.AulI aftll lgava
hope Of the ultimate success OF the undcr,a-
king whereas. II the separation has occur
red ut the bottom, its effects vii! be greatly
to damp, II not defer, the erterprisiug spirit
Of the directors from pcrscvering in this ri.
gantic project. Should nothing he heard Of
her consor,, the Niagara will. after ccaling.
procced TO her ocean station, having still on
board about 1900 miles Of the cable. which.
supposing that the other vessel had retained
similar amount, would still permit Of the