Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-08-27
MR.. FIELDS ACCOUNT OF THE LAY
ING OF THE CABLE.

Ills arrival at Trinity Bay Operations asleep
-He tests The Insulation By his Iongae-Ls
LH0cLed orer-h another CaLle 10 be laid
Mr.. Field describes the feeling which per-
vaded all on board the Niagara while the ca
bic was being laid, as one Of the most intense
excitement. Every man exerted himself to
the utmost to achieve success in the work.
Throughout the six and half days the most
perfect silence and attention pervaded among
the men, lest a single moment of negligence
should destroy the cable On the first day
after the paying out was began it was found
that the cable was being laid out at a rate
which, in proportion to the distance run,
would, if continued, have defeated the enter
prise.
This was owing to the fact that the cable
on the Niagara had caused so much local at
traction to seriously derange the compass
es, rendering it impossible to steer the ship.
Next day the commander of the Gorgon being
appraised Of the fact, ran ahead of the Niagara,
steering in the most direct course for Trinity
Bay. This he continued to do day and night
until they arrived, never leaving the deck cX-
cept for few moments and varying his posi-
ton by repeated observations by the sun,
moon and stars. To his agency therefore the
success of the achievement is greatly indebt-
ed
Mr.. Field landed near the telegraph sta
ton, Trinity Bay, at ? o'clock in the morn
ing and walked to the house, half mile
distant through the wilderness, not 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, anticipating
in day or two they would be ordered back
to London.
The reason why signals and not words were
sent through the cable as it was being laid is
that on the previous attempt the clerks in
dulged in prevalent conversation, which dis
tracted their attention from duty at a time
when the faintest obstruction might be fatal
to the work The directors therefore ordered
that signals only should be sent through the
cable from ship to ship. Both ships had
Greenwich time and the electric current
played to and fro between them for ten min
utes each way
The signals showed that on the first day
the speed of the Agamemnon slightly ex-
ceeded that of the Niagara, but on the second
day they went at the same pace, there never
being more than twenty miles difference be-
tween them When the cable was landed at
both ends Mr.. Field applied his tongue to
the end, and received the cheering information
that the insulation was perfect, in shock
that nearly threw him over. The reason why
messages were not transmitted earlier was
from the fact that all the apparatus at both
ends was new and untried, and required a
great deal of care and skill to adjust
Mr.. Field states that there is not the
: slightest doubt that the cable is an entire
: success. as great or greater than its most san
guine friends looked forward to. BY the
Persia to-day he writes to the directors to
prepare another cable at once, as it is evident
that the present one, which will in short
time transmit messages as rapidly as an aerial
line, will be entirely inefficient for the bust
ness which will flow to it.
Until the first of September the line will
be closed to all messages save those between
the governments of Great Britain and the
United States. During that time Mr.. Field
will keep the public advised of all matters
affecting the success of the cable.-1ribune.