The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-07-31
The Atlantic Telegraph.

Last year IL was attempted 20 span the
Atlantic with telegraphic cable from the
eastern coast of Newfoundland to the
western coast of Ireland. It proved a
failure, owing to the breaking of the cable,
and the magnificent plan was abandoned
to another season.
The entire machinery for the enter
prise being completed, the Niagara and
Agan,emnon sailed to point near the GEN.
tire of the ocean, and commenced their
work. The following dispatch is the
first information in regard to the enter
prise on which hang the hopes of mil
lions
BosToS, July 18th.
The Courier of this morning publishes
the following additional particulars from
Mr.. Jno A. Richards, mate of the ship
Alice Munroe. The Alice Munroe ex-
perienced, almost constantly, southerly
gales, and was forced to take much
more northerly course than she otherwise
would have done.
Mr.. Field and the Lieutenant desired
Capt. Cummings to take letters and pa
pers relating TO the telegraphic expedition
to the United States, and wrote one or
two On board of her.
They stated that both the vessels, the
Niagara and Agamemnon, experienced
the most violent southerly gales, from
the day they left Plymouth, and were
driven as far north as latitude 81, much
higher than the rendezvous, thus delaying
their operations for several days. The
Niagara behaved in all respects like a
thorough sea-going vessel, and was none
the worse for the storms The Agamem-
non. on the contrary, suffered severely.
At one time the commander of the Aga
memnon informed the first officer that he
had no hopes of saving his vessel two
hours longer, so great was her straining /:
but thesto subsidized at last, and the
Agamemnon rode out the gale.
A most unfortunate accident occurred
on board, however, cadsed by the break
| ing loose of the cove which held the ca
bic in its position on the gun deck. The
cable got adrift and was pitched about
the deck, undoubtedly much to its dam
age. 200 tons of coal also got adrift or
the same deck, causing infinite trouble.
The two vessels and their tenders final
ly arrived on the ground, and on the
18th connection was effected, the wealth
er then being sufficiently calm. The pay
ing out of the cable had hardly com
menced before the wire snapped. Aftel
a few hours detention another splice was
made, and the steamers started, the Aga
memnon and her consort for Ireland, and
the Niagara and her companion for ths
American coast. Signals were kept W
between the two fleets constantly, mes,
sage being transmitted every fifteen min
utes, and all was going on well till abou
forty miles had been paid out, when til
electrician on board the Niagara discover
ed that the current was broken at half pas
II O'Clock. a. m.
The Niagara was Immediately pu
about and had already reached the mid
ocean rendezvous, where, at s O'Clock, sh
was first seen by the Alice Munroe.
Itwas believed on board the Niagar
that the cause of the second breakage wa
kink in the Agamemnon's cable, Gauss
by its disarrangement during the gale
but of this there is no certainty.
| The Alice Munroe parted from the Nj
agara shortly after noon of the 9th, ane
lost sight of her about 4 o'clock. The Aga
memnon had not then come in sight
The Niagara had hoped that her censor
would have arrived in season to make an
other trial, but as the weather was foggy
though calm, it is hardly probable tina
anything was done on the 9th.