The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-08-30

OF tne carlo might have been caused after
All by Que OF there animals getting foul of IL under
water. IL appeared as II II were making direct for
the cable and great was the relief Of ali when the
living mass was seen slowly to pass
'stern just grazing the cable where 1t entered tho
water but fortunately without doing any mi schief
LSyusKD CABLE
All seemed to go we'll up to about eight O'Clock.
The cable paid cut from the hold With an evenprss
Ind regularity which showed how carefully aud
lsrfectiy 1t had been coiIsd away; and TO guard
'gainsf accidents which might arise iu nee
81 the cable hsvipg suffered ipiury dnrins the
'torm, the indicated strain upon the dyua,nome.
er was never allowed TO go beyopd / roo lbs or
ess than one quarter what the cable 10 estimated
% besr,-and thus far everything looked promi,-
ngo success but 10 snch hazardous work no
oon after an injured portion Of the cable was
discovered about u mile or two from the portion
'aying out; not moment WAS lost by Mr. Can.
,ing, the engineer on duty Ia sitting msn to work
% cobbie up the injury ss we'll as time would per-
nit, Tor the cable was going out at such ra te
hat the damaged portion would be paid over board
u less than 20 minutes, and former experience bad
shown Us that to check either .e speed of the ship
,r the cable would, in all probability, be attended
by the most fatal results.
THE ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY CEASES.
Just before the tapping WAS finished, Professor
reported that the electrical continuity
Of the wire ceased, but that the insulation was
still professionalism was naturally directed 20
the injured piece the probable source Of the
etoppage, and not a moment was lost in cutting
ths cable at that point, with the intention of max
ing a perfect splice.
coNsrERNArIoN-rHr DIFFICULTY UNDER WATER
To the Consideration If all. the electrical tests
applied showed the fault to be overheard, and In
all probability some 90 miles from the ship. Not
a second was to be lost, for it was evident that
the cut portion must be paid overheard in few
minutes. and Ia the meantime the tedious and dis-
mi nf rn All I'M gpif hud 70
formed.
THE SHIP STOPPED.
The ship was Immediately topped, and no more
cable paid out than was absolutely necessary to
prevent it breaking. As the stern of the ship was
lifted by the waves q scene Of the most intense
excitement followed. 1t seemed impossible, even
by using the greatest possible speed aud paying
out the least possible amount Of cable, that the
junction csuld be finished before the part was to
ken out Of She hands of the workmeu.
INTENSE ExcIrkaENT-HxTIaoRDINARY SCENE.
The msin bold presented an extraordin scene
nsarly all the officers of the ship, and those ecu
nected with the expectation, stood in groups
about the coil, watching with intense anxiety the
cable as 1t slowly unwound itself nearer aud near
er the joint, while the workmen, directed by Mr.
Canning, under whose superintendent the cable
was originally Manufactured worked at the splice
rs only men could work no felt that the life and
death Of the expedition depended upon their ra-
pidity.
THE CABLE Stepped.
But all their speed was to no purpose. as thf
cable was uawinding within a hundred fathoms
and as last and desperate resource the cable wss
stopped altogether, and for few minutes the ship
hung on by the end. Fortunately, however, it was
only for a few minutes, as the strain was continu
ally rising ADORE two tons, and 1t would not hold
on much longer, when the splice was finished the
signal made TO oose the stopper, and IL passed
overheard safely enough.
up "a paQ- nxr
When the excitement consequent upon having
so narrowly saved the cable had passed away, We
awoke 10 consciousness that the case was still az
hopeless ever. for the electrical continuity
still entirely wanting. Preparations were conse
quently ade to pay out as little rope as possible
and to hold on for six hours in the hopes that the
fault, whatever it might he, might mend itsell
before cutting the cable and turning TO the render
vous to make another splice. The magnetic needles
on the receiving instruments were watched close
ly for the returning signals, when In q few min
utes the last hope was extinguished by their sud
denly indicating dead earth, which tended to show
that the cable had broken from the Niagara, or
that the insulation had been completely destroy.
I'd.
.ALL's WE'LL AGAIN-MoRE BAD CABLE.
In three minutes, however, every one was agree
ably surprised by the intelligence that the stop.
page had disappeared, aud that the signals had
again appeared at their regularly Intervals from
the Niagara, 1t is needless 10 say what load OF
anxiety this news removed from the minds of eve
ry one, but the general confidence n the oi
the operations was much shaken by the occur.
renee for all felt that every minute a similar acci
dent might occur. For some time the paying out
as usual, but towards the morning ano
ther damaged place was discovered in the cabi
there was fortunately however, time to repair 1t in
the hold without in any way inter feripg with the
operations beyond for time slightly reducing the
speed of the ship.
During the morning of Friday. the 30th, every
thing went we'll; the ship had been kept at the
speed of about five knots, the cable going ont about
six the average angle with the horisop at he IL
left the snip being about l5 deg, while the indica-
ted strain upon the dynanometer seldom showeG
more than Loco pounds to 1,700 pounds. Observa-
tions made at noon, showed that we had made
good 80 miles from the starting point since the
previous day, while an expenditure including the
ioes in lowering tho splice aud during the subse-
quent stoppages, Of l35 miles of cable During
the latter portion of the day the barometer fell
and towards the evening il blew al
most q gale of wind from the eastward dead ahead
81 our courss.
TUE VOYAGE HALF ACCOMPLISHED.
At noon on Monday, August the I'd, observations "a
showed Us TO be In lat 62o 35 N, long. 19o 4S'
W., having made GOOD 1915 miles since noon of
the previous day, and completed more than hall
way to our Intimate destination
FIRST SATAN AMERICAN scnoosER BOUND TO SEE THE
ercHr-.srurinIrY AMI oaREiEssyEss.
During the afternoon an American three-masted
choorcr, which afterwards proved to be the Chief.
.air. ves soen standing from the eastward towards
,s. No notice was taken Of her at first, but when
Ibe wa. within aoont half mile of the Agamem-
ION she altered her course and bore right down
cross onr bows. collision, which might prove
atal to the cable nor seemed inevitable, or could
,ply be avoided e- the eonsiiy hazardous expedf-
mt of altering tho Aganemnon's course, The
valorons steamed ahead, and fred gun tor her to
leave too, which sic did not appear to take much
,otiee of. was quickly followed by another from
he bows OF the A., and = second and third from
he yalorpus; but still tho vessel held on her
ourse and ns the only resource lett 10 avoid
ollsion, tho corrse OF the Agamomnon was altered
ust in time 10 pass within q feN yards OF her IL
vas evident that our proceedings wefo soaIce o.
he greatest possible aetonishment to them for all
,er crew crowded upon her deck and the rigging,
md dipping the ensign several times they gave us
hree hearty cheers. Though the Agamemoon wes
bliged TO acknowledge these congratulations 10
lue nrm, the feelings Of annoyaDce with which
ve regarded the vessel which, either by the stu
,idity or carelessness of those on board, was 90
,ear adding q fatal and unexpectnd mishsp TO the
oDg chapter OF accidents which had already been
may easily be imagined.
TRR EFF.cr OF rHE GUNS.
To those below, who Of course did not see the
hip approaching, the sound OF the first gun came
Ike thundsrbolt, for all took It a. the signal Of
he breaking OF the cable. The dinner tables were
eserted In . moment, aud general rush made up
he hatcbes to the deck, bat before reaching II
heir fcars were quickly banished by the report OF
he suecseding gun, which oil know we'll could
My be caused BY ship 10 our way or . man over
oard 3R
~ AxOTHsR STUPID AMERICAN VESSEL.
The weather during Monday night moderated .
Ittie but ssill there was = very heavy sea on,
,hich sudaosered the wires every second minute.
bout o'cicck on Tuesday morning, all on board
rere ssartied from their beds by the loud booming
~ gun. Every one. without waiting tor the per.
,rmance OF the most particular toilet, rushed on
eck 10 ascrrtaiu fhe eapse OF the disturbance -
outrsry 10 all expectation the cable vas safe but
net 10 fbs grey tight could be seen the Vaiasca@
81 pded 10 IL tbs most wariikc attitude, dsinx
nm after gun 10 quick saccession tosards'a tafge
4msrtean bark, which, quite unconscious 81 seas