The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-27
UNITED STATES FRlaArE NIAGARA,

UNITED STATES fRlGATE NIAGARA,
At Sea, July 3, 1858.
DEAR FATHER We are now on our way to Cork Ire
land after unsuccessful attempt to lay the cable 1t
is Just as predicted However presume will make
another effort in August at least it is the presumption of
the knowing at present. think it rather doubtful,
from the mere fact Of the Agamemnon having sprung
aleak started her Waterways also broke three of her
gun-decS timbers, thereby weakening the whole ship
and rendering her unseaworthy. If her commander
ports her condition 10 the Admiralty the gig up Cap
tain Pfeady of the Agamemnon entertained but little
hopes of his ship at time he gave her up for lost
and made preparations for abandoning her. On way
to the rendezvous fell in with awful gallo 1t blew
fearfully the old Niagara stood it manuly, she behaved
to the entire satisfaction of all Captain Prcady says
that without any exception she is the finest ship he
saw and decidedly the best bout The English people
are very jealous Of her They said she nothing
than gingerbread work from beginning to end this will
prove to them their mistake. The Agamemnon is their
crack sbp-the finest in the English navy. forgot to
say she shifted her main coil OF cable sailing In
company together until it occurred she then squared
away and seeed different course, going off before the
wind. We knew directly that something the mat
ter but she did not hoist any signal Of distress
kept under closed reef main topsal and
foretopmast saysail, with very little steam.
Both ships commenced paying out cable on the 23d of
June six miles out from and it parted owing
to its having caught in of the wheels of the
chinery We Immediately returned, spliced again, aud
made another trial Everything went very well until
midnight the continuity then stopped. We supposed
again to the rendezvous and crsed around for the Aga
memnon. After two days she hove in sight, when it
ascertaned that the wire had not parted board of
her the supposton is that it broke under water from
some other the depth of water being from two
to three miles Both ships had paid out equal guam
y Of cable somewhere in the neighborhood of rs miles,
all of which entirely lost We then spced again. and
made more attempt everything worked beautifully
on board Of for very two days then had
l42 miles and 1872 fathoms the continuity then stop
ped again supposed the wire must have parted on
board the Agamemnon, everything at the time was
doing very well board of and everybody very
gnine of The beautiful weather at the time,
and the fine manner in which the cable ran out, was
truly gratifying to all board The company's loss
this time is about $3.50 000--qnte item Mr.. Fields,
the president is on board of the Niagara with us. He
has only the small amount of three Hundred thousand dollars
invested in stock Poor fellow be stands it Ike man,
and says better luck next time really feel very sorry
for him he is fine fellow and perfect gentleman, also
trueborn American, which Is considered quite an item
over this side Of the water.
When the last splice made II distinctly under
stood by the captains Of both ships II the wire should
part the continuity stop, each ship would return to
Ireland and not make another attempt, from the fact
Of having lost too much wire, and it would not hold
out if another attempt made besides the Agamem-
non would not have coal enough to last her. We OK
pect to be in Cork to- morrow night Mr. Fields will i'm
medatey go to London have little chat with the
directors suggest the idea Of making about two hundred
miles of cable and start Immediately for mid
and make another trial He is the most energetic man
ever
The only difficulty can is on account Of the Aga
memnon If the Admiralty do not consent for her to &c
in her present condition, they will be obliged tc
take all the wire out Of her which will take six eight
weeks 1t will then be too late In the for us to
make another attempt before next year, If should
try IL again. and it proves unsuccessful do not think
we will be home before next November
shall write you again from Cork do not answer this
until you hear from me again. We do not know MS yet
what will do, until the directors of the company hold
A If the icerso f he
agara think it probable that the ship will go to London
from Cork. hope
j remain your devoted son,
WALTER w. BROOKE.