The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-08-24
l-Interesting Abouf THE Cable

Inc New Ofk ITfOuHe, Ul Neune>uiy
evening records the arrival Of Mr.. Cyrus
W. Field, whose name has suddenly become
famous; and says: .-.s.a..,,
Mr. Field describes the feeling which per-
yaded all on board the Niagara while the
cable was being laid, as esof the most in
tense excitement. Every MA eNeried him
self to the utmost to achieve 4sqccess in the
work. Throughout the six and a halt days
the most perfect silence and attentio. per-
vaded the men, lesta single moment of neg
ligence should destroy the. cable. On the
first day after the paying out began, 1T 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
enterprise.
This was owing TO the fact that the cable
on the Niagara had caused 50 much local
attraction as to seriously derangc the com-
passes, rendering it impossible to steer the
ship. Next day the commander of tho Cor
gOn being appriSed 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 except for few moments,
and verifying his position by repeated Oh
servations of the sun, moon, and stars. To
his agency therefore the success of the achieve
ment is greatly indebted.
Mr.. Field landed near the telegraph sta
ton, Trinity Bay, . o'clock in the morning,
and walked 10 the house, half mile dis
tant, through the wilderness, not n 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
that in a week or two they would be order
ed 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 INDUCED in irrelevant conversation.
which distracted their attention fromduty at
n time when the slightest obstruction might
be fatal to the work The directors there
fore ordered that signals only should be sent
through the cable from ship to ship. Both
vessels had Greenwich time, and the electric
current played to and fro between them for
ten minutes, 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 sue
ceeding days they went at the same pace,
there never being more than twenty miles
difference between them. When the cable
was landed at both ends, 1lr. 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 MAS 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; #
Until the lst of September the line will
he closed to all messages save those from
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.