Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1858-11-11
The Atlantic Telegraph.

enterprise, is compiled from various
sources by the Boston Journal:
In the year 1856 Cyrus W. Field
visited England. The result of his
visit was the formation of the Allan
tic Telegraph Company, with capi-
tai Of e350,000, for the purpose of
connecting Europe with America by
a submarine cable. In August, 1857,
an attempt was made to lay down
the Atlantic submarine cable. result
ing in disastrous failure. The cable
was $500 miles in length, weighing
nearly one ton per mile, capable of
bearing a direct strain of over five
tons without lracture. The centre of
the cable was formed by seven fine
copper wires, twist, d into a cord
1-16 of an inch thick. This strand
was coated with gutta percha, form
ing small rope : of an inch thick;
then coated With hempen twine twice
soaked in pitch and tar; lastly an ex-
ternal sheathing of Is iron wires,
making in all 1875 wires.
The submcrsion was commeuced on
the 9TH of August, 1857. There
were present the six steamers: Nj
agara, Agamemnon, Leopard, Susque-,
hanna, Willing and Mind, intended to
assist in various parts Of the opera
ton. The cable came up from the
hold of the ship around a central
block, so to the open space above
decks; was there wound round groov-
ed sheaths, geared together by cogs,
and firmly planted on girders.-
Thence il passed over fifth sheath,
out over the stern into the sea, sink
ing by its own weight. A trifling
accident happened on the 9th; this
was repaired, and on the 1lth, $50
miles (statute) had been submerged.
The engineer here concluded that
there was too much "slack" in the
cable course, and some modification
in the machinery was consequently
made. This appears to have been
badly attended to by subordinate.
The cable snapped, and thus ended
the ATTEMPT of 1857.
1t having been concluded from
Lieut.. Maury's calculations that the
average state Of the weather was much
better CD the Atlantic in the early
part of summer, it was decided this
year to make the attempt of laying
the cable in June. Ii was also
thought best to begin the submersion
in mid-ocean and pay out towards ell
ther shore. Accordingly the tele-
graph fleet. consisting of the United
States steam frigate Niagara and her
Majesty's steamers Agamemnon. Val
orous and Gorgon, left Plymouth on
Thursday, June 19, 1858. The Nj
agara had $50 tons, and the Agam-
Anon $50 tons coal, and each about
! 1926 nautical, ora little less than
1900 statute miles of cable on board.
The weather,at first favorable, became
unusually boisterous, so that the feet
was not ready to commence opera
tons until late on the Goth Of June.
The first splice was made between
the Niagara and Agamemnon on the
morning of ofSaturday, the 26th June,
and after each ship had paid out a.
/ bout three miles the cable broke on
board the Niagara, owing to its over
riding and getting off the pulley lead
ing on to the machine Both vessels
put about and returned, fresh splice
was made, aud again lowered over at
half past seven. The paying out
proceeded beautifully until early on
Sunday morning, when the signals
! suddenly ceased. The cable was cut,
and the Niagara repaired. .totho rendez-
vous. The cause of the rupture was
equally mysterious TO those on board
the Agamemnop, and no satisfactory
conjecture has since been made.
1 The cable was again spliced on the
2Sth, and the steamers parted. Eve
rything worked beautifully during the
night and the next day. But at 9
o'clock p. NJ, ON the 29th, the an
nouncement of ano signals" was mace
on board the Niagara At the time
I42 miles Of cable had been paid out.
It was subsequently ascertained that
the cable parted, for some reason IN.
known, about six fathoms from the
|, Stern Of the Agamemnon. About
/, 400 miles Of cable were lost during
these trials, the effect Of which upon