The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-22
TIE NEWS BY THE NORTH STAR
THE ATLANT1c rwLEaRArH GABLE.
From tho Cork Reporter

From CDrk Reporter s
The Niagara and Gorgon attached to the squadron for
the laying Of the transatlantic cable, arrived n Qucons
town at early hour this morning We regret having
to that the object Of the expedition has for the
present failed and We shall give our readers such
particulars Of the which occurred IN the of
tho undertaking VIZ have been able to collect The
Agamemnon and her tender the Vaior0us, and the Nj
aud hor tender the Gorgon, sailed from Plymouth
tho 10th Of June ii 0f the great vessels carrying
about 1900 miles Of cable with nav and improved Ap
pasaw for paying 1t out which II was calculated would
have allowed for any strain unequal motion Of tho
ps the very speed OF tho vessels regulated by auto
matte arrangements the rate ut which the coil was to be
discharged.
After having been three days at sea, the expedition
was overtakon by fearful gse which continued without
nteynssion for nine days On the seventh day OF this
heas w6aher tho ships which continued to keep to
gcther, had to part company, and tho Agamcinnon
obliged 70 scud before tho wind for 36 hours her Goals
got arift and coil of the cable shifted 80 that her
captain for time entertained serious apprchcnsons
for her safety, and from the immense strain her water
ways forced open and of her ports broken
Two of her sailors were severely injured and of the
marines lost his from fright Yet such was the
consummac SKILL good scamansip and intrepidity of
her commander, Captain Prdde, that he enabled to
bring her to the appointed rendezvous lat 52 deg mn
long 33 deg. IL MI The Niagara rode out the storm
gallanty having only carried away her bboom and
wing of the fgure-head, the great american eagle.
All the vessels ha yng at length arrived at their central
point of junction, the first splice of the cable made
ON the 26th After having paid out two and half miles
each, owing to accident board the Niagara the
BILE parted The ships having again met the splice
made good, and they commenced to give out the cable
second time but after they had each paid out 40 miles
twas reported that the current broken and
muncation could be made between the ships. Unfortu
naely in this instance, the breakage mst have occurred
ut the bottom, the electricians, from the fine cLcul.
tons which their sensitive instruments allow them to
make able to declare such to have been thcfact
even before the vessels together again. Ihvng
cd the connexion of the cable the 2sth They then
started airch, and the Niagara having paid opt $50
miles Of cable a board entertained The most sanguinc
antcipations of success when the fatal announcement
made upon Tuesday, the 29th at g. ~ M, that the
electric current had ceased to flow.
As the necessity Of abandoning the pocct for the pres
cnt was now only too manifest it considered that
the opportunity might well be avcd OF to test the
strength of the cable. Accordingly, this immense
sell with all her stores &C., allowed to swing to the
cable, and, in addition, strain Of four tons placed
upon tho breaks, yet although was blowing fresh at
the time, tho cable held her If she had been at anchor
for over hour, when hcpvy pitch of the snapped
the rope and the Niagara bore away for this port Before
starting arrangement made that should any acci
dent occur in giving out the cable before the ships should
have 100 miles, they should return to their starting
place In mid ocean hat that in that distance should
have been exceeded tcforc any casualty should happen
they should make for Queenstown In accordance with
this understanding, the Niagara, having made 09 miles
before the mishap, returned to this port Upon her
non but owing the heavy fogs which prevailed for
grestcr portion of that time she missed seeing or
gaining any tdings of her.
As the Agamemnon has not yet arrived, although her
destination directed towards this shore it is conjec
urcd that she might not have delivered tho arranged
quantity of coil at the time of its failure and may have
consequently returned to their place Of meeting which
will unavoidaby proract the suspense which must neccs
sarily be felt as until she be spoken WITH nothing def
mite can be learned to the occasion of this disaster
The two principal electricians DR. Sanity and Mr.. awcs
on board the Niagara inclined to believe that the
cdent occurred on board the Agamemnon which, as It
would only impcate faulty arran encnt Of some of the
apparatus, would still leave hope of the ultimate
of the undertaking. whereas if the separation has occur
red at the bottom its effects will bo greatly to damp if
not deter tho entepsng spirit Of the directors from per-
scvcring in this gigantic project. Should nothing be
heard Of her consor the Niagara WILL after coalng pro-
coed to her station having still board about
300 miles of the cable which, supposing that the other
vessel has retained similar amount, would still permit
Of the junction being completed and allow 80 per cent
for casualties In this last trial 500 miles of the
rope lost and when 1t is calculated that it is roughly
estimated that the value of the cable is about 100
mile, it will be that the sacrifice up to the present
has not been extensive might at first sight have
been supposed.