The Nevada Democrat., 1858-09-22
shortHlEtory OF the Atlantic Telegraph

T M Enterprise.
We compile from different sources at hand
the following sketch of this grand undertaking
over whose success the civilized world is now
rejoicing: A -
In the year 1856 Cyrus w. Field visited Eng
land. The result of his visit was the formation
of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, with
capital of 1850. .00O for the purpose Of eonneet-
ing Europe with America by submarine tele-
graph cable In August, 1857, an attempt was
made to lay down the Atlantic Submarine Ca
BILE, resulting in a disastrous failure. The cable
was $500 miles in length weighing nearly one
ton per mile, capable Of bearing direct strain
of over five tuns without fracture. The centre
of the cable was formed by seven fine copper
wires, twisted into a cord l-l6 Of an inch thick
This strand was coated with gutta percha, form
ing small rope of an inch thick; then coat
ed with beinpen twne twice soaked in pitch and
tar; lastly, an external sbeathing of 1s iron
wires, each wire being strand of seven finer
wires, making in all l26 wires.
d The submersion was commenced on the 5th
August, 1857. There were present the six
steamers, Niagara, AgamemnOn, Leopard, Sus-
quehanna, Willing, aud Mind. intended to assist
in various parts of the operation. The cable
came up from the hold of the ship, around
central block. so to the open space above decks;
it was there wound round groOved sbeaths,
geared together by cogs, and firmly planted on
girders Thence it passed over fifth sheath,
out over the stern into the sea, sinking by its
own weight. A trifing accident happened on
the 9th; this was repaired, aud on the llth. $50
miles (statute) had been submerged. The en-
gineer here concluded that there was too much
slack in the cables course, and some mod6-
cation in the machinery was consequently made.
This appears TO have been badly attended to by
a subordinate. The cable snapped, and thus
ended the attempt of 1857.
1t having been concluded from Lieut. Maui
ry's calculations that the average state of the
weather was much better on the Atlantic in
the early part of summer, it was decided this
year to make the attempt of laying the cable
in June. 1t was also thought best 10 begin the
submersion in mid-ocean and pay ont towards
either shore. Accordingly the telegraph feet.
consisting of the United States steam frigate
Niagara and her Maiesty's steamers Agamem-
non. Valorous aud Gorgon. left Plymouth on
Thursday, June 10, 1853 The Niagara had $50
tuns, and the AgamemnOn 450 TINS coal. aud
each about 1890 nautical, or a little less than
1900 statute miles of cable on board The
weather, at first favorable. became unusually
bOisterous so that the feet we, e not ready 10
commence operations until late on the 25th of
June. a
The first splice was made between the Ming
ara and Agememnon on the morning of Satur-
day, the 26th Of June, and after each ship had
payrd out about three miles the cable broke on
board the Niagara. owing to its overriding and
getting off the pulley leading on to the ma
chine. Both vessels put about and returned, a
fresh splice was made. and again lowered over
at halfpast seven. The paying ont proceeded
beautifully until early on Sunday morning,
when the signals suddenly ceased. The cable
was cut, and the Niagara repaired to the rem
devious. The cause of the rupture was equally
mysterious to those on board the Agamemnon,
and no satisfactory conjecture has since been
made.
The cable was again spliced on the 2Sth, and
the steamers parted. Everything worked beau-
tifully during that night and the next day
But at o'clock P. NJ. on the goth. the an
nouncement of mo signals" was made on board
the Niagara. At the time 142 miles of cable
had been payed out. 1t was subsequently, as
certaned that the cable parted, for some rea-
son unknown, about six fathoms from the stern
of the Agamemnon. About 400 miles of cable
were lost during these trials. the effect of which
upon the public confidence in the final success
of the undertaking was most depressing
But the managers continued interchangeable
The feet sailed u second time from Queenstown
ou the 18th of July, joined the cable on the
10th, and on the 9th of Aug. the world had news
of sUCURSs.-Bostop journal.