New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-07-27
THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH
CAPT. HUDSON'S REPORT.
Fre~ The Watiirstcs tinpz.

ISlTED STATES STEAM FRIGArE NIAGARA,
QuYESsTowS, IREI ASD, July
SIR: sm somewhst mortified snd disappointed 70
report the arrival Of the Niagara st this port on the
th inft after three unsuccessful attempts at sying
down the tslesTsphic cable.
NV sst dspstch, Of the 10Th ut., informed you that
the sauadron were of Plymouth Hsrbor, bound t.
the appointed rendezvous for uniting and running cat
the telegrsphic cable.
During the first three or four days OF our passage
We had Gains and light variable winds the following
eight days almost continuous gales from the w. TO the
s. w. and the gre ater part OF the time heavy sea
when the weather again moderated, aud our vessels
which had separated during the gales met together a.
the reree zvous on the 25.b, the AgsGemnon having
shifted about enc hundred miles of the upper portion OF
the cable on her main hold tier during the gale, which
portion they were aged IN running 70 the gun deck
when We fell in with them.
On the 26th Saturday we comuen ed our opers-
tons by occurring the Niagara and Agauie mnon TO
gether stern TO- with hsHters splicing the cable and
easpc il down gradually with two hundred tathoms
paid out from each ship; the hswser let go BY signs.
ard the chips separated on ther respeSnve curses
we had paid out two miles and forty fsthoms, as
shown by indicator, the cable beng haued
il the wrong direction through tne excitement or
carelesspess Of of the men stationed by IT, caught
and parted in the Nisgsras machinery. A hesvy
fog and mist had set soon after the ships sepi-
rated. We were fortunate enough, however, to
get together again. in short time, spice, lover
down the cable, and separate from each other as be
fore stated. The Niagarss speed, az starting was
short of ore mile the hour, and gradually increased TO
two knots Elk fathoms up to o'clock p. NJ, and tle
cable being paid out three and hall knots per hour
and from that hour TIL midnight uniform speed was
maI tanned of three and half miles the hour and
the cable was paid out, shown by the iod s.or, OF
four ard half miles the hour Oar machinery was
working as well We could desire, cable rinIipg no
the coils and going over it with ease AID regularity
when, to our great surprise, at ID minutes past
O'Clock q. M. on the 27th Sunday the electricians
reported that there had been no signals tom the Aga
men non for the last ten minutes.
We kept going en- slowly, As previously agreed
upon until 440 g. m. fin the time the electric
lane tested the cable in the ship and reported the con-
tipuity and rsustions perfect, when the ships head
way was entirely stopped, and We commenced heaving
in with the machinery The cable parted at 4:56 a.
m and We lost this occasion, as measured by the
Indicator ~ miles, 300 athoms of cable, and started
for the rendezvous, where, on Monday the o:h, the
the splice made, lowered down, the ships separated,
as has been already described, at 80 p. m. Our
speed for the first hour only three quarters of
mile; second hour, y miles third hour miles; aud
ceased to get signals from the Agamemnon, and the
engines owed down the speed OF the ship had been
A. miles the hour and the cable paid out % miles tue
hour, as shown by the indicator.
The engines were stopped at 10 p. m, and the ship
hurg in measure by the cable until twenty minutes
after midnight, when 1t parted, the indicators showing
loss on this occason OF 45 miles $50 fathoms Of the
cable. Our electricians again thoroughly tested all
the cable on board shp and found the insulation and
continuity all perfect and there but opinion
among those gentlemen, that the cable partel a. or
rear the Agsmemnon, which we shall ASCERTAIN when
he srryes at this port to FL up hef coe.
An Arrangement had been made when the ships
separated tne 28th instant this. in the event Of any
sccdt mt to the cable before either should have run
ore hundred miles, we were to return to the rendez-
vous vi lie the cable aud make another effort - lay
it cut; if beyond that distance, the vessels to
proceed to Queenstown, fill up with coal and again
rel ew our efoIts.
In the Niagara had al the coal that we required
for laying down part of the cable. There were
serious ooubts, however, if ran further, or any
distance beyoId the one named, whether the Aga
memnons coal would hold out without any exoendi-
ture in ting back to the rende and leave her
enough TO nsure steeming back to Valenta Bay with
the cable in the event Of further casualty to it on
the way there.
Mr.. Everett's machinery has paid out the cable
with apparent ease and uniformity OF sIan, and we
find it admirably adapted TO the work it has to perform
in al its parts.
H. II. steamer Gorgon, which accompanied US, ar
rived here with the Niagara. We now await the arm
val of the AgamemnOn and Vs!orous, when We nope
10 be off again for the rendezvous in seven or egnt
dave under more favorable auspices of weather than
We experienced in the month Of June.
1t affords pleasure to report the continued good
health Of officers and crew.
WM L. HUDSON, Captain
The Hon. !. Toucey, Secretary OF the Navy Washington