The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-10-07
The Atlantic TeIcgranI,.

The failure Of the Atlantic Cable is the
prominent topic of the English Press. A
correspondent Of the London Post takes vi
the gauntlet in defence OF Mr.. Whitehouse
giving particulars of the difficulties at the
Valentia end:
1t became evident that the cable had be.
come defective, and wss rapidly getting
wCrge. The electrician and his assistants
were the only persons at Valentia who at
once telegrsphed the fact to the directors at
London, and, at the same time, set himself
earnestly 10 work to discover the cause ;
and after repeated tests and experiments, he
came to the conclusion that It was a want OF
insulation in the cable close TO Valentia ;
and he at once telegraphed to the directors
to the effect /: "There is earth near Valen-
tia II would be best to under-run the cable,
and repair or cut away the bad part"
The reply which the electrician received
was to the following effect:
"We Chat is one banker and two mer.
chants,) don't believe it is earth, and will
not allow you or any one else to touch the
cable.n!
In this emergency, when left to himself Of
Valentia, when the signal had entirely ceas.
ed to pass through the cable, and the instru.
ments.room was closed to strangers, that
the news Of the stoppnge might reach Lon.
don, knowing that Great Britain and the
whole of Europe were anxiously looking for
the news that the reply of the President to
Her Majesty had been received, Mr. White
house nobly took the responsibility of re-
pairing the cable.
He brought Mr.. Canning, the engineer,
from Dublin ; three days and nights were
spent in undermining the cable close to Val
entia, and the results were what he had pre-
dcted. Where the Agamemnon anchored
were found no less than five kinks in the
cable. These were at once temporarily re-.
paired, 10 admit of Her Mojesly's message
being completed (fer the signals had ceased
when there had only been portion of it for
warded) the cable was then under-run for
four or five miles, and found defective, To
the am unit Of 45 degrees, for want of insuI.
alton. The band wSs cut away and a new
piece attached, and then joined to the cable
on the shore ; the signals was again perfect
between Valentia and Newfoundland.
Then came the Presidents reply to her
Majesty, which had been waiting at New
foundland and then came the news of the
collision OF the Europa-none OF which could
have been forwarded but for the responsible.
lty taken by the electrician. 1t had been
repaired with such promptness that neither
the public nor shareholders had become
aware of the interruption and the director
published telegram as follows "Cuble
now working splenddly. Signals to and
from strong and perfect.
For doing this-lor practically convincing
the directors they were wrong-for again
urging on them th:t, if the shore end were
not put down, the same thing might occur
again at any time, and they must be respon.
sble for their neglgence-Mr. Whitehouse
was summoned to London, when, without q
single word Of explanation, resolution was
placed in his hand reminding him "that
his engagement had terminated, and that he
was no longer an officer Of the company"
A government ship was about taking on
board heavy cable for the Vaenta end,
but the order was afterwards countermand-
ed. -