Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-24

HilcS. OdDlc pdlu Nv iii''N'' ~
of water, 1000 fathoms. Tests very good
At 1906 p. m. it was discovered that
there was serious fault in the cable, which |
entirely cut off communication with the
shore. The ship was stopped and the cable
transferred to the picking up gear, which
commenced hauling it in at 9:l4 p. III.
After picking up two and quarter miles
of cable the fault came on board, and on
examination proved to have been caused
by stout piece OF wire having been driven
entirely through the cable.
The two and a quarter miles Of cable
were recovered from depth of 900 faith
oms.
The operation Of picking up from this
great depth was frequently interrupted by
want of steam.
The night being very dark and toggy,
the operation Of lowering the splice and
transferring the cable to the paying-ou
machinery, at the stern, was postponed un-
til the next morning.
The Great Eastern was, by tie able
management of Capt. Anderson, kept up all
night to the cable and so prevented any
strain, beyond the cables own weight,
coming on it.
At $40 a. m the splice had been sue
cessfully lowered, and the ship was dgain
on her course.
The detention by this fault was eighteen
hours and forty-four minutes, and most
anxious hours and minutes they were
On Sunday, July 80, the distance made
was "a miles, and 81 miles Of the cable
were paid out. Depth of water, 800 faith
oms. Tests very good.
MONDAY, July 3I.-Distance run, l34
miles; cable paid out, l5S miles water,
1,770 fathoms. Tests very good.
TUESDAY, Aug .l.--Distance made, 155
miles cable paid out, l79 miles water,
l,7O9 fathoms. Tests very good.
WEDNESDAY, Aug AT 5:2I a IN. Oh
resuming the insulation tests, it was dis
covered that there was a partial loss Of
insulation. The ship was soon atterward
stopped and the cable transferred to the
picking-up gear at the bows. The opera
tion of hauling i'll commenced. The engine
used for picking up stopped Tor want OF
water for a considerable time. Two miles
had been recovered, and the cable was cut
to see whether the fault had come on board
At about 2:30 p. III. the cable caught and
chated on the month OF the 'horse-plpe"
and was with considerable difficulty remov-
ed. and at u 35 it parted on board where
it was injured, Just behind the shoppers,
and III moment the end disappeared III
the water.
Distance run in the last "a hours, l16
miles cable paid out 1872 miles recov-
cred two miles depth OF water, $50 faith
oms.
! Total distance from Valentia, ,063 miles;
total distance to Hearts Content, 600 miles;
total cable paid out l ,3l2 miles, equal to
| IA per cent
| Steamed back toward Valentia y miles,
and commenced dragging for the cable.
Thursday, at 4 a. m., it being evident
from the strain that the grapple had caught
the cable, we began to haul it, and at 90,
when $50 fathoms of graphing rope had
been got on board, shackle broke near
the ship, and 400 fathoms of the rope sank
with the cable to the bottom of the Allan
tic.
A buoy was lowered with 24OO fathoms
of cable, and mushroom" to hold it and
mark the spot During the operation Of
picking up the machinery gave way. 1t is
supposed that a tooth broke off by the
strain, and this getting in between the
spur-wheel smashed the latter. This acci-
dent happened twice, and the operation Of
hauling i'll had to be performed by the cap
stan.
FRIDAY AND SUNDAY-Weather unfavor-
able for recovering the cable.
MONDAY, Aug. 7--Lcwered another Crap
mel. At $40 p. m, commenced dragging
for the cable At 8 p. m. began to haul in,
continued to do SO slowly all night.
TUESDAY, Aug. Sat 800 a. H., 1000
fathoms of grapnel roae had been hauled in
when the shackles broke Just inside the
ship. Lost in this attempt 800 fathoms
Of rope. A second buoy was lowered to
mark the spot.
The balance of this day and all the next
was fully occupied i'll having new shackles
made for the hauling-in rope, altering the
capstan, and making preparations for an
other attempt to recover the cable.
Had the apparatus been ready the wealth
er on Wednesday was much too rough to
attempt any operations.
The two buoys rode out the gales in this
depth perfectly.
THURSDAY, l0th.-At / o'clock a. m. we
began to lower the grapnel, and at S:55 had
out :, 400 fathoms-all that was on board
the ships-commenced dragging for the
cable, and continued to do 50 until the
evening, when we began to haul in slowly
FRIDAY, llth.--At 6 a. m. we finished
hauling in the 2,460 fathoms of rope, when
the grapncl came up foul with its own
chain.
At IL a m. we began to lower the Crap
mel again, and as soon as all the 2,460 faith
Oms were paid out we commenced dragging
until 3:55 p. m, when we began to haul in
slowly
1t was soon evident by the great strain
that the grapnel had caught the cable.
| At I p. m, when 10 fathoms had been
recovered, the rope parted.
AS there was not sufficient rope on board
the Great Eastern to resume graphing, it
was decided that she should return at once
to England.