Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-08-25
The Cable.

The cable lies at the bottom of the A..
lantic, enc end fast anchored on the shore
at Valentia, the other end anchored to
the bed of the ocean, 600 miles from
Hearts Content. After sbc two acei-
dents heretofore reported. both from the
penetration of the cable by pieces OF iron
| wire, there was third loss Of insulation
on Wednesday, Aug. I'd. The ship was
stopped and third attempt made to haul
in the cable. The machinery for that pur.
pose was in the bows of the Great East
eru, and was operated by single engine.
That engine, says Mr.. Field, stopped for
considers time for want of water.
When two miles Of the cable had been
recovered, it was cut to see whether the
fault had come on board. The narrative
at this point grows little obscure, but
We infer from Mr.. Fields statement that
the hauling.in process continued after the
cable had been cut, and that almost i'm.
mediately the cable parted in-board a
short distance outside where it had been
cut With the machinery disordered and
unable to hold it, the great strain and
weight Of the suspended cable outside the
ship carried the end instantly overheard,
and there was no time to seize it-mueh
less to attach buoy The end of the
cable went to the bed Of the ocean. Yet
not quite hopelessly. The Great Eastern
steamed back twelve miles on her course,
and in 1859 fathoms Of water began
dragging for the cable--that is, she threw
over grapnel transversely, We suppose,
to the line Of its laying, and went feel
ing about for the wire. Probably it
is tho first instance of dredging at such q
depth Tor such purpose. |, might have
been regarded as a desperate expcdicn,,
We, it was thought TO be temporarily aud
partially successful.
On the morning Of the following day.
Thursday, Aug. s. it became evident,says
Mr. Field. from the strain, that the Crap
mel had caught the cable, and they began
to haul in. After nearly eight hours
hauling, 1l50 iathoms of graphing rope
being on board, the tackle parted, aud
rope aud cable together sank once more
to the bottom. As not less remarkable
experiment than the graphing, buoy
was lowered with 2400 fathoms Of cable
we presume of condemned Atlantic
Telegraph-and "mushroom" to hold it
and mark the spot. 1t war nothing less
than an attempt to anchor in the middle
of the Atlantic, in 1850 fathoms of va.
ter. This appears to have been successful
The graphing was again tried on the 9TH,
ard again Mr. Field thinks the cable was
seized and partially hauled Up, when the
shacklcs broke once more, and 1900 la,h.
oms more rope went to keep the cable
company. a second buoy was lowered,
rough wc.ther followed. the buoys rode
out the gales, and third attempt was
made to grapplc the cable on Thursday,
Aug. 10. The grapncl came up foul with
It's own chain \ fourth attempt on the
18th resulted in another breakage Of the
shackles after getting but 10 fathoms OF
rope, and then the Great Eastern, having
no more rope OH board, started fer Eng
land. Mr. Field does not say whether
she means to come back unl try it again,
but it is SO reported by the steamers
which arrived at St. john Mr. Field is
evidently persuaded tina, the grapncI real
ly got bold of the cable, but it Is not i'm
possible that 1t is fastened on something
else At any rate the probability OF re.
covering the cable which lies III ncarI,
1000 faihoms of water, and marked lay a
buoy which may easily be made to shift
It's position by storms, Is very unluestion
able,-Tribane.