Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1865-08-10
-Telegraphic.
AATEsT NE Ws.

The First Defect liz the Atlantic Cable,
NEW YoRK, August 9--The ValeDtia cor
respondent ol the Loudon Times, OF the 9th,
gives the following account of the first de-
feet IN the Atlantic cable. When about
eighty miles of land, with dead calm weather,
ship going SIX knots, and the cable running
out as softly as silk rope, the usual test
signals were being sent through when sud.
denly both those to and from shore gave most
serious indications Of a faulty insulation.
The utmost alarm was felt on the discovery.
The connections Of the instruments we're
carefully re examined and the most rigid
exactness observed in the final tests but AL
gave the same result; and what was still more
certain and omlnous proof the return currents
from Valenua showed an equal loss. Notice
was instantly given to Mr. Canning and Cap.
tam Anderson and he speed Of the Great
Eastern, which was then in 800 iathoms, was
reduced TO almost a stand.stlll, All these
signals were cent and received through the
whole length Of two thousand seven hundred
statute miles OF wire.
Valentia WAS instantly communicated with
and the whole electrical staff set to work to
ascertain BY resistance tests, whether the
fault was in the ship or in 80 miles that had
been paid out Trials OF SO delicate nature,
and OF such vital Importance to the success OF
the undertaking, were conducted with the
most vigilant cautions, and calculations were
made to insure cel tainty The result OF all
was the unanimous decision that the fault was
not ON board, but in the go miles Of submerged
wire
When this decision had been arrived at, the
cable was at once cut on board the Great
Eastern, aud the length under water tested by
Mr.. Sauty with wonderful skill His tests at
once located the spot where the fault existed
al eleven miles from the stern OF the ship, and
within a quarter of a mile where it actually
was. Instantly prepaI atlons we're made for
getting the ureat Eastern rom and em-
ploylng the wlndlngin apparatus liked for
word, specially to be used in case OF such mis-
hsps
One of these atoms, about two inches long
and thick, as stout as daruDg needle, fell
on the coil unnotiGed, as indeed, who would
notice it, or for q moment think of the conse
queuces which its disregarded presence id
such u spot might surely occasion. The
weight OF the layers OF cable laid above this
fragment as insignificant as shaving in a car.
penter shop, pressed 1t firmly into the tank
hemp, which form the outside covering Of
the cable: To this it adhered. While in the
tank it did no harm, but when this portion
camo to be paid, but small diameter Of
eight leading wheels, which gave access u
the paying out machine and weight of locker
pulleys over these, which keeps the rope 10
Its place, and the bent stout iron was so SHARP
that it passed between the hemp and pierced
the gutta percha, through at least two or three
Of its four folds, and there remained in this
state 1t was found and instantly recognized
as "a piece of wire from a splice joint. A
short length of cable was at once cut out
and new splice made, and vigilantly
and gradually sunk When on bottom
it was again re.tested for some hours, and
the signals were shown to be absolutely per
feet During all this time, the Great Eastern
remained quietly hoveto The sea was calm
and even. The throbblng swell OF the Allan.
tic had died away INTO a mere undulation Of
waves Motion in her, therefore, was barely
perceptible to feeling and could certainly not
be detected by sight save by watching little
arc OF circle which her top masts now aud
then described which accident caused de-
lay OF nearly twenty four hours, during WHICH
time time the DRIFT Of the vessel was almost
nothing