The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-07
THE ORIGINAL CABLE.
TILE FIRST ATTEMPT


10 Law telegraphic cable across the Atlantic Ocean
made as will doubtless be remembered in 1857. On
August the shore end landed at Vaentia Bay, and
on the 18th inst the cable parted The following
sells composed the hee:-
The us steam frgae Niagara, Captain Hudson,
detailed to aythe half Of the cable from Ireland
g The l.. steam irigatc Susquchanna, Captain Sands
convoy of the niagara.
8 The o. S ~ amer Arctic Captain Bergman, do
tailed to max. soundings On the OF Newfoundland
Tho Telegraph Company's steamer Victoria, Captain
Sluytcr, detailed 10 ASST IN landing The cable at New
foundlsnd.
tailed lay the hall OF the cable the American side
H NJ. steamer Leopard, Captain Wainwright, con-
of the AgamemnOn.
T. H. n. steamer Cycope Captain Dayman, detailed to
go ahead Of the steamers aud keep the course
The steamer Advice, Captain Raymond, detailed TO
assist in landing the cable mt Valentia
The plan adopted the irst occasion was the
came IS prosecuted the present o.,asion--to com
pa, ing out from Ealcnia Bay the Nagara TO lay
the cable irish side the Atlantic, and the AVa
mcmnon the American side.
TIE CEREMONIES OF BEGINNING THE WORK.
The laying OF the cable the first aston was
lemnizod with the most interesting ceremonies. The
Lord Lieutenant and the nobility and gentry OF Ireland
large numbers participated in them riousy enough,
II fell TO the lot % American sailors on that occasion to
straw cable shore and hand the end OF IL to the
Lord Lieutenant. 1t was boats crew of the Ningara,
headed by Lieutenant Whiting that performed that duty
THE PARTING OF THE CABLE.
On the sixth day the landing OF the cable-the
11th OF Augustine accident occurred which put end
TO the undertaking for that year. About four O'Clock in
the morning the cable board the agara parted in
over two Thousand !athoms water. The cause OF the
calamity application Of the brakes at time
when II was almost fatal TO them. There was
pretty heavy swell and usual under such c!rcun
stances the of the vessel elevated depressed
she each wave. IL was while her stern was
down that thc brakes wcr put ON, that In addition to
the strain produced by its rising again. the cable had TO
bear an additional of three thousand pounds
marked upon the Indicator. This i,ian IL could
bear and the consequence tnat II parted, us has
been stated. The moment the brakes were used tn
VIII els stopped and when the again they
manned immovrablc that between the strain brought
the cable BIZ the vessel and that caused by the
plcation OF the brakes 10 had To bear than IL
ever calculated stain The indicator showed strain
of three thousand pnunis hut IL Is impossible 10 cacu
late the strain By which ii broken Had the brake
not been appl ed there is donbt what that the
cable would have ned perfect To- the end, unless
very great weather had ndcrcd H. necessary to
IT, The Circumstance, 10 gay the least Of II, was
most unfortunat but IL the enterprise failed the expe
dition proved thing beyond ali possibility OF doubt
the practt ability Of LAYING bnarinc telegraph cable
across the Atlantic between Ireland aud Newfoundland
The morning, after tho catastrophe, con-
sultaton was held the cabin o tho Niagara mt winch
Captain Hudson, Captain PenDock, tapain Wainwright,
Mr. Bright Mr. Woodhocse Mr.. Canning and Professor
Morse present, when the question of commencing
the work with what cable remained on board
both vessels discussed; but as II found, after
due calculation that Ierc not enough To connect
the points the proposition OF did not prevail
The following table and statement show the pad
out and the balance VI cable TN hand -