New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-10
Newspaper Accounts.

Correspond nee OF Inc LONDON Times.
fHB FIRST BREAKDOWN OF THE CABLE.
VALEgTlA, July n. 1865.
At last the mystery of the breakdown ~ the
cable is known in all its details. The master Of the
Hawk which returned here this evening having left the
great ship last night brings full PARTICULAR both OF the
extraordinary nature Of the accident aud the still
curious in which it was discovered it, place
ascertaned the cable hauled in. and the piece cut out
When about 90 miles of land, wti dead calm weather
The ship going SIX knots, and the cable, tOld
running out softly ''eilk rope the usual test
signa,s were being sent through when suddenly both
those TO and from the shore gave most serious in6ca
fons Of faulty insulation. The utmost alarm felt
this discovery. Tue connections OF the instru
ments were carefully re-examined and the most
rigid exactness observed In tire final tests An gave
The same result, and what still more certain
and ominOus proof the return currents from Vacntia
showed equal less. Notice was Instantly given
TO Mr.. Canning and Capt Anderson. and the speed Of
The Great Eastern, which then in 300 fathons was
reduced 10 almost etaDdst. IL must be remembered
that al these signals sent and received through
statute miles Of wire. Vaentia instantly commu.
nicated WITH and the whole electrical staff under Mr.
DeSany set 10 work TO ascertain by resistance tesla
whether the an was IN the ship or in the 50 miles that
mad been paid out Trials Of so delicate nature end
OF such vital importance 10 the success Of the under
taking were OF course conducted with the most yigian
caution and the calculations based upon their data
made and remade toinsure certainty. The result Of oil
Was unanimous decision that the fault not On
BOARD, but IN tho 20 miles Of submerged wire. When
this decision had been arrived at the cable was AT once
ca on board the Great Eastern and length under
wafer tested by MI. Saunders. With wonderful skill
ms tests at once localized the SPOT where the
iault existed-ll miles from the stern of the sbir
ana within a quarter of mile from where Il
ae.naly was Instantly preparations made for
Eettlhg the Great Eastern round. and employing
TIE wihdng apparatus fixed for ward specially 10 DO
usea IN case OF such mishaps 1t hoped Of course
mai ITS use 1ond never be required and very many
that whether required not il would never
accomplish what it was intended to achieve The re.
suit proved the fiIaoy Of both hopes aud fears The
severed portion OF the cable passed into this ma
ohne and. the Great Eastern seaming back over the
LoDes course the work OF reeng in at once began
The cable came up with singular case. The strain on
.le oyham01cter OF the machine never exceeded Is
Swl, which was nothing 10 cable guaranteed not TO
Vfesk under tuns and equal from its specific gravity
supporting III miles of its weight IN water. or
sseiongh deeper sea than sOtndings have ever yet
Iu1hd 10 the world As We have said within quarter
nie OF the spot Indicated By Mr.. Saunders. the
ra,a ~ as found; end nothing more strongly indi
sae endless pers with which successful submarine
sphy Is beset than the trivial s1d almost unavod.
~eeldent which had caused it,
yfac ,a engths OF wire Of 100 or La miles were man.
riown - AZ hessrs Glass d Elotts, they were taken
30 Gu. o,ees and coed away in the snuks board
~ uieat Eastern Each as 1t arrived mas OF course
oep DOM y 'ea which had preceded it, and this was
sarai oae ~ ,he tanks themselves. The operation OF
vns NOT only means Joining the condu.to but aso
me outside wires the Junction Of the Yatter be-
tsng ,Ss 81 different lenghshe bits of wr, cut out
ese stos Of wire about two inches long and a. IN ek a.
soui darning needle fell on tho coil unnoticed
shoeea who would notice it, or for moment think OF
saeh y .,o, % wien its disregarded presence in
layers Of cable laid above this frsgment-ss insiend
nt as shaving In acarpcnters shop-pressed IL firmly
ase saso aSSi forms %SsOStsds covering
oia DO harm but when this portion came 10 he maid
Out the small diameter Of the eight LEADING wbesls
wssa o s ss0sss 70 tbs machine
70 lis place. bent the stout iron wire % shsrplv
'HS' passed between the hemp, pierced the gutta