Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-08-10
The Atlantic Gable.

The correspondent Of the London
Times gives an interesting account, in a
letter dated Beerhaven harbor, July 90,
Of the voyage Of the Great Eastern from
the More to Valentia, with the Atlantic
telegraph on board. The great vessel
started on the 18th, and as soon as the
order to go ahead at full speed was
given, the unpleasant discovery was made
that the vessel has not more than half
steam power enough for the weight she
carries, or the work she has to do. The
total weight on board at starting was
over twenty five thousand tons, and the
weight was necessarily so far behind,
bringing the vessel so low down in the
water that the screw engines were able
to make no more than twenty-six reyo-
lutions a minute, while the paddles made
barely four revolutions a minute, and
the speed of the vessel was not more
than six knots an hour. On the 10th,
the sea was smooth, and better time was
made, so that all on board began to feel
encouraged. On Monday, the 18th, the
engines went still better, and seven
knots an hour were accomplished, and
all on board were specializing as to the
time when they should reach Valentia,
when on rounding Lands End, the Car
oline, the vessel that had been dis
patched ten days before with the shore
end Of the cable, was discovered tossing
on the sea, which then began to be quite
heavy. There was no way but for the
Great Eastern to tow the Caroline the
rest Of the wayi and tow rope was &C
cordingly attached. This additional
load of course caused the Great Eastern
to go still slower, and, as the two YES
sells got out into the Atlantic, a storm
came on, and on Monday night was very
rough. The Great Eastern stood it well
enough, but the Caroline reeled as
though she had been wrecked, and was
swept fore and aft by every wave. Those
on the Great Eastern were constantly in
expectation during the night that the
Caroline and the shore end of the cable
would go down together. Fortunately
the weather grew better Tuesday morn
ing, the 18th, and early Wednesday
morning both vessels arrived at Valen-
tia in safety, and everything all right
The Caroline remained to lay the shore
end OF the cable, and the Great Eastern
proceeded to Beerhaven harbor for safe
and more commodious haven. The lat
ter part Of the voyage to Valentia, the
engines Of the Great Eastern worked
much, better, six and half and seven
knots were made; and once started on
the voyage across the Atlantic, as the
great vessel would be lightened at the
rate Of five hundred aud fifty tons every
twenty-tour hours, very few days
would make vast difference with her
sailing qualities. On tke 22d the shore
end OF the cable was laid, and the same
correspondent gives the following &C
count Of that interesting event:
me day was calm, and ut 6 o'clock
the landing Of the shore line was COM
Blenced. From the stern of the Caroline.
moored some coo or 800 Yards from
shore, an unbroken line Of boats was
formed to the beach, each filed with a
crew OF picked h0atmen from all the
nelghooring harbors and inlets. These
were under the direction and guidance
OF experienced cable men, who in de.
tached cutters and gigs commanded up |
and down the line. The first few lengths |
were soon got out, but thence, dragging |
lts ponderous mass along the line of |
craft was q slow, laborious business |
and 1t only came out foot by foot, though |
some 800 or 400 powerful men were mil
ing on it well together. 1t took nearly |
two hours to pass It over the string OF
boats, and by that time all the rugged
GINS We're crowded by peasantry, who
not only thronged the steep dangerous
sort OF zigzag path which gives access
70 the head Of the bay, but were perched
ABOUT on little Jets and points where sny
ioothold WASP TO be gained, snd often !