Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-24
THE ATLANTIC CABLE.
HEARTS CONTENT, Aug. Is.
Via AsPY BAY, Thursday, Aug. II, 1865,


The British war-steamers Terrible and
Galatea arrived at st. John, n F. at 9 o.
clock on Tuesday evening the 18th inst.
The steamship Great Eastern returned
to Sheerness on the 18th inst.
Cap. Napier reports as followes:
The cable parted on Wednesday, the I'd
inst, at noon, in 1850 fathoms of water
1t was then grappled for three different
times, and raised l POO 900 and 600 faith
oms respectively.
Each time the graphing broke, but the
cable remained unbroken.
The Great Eastern returned to England
for stronger and better gear
Mr. Varley, one of the electricians, writes
most encouragingly in regard to the cable.
He says:
we found no difficulty whatever in
graphing the cable, even in the greatest
depth of water. AS soon as proper tackle
is prepared we will probably commence
graphing for the cable again, 100 miles
east of the break, where the water is only
1900 fathoms deep The buoy rides the
waves well, being fastened by pieces of
condemned cable
Mr.. Field is in good health and spir-
it's"
DIARY OF Mr.. C. W. FIELD.
The following is Mr.. Fields diary
STEAMSHIP GREAT EASTERN, ATLANTIC OCEAN
Six o'clock Friday Evening. Aug. IL, 1865
The steamship Great Eastern sailed from
the More, off Sheerness, on Saturday, July
Is at l25 O'clock.
At p o'clock on Monday afternoon, 18th,
she over hauled the Carolina that left Lon
don on the 5th inst. with the shore end on
on board. She had been detained by bad
weather. We took her in tow, and arri-
we'd off Valentia at 81 a. m. of Wednesday,
As the weather was unfavOrable, the
Carolina went into Valentia harbor and the
Great Eastern to Beerhaven, Bantry Bay,
followed the next day by her Maiesty's
steamers Terrible and Sphynx The twen-
ty-seven miles of the heavy shore end were
successfully laid from the Carolina, towed
by the steamer Hawk.
On Saturday, the 22d, at 81 o'clock, the
next afternoon, the splice between the main
cable and the shore and was completed,
and the Great Eastern, the Terrible and
Sphynx steamed toward Newfoundland,
while the Carolina and Hawk returned to
Valentia.
All went on in the most satisfactory man.
ner until 900 a. m. on Monday, the oath,
when a partial loss of insulation suddenly
showed itself.
Shortly after this the speed of the ships
was reduced, and the cable paid out more
slowly, while tests were applied to locate
the fault, which was found to be in the wa
ter some miles astern of the Great Eas
tern.
At $50 a. m. the cable was transferred
to the picking-up apparatus at the bows,
and we began to haul in the cable.
This operation was frequently suspended
by want of steam in the boiler attached to
the picking-up apparatus, and during the
day portable boiler was connected with
the former.
At sos o'clock the next morning the
fault was brought on board, and found to
have been caused by q piece of iron wire
similar to that used in the manufacture of
the cable, about two inches long, having
been forced between the outer wires and
through the gutta percha into the copper
wire
Ten and quarter miles of cable were
recovered, the fault cut out, and a new
splice made, the cable re-transferred to
the paying-out machine at the stern, and at
9:lO m. Tuesday, the 25th, all was again
in perfect order and the fleet on its way to
America, having been detained 81 hours
and so minutes.
At noon on Wednesday, the 26th, the
Great Eastern was 17S miles from Valentia
and there had been paid out, including the
II miles ON the shore end, 1919 miles of ca
BILE depth of water / $50 fathOms Tests
very good.
THURSDAY, July 27.-The ship ran in the
last "a hours l4l miles, and paid out l5S
miles of cable. Depths of water, 2,160
fathoms. Tests very good.
FRIDAY, July 28.--Distance made, 1854
miles. Cable paid out, ia miles. Water
1850 fathoms. Tests very good.