Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-08-19
THE CABLE EXPEDITION.
IHL ONDLI I'M EUIIIVIN'
THE SINKING OF THE CABLE !
UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO RAISE IT..
PARTICULARS OF THE DISASTER.
The Gable Breaks in 1850 Fa-
thOms Of Water.
THE GREAT EASTERN RETURNS TO ENG
LAND.

HEARTS CONTENT, Aug. 10, via AsPY BAY, Aug.
1.-THE British war steameR Terrible and Gala
tea arrived at ST. Johns, y. F., at o'clock on
Tuesday evening, the 10Th.
The steamship Great Eastern returned 10 Sheer
ness on the llth. Capt. Napier reports as follows
The Cable parted on Wednesday, the I'd inst,
at noon, 10 $50 fsthOms of water. 1t vas then
grappled for three different times, and raised 1900
800 and 600 fathoms respectively. Each time the
grappli e broke, but the cable remained unbro-
ken The Great Eastern then returned to Eng
land for stronger and better graphing gear
Mr. Yarlsy, one Of the electricians, writes most
encouragingly in regard to the cable. He says
We found no diff guilty whatever in graphing
the cable even in the greatest depth of water. As
soon as proper tackle is prepared, we viii pro5a-
bly, commence graphing for the cable again one
hundred miles east OF the break where the water
Is only 1900 fsthoms deep. The buoy rides the
waves well, being fastened by piece OF con
demned cable"
Mr. Field is in good health and spirits.
The following is the concluding portion OF the
diary OF Cyrus W. Field, Esq, giving an account
OF the disaster 10 the cable:
Wednesday August AT {. 81 A. NJ, on exam
lining the insulation tests 1t was discovered that
there was 8 partial loss Of insulation. The ship
was soon Gfterward stopped, and the cable was
transferred to the picking up gear at the Bows,
and the operation OF hauling in was commenced.
By noon the engine used for picking up was sop
ped for want OF water for considerable time. -
Two miles had been recovered and the cable was
cut 10 see whether the fault had come on board.
Atl23OP. NJ, the cable caught and Chafed on
the mouth OF the hawse-pipe and was with con.
siderable difficulty removed, and at 1916 il parted
on bard, where il was injured Just behind the
shoppers, and in a moment the end disappeared in
the water. The distance run in the last twenty
four hours was ll6 miles cable paid out 1872 miles
recovered two miles. Depth of water 1850 faith.
oms. Total distance from Nslentia 1908 miles.
Tota! distance to Hearts Content. Total of cable
paid out ,Sl2 miles-equsl to IA per cent.
We steamed back toward Valentia twelve miles
and commenced dragging for the cable.
Thursday, 4 A. Mt being evident from the
strain that the grapple had caught the cable, We
began TO haul il up, and at ll.5O, when l,l6O IA
thOms of the grspple rope had been got on
board, the tackle broke near the ship, and l4OO
fathoms of the rope sank with the cable TO the
bottom. A bouy was now lowered, with 2 400
fathoms of cable, and mushroom" to hold and
mark the spot. During the operation otplcking up
the machinery gave way. 1t is supposed that q
9th broke of by the strain, and this getting be
tween the spur wheel smashed the latter This &C.
cident happened twice, and the operation Of haul
ing in had to be performed by the eapstans.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday the weather
was unfavorsble for recovering the cable
On Monday 7tn We lowered another grapnel.
At 1920 P. NJ. commenced dragging for the cable.
At s p. NJ began 70 haul in and continued 10 do
so slowly all night
TUESDAY ol1.-Al l.OO A. NJ. One luOuSdHu
fathoms of the grapnel had been hauled in when
the shsckels broke just inside the ship We lost
in this attempt one thousand five hundred fathOms
of rope. A second buoy was lowered to mark the
spot.
The balance of this day and all the next was
fully occupied in having new shackes made Tor
the haulng-in rope astern the capstan, ana making
preparations for another attempt 10 recover the
cable. Had the apparatus been ready the weather
on Wednesday was much too rough TO attempt any
operation The two buOys rode out the gale IN tins
depth perfectly
Thursday, August 10, 7 O'clock, A. M.-We be-
gan to lower the grapnel, and at sos had out
2460 fathOms, all that YVES on board the chip, ana
commenced dragging for the cable and continued
unil the afternoon, when we began TO haul III
slowly.
On Friday. the 18th. at 6 A. NJ, we finished
hauling in the 400 fathons Of rope when the
grapnel came up foul with its own chain.
AT IL A n. we began TO lower the grapnel
again, and as soon as all the 400 fathoms we've
paid out We commenced dragging until 500 ?. N.
when We began 10 haul in slowly. 1t was SON
evident BY the great strain, that the grapnel had
\ caught the cable.
! AT r. NJ, when 10 fathoms had been recov-
cred, the rope parted, and, as there was not suti
Gent rope on board the Great Eastern TO resume
grapnelllng, II was decided that she should return
/ az once 10 England.