Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-08-01
THE CABLE.

The following are extracts from the journal
of the q reat Eastern:
All went well until - 20 on the 18th, Green
wIch time.) when the first real shock was
given TO the success that has hitherto attended
us, and this time we had real cause to be
alarmed. foul flake took place in the after
tank. The engine was Immediately turned
astern, and the paying of the cable stopped.
We were all soon on the decks, and learned
that The running and paying out of the coil
had caught three turns of the fake i'm med Iate-
ly under II, carried them into the eve of the
coil, fouling the toy -eut and hauling up one-
halfturns from the outside, and five turns of
the eye OF the under flakes. This was stopped
fortunately, before entering the paying out
machine; shoppers of hemp with chains were
also put on near the wheel astern, and Mr.
canning gave orders TO stand by to let go the
buoy. This was not very cheering 10 hear;
but though the cain and collected man gave
MS confidence that his skill and experience
would extricate the cable from the danger in
which it was placed, no fishing line was ever
entangled more than the rope when thrust
up in apparently hopeless danger from the
eye OF the cable to the deck. There was at
least 5000 feet of rope lying in this state. and
In the midst OF the rain and increasing wind
the cable crew set to work 10 disentangle it,
The Dolphin was there. too. patiently follow
Ing the lights as they showed themselves, the
crew now passing them forward and now aft,
until at last the character of the tangie was
seen, and soon il became apparent that ere
long the cable would be saved and uniniured
down to the tank. Captain Anderson was at
the rope, 1--WE could scarcely make IL out the
night was so dark,) endervoring TO keep il up
and down, going on raising with paddle and
screw
When one reflects for a moment upon the
rise Of the ship, and the enormous mass she
presented 10 the wind, the difficulty of keen.
ing her stern, under the circumstances. over
me cable can be apprehended. The port pad
dle-wheel was disconnected, but afterward
there was shift Of wind, and the vessel came
to the wrong way. Welcome voices were now
heard passing the word aft from the tank that
the bIghts were cleared, and TO pay out
Then the huge shoppers were quietly opened.
and at 2O5 a. m. TO the JOY of all. we were once
more discharsing the cable. They yeered il
away in the tank to clear the screw, and The
paddle-englnes were slowed so as TO reduce
the speed of the ship 10 ~ knots During AN
this critical time there was entire absence of
noise and confusion.
Every hing was silently done, and the Cable
men and crew worked with hearty good will
Mr.. Canning has experienced foul flakes be-
tore, and showed that he knew what 10 do in
condltlon OF the cable during this period
Simply thai through its entire length il is per
feet.
THE LOST CABLE
HEARTS CONTENT, July y, via Aspy Bay,
July 30.-C. W. Field says that the Medway
and Albany will leave on Monday to grappie
for the lost cable
G. w. Field says the Great Eastern will
leave next Saturday for the lost cable The
Midway will lay the cable across the Gulf of
st. Lawrence, and also between Prince Ed
ward Island and Newfoundland, after the
cable is recovered.
All the British vessels have the American
and English flags al their foretops, and ali the
British tars are singing Yankee songs.