The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-04
10 ATLANTIC CITY AND BACB
IN EIGHT MINUTES,
History of the Mary Ann's' Voyage
from COOper's Point TO Vine
Street Wharf, U. s. A.
COMPREHENSIVE DIARY OF PATRICK 0FIELD
AND HIS FELLOW LABORERS,


Ever since the interruption of telegraphic
communication between the United States and
Atlantic City, occasioned by the breaking of the
old cable in the Delaware by the anchor of a
Richmond coal barge, the Company have been
indetatigable in their efforts to renew the con-
nection with the wires on the shore end at
Cooper's Point, and more particularly so in
view of the important events now going at At.
lantic, including the Grand Hop at the Surf
House, and the extensive and heavy engagement
of partners during the continuance of the cam.
paign, which one matron, who has three daueh-
ters there, told the Superintendent at that end
of the line should be, for the balance of the
season, 'short sharp, and decisive" Although
the Atlantic City Telegraph Company had met
With many misfortunes with the deep sea por-
1ion of the cable, similar to the one that oc.
Cured last week, they still, with unwea-
ried perseverance, determined last Tuesday to
charter the yawl-boat Mary Ann, and again
attempt the laying of the Cable across the
channel this time little out of the track OF the
5erry-boats ArasdphG and Union, though on this
secession the Arasdpha nearly swamped the
jolly-boat that had the cable on board, and
probably would have done it, had not Mr..
Patrick 0Field the Superintendent, with two
Others, jumped out of the boat on the bar and
held her until the ArdSdphd had passed. Too
much praise cannot be awarded to Mr. O'Field
on this occasion for his presence of mind in the
boat and the absence of his body out of it, for,
it was, the crew lost one of their sculls which
hoated Off up to Petty's Island before 1t went
ashore. The Atlantic City Cable Company have
had difficulties to overcome IN laying the over
land route that would have deferred less
enterprsing or persevering company. The
wires through the Absecum swamps and
in the neighborhood of Vineland, Ham
monitor, and other interior towns, were
broken to the ground by the frequent
large and unlawful gathering of the mosquitoes
on them, and by fires in the Jersey pines not
discriminating between the verdure on the poles
and the trees. The citizens of Absecum VII
lage greatly demurred, as they had only sold the
Railroad Company the right of travel up to
high-water mark; and as the road and the town
were but seldom submerged-rarely more than
twice a year-a line OF communication above
that mark should require separate charter. In
1858, however, the line was finally built to
Cooper's Point. Several climbers tor political
favor offered their services to the company, but
few of them could stand the test when brought
to the poles. At Haddon6eld, and at Camden, q
town of some size, situated near this
end of the route, the workmen were
greatly annoyed by the crows, who, In
great numbers, in the early morning,
would waken the men up by their incessant
cawing before their sleep was half out, and for
this odlos many of the workmen LETT. The over
land route was finally completed TO the entire
satisfaction of the public, who had no use for
the line, and all that was wanting was the sub
marine connection across the Delaware channel
30 the United States.
II becoming known that the Company de-
sired this connection, many plans were sub
Initted by experienced parties in such matters.
One gentleman, known as a professional
''Oatty-racker," offered the use of the buoys
attached to his '1ay out line" provided the
Company would keep him in hooks and bait
Another professional in the same line offered tc
siAk the line by putting his eel-barrels on it
aAa examine it every day as he brought up the
bATIels 10 get the eels, Many other propositions