The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-10
THE ATLANTIC CABLES.


The Injury by an IceberR-Meaaures to
Project tine Gables in Future.
The following letter was addressed to the
editor of the London Ttmes:-
SR:-Interested as all the world now is in the
question OF submarine telegraphy, 1t will hardly
need any apology on my part for for rwarding
you the lnclosed copies OF telegrams received
Dy me as managing director during the recent
repair OF the cable of 1866 In Trinity Bay
Ihe cables of 1866 and 1866, as they are
called, once laid successfully, the next question
to their pr0prietors was, whether they would
pay, and whether they could be subject to much
injury from the DRIFT of the Polar Ice, and con-
sequently entail costly and constant repair.
me revenue, which thus year promises to touch
f450,OO0, or within ESQ, 900 of the original cost
OF the last LAID cable, answers the first query in
very satisfactory manner; the second doubt is
equally well disposed Of Throughout the
spring the Atlantic Ocean ON the American
shore was beset with an unusual amount of ice
disenRaged from the Arctic regions by a singu-
larly stormy winter; yet 30 well had the cable
been carried along the deep trough OF Trinity
Bay that both remained intact, except in one
case.
In heavy storm an iceberg drifted into the
bay, and grounded about two miles and half
from the station at Hearts Content, resting
doubtless, on the 1866 cable, and eventually
crushing II.
We were requested by the Anglo American
Telegraph Company TO test the point at which
the injury had occurred, and to undertake the
repair as quickly as possible. Mr.. Latimer
Clarke and Mr.. Wllloughby Smith, the electrica
engineers of the two companies, decided that
the injury had occurred only at the point
above indicated. The steamer Chiltern was
prepared by us, aud despatched on the 5th in.
slant, under the command of Captain Edington
who, you will remember, assisted in the Allan
tic cable-lsyng expedition of last year, with a
proper staff OF competent bpersons, under the
superintendent OF Mr.. Clifford, one OF the COM
pany's engineers, and as the following tee-
grams show, went to the spot indicated, and
tu1fhin fnt off p0 no rn-
pairs, at very trivial charge to the revenue of
the cables:-
FEorn Hearts, Content 06ce to Managing Director.
JUNE l7-ChHte,n arrived at IL last night; all WE'LL
good oOGd @ says TO S Sq hst Kerr & ore he
and necessary instructions.
No.2
From. Wiaou0hoy Sgth, Smith, E,q,, Ta'entto' to oeptatn
JUNE Il, ls67-May makes fault two miles from
repair.
From Watoughby Smith, Esq, Vdtentia, to Captain
49,, 80 ,..- OgOofI, Lona0n, L, ., -s,. &c.
where they bgoyed I. last night distance S about Two
boats just of the harbor.
JUNE 10. lss7-From HSi,6aanoy va o. Smith. Esq Haen.
ia, % Captdtn Osborn, London. = Weather fine in
May on board Chiiter) through the 1866 cable about
IL last gh said they mad 1 Just made splice to 6 6dee GG
they hoped to complete II early this morning They
red With the present OF the shore end Of
the 1866 cable, therefore shall not alter it.
From Witsoughby Smith, Esq, Valentid to Captain
Osborn, London.
JUNE 10, ls67.-Cabie perfect shore lin Newfound-
aDdl They are making splice s on beach @ me-
YOU the result.
No. 6.
From WtHou0hoy Smith. ESQ. Vatentia, to Captain
Osborn, London.
JUNE 49, 1S67.-The '66 cable is all right; Mr.. Clarke
has giyen me certificate shall send i by post or
keep IL until return? They Low working through
'66 cable.
From WiIoughby Smith, Esq. Vdlenttd, TO Captain
OSb0I n, London
JUNE 49, 1S67-The insulation OF both cables has i'm
they did when tested last year.
and both give the same results.
Mem.-No. telegram refers to the improve
ment of the cables during the past twelve
months.
cable touched will have been laid in deeper
water at that point, and the chances are that
we may not have another injury for years; at
any rate, of only similarly trivial character.
That, however, l trust will be still further
guarded against by having in Trinity Bay
steam vessel properly fitted to maintain the
only portion of the Atlantic Cable likely to be
injured IN any way, necessary insurance on
the magnificent revenue those cables are
yielding.
may mention, in conclusion, as an interest
ing fact, that during the repairs | received a
telegram in Broad street, which lett Hearts,
Content Bay only thirty-hve minutes previously
the major portion of the time having been
occupied in forwarding and delivery bet tWeen
Valentia in Ireland, and London.
Yours, obediently,
SHERARD OSBORN, Captain.
London, June 2l.