The New York herald., 1870-07-22
THE WEST INDIA CABLE EXPEDITION.

Initial Letter from the Cable ExpedltIsn-Tho
Vessels Composing It-Ysyage from Kings
ton to Cienfuegos-The ssNellic Tarbox''-
Epidemics Ragiug In Cienfaegss-tsrcAt
Mortaiity-Entkusiastic Reception OF the
Expediiiou--sir Charles BrIght's Visit tn
HRvRnn-lhs Work.
HAVANA, July IA, 1870.
hasten to catch the mail steamer for New York,
in order that you may have sort OF outline OF the
movements OF the cable expedition under Sir
Charles Bright, who has kindly provided accommo-
dations for your correspondent board OF his own
steamer the Dacla, and whom have accompanied
here on dying visit made necessary for the COM
petion OF certain arrangements. more detailed
account OF the movements will be furnished you on
our arrival at Santiago de Cuba.
The expedition consists OF the steamer Daca, com.
manded by Captain Dowell, R. N. r.; the sufolk,
by Captain Barrett, and her Majosty's steamer
Vestal, Captain Hunter. X. N. These vessels sailed
from Kingston, jamaica, on the sln inst. at four
+. NJ, for Cienfuegos. The whole Is under the i'm
mediate superintendent or Sir Charles Bright,
assisted by Mr. France and large engineering staf
from England. the members OF which manifest uI-
varying energy and activity in getting everything
into state OF readiness for rhe laying OF the cable.
Mr. Gutierrez the managing director Of the cable s
on board the Suffolk, and will accompany the expe.
dlton 10 BatabanO and thence to jamaica. Sehor
Lopez, uncle OF the Spanish Minister at Washing
ton and O gentleman OF great erudltion, accompa-
MES Sir Charles. The enthusl asm on our departure
from Jamaica was very great and as the Dacla and
suffolk steamed down the cheering nom the people
WAS loud and continuous. ON reaching Port Royal
we were joined by the Vestal, and at once head our
prows for Cienfuegos. Before reaching that place
Captain bowel Observed vessel Oh the horizon
which appeared to be dismaste0, and bearing down
npon her discovered her to be the American schooner
Nellie Tarbox, from Navssa for New York, With
cargo OF guano. She had lost her masts the 21st
nit or the east east eng q CEba " water spout aud
sS ewsa rse % p
must have been wrecked had not assistance been
Afforded her. When picked up she had nOur aud
water only sufficient for twenty-four hours Ehe
was towed into harbor by the Ve5la.
Tie expedition sailed into the Bay OF Clenfuegos
on The aIternoon OF Sunday, the 10TH muca TO ine
aStonlshment or the natives who had never seen
vessels OF such length In their harbor before. The
stean launch teairice was Immediately lowered
from the DacIa, and Senor Lopez proceeded ashore
To communicate with the authorities. His boat al
tracted much attention, anu large numbers came or
TO inspect her. We found the cholera, yellow fever
ana smallpox raging III the city and III all the d.
tilct around There were some twenty-five deaths
per oay reported, and some Of The estates seventy
per cent Oh tic labOrng population had died. On
this account the masters Of me Dacit and Suffolk
respectively prohibited any Of their officers OF crew
from landlig.
On the evening OF Monday Sir Charles Bright, ac-
companicd by senior Lopez, Captain DC Bois and
your correspondent, started i0f Havana per mail
steamer Raptdo TO Batabano, ana thence by ran. On
The departure vi Sir Charles there was grand Co.
lnOnStritl0n In the harb0r, tne enthusiasm Of the
hands on board OF the three steamers composing
the expedition knowing bounds. The boats OF
the respective vessels conveyed tho Beatrice,
carrying sir Charles to the mail steamer, hile the
band. which he organized and placed on the Dacia
before starting from Jamaica, played such stirring
airs as ''Le's Jolly Good Feliow,p 'Joy be with
YOU" "Choer, Boys, Cheer.n "fiule Britannia sc.
On approaching the wharf where the Rapldo lay tne
band s.iuck up the ,'Riego Hymn," which was en-
thusiastcally cheercd by the Spaniards. The Bea.
trice pioneered The Rapido 10 the mouth or tho har
bor amld 'Annie Laurie" "mha'll be King but
Cnarlie" &C., and With inal cheer the vessel pro-
ceeded Oh It's way.
The business which called Sir Charles here having
been completed, lie starts ut an early hour to
row morning Oh his return To CienIuegOs. As has
been heretofore explained by your correspondent In
this cily the first work will be the laying or twenty
iive miles OF cable through the shallow waters OF
the Gulf or CazOurs. This accomplished, the line
from BatabanO to Santiago dc Cuba Will be very
rapidly aid, ana thence to jamaica with which lat
ter place. If no accidents occur OF serious nature
New OrK Will soon be In communication. | SHAH
return Win Sir Charles and remain ON the Dacia
keeping your readers fully posted on all the details
Of the submersion.
the health of the entire expedition Is excellent
and Sir Charles In some way 30 cOntrives matters
to make everything very jolly and agreeable and
or course everybody Is Delighted.