The New York herald., 1870-08-03

This Departure from Jamaica-Ths Dacia and
Those on Eoard-The Arrival of the
Expedition at Cienfuegos
Charles Bright in Havan..
On BOARD TUE STEAmsh y DACIA,
OFF CIESFUEGOs, July l6, 1870.


Having already furnished you with synopsis
Of journey from Jamaica to Havana, /
now proceed to fulfil my promise to send more
detailed account of the passage, and the nume-
rous incidents which presented themselves On the
way.
THE EXPEDITION READY FOR SEA.
On Thursday, the Sth instant, all being ready
for sea, the expedition Of Sir Charles Bright left
the harbor of Kingston at four o'clock in the ater-
noon, for the purpose of submerging that portion
of the cable which is to unite the islands of Cuba
and jamaica in fact to complete one of those links
in the teegraphic chain which is ultimately TO unto
South America and the whole West Indies with
Europe and the United States Of America, and to
place the whole Western Hemisphere in hourly
communication with the Eastern world.
THE DAcIA.
The steamer Dacia-the personal property Of
Sir Charles Bright-is very large and powerful
steamship 2s3 feet long, twenty-four feet
seven inches broad, twenty-five feet three
inches deep, 1856 tons measurement, with
single screw. and having engines of l70 horse
power. She Is three -masted steamer, Ypps nine
knots an hour, and is commanded by Captain G..
H. Dowell, r. N. r., an experienced navigator
who has been in command of the Dacia ever since
she was built, and by virtue of his being an officer
of the Royal Navy Reserve the Dacia carries tho
blue ensign Of her Majesty's fleet. On board of
this magnificent steamer, fitted up for cable lay
ing and supplied with all the necessary mechanical
appliances for such work, all was ready forsea
at four o'clock. Sir Charles Bright was on board
with a large staff Of engineers, beside operators
aud clerks for the several Offices of the West India
and Panama Telegraph Company, and among
others on board we may mention Senor Don Mel
chor Lopez, James Guttercs manager of the West
India and Panama Telegraph Company; J. r.
France, l.. c. Hill, J. Barrett, P. Tarbutt, T..
Webb, G. Goodwin, l.. Dickinson, comprising the
engineering staff Of Sir Charles Bright; F. L. Rob-
inson, DR.. Greenaway and Captain Du Bois, late
Lieutenant Commanderofthe United States Navy.
TIE SCENE ON SHORE.
At given signal the Dacia moved steadily
down the harbor of Kingston, followed by the
West India and Panama Telegraph Company's
steamer Suffolk. Hundreds of persons who had
congregated on the wharves and on board of YES
sells lying at anchor in the stream to watch the
departure Of the expedition cheered Justify as the
cable steamers gliled down the harbor to Port
Royal. There was grand display of bunting in
the harbor and principal thoroughfares of the city,
while the British ensign 1oated proudly over the
observatory of the Commercial Exchange and the
Custom House and the national colors over the
several foreign consulates In Kingston in honor of
Sir Charles Bright and the enterprise which is SO
shortly to bring us within hail Of the mother coun-
try. On the arrival Of the expedition at Port
Royal Commodore Courtenay sent an officer of
the guardshp on board the Dacia with compli-
meutary message for Sir Charles Bright, and after
an exchange of these courtesies the expedition
put out to sea preceded by her Majesty's steamer
Vestal.
JAMAICA FROM THE SEA.
Sailing along the coast in westerly direction
the view of the mountains to the east was SUBJ
timely grand for, while the setting sun was cast
ing his golden beams upon the green foliage of
the Port Royal Mountains, there was mme diately
behind them and above them terrific thunder
storm spending its fury in the glen below the
lghtning darting down the gorges with magic
grandeur which language fails us to describe but
which passed before US in strange contrast with
the serenity and sunshine so Immediately below.
AS the Daca got out to sea the heavy machinery
of her deck (Which we will afterwards describe
when it comes to be worked) caused her to roll
heavily in the swell, and every and again
there was perfect hurricane of falling crockery
and glassware in the ships pantries as the Dacia
rolled first upon one side and then on the other.
This continued during the greater part of the
night, and, OF course, there was but little sleep
enjoyed by any one on board in consequence Of
this wholesale destruction Of dishes.
BREAK DOWN.
On Friday morning, the Sth inst, the sea was
calm millpond and the sun rose upon the ex-
Pedition steaming along the west coast of Jamaica
in the same order as it started from Port Royal.
Shortly before noon the Vestal teegraphed our
position thirty miles to the east of Little Cayma-
mas, and just as this signal being read we
were taking last glimpse of the highlands of ia
maica, just where the Dolphin's Head-some 345O
feet above the level Of the sea--rises upon the
horizon. At about eight o'clock the same even.
ing it was discovered that the Suffolk had fallen
light only being visible; but at hafpast eight
O'Clock o green light and rocket from her
brought progress to halt. The Dacia and Yes
tai turned back to see what was wrong, and
coming up Captain Barrett announced that one Of
the Suffolk's engines had broken down; that it
would take four hours to mend, but that having
twin screw he would Ego ahead" with one en-
gipe only until the other was repaired, thankful
that the trouble was no greater than four hours
could remedy. At four o'clock on Saturday
morning the repairstwere completed and the ex-
pedition proceeded again at full speed for Glen
fuegos.
ARRIVAL OF THE EXPEDITION AT c1ENruEGos.
On Sunday, the 10th inst, about noon, the ex-
pedit0n entered the harbOr OF Cienfueg0s, which
is difficult Of passage, but being successfully pi-
loted the steamers anchored about mile from
the city, which presents rather picturesque ap.
pearance from the ship. The harbor is large and
the difficulties of navigation painfully evident
from the great nervousness of the Spanish pilot
who took in the Dacia and who assured us tbpt
never before within his remembrance had steam.
of such length entered the harbor Of Cenfue
gos. The lighthouse at the entrance of the har-
Dor was perhaps the most striking feature of the
view as we approached "the city of q hundred
fires" and being so very different from the light
houses which Englishmen and Americans are ac-
customed to see. The first thing after dropping
anchor in the harbor was to commune ate
with the HERALD by cable, and announce the
safe arrival OF the expedition so far, but
as there happened to be cholera, yellow fever
and smallpox raging in the town and all tho