The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-02-27

1t may seem q simple matter tc
distribute or pay out" the cable, but
in practice it is exceedingly difficult
Twenty men are stationed in The
tank from which it is issuing, each
dressed in a canvas suit, without
pockets, and in boots without nails.
Their duty is to ease each coil as il
passes out of the tank, and to give
notice of the marks painted on the
cable one mile apart Near the en-
trance Of the tank it runs over a
grooved wheel and along an iron
trough until it reaches that part OF
the deck where the paying OUT
machine is placed. The latter con-
sists of six grooved wheels, each pro-
vided with smaller wheel, called q
Jockey" placed against the upper
side of the groove so ss to press
against the cable as it goes through,
and retard or help its progress. These
SIX wheels and their jockeys are them
selves controlled by brakes, and after
it has been embraced by them the
cable winds round q drum" four
times. The drum is another wheel,
four feet in diameter and nine inches
deep, which is also controlled by
powerful brakes; and from it the
cable passes over another grooved
wheel before it gets to the "dyna.
mometer" wheel. The dynsmometer
is an instrument which shows the
exact degree of the strain on the
cable, and the wheel attached to il
rises and falls as the strain is greater
or less. Thence the cable is sent
over another deeply grooved wheel
into the sea. On deck is a small
house, which is filed with delicate
scientific instruments. As the cable
is paid out, it is tested here. II q
wire OF a nail or smaller thing is
driven through it, and the insulation
is spoiled, an instrument called the
galvanometer instantly records the
fact. and warning is given at all parts
OF the ship. The man in charge
touches small handle, and an cleo
trio bell rings violently in the tank
and at the paying out ma chinery
At the same time a loud gong is
struck, at the sound of which the
engines are stopped Delay might
cause much trouble or total failure
as the injured section must be rrest
ed and repaired before it enters the
water.
The Great Eastern" went ahead
at the rate of FIVE nautical miles an
hour, and the cable passed smoothly
overheard. Messages were sent to
England and answers received. The
weather was bright and all hands were
cheerful. On the third day after the
Splicing" of the shore-end with the
main cable, that part of the ocean was
reached where the water suddenly
increases in depth from two hundred
and ten fathoms to two thousand and
fifty. One of the earlier cables broke
at this place and was lost forever.
The electricians and engineers watch
ed for it with anxious eyes 1t was
reached and passed The black cord
still travelled the wheels unbroken,
and the test applied by the galvan.
ometer proved the insulation to be
perfect The days wore away with
out mishap until the evening of July
II, when the sound of the gong filed
all hearts with q sickening fear.
The rain was falling in torrents and
pattering on the heavy oil skin cloth
ing of the watchers. The wind blew
in chilly gusts, and the sea broke in
white crests of foam, A dense and
pitcby cloud issued from the smoke
stacks. The vessel advanced in uttel
darkness. A few lights were moving
about, and shadows fell hither and
thither as one of the hands carried 6
lantern along the sloppy deck. The
testing room was occupied BY al
electrician, who was quietly working
with his magical instrument, and tbs
cable could be heard winding over
the wheels astern, as the tinkling of 9
little bell on the "drum" recorded its
progress.
The electrician rose from his seat
suddenly. and struck the alarum.
The next instant each person on
board knew that an accident bad hap.
pened. The engines were stopped
and reversed within two minutes.
Blue lights were burned on the pad
die boxes, and showed knot in the
cable as it lay in the trough.
1t is very intricate knot that an
old sailor cannot unite, and the old
sailors on the "Great Eastern twist
ed and untwisted coil after coil until
they succeeded in untying this one.
The insulation remained perfect, and
in few hours all was right again.
The accident caused much i'll fore.
boding, however, as it showed how
slight an occurrence might bring the
expidition to a disastrous end.
On July 27, after voyage of Is
days, the "Great Eastern" finished
her work, and her part of the cable
was attached to the American shore
end. which had been laid by another
vessel William, III. Ride'ng, St.