The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-09

kept in constant touch with almost every
detail of the first of this seasons series
of international yacht races, was con
ceived and successfully executed by III
officials OF the two great companies, led
by Colonel George Ward, general manager
of the Commercial Cable Company, and
T.. G. Bradley, vice president of the Pos
tai Company.
A corps of competent operators was
on board the Mackay- Bennett, which
was anchored of Sandy Hook Lightship,
and were kept busy from early morning
until the finish OF the race. by an ln-
genious arrangement the cable was slip
ped from time to time, and the boat
moved TO suit the conditions OF the con-
test between the yachts.
Despite the fact that the start was not
made from the Sandy Hook Lightship,
as had been expected, clear view was
obtained of the race for large portion
OF the journey.
The ca steamer Mackay- Bennett hove
TO off the cable house OF the CONNER
cial Cable Company, beside the Oriental
Hotel, Coney Island, at noon Thursday.
She left her regular station at Halifax,
n. s., on Sunday night, and arrived at
New York for the purpose OF laying the
submarine cable 10 report the news Of the
yacht races.
On account of the fog that prevailed on
Thursday morning the laying Of the cable
was delayed from s o'clock TO noon. Then
the steam lighter j.. S. L. Stranahan
came alongside the Mackay- Bennett and
took on board about hall mile of wire
cable. The latter approached within a
few rods of the shore, ana sending out
a cable cutter, manned by seven men, a
rope was cast ashore to the men in charge
OF the cable house. In this fashion the
end of the cable aboard the Stranahan
was connected with the end OF the trans
atlantic cable of the Commercial Com
pany In the cable house.
The steam ghter then rapidly laid out
the ble line until it reached the Mackay-
Bennett, where the end OF the line was
taken aboard and spliced.
Fourteen miles of cable wire, manufac-
tured in England by Siemens Brothers,
W as coiled in one of the receiving tanks
of the Mackay- Bennett. Under the di-
rections of Captain l.. @. Schenk, the
cable steamer started on its journey to
Sandy Hook, paying out the cable, which
Is one and one-fourth inches in diameter.
BY IL D. m. the Mackay-Bennett had
reached a distance midway between the
Scotland and Sandy Hook lightships. Here
the cable was buoyed, TO be picked up
on the first day OF the races.
AS soon as il was learned from the
yachting committee where the start was
to be made the cable was paid out to the
position of advantage while the Mackay-
Bennett lay by. The ends of the cable
were again spliced and connected with
the telegraph instruments on the steamer.
Here force of telegraph operators
flashed the result OF the race across to
London simultaneously with the firing
of the gun that announced the winner.
The lookout stated in the cross piece,
announced the progress OF the race TO
the operators on the deck below.
The Commercial Cable Company in
starting a telegraph Office in midocesn,
derives no gain from this act of enter
prise. The Mackay Bennett is distinguish
ed by three signals, two red and one
white. hanging from her forward mast,
signifying "the telegraph ship at work. "
The end of the submarine cable will be
buoyed up between the two lightships at
night, and be picked up again on the day
of each race New York Herald.