New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-27
SPLICING AN ATLANTIC CABLE.
INTERESTING AND RAPID WORK 81 ihH
CREW OF THE MACKAY-BEN

CREW OF THE MACKAY-BENNETT
, ,,r,o number ~ men who are interested in
,elegraphy and ocean cables assembled at the
White Star pier yesterday morning Al ]" ocioch
they went on board the steamship MacNay Deiiiie''
70 witness the laying Of an ocean cap.e' u ooio'
the Coney Island cable with Sandy HOOK AIlohs
those present we're A. b. Chandler, George {. ward
= G bradley E. G. Cochran. George w. Blanchard
g F. Cutler Paul Faquet g. F. Hanson h. -
Weir Colonel william Ludlow, b. c. Cadisah'
Charles Cuttriss and W. \. Bethel
As the Mackay- Bennett steamed down the Day
the wind increased until it was blowing gale from
the southeast The sea was choppy ana the S'''p
rolled and pitched until many Of the guests on
board sought the "seciusion when the caDln
grants" while others became 80 ,Se MYRIAD Of
birds which lowered about me snip p ' me tir;
leaned over the ran s,d Ipteny were they wrapped
up In their thoughts that they could not De teHpeu
Sccom" irritable and cross when asked to join IN
the pleasure OF splicing The main DraSf o'ce yIand
rom the iarder OF the Hardware Club together
with fine wines and cigars 80, 49,, ho,,rr,,s
to end The crew OF the Mackay- Bennett Is com com
posed o, expert seannen who In addition 20 thef f
iaynE an ocean cable. When the buoy attached
10 the end OF the Coney Island line was reasned d
boat was cleared away with so much CELEBRITY that
the spectators applauded their efforts. The crew
sayng belts as their task was noHa FSY th
oniookcrs II required only eleven minutes from the
lime the boat was Ina aGnf9d HP the end HG Of h
minutes the buoy was hoisted on deck the boat was
swung in the davlts and the entire crew prepared
10 splice the cable on board the ship miles OF
cable were called around spool In the atterh4lJ h
The end was wound around large drums, which
xera worked by machinery. that when the cable
was taken in over the bow all was read tor the
splicing process. - ,, .,ras ,,,ob
knowledge and skill. as every wire o, the caoles
must he united TO a corresponding wire In the end on
hoard the ship. Nearly all the work was done by
the ,bc Postal the TcegrapS Cable company
The actual splice. however. was completed In
n toni on the forward deck, M II Is an utter
impossihlllty TO complete the Insulation II there Is
the slightest moisture In either end OF the Cape
went on rapidly In the mean while connection was
made with New York. and messages we're sent ana
received. The first message was 10 Jonn W. Mdckhy'
ana f. was followed by messages George c. Boldt,
Colonel Thomas T.. ochiltree and the FRIENDS ana
relatives OF the guests.
When the order given 10 pay out the cable
the spectators surprised to see the snip forge
rapidly ahead and the cable run out over the bows
associated with the laying OF ocean cables. believed
that the line went out over the stern Such Is not
the case The vessel is propelled at full speed. and
the cable Ia paid out over the bow. The machinery.
although heavy is intricate. and many gauges show
al glance the pressure that is brought 10 bear on
the cable It required hfty-ive minutes 10 lay five
miles OF the electrc-bearng wires under the waters
OF the Lower Bay.
the city at an early hour. buoy was attached to
the cable In close proximity 10 the buoy joined 10
the Sandy Hook end OF the wire. and the ship was
headed for home. The remaining splice Will be
PROMPT and efficient marine will be accom-
plished All board were highly pleased with the
spectacle furnished and with the kind treatment
corded them by the officials of the company