The Republican journal., 1898-04-28
Laying the Islesboro Cable.

The submarine cable of the New England
Telephone and Telegraph Co. was success.
fully laid between Islesboro nd the main.
land Saturday, April 23d. The cable arrived
IN Belfast by rail early in the week and was
taken to Islesboro by schooner Sophia Wiley
Friday morning. The cable when received
was wound on a large wooden drum. This
was mounted on an axle just abaft the fore
mast OF the schooner and the bearings and
supports were securely fastened. The cable
was rove through an iron block on the main
mast, about 10 feet above the deck, and
from thence througha chock over the stern
Four different appliances were used as
brakes to prevent the cable running out too
last. A timber was lashed across the fore
boom, resting on top of the drum and the
leverage secured by setting up on the fore
sheet; plank levers were used underneath
the heads of the drum and bars were used at
the ENDS, While another bar was applied to
the cable just before it entered the chock at
the stern. The speed at which the cable
was run out could by these arrangements be
guaged very accurately. Owing to the state
OF the tide the loading at Belfast could not
be begun until about midnight Thursday,
and the schooner sailed for Islesboro about
daylight Friday morning. She had fine
run to the island and anchored about 100
feet from the shore in the cove between Seal
Harbor point, Spruce Island (now Mr. Fol-
wells Isola Bella) and Ram Island. A line
was taken ashore and the cable end hauled
to the bank and the proper connection made
with the land wires. On stout pole lust
above high-water mark is a cable box in
which are the connected ends of the land wire
and submarine cable. From this the wires
lead to the central Office in F. S. Pendleton
Co.'S store. Arrangements are not vet
fully made, but it is expected soon to put in
instruments at Ryder's Cove and Dark Har-
Dor, and possibly at Hewes' Point. The
Office at Pendleton's will be public pay
station.
1t was first planned to take the cable
across to the mainland Friday, but a
heavy northerly wind made the bay so
rough that the work was postponed. Sat-
urday morning opened rainy, but with
very little wind. About the time the steam
er Silver Star reached Belfast on her regu-
lar trip from Castine the rain ceased and the
wind died out entirely. The steamer left
Belfast at 1915 a.. ~, having on board Capt.
&. d. Pendleton, Capt. VIM. P. Sprague,
Capt. D. A. Warren and r. D. Pendleton of
1slesboro, Ralph Stickney of the Belfast
Telephone Exchange, Clarence Conant and
Charles WEIGH, linemen, and represen-
tative Of The journal. The steamer was as
usual in command of Capt. C. w Smallidge,
and Capt. Warren served as pilot. Arriv-
ing at the cove above mentioned the schooner
was found at anchor with everything ready.
The steamer made fast to the port side of
the schooner. The work of laying the cable
and the preparations therefor We're in charge
of Levi Clay of Belfast, who looked after
even the mlnutest details so carefully that
there was not hitch or the slightest acci-
dent during the day. At Is Capt. P. L.
Rolerson, commander of the schooner, an
nouuced "anchor aweigh,'' and the steam
ers engine was started at once. The course
was laid N. W., just passing the southerly
side of Ram Island, and thence without
change across the Bay. There was no wind
compass did not vary a point during the
passage, showing not only skillful steering
OF both the steamer and schooner. but accu-
rate guaging of the speed at which the cable
was run out. AT II 56, just So minutes from
the time the steamers engine was started,
anchor was dropped within POO feet of the
Northport shore. The mainland end of the
cable lands at the Sand Point of Saturda "
Cove, Northport, a few rods north of the
extremity of the point. The cable measures
5000 feet, or few feet short of mile and
three-fourths, and weighs s tons. When the
cable was IT, ken from the drum it was found
TO be about 200 feet short and hence a delay
is caused, to wait until new piece can be
received from the factory to splice to the
Northport end. The wires will connect
with the original poles at the post Office in
Northport. a temporary "okonite" wire
was received Tuesday and connected with
the cable and land wires, to give connection
until the extra cable can be procured, which
will probably take four weeks. Communica-
ton was opened over the line Wednesday,
and as this is on the metallic or long dis
oohoo oiiouiu' Asiesuoro Is Ill ulrect telepnoH-
ic communication with the principal cities
of the country as we'll as with the local ex-
change.
After the schooner's anchor was dropped
at Northport the steamer returned to Bel
fast, and during the trip the steward Bert
tray, served most appetizing dinner.
The schooner arrived at Belfast the same
night, having buoyed the end Of the cable,