The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-05-25
HELPED JOIN EUROPE AND ASIA.
Laying the First Cable Between
ThOae COMMITTEES.

Pfttsburg Man Who Took Part In
Laying the First Cable Between
Those Countries.
Pittsburg. Pa.-There is man in Pitts
burg who participated in the laying Of the
first cable connecting Europe with Asia
who, during a seafaring career Of nearly a
quarter of a century, touched nearly every
port Of entry on the map. and figured in
some Of the most stirring events Of his
time That man is Hugh Daily, formerly one
of the best known members of the local
constabularly, but now engineer for the
Dallmeyer block. Mr.. DAILY is typical "old
sea dog" Although it is u years since he
abandoned the sea, there is a characteristic
salty SAVIOR to his conversation.
Eyes, sir, I was one of the first men to
join Europe to ASIA" he said one day last
week. II was born in Glasgow, Scotland,
was Just 16 them sailed on the Elbe,
British merchantmen, to lay telegraph ca
bles up the Mediterranean. The Atlantic
cable had been laid already, so we were not
the pioneers in that business However we
laid the first cable between Sardinia and the
Island of Crete. Then we laid one from
Crete to Alexandria, Egypt, and one also
from Athens to Syria. The king and queen
of Greece. not the present rulers, but their
predecessors. came aboard the Elbe while
we were laying the cable from Athens. Just
before we reached Syria they left our ship
and went aboard the royal yacht, proceed
ing back to Athens. When we had finished
the Job we returned to Athens and were
given a regal banquet. 1t was a gala day in
Greece. This occurred in the fall of 1858,
and In December we sailed up the Darda-
nelles, laying the cable that connected Eu-
rope and Asia by crossing the Dardanelles
on Christmas day. Up to this time our
work had been entirely in the Ionian is
lands. We were in the employ of Gordon
& Newell the makers of the first Atlantic
cable. 1 was at the making of half this
cable The work was done at Birkenhead
and the other half was made at Chatham.
England. The Agamemnon and Niagara,
American and British war ships respective
ly, took each end of the cable and laid it
in April. May and June. 1858. 1t was in
the following September that first went to
sea.
Speaking of Birkenhead," said Mr.. DAILY,
reminds me that it was there the Alabama.
which was destroyed by the Kearsarge off
the coast of France during the civil war.
was built and that l had narrow escape
from being impressed in the rebel service.
1t was in 1860 that the Alabama was built
and there was great deal of mystery about
it. 1 saw her keel laid and was aboard
her numbers of times. She was known by
a number, No. 248, IT, remember rightly,
and rumor said that she was yacht being
Dullt LOT an Egyptian paSna. many OF my
cronies had shipped on her and was anxious
to go aboard The day she sailed coaxed
my father to let me 60. but he said: No,
there's something wrong with her. 1 hear
she's built for the American war; I was
awfully disappointed. for my old pal. Jack
Mack. now boatswaih of the City of New
York, was of her crew. lack was with her
when the Kearsarge sunk her off the coast
of France and Jack was picked up by the
Kearsarge. In August of that year shipped
on the H. s. Soul of Freeport, Me-, for the
Island Of Ceylon with cargo of COAL Capt.
Osgood In command.
"Well after we got out awhile we heard
the story of the Alabama being fitted out
for the Confederacy. One day near the Cape
of Good Hope the captain comes to me and
said: Hugh. have you ever seen the Ala
bama?' l said l had many time. WE'LL
said he, get up on the mizzen and look
through the glass; I did So and by the
sight of my eyes, there stood the Alabama
to nor'ard She was painted sort of gray
and l recognized her by the peculiar fiddle
head. She had already overhauled the
Southern. an American vessel. and was play
ing havoc on the Atlantic, so we lost no
time in losing the Alabama. In 1912
left the sea. New York Journal.