The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-12-06
The Hero Of
The Taking Ropes.
-
A Story of the Atlantic Cables.
BY Percie W. Hart.


-i.l#l+I~slxI+9s = : !. \ :. ;; .s4*l...
In the general managers private den
ut the cable Office two officials were in
earnest conversation
mo. has just given out, sir" one of
them was reporting.
-Eh? WhatY CALCULATED the general
4 manager in startled accents. You mean
No. Pr
mo, No. A."
but thought it was No. . that had
been working SO badly for the past two
+ days"
'Yes, and it is getting worse every
minute. No. apparently was all right
until, without the slightest warning, it
stopped. Must have been cut clean
through by. something. Murphy has only
begun testing. but he thinks the break
to be not far from the sore spot ON No. .,
in the neighborhood of the Grand
Banks" 7es.
Another fishing schooner's anchor. |
suppose But, oracious, man, this leaves
the wounded 2 our only working line
across the Allan. "
Whats the matter with the ship"
Something went wrong with her en-
spices, and they mad to run back to port.
Started away again yesterday and should
be repairing by now"
If they cut No. and go to splicing,
1t will leave us shut off the best part of
The plight, inst when the press matter is
rushing
I know it, but, if possible, they were
20 make temporary patch, without in
Reference"
Pretty close shaving for us?'
4 stpuld say so. The whole prestige
of the company, not to speak of such
<hings Az the effect upon this years divi-
lends pepends upon the holding together
<nHf little battered place in No. ca
Va at shall we do?"
4o2 Keep No. humming, relays and
Put the whole battery room on. if
ze* be. The Cabliana has never failed
r., III sake the company's reputa-
pn her.
tIDre than 1000 miles distant and well
81 on he broad Atlantic an odd looking
#<eamShp was tossing IN the rough seas
We was trim and neat like a war vessel
4 yAyacht as far as paint and rig were
meelned, but the resemblance extended
yHu'her The decks of this craft were
N1%ded with machinery, huge iron buoys
353gpg along the bulwarks, and she had
16 pulley wheels fitted in projecting
|7 #eture> at both bow and stern. This
IN Xfhe CabIiana, the specially built and
i 81 Xpped cable laying and repair ship of
Y grcat ocean telegraph company.
E weather was stormy and disagree
~ - aud captain Boylstuns temper even
50. 70 dawdle away ten months in
go with everything ready for sea at
44tW8 hours notice and then break Il pro-
PEI shaft short time after starting
II We bad enough, but, added to this here
We nearly all the cables needing to be
Nme#ued at one and the same time. If the
kqNk tempered skipper had known that
III Hhltherto reliable No. / had lust fail
#Nfthere IS no telling what might have
&Wbpened.
'J Ayast there, Murchison. If you have
tifSot gumption enough to start that reel in
~ 3ely shape by this time, | don't want
.Nxx . on my ship any longer. You're dis
## &c TO the company's service. Clear
FM Mister Martin, isn't there a man ON
3aldt that knows his business?"
wi = captain hung on to the life lines
kaatiifretted and fumed, while the second
Ir1cer and quartermaster relieved the
|k9Aender at the deep sea lead. With
&o#hed look and trembling lips the I'M
NY Murchison recklessly hurried Tor
Ready, sir" quickly announced Mr..
311ftin.
hen reel away" snapped the skip
owl plunged the heavy weight into
asyater, and the pianoforte wire upon
NJ PIC reel paid out like silvery streak
ne reflection of the low drawing SIM
ne-hundred = and : eighty : two
<4pms, sir. called the leadsman in
*NeW moments.
WHAT'S that?" calculated n voun,
!na1 who had just emerged from a deck
looking strangely out of place in
Herby hat and ordinary civilian at
14< One hundred and eighty-two? IF
''ue clay III wager we're not so feet
E2k* me bruise. Just at the end of that
zM piece we put in last year"
nope you are right. Mr.. Canon"
l*Hied Captain Boylston. ''but I'm
zau we are not playing in such good
as all that. But, at any rate. il
De near the spot. Mr.. Martin, have
HH Jackie cleared for us"
Fery good. sir" replied the second of-
ee making his way forward.
Here! Stand clear! Let me lookup
the skipper as the lead came nm
<nsertlng his fingers into the grease
MED orifce at the bottom of the doom
- plunger, he brought out lump Of
qfipping mud. Vi
Blue clay it is. You're right. | think
Canon" said Captain Boylston in
eased tones.
ne electrician merely nodded his head
M assent "'
Lively with that grapnelw shortod
~ captain in excited accents.
s Inc steamship by this time was taking
an ar of hustle and noisy prepare
esct;ndoh ne picking up machine made a
."ilI or so under the watchful
anu ana eye of its engineer. A bow
esit was carrying the big grapnel clear
.ne shlp's side, while gang was
a7y making all ready for the convenient
sing out of the hundreds of fathoms
chaih ana rope. Men were rushing
tner and thither in performance of
e,r respective duties. Even the land
Appers, such as cooks and wardroom
vters, were lending a hand Everv-
10y was aglow with the excitement of
the chase. u
HVerybody! Well. all except Murchi-
ION. Angry-the uncharitable might
lerW 1t sulky-at the captains uncalIad
iop ault finding, the lad had slowed him
way under the poop and now COVER
Gu nind convenient partition.