The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-13
First Attempt Proves Failure
and VIII Try Again
CLARENCE MACKAY is HURT
Hawser Broke and End Struck Hin
Under the chIn-severaI Persons
Slightly Injured by Frightened
Team-Much Disappointment.

San Francisco, December IAN un-
successful attempt was made today to lay
the shore end of the Pacific cable. As
result the big steamer Silvertown, with
the cable in her hold, is floating idly in
San Francisco bay. Aboard the Silvertown
there is keen disappointment that ad-
verse conditions made a failure of to-
days attempt to lay the first span of
cable toward the new American posses
sions.
A strong, unfavorable tide was the
chief cause of the failure of the first step
In the great undertaking. Minor acci-
dents were encountered by the workmen
on short Clarence H. Mackay. president
of the Commercial Cable company. was
slightly hurt.
Today the weather was fine, and 25,00o
persons had gathered at the beach to wit
ness the beginning of the cable laying.
The Silvertown left the bay soon after
daylight and anchored off Bakers beach
at o'clock. The surf was breaking heav-
lily of shore, and 1t was decided to delay
hauling the cable ashore.
Mackay In Tent.
Clarence H. Mackay and his fellow-of-
ficers had two large tents erected on the
beach near the point where the shore
connection is to be made.
1t was IL o'clock before the life saving
crew from the Bakers Beach station ar
rived with their surf boats to act as mes
sengers between the steamer and the
shore. The crews of these little boats,
with tiers Of two boats from the steamer,
carried large rope from the Silvertown
to a point just outside the breakers and
there they law while the crew of one OF
the life savers boats signalled for the
boat of the Golden Gate Park life saw
ing crew to come otu through the surf
and take the rope to land. The crew on
land started for the water, their boat
drawn by horses which gallowed into the
surf The men climed into their places
a wave rolled we'll up on the shelving
sand and the boat shot from its carriage
into the water There was cheer from
the crowd as the men met the breakers
and that same cheer frightened the
horses, the team broke awy from the
driver and with the wagon plunged into
the crowd on the beach.
Children Knocked Down.
Several children were knocked down In
the scramble to get away from the
horses The horses were caught by
tent which was filled with special guests.
fAter several attempts the life saving
crew succeeded in getting ashore q
hawser to which was attached the cable.
Then followed delay Of four and one
half hours until the sea became more
quiet But when operations were re-
sumed the hawser bended SO that II was
impossible to draw 1t ashore through the
strong tide.
Just before the attempt was abandoned
for the day, number of men took hold
of the hawser for final pull. The
hawsel few up and struck Clarence
Mackay on the chin. carrying him Off
his feet Geoge w. McNear Of San Fran
cisco was hit on the back Of the head and
rendered unconscious for short time
Frank Hotaling of New York was struck
in the face, sustaining a cut. George
Frazer. a photographer. was also hit in
the face and his camera was broken.
With darkness coming on. the Silver
town returned to her anchorage in the
bay. Another trial will be made Nom
day.