The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-15
CABLE END BROUGHT in
SUCCESSFUL LANDING OF THE
TRANSPACIFIC LINE.
Work Is Accomplished without q
Hitch-TwO Splfces Made and the
Cable Ship Starts Westward.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec H.-'In memory
of John w. Mackay, christen the Pacific
cable May it always carry messages of
happiness"
With these words Lucille Gage, the
eleven-year-old daughter of III. L. Gage,
Governor of California, to-day christened
the trans-Pacifc cable and. breaking a
bottle of champagne over the shore end,
inaugurated a new era In the commercial
development of the Pacific. The landing
and splicing of the shore end. which is to
connect the mainland with Honolulu. was
accomplished without hitch of any kind
and was witnessed by $4,000 or 10000 people.
Ideal weather prevailed. there being scarce
ly any surf.
Early this morning the steamer News
boy, carrying six miles of cable, steamed
close in shore off Bakers beach, south of
the Cliff House, and, through life-saving
boat sent ashore rope to which the cable
was attached. Word was sent TO President
Clarence III. Mackay and the Commercial
Cable Company and Postal Telegraph Com
pany officials that all was in readiness.
The work of hauling in the cable was done
so expeditiously that the officials arrived
on the beach only two minutes before the
cable was landed. The great bundle Of
wires touched the beach and was christen-
ed at 9:55 o'clock. While the cable was
being splced TO the land end Mayor
SchmitZ delivered a short speech, con-
graduating Mr.. Mackay on the successful
beginning of the work. He also spoke of
the Importance OF the undertaking and
the benefit to the world at large that would
result from its completion.
Clarence w. Mackay, president of the
Commercial Cable Company. thanked the
mayor and those present. Gov. II. T. Gage.
on behalf of the State of California paid
fervent tribute to the late John w.
Mackay. The formal exercises closed with
cheers for the cable and all those taking
Refreshment tents were erected on the
beach and while the cable was being
splced Mr.. Mackay served champagne and
other refreshments TO a large number of
especially invited guests. Mr.. Mackay also
sent the following telegram TO President
"San Francisco Dec IA
ITO the Hon. Theodore Roosevelt. Pres
ident of the United States. Washington:
81 have the honor TO inform you that the
end of the Honolulu cable was successfully
brought to shore this morning.
CLARENCE III. MACKAY,
President Pacific Commercial Gable
| Company"
When the splicing was completed. late in
! the afternoon. horses were hitched to the
end and the cable was drawn through the
conduit to the cable station. At the same
| time the steamer NeWsDOy steamed out &c
| sea ive miles and anchored the cable with
balloon buoys. IL was picked up by the
| ca BILE steamer Silvertown and taken aboard
| The splicing to the main body was com
| pleted tonight and the Silvertown headed
| for Honolulu at seven-knot speed. The
/ first message over the cable was sent from
| shore to Chief Engineer Benest. on the Sill
] vertown, congratulating him on the sue
| cessful landing. Several tests were made
as the cable was being paid out by the
| Newsboy until II was found TO be I'm perfect
| condition.
| portion of the cable was cut up into
| 5000 bits for souvenirs and distributed b,
! President Mackay to his guests. During
| the ceremonies an artillery band from the
| Preside played.
| Sixty policemen were kept busy keepins
| the crowd out OF the Enclosure where ths
| splicing was going on President Mac!6ay
| completed the day with a banquet to tn.
| officials OF the Commercial Cable Compan,
and Postal Telegraph Company.