Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1902-12-19
PACIFIC CABLE CHR|SIENED.
IMPOSING CEREMONY AT SAN
FRANCISCO, CAL.
Lucille Gage christens the Transpa-
cific Cable in the Usual Manner
All Arrangements Perfectly Car
ried out-4o,ooo People Witnessed
>
ceremony-Mackay Congratulated.

San Francisco.-"In memory of John
w. Mackay, christen thee Pacific
cable. May it always carry message7
of happiness"
With these words, Lucille Gage, the
IL year old daughter of H. T. Gage
christened the transpacific cable and
breaking bottle of champagne over
the shore end, inaugurated new era
in the commercial development of the
Pacific coast. The landing and splic'
ing of the shore end, which is to con
meet the main land with Honolulu, was
accomplished without any hitch of any
kind and was witnessed by thirty OF
forty thousand people. Ideal weather
prevailed, there being scarcely any
surf.
Early in the morning the steamer
Newsboy, carrying six miles of cable
steamed close in shore and through a
life saving boats crew sent rope, to
which the cable was attached, ashore.
Word was sent to President Clarence
III. Mackay and the Gable and Postal
Telegraph officials that all was in read
mess. The work of hauling in the ca
BILE was done so expeditiously that the
officials arrived on the beach only two
minutes before the cable, which
touched the beach and was christened
at 9:55 a. m.
While the cable was being spliced
to the land, end, Mayor Schmitz deliv-
cred short speech congratulating Mr..
Mackay ON the successful beginning
of the work. He also spoke of the i'm
portance of the undertaking and the
benefit to the world at large that would
result from its completion.
Clarence H. Mackay, president of
the Commercial Cable company, with
voice full of emotion, thanked the
mayor and those present.
Governor H. T. Gage on behalf of the
state of California, paid fervent trib-
ute to the late John w. Mackay. The
formal exercises closed with cheers for
the cable and all those taking part in
its landing.
Refreshment tents were erected on
the beach and while the cable was be-
ing spliced Mr.. Mackay served cham
payne and other refreshments to a
large number of specially invited
guests. Mr.. Mackay also sent the fol-
lowing telegram to President Roose-
welt:
San Francisco.-To the Hon. Theo-
dore Roosevelt, President of the Unit
ed States, Washington: l have the
honor to inform you that the end of
the Honolulu cable was successfully
brought to shore this morning.
CLARENCE H. MACKAY,
President of the Pacific Commercial
Cable 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 Newsboy steamed out to sea
five miles and anchored the cable with
balloon buoys. 1t was picked up by
the cable steamer Silvertown and
taken aboard. The splicing to the
main body was completed tonight and
the Silvertown headed for Honolulu
at seven knot speed. The first mes.
sage over the cable was sent from
shore to Chief Engineer Benestal on
the Silvertown congratulating him on
the successful landing. Several tests
were made as the cable was being paid
out by the Newsboy and it was found
to be in perfect condition.
A portion of the cable was cut ur
into small bits for souvenirs and dis
tributed by President Mackay among
his special guests, estimated at about
5000. During the ceremonies an artil
lery band from the Preside played.
Fifty policemen were kept busy
keeping the crowd out of the enclosure
where the splicing was going on.
President Mackay completed his
lavish hospitality of the day with g
banquet to the officials of the Gable
and Postal Telegraph companies.