Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-12-17
THE
PACIFIC CABLE
American End is Safely Landed and
christened Amid Elaborate Cere.
monies at San Francisco.
TEN THOUSAND MILES LONG
Hope 10 Expressed That Honolulu
Section Will be Completed by
christnas-cireles the Globe.

San Francisco, Dec. f4.-"In hon
or of John W. Makay, | christen thee,
Pacific cable. May 1t always carry
messages of happiness"
With these words Lucille Gage, the
11-year-old daughter of II. T. Gage,
governor of California, today chris.
tened the trans-Pacific cable and,
breaking bottle of champagne over
the shore end, inaugurated new era
in the commercial development of the
Pacific coast. =.
The landing and splicing of the
shore end. which is to connect the
mainland with Honlulu, was accom-.
plished without hitch of any kind,
and was witnessed by 10000 or 40,
900 people. Ideal weather prevailed.
there being scarcely any surf. Early
this morning the steamer Newsboy,
carrying six miles Of cable, steamed
close in shore and, through a life
saving boats crew, sent a rope, to
which the cable was attached and
hauled ashore.
Word was sent to President Clar.
ence H. Mackay at the Cable and Pos.
tai Telegraph Company's offices that
all was in readiness. The work OF
hauling in the cable was done so ex
peditiously that officials arrived on
the beach only two minutes before
the cable touched the beach. and was
christened at 9:55 a. m.
While the cable was being spliced
to the land end, Mayor Schmitz de-
livered an address, congratulating
Mr.. Mackay on the actual beginning
of the work. He also spoke of the
Importance of the undertaking and
l-e benefit to the world at large that
would result from its completion
Clarence w. Mackay, president of the
Commercial Cable Company. with a
voice full of emotion, thanked the
governor and those present.
Governor Gage, on behalf OF the
state of California, paid a fervent
tribute to the late John w. Mackay
The formal exercises closed with
cneers for the cable and all those
taxing part in its landing. Refresh
ment tents were erected on the beach
and while the cable was being landed
Mr.. Mackay served champagne and
other refreshments to a large mum
ber of invited guests. Mr.. Mackay
sent the following telegram to Pres
ident Roosevelt:
San Francisco, Cal, Dec. IA, 1902
Hon. Theodore Roosevelt, President
United States OF America, Washing
ton, d. c.: | have the honor to in
lorm you that the California end OF
the Honolulu cable was successfully
landed at 9.55 o'clock this morning
CLARENCE w. MACKAY.
President Pacific Cable Company.
When the cable was landed it was
drawn safely through a conduit and
made ready for the connection with
the office. At the same time the
cable steamer Newsboy picked up the
landed portion and the splicing to the
main body was effected. Several
tests were made as the cable was
being paid out by the Newsboy. and
1t was found to be in perfect condi
ton. A portion Of the hawser used
in the landing was cut up into small
bits as souvenirs and used for distri
button by President Mackay among
his guests. Fifty policemen were
kept busy keeping the crowd from
the enclosure where the splicing wai
going on. President Mackay complet
ed his lavish hospitality Of the day
with a banquet tonight to officials ol
the Cable and Postal Telegraph com
pany.
In a speech tonight Manager Ware
said:
"You can form some opinion of thu
extent OF this great work when / tel
you that the length Of the cable will
be three and one-half times more thar
any Atlantic cable. When this II
completed our system will reach from
England and France to China, three
fourths of the distance around tn,
globe. And venture that we shal
be able to beat Puck's prophecy o
girding the earth in 40 minutes b,
sending a message from San Francis
co to San Francisco in one-fourth o
that time.
"The first section. now about to b.
commenced, will probably be com
pleted about Christmas day, or. sa.
the first of January. and II we hav'
the good fortune to be in communica
ton with Honolulu by that time, W.
shall be delighted to give you tn
free use OF the cable to exchange you
congratulations and greetings will
your friends. The remaining sections
starting from Honolulu, touching a
Midway and Guam. to Manila, thre
thousand miles of which have alread.
been manufactured, will be laid an,
in operation by the end OF June next
The whole length of the line will b.
about 10000 nautical miles"
Roosevelt's Unique Stick.
President Roosevelt has receive,