Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-13
DID NOT LAND CABLE
WEATHER CONDITIONS AGAINST
sILvERroN AT FRISCO.
Clarence Mackay and Others Hurt in
a Series of Mishaps on
Shore.

| dispatch from San Francisco yesterday
| says: An unsuccessful attempt was made
| today to lay the shore end of the Pacific
| cable. As result, the big steamer Silver
| ton, with the cable in her hold, is still
floating idly on the waters Of San francisco
bay, and aboard of her there is keen disap-
pointment that adverse conditions made
failure of today's attempt to lay the first
span of cable toward the new American
possessions. A strong unfavorable tide was
the chief cause of the failure of the first
step of the great undertaking and minor
casualties marked the efforts Of the work
men at the shore end, one of the victims
being no less a parsonage than Clarence Fl.
Mackay, president of the Commercial Cable
Company, who was, however, not seriously
hurt.
The day was perfect as to weather con-
ditions and the occasion had been made
the cause for sem-holiday, fully 25.0U0
persons gathering at the beach, one-half OF
them school children, to witness the be-
ginning Of the cable laying. The Silverton
got under way from her anchorage in the
bay soon after daylight this morning and
was at anchor off the beach two hours
later. The surf was breaking heavily OH
shore but the seas were rapidly moder-
ating. 1t was decided to delay hauling the
cable ashore until the water should become
somewhat smoother.
Clarence H. Mackay and his fellow-ofh-
GERS of the Pacific Commercial Cable Com
pany had two large tents erected on the
sands of the beach close to where the shore
connection was to be made, and there they
entertained their friends as they arrived.
1t was nearly II O'Clock before the life
saving crew from the south side and the
Bakers Beach station appeared on the
scene, with their surf boats, ready to lend
any assistance that might be needed in
communicating between the steamer and
the shore. The crews of these boats and
Tho of tyr-n hra 10 had frayy, a
steamer carried a large rope from the Sill
verton to a point outside the breakers, and
waited there while another boat from the
life-saving station came out through the
surf TO carry the end of the rope to the
land.
The boat. drawn by horses, came into the
surf, and the crew climbed into their places.
There was cheer from the crowd as the
men met the breakers, and that cheer fright
ened the horses. The team broke away
from the driver, and with the boat car
riage dragging after it, plunged into the
crowd of people who had gathered on the
beach. Several children were knocked down
in the scramble to get out of the way of the
maddened horses, but the animals were
caught before serious injury had been done.
After several attempts the life-saving
crew succeeded in getting ashore hawser
to which was attached the cable. A wait
of four and one-half hours for water was
had before an attempt was made to draw
the cable ashore. The hawser sagged so
that it was impossible to draw 1t ashore
through the strong tide. Just before the
attempt was abandoned for the day several
men took hold of the hawser for a final
pull. The hawser flew up and struck Clar-
ence Mackay, who was hit on the chin and
knocked off his feet. George McNear of
this city struck in Tie back of the
head and rendered unconscious for a short
time. Frank Hotaling of New York was
struck in the face, sustaining a severe cut.
Darkness coming on, the Silverton re-
turned to her anchorage in the bay. An
other trial will be made Monday.
Capt. Morton of the Silverton said that
no further attempt would be made to land
the cable direct from the ship. but that a
section of it will be spliced aboard a steam
lighter and the shore end made fast from
that craft. 1t will then be carried outside
the heads, where the big ship will anchor,
and the start be made from there.
I'VE cannot effect a landing through the
surf at the point selected" said Capt. Nor
ton. 1.-The ship is drawing thirty feet of
water, and it is quite impossible to take her
in nearer than mile. The line through
mile of current and surf would require
more power than appeared to be available
today. Therefore we can do nothing but
return to the bay until other arrangements
can be made.
Asked when the next attempt would be
made, Capt. Morton said he could not say
with any degree of definiteness.
I'VE might get away Sunday, but / doubt
it. l think, however, it will be as late as
Monday he said.