The Hawaiian gazette., 1902-12-30
SHORE END OF PACIFIC
CABLE LAID IN fine STYLE
Rough Weather Prevents Work at the End of Deep
Sea Line and Ship Stops Off Waikiki and Makes
Haul of the Armored Link to the Beach,

away from the dock and Strengthened
out for Diamond Head. Ii had been
determined that the first work to be
done would be the making of the trip
across the channel to the dropped end
of the deep sea line, which would be
picked up and the intermediate cable
spliced on, and then the cable would
be laid to the shore here, the work be-
ing completed as rapidly as possible.
But 1t took no more than the merest
look at the sea in the channel to tell
the men on board that it would be un-
wise to attempt to work with cables
aboard ship in the sea which was rum
ming at the windward end of the pas
sage. The white caps indicated some
rather troublesome rolls over there,
and within an hour of the time that
the lines were cast off and the ship
went out, anchor had been cast at
Waikiki and preparations were under
way for the putting out of the rock
cable.
The moment the anchor had ratified
down to the coral bed Pilot Lorenzen
was getting ready to take Chief Off
Ger A. A. Troan and Assistant Hy-
drographer r. G. Wood over the old
hope of finding a perfect entrance.
The pilot boat travelled about for some
time and then couple of buoys were
dropped, one bearing aloft a red anu
the other a blue flag, and the two
marking the line which furnishes the
best approach to the Kapua landing.
The boat then returned to the ship and
after long delay a launch of Young's.
which had come upon the scene for the
purpose of keeping in touch with
what was going on, brought oft Chief
Engineer Benest and Engineers II. p.
DAILY and H. Raymond Barker. 1t was
now 8 o'clock, and the prospect was
that the end might be had before
lunch
Plans had been made for the landing
of the line today, and the consequence
was that there were no preparations
for work yesterday. Contractor Lord
was even then at work fitting up the
donkey engine for the Public Works
Department having worked all night
upon it, and nothing was done to as
sst in the landing. Then, too. there
was not a telephone in the neighbor-
hood that could be used, and conse-
quently it was necessary for Mr.. Ben
est to run down town before he could
be sure that arrangements as to the
quick work would stand, and it was
noon before workmen could be gatn-
cred.
Meanwhile, the presence of the ship
off the beach was the signal for the
gathering of the people and they came
in crowds, even when they found that
ii might be hours before their curios-
ity was satisfied.
With growing crowds ashore ard
nothing done, the time passed until l
o'clock, and then the launch brought
in two great sheaves, but that was all.
On the ship, however. there was pro-
nounced activity. The fact that the
engineers had determined to go out
and lay the channel end first had
caused the re-running of the cable
on Saturday. Everything was prepar
ed. But the change of plans made
necessary a new running of the con-
ductOrs When the intermediate cable,
80 miles in length, had been put in on
top of the rock end of three miles in
length, there had to be a rearrange-
ment and the men of the ship spent
the hours while the shore arrange
ments We're being made in getting the
line in the fore tank into the new
order, the intermediate being coilcd
in the main tank, and the rock end left
in the fore.
While it was in doubt if the donkey
engine could be made immediately
available anchors We're put down for
the holding of the great blocks
which would enable the ship itself to
handle the cable, by sending a haw-
ser on shore and pulling from the ship.
But before these could be used the
engine came, and at $3.50 o'clock a
blue flag was raised on the staff, say
ing to the ship "All clear" There was
little waiting, and soon the hundreds
who had gathered as n result of the
invitation conveyed by the blowing of
the agreed signal of the fire whistle
saw the Young launch tow two life
boats from the ship A leading line
was passed to a waiting workman
through a canoe. and then the hawser
was paid ont from the boats. five
lengths, or $50 fathoms, being used.