The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1902-12-19
PACIFIC CABLE CHR|SIENED
IMPOSING CEREMONY AT SAN
FRANCISCO, CAL.
Lucille Gage Christens the Transpa-
cific Gable In the Usual Manner
All Arrangements Perfectly Car.
ried Out-4o,000 People Witnessed
Ceremony-Mackay Congratulated.

San Francisco.-"In memory of John
w. Mackay, christen thee Pacific
cable. May it always carry messenger
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 spite
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 or
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 a rope, to
which the cable was attached, ashore.
Word was sent to President Clarence
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 q. 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 it's 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 fol
the cable and all those taking part ir
| its landing.
Refreshment tents were erected or
the beach and while the cable was be
ing spliced Mr.. Mackay served cham
payne and other refreshments to {
| large number of specially invited
| guests. Mr.. Mackay also sent the fol
lowing telegram to President Roose
| welt:
San Francisco.-To the Hon. Thee
dore Roosevelt, President OF the Unit
ed States, Washington l have thu
honor to inform you that the end o
| the Honolulu cable was successful!
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 wer,
hitched to the end and the cable wa
drawn through the conduit to tn
cable station. At the same time tn
steamer Newsboy steamed out to sci
five miles and anchored the cable will
balloon buoys. 1t was picked up b!
the cable steamer Silvertown and
taken aboard. The splicing to tn
main body was completed tonight AM
the Silvertown headed for Honolulu
at seven knot speed. The first mes
sage over the cable was sent iron
shore to Chief Engineer Benestal OF
the Silvertown congratulating him Of
the successful landing. Several test
were made as the cable was being pai
out by the Newsboy and it was foun
to be in perfect condition.
A portion of the cable was cut u
into small bits for souvenirs and dis
tributed by President Mackay anon
his special guests, estimated at abou
5000. During the ceremonies an arti
lery band from the Preside played.
Fifty policemen were kept bus
keeping the crowd out of the enclosur
where the splicing was going on.
President Mackay completed hi
lavish hospitality of the day with
banquet to the officials of the Cabl
and Postal Telegraph companies.