The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-15

Thousands of People Witness the Splicing of the
Shore End of the Long Wire.
Speeches of Generalization the Auspcous Beginning of the
Great Pacific Enterprise
CAN FRANCISCO, Dec. HI

GAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 14-'Tn
memory Of John W. Mackay. I
christen thee Pacific cable. May
it always carry messages of happi-
ness" With these words, Lucille Gage,
the 11-year-old daughter Of H. T. Gage,
governor Of CalOfirnia, today chris
tened the trans-Pacifc cable, and,
breaking a bottle of champagne over
the shore end, inaugurated a 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 mainland with Honolulu, was
accomplished without hitch of any
kind and was witnessed by 10000 or
10000 people. Ideal weather prevailed,
there being scarcely and surf.
The Cable Landed.
Early this morning the steamer
Newsboy, carrying six miles OF cable,
steamed close inshore and, through a
lifesaving boats crew, sent a rope to
which the cable was attached ashore.
Word was sent TO President Clarence
H. Mckay and the cable and Postal
Telegraph officials that all was in
readiness. The work of hauling in the
cable 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 1855 a. m.
While the cable was being spIiced to
the land end Mayor Schmitz delivered
a short speech, congratulating Mr.. Nc
Kay on the successful beginning of the
work. He also spoke of the Importance
of the undertaking and the benefit to
the world at large that would result
from its completion.
Clarence H Mackay, president of the
Commercial Gable company, with a
voice full of emotion, thanked the
mayor and those present.
Tribute To John W. Mackay.
Governor Henry T. Gage, on behalf
of the state of California, paid a fer
vent tribute to the late John W. Mac
kay. The formal exercises closed with
cheers for the cable and all those tax
ing 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:
.sSan Francisco, Dec. Il
''To The Hon Theodore. Roosevelt,
President of the United States,
Washington:
Il have the honor to inform you that
the end Of the Honolulu cable was sue
cessfully brought to shore this morn
ing
(signed)
CLARENCE H. MACKAY.
President of the Commercial Pacific
Gable Company"
First Message Sent.
When the splicing was completed in
the afternoon horses were hitched TO
the end and the cable was drawn
through the conduit to the cable sta
ton At the same time the steamer
Newsboy steamed out to sea five miles
and anchored the cable with balloon
buoys. It 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 a seven-knot
speed.
The first message over the cable was
sent from shore to Chief Engineer Ben
set on the Silvertown, congratulating
him on the successful landing. Sew
eral tests were made as the cable was
being paid out by the Newsboy, and
it was found to be in perfect condi-
ton.
Souvenirs Distributed.
A portion of the cable was cut up
into small bits for souvenirs and dis
tributed by President Mackay among
his special guests, estimated at about
1900. During the ceremonies an ar
tillery band from the Preside played
Fifty policemen were kept busy keep
ing the crowd out of the enclosure
where the splicing was going on.
President Mackay completed his law
ish hospitality of the day with a ban
quet tonight to the officials Of the
Gable & Postal Telegraph company.