Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1903-01-08
PHILIPPINE CABLE
NOW FINISHED TO HONOLULU AND
OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
Cable Ship SlIvertown Had Stormy and
LabOriOus Voyage, but Human Energy
and Pluck Conquered at Last : Men
Stood Knee Deep in Water = WIN Be
Finished TO Manila by July 4th.

Honolulu. Jan. 3.--The voyage Of the
cable-ship Silvertown was eventful and
at times unpieasantly exciting.
Twelve hours out from San Francisco
the cable-ship was beset by bad
weather, which continued with the ex.
ceptIon Of one day to the end of the
voyage. Variable winds that at times
approached the velocity of gales,
heavy seas that buffeted her about,
retarded the passage, as well as en-
dangered the safety of the cable: in
fact, every adverse condition that Ia
usually encountered in the landing Of
o cable was met with and at times
made the task most hazardous.
A more perfect day could hardly be
imagined than Sunday, December IA,
when the shore end was landed near
the Cliff House, OF San Francisco. The
end Of the line was brought on board
the steamer at $3.50 In the evening and
the start was made at 1890 Monday
morning. The favorable conditions
continued until ii O'Clock on the
morning Of that day, when the vessel
ran into squall of wind and rain
that came out Of the west. Steering
through a southwesterly course, the
Silyertown offered broad starboard
beam to the storm. Soon the seas
were whipped into confusion, rolling
the vessel In a manner most danger
Gus to the cable. The velocity Of the
wind increased. and early In the after
noon great green seas boarded the
starboard bow, and swept along the
deck and escaped into the sea
through the port scuppers. Toward
evening ropes were stretched about
the deck and everything was made
fast. The rain ceased, but the storm
continued with unabated force
through the night.
Under ordinary conditions the line
Is paid out per cent faster than the
speed OF the vessel. This was increas.
ed during the storm to 10 per cent.
Even with this concession the strain
was terrific. AS the ship lifted aud
lurched. the great drum around which
the strand was passing would almost
cease to revolve one moment. only to
resume with rush the next, render.
ing the life of the men In the tanks
hazard. The dynamometer regulat.
ing the speed of and the strain on
the line at such times fluctuated wild
ly, rushing from an indicated strain
OF two tons or less up to four and even
hve tons. When it is understood. that
the breaking strain is SO tons. il
must be apparent that failure to re
relieve the strain promptly meant dis
aster to the precious line, and its loss
In $500 fathoms would have meant a
long and serious delay in the compile.
ton of the work of laying the cable
as well as being a most expensive
happening to the contracting com.
pany. Rare good Judgment in the
handling of both the ship and the
cable at these critical times averted
an accident.
The cable finally reached Moloakal
Channel on Christmas day, and had to
be buoyed there for a week before
the sea became calm enough to splice
1t to the Hawaiian shore end.
That feat was finally accomplished
en- New Years night, amid great popu.
lar rejoicing.
Clarence Mackay, president Of the
Cable Company, says cable-laying will
be continued without interruption
and hopes to have the line completed
to Manila by the Fourth of July
Thence an extension will be laid to
Shanghai.