The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-03

that ran counter to the ships course. On | Wednesday the weather improved, and everything ran smoothly and fair pro- gress was recorded. On Thursday favor able conditions prevailed, and on Friday the end of the first section of the cable, measuring 929 nautical miles, was reached and the vessel was stopped at 8 o'clock on Friday night to make the change to the tank containing the second section. This operation was carried out fin a It, | tie more than an hour and the progress was resumed. As the vessel grew lighter the rolling increased. The character of the cargo and the ponderous deck machinery made her particularly susceptible to the | onslaught of the seas.
 Saturday, December 20 was much like the preceding day. save that the rolling motion was accentuated by southwest winds, veering at times to the west, with | only 187 knots reeled off. For twenty-four hours ending at noon Sunday A7 knots of cable were laid. The wind blew from the southwest with moderate force, but on the whole the day was a pleasant one | and progress was good.
 Cableman Is Hurt.
 During the night, however, there was considerable sea and one of the cable men in the tank was caught In the swirling line and suffered a dlslocated shoulder. The day was notable for two things, the crossing of the Vancouver Australian cable at o'clock in the morr- | ing and the receipt of the first news | from San Francisco. This news consist ed of brief bulletins of President Roose- | velts appointment as arbitrator in the | Venezuelan difficulty, the disastrous train wreck at Byron, Cal, the capture of the Humberts in Madrid, Marconis latest feats in wireless telegraphy discoveries, and some minor items. The news from shore was received with delight by those on board the Slvertown.
 Tuesday December 23, opened with stormy weather. F1urries of rain and heavy seas brought danger to the crew. The men in the cable tank had another bad night and worked with great risk. 1 One of them was caught by the flying line and was thrown against the wall.
 From Tuesday noon to Wednesday night, the deepest water, averaging 5000 1 fathoms, was crossed. Christmas day was not pleasant one to the people on the Silvertown. and the English custom of celebrating the day was postponed to a more propitious time. The wind veered around to the northwest and increased to velocity greater than that experienced on Monday and Tuesday. Just before midnight a final change of tanks was { made. the after tank being emptied of its 996 miles of cable and the right trans ferred to the forward tank The change was made extremely hazardous, owing to the tossing of the now almost empty ves- sel.
 End of Gable In Sight.
 Throughout the day gale blew, with the end of the cable in sight, and with 1t the necessity of cutting or buoylng the end. An anxious night was passed by all on board. No one attempted to sleep The wind blew a fine rain with great force during the night, which, with the tremendous seas running, rendered con ditions on deck uncomfortable. Many of the officers, familiar with the ways of the sea, were tossed about and thrown upon the deck. After o'clock in the evening the Silvertown's speed was re- duced In order to bring her to a suitable buoying place toward daylight. Between and o'clock three soundings were taken and preparations were made to buoy the sea end.
 The operation proved a most difficult one owing to the motion or the vessel, which at times rolled to an angle of 43 degrees. It was with difficulty that the line was made fast to the cable and the end buoyed. Word was given to cut the line at 5:20, and as the sfx-inch Manila hawser was cut with the Knife 1t parted Wltn snap. 50 great was the strain upon 1t that friction caused it to take fire as 1t passed over the sheaves at the stern and the sparks scattered about the deck in pyrotechnic display. The buoy was jerked overheard with terrific force but quickly righted itself. The cable was safely buoyed in 450 fathoms of water. A marked buoy was dropped as near ns pos sible to the cable buoy and the vessel stood by until o'clock in order to get the bearings. She then proceeded to Honolulu, where she arrived at noon on December 26
 (slgned) E. D. MOORE.
 Presidents Reply.
 Washington, January 2-The following Is the reply of the President to the mes- sage of Secretary Cooper:
 White House,
 Washington, D. C., January g. Hon. Henry E. Cooper, Secretary Ha- wall, Honolulu.
 The President sends to you, to Govern or Dole and the people of Hawaii his hearty congratulations on the opening of the cable. He believes it will tend to make the people of the Ha<saii more closely knit to their fellow citizens on the main land and will be great advantage to all our people.
 GEORGE B. CORTELYOU, Secretary to the President
 
 hsAN Anasrr o-A~ea