The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-03

s- swell that ran counter to the ships course. On Wednesday, the weather improved ana everything ran smoothly and fair progress was recorded. On Thursday fa- vorable conditions prevailed, and on Fri day the end of the first section of the cable, measuring 929 nautical miles, was reached. and the vessel was stopped at o'clock on Friday night to make the change to the tank containing the second section.
 This operation was carried out in a iit- tie mcre 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 ma chinery made her particularly susceptible to the onslaught of Ire seas. Saturday. December was much like the preceding oay save that the rolling motion was ac- centuated by southwest winds, veerin9 at times to the west with only ls7 knots reeied of. For twenty-four hours ending at noon Sunday, M7 knots of cable were laid. The wind blew from the southwest with moderate force but on the whole the day was a pleasant ohe and progress was good.
 During the night, however, there was considerable sea and one of the cable men in the tank was caught in the swirl ing line and suffered a dislocated should CT. The day was notable for two things. the crossing of the Vancouver-A Australian cable at 4 o'clock in the morning and the receipt of the first news from San Fran cisco. This news consisted of brief bulle- tins of President Roosevelt's appointment as arbitrator in the Venezuelan diffi- cuity, the disastrous train wreck at Bly, ron. Cal, the capture of the Humberts In Madrid, Marconi's latest feats in wire less telegraphy, discoveries and some mil nor items. The news from shore was re- ceived with delight by those on board the Silvertown.
 Tuesday. December g, opened with stormy weather fiurries of rain and heavy seas again brought danger to the crew. The men in the cable tank had another bad night and worked with great risk. One of them was caught by the flying line and was thrown against the wall.
 christmas Day on Vessel.
 From Tuesday noon to Wednesday night the deepest water averaging aOco fathoms. was crossed. Christmas day was not pleasant one to the people on the Silvertown and the English custom nf celebrating the day was postponed to a more propitious time. The wind veered around to the northwest and increased to a velocity Srather than that experienced on Monday and Tuesday. Just before midnight a final change of tanks was made. the after tank being emptied of its s96 miles of cable and the blight trans ferred tO the forward tank. The change was made extremely hazardous owing to the tossing of the now almost empty vessel. Throughout the day a gale blew with the end of the cable in sight and fka nRo ing the end. An anxious night was passed by all on board. No one attempt ed to sleep. The wind blew a fine rain with great force during the night which, with the tremendous seas running rem dered conditions 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 reduced in order to bring her to a suit able buoyfng place toward daylight. Be- tween 3 and 3 o'clock three soundinKs were taken and preparations were made to buoy the sea end.
 The operation proved a most difficult one owing to the motion of the vessel which at times rolled to the 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:a0 and as the six inch Manila hawser was cut with the knife it parted with a snap. So great was the strain upon 1t that friction caused it to take fire aa 1t passed over the sheaves at the stern and the sparks scattered about the deck in a pyrotechnic display. The buoy was jerked overheard with terrific forcs but quickly righted itself. The cable was safely buoyed in 45o fathoms of water. A marked buoy was dropped as near as possible to the cable buoy and the vessel stood by until clock in or der to get the bearings. She then pro- cesded to Honolulu where she arrived at noon December 26.
 E. D. Moore,