The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-03
CABLE TO HAWAII.
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE-D
riding in safety, but the mark buoy which
mad been dropped a near It on Friday me erns
We're running even higher than three days
previous. The wind continued to blow half
saTy in ir the f pickng up of the bouy could
have survived. and no thought was given to
making the attempt at this time. Another
mark buoy was put down some distance
away and the Silvertown returned 10 Homo
lulu harbor and anchored off shore. 1t was
agreed between Captain Morton and Chief
Cable Engineer Benest that no further
work would be attempted until the wind
abated and the seas Gained. From Tues
day until Thursday nothing was done.
On the first day of the new year scarcely
a breeze stirred the waters of the harbor
and advices came TO the ship from Dia-
mond lighthouse that the channel was quite
calm, with only a moderate swell running
ing the Silvertown heaved anchor and made
a start down the bay. At daylight she ar
rived off Koko head where the shore end
had been buoyed since Monday.
CONNECTION MADE.
With little difficulty the line from the
bottom was spliced upon deck and passed
over the stern sheaves and a start was
made for the outer buoy. The cable was
paid out at the rate of seven knots an hour.
Shortly after / o'clock in the afternoon the
Silvertown reached the point where the
San Francisco end was buoyed. The sea
was not rough, but the swell rolled the
vessel considerably. Great care was taken
in handling her while taking up the buoy.
1t was finally accomplished at 3:H o'clock.
The connection with the testing room was
quickly made and San Francisco responded
promptly to the call. Connection was then
made at 4:40 between the two lines and
Honolulu by the ship.
There was joy on board the Silvertown
-<Ha bod
rested upon the entire staff for nineteen
days came to an end. Mr.. Benest. the en-
gineer in charge of the expedition, ex-
pressed much relief that the great task
had been completed without accident The
proverbial luck of the Silvertown carried
her safely through 1000 miles in as rough
weather as ever cable was laid. There
fore. the celebration of the New Year on
board the, ship had a double significance
and was doubly welcome.
Four hours were spent in testing and
allowing the recently-laid line to acquire
the temperature of the ocean depths. At
$40 D. m. Honolulu time came the first
call from San Francisco
The voyage of the Silvertown to Homo
lulu was eventful and at times unpleasantly
exciting. Twelve hours out from San
Francisco the cable ship was beset by bad
weather, which continued with the excep-
ton of one day to the end of the voyage.
Variable winds that at times oached
the velocity of gales; heavy seas that
buffeted her about. retarded the passage
as well as endangered the safety of the
cable; in fact, every adverse condition that
is usually encountered in the laying of a
cable was met with and at times made the
STORMY WEATHER.
When the Silvertown steamed away from
San Francisco at 1880 on Monday morning.
Dec. Is, the weather was fine. At noon OF
| the same day the vessel ran into a squall
of wind and rain that came out of the
west The velocity of the wind increased
and during the afternoon great green seas
boarded the starboard bow and swept
along the deck and escaped into the sea
through the port scuppers. Toward even
| ing ropes were strapped about the deck
and everything was made fast The rain
| ceased, but the storm continued with un-
abated force throughout the night. A de-
Walton from the course was obviously out
| of the question, because such action would
not have lessened the strain on the cable
on account of the danger of getting into
unknown depths. To cut and buoy the
So the vessels bow was kept to the south.
| west. Tuesday, Dec. 16, Brought no i'm
| provement in the weather.
One particularly heavy sea boarded the
| starboard bow and swept the deck fore anC
| aft, smashing the scullery light and break.
| ing the gangway ladder. The chartrooms
on the hurricane deck were flooded, anC
the bridge itself was invaded at times by
the turbulent seas. Those at work in the
paying out room on the main deck anc
about the cable machinery waded in water
| to their knees. The companionways were
| battened down in order to prevent tn,
flooding of the saloon. One of the cook:
was badly scalded by a cauldron of spilled
| soup. The saloon steward was hurled
| against a door and severely bruised anC
| injured.
Under ordinary conditions the line is PAID
! out per cent. faster than the speed of tn,
vessel. This was increased during the storm
to 10 per cent. Even with this concession
and lurched the great drum around which
the strand was passing would almost ceas.
to revolve one moment only 10 resume will
! a rush the next, threatening the lives o
the men in the tanks. The dynamomete
regulating the speed Of and the strain OF
the line at such times fiuctuated wildly
rushing from indicated strain OF tw,
tons or less up to four, and even five tons
The breaking strain is only eight an,
three-Quarters tons Rare good judgmen
in the handling of both the ship and tn
cable at critical times averted the losing o
the cable in 800 fathoms OF water.
The wind abated at noon on Tuesday
but the seas continued with a heav,
swell that run counter to the ship
course. On Wednesday the weather i'm
proved and everything ran smoothly am
fair progress was recorded. On Thursda,
favorable conditions prevailed and In spit
of a strong southwesterly breeze 207 knot
were paid out. which was the best day
run up 20 this time. On Friday the end q
the first section OF the cable. measuring 81