The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-03

carried out in little more than an hour
and progress was resumed As the vessel
grew lighter the rolling increased. The
character OF the cargo and the ponderous
deck machinery made her particularly sus-
ceptible TO the onslaught OF the seas.
CABLE MAN INJURED.
Saturday. Dec 20, was much like the pre-
ceding day save that the rolling motion
was accentuated by southwest winds, veer-
ing at times TO the west with only ISL knots
reeled off. For "a hours ending at noon
Sunday, 217 knots OF cable were laid. The
wind blew from the southwest with moder-
ate force, but on the whole the day was a
pleasant one and progress was good. Dur
ing the night however. there a con-
siderable sea and one of the cable men in
the tank was caught In the swirlng line
and suffered a dislocated shoulder. The
day was notable for two things, the cross
ing OF the Var couver- Australian cable at
o'clock in the morning and the receipt OF
the first news from San Francisco This
news consisted of brief bulletins on the
Venezuelan difficulty, the disastrous train
wreck at Byron. Cal. the capture Of the
Humberts in Madrid. Marconi's latest feats
in wireless telegraphy discoveries and some
minor items. The news from shore was re-
ceived with delight by those on board the
Sflvertown.
Tuesday, Dec. % opened with stormy
weather. Fiurries of rain and heavy seas
again brought danger TO the crew. The
CdDlt TANK ndQ dnOlneT DdQ
night and worked with great risk. 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 fathouss.
was crossed. Christmas day was not a
pleasant one 10 the people on the Silver
town, and the English custom Of celebrat-
ing the day was postponed TO a more pro-
pitious time. The wind veered around 10
the northwest and increased to a velocity
greater than that experienced on Monday
and Tuesday. Just before midnight final
change of tanks was made, the after tank
being emptied of its 996 miles of cable and
the blight transferred TO the forward
tank. The change was made extremely
hazardous owing 10 the tossing Of the now
almost empty vessel. Throughout the day
a gale blew with the end of the cable in
sight, and with it the necessity of cutting
or bouying 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-
the officers familiar with the ways of the
sea were tossed about and thrown upon
the deck After o'clock in the evening
der TO bring her TO a suitable buoying place
toward daylight.
Between and o'clock three soundings
were taken and preparations were made
a most difficult one, owing to the motion
of the vessel which at times rolled to the
angle of forty-three 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 $40. and as the six-inch
manila hawser was cut with the knife il
parted with a snap. So great was the
strain upon ii that friction caused IL 20
take fire as 1t passed over the sheaves at
the stern and 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 $50 fathoms of water. A
marked buoy was dropped as near as pos
sible to the cable buoy and the vessel stood
| by until o'clock in order to get the bear
| ings. She then proceeded to Honolulu,
L. ID. MOORE