The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-03
NOT AN EASY TASK
WAS THAT OF THE CABLE SHIP
SILVERTOwN.
LAYING THE PACIFIC CABLE
WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN SIEGE OF
BAD WEATHER.

Exciting Run Was That of the YES
sci From san Francisco to Homo
IuIu-As the ship Paid Out Her
Cable She Became Lighter and
Was BuITeted by Wind and Waves.
Some Delicate Operations Were
Made Necessary Because of the
Adverse Conditions.
Honolulu, Jan. (via Pacific Cable.
THE voyage of the Silvertown was
eventful and at times unpleasantly ex-
citing. Twelve hours out from San
Francisco the cable ship was beset by
bad weather, which continued, with
the exception of one day, to the end
of the voyage. Variable winds, that
at times approached the velocity of
gales, and heavy seas, that buffeted
her about, retarded the progress 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 task a most hazardous one.
On the second day out one particular
~ heavy sea boarded the starboard
MN
aft, smashed the scullery light and
broke the gangway ladder. The chart
rooms on the hurricane deck were
flooded and the bridge itself was in
vaded at time by the turbulent seas.
Those at work in the paying out room
on the main deck and about the ca
BILE machinery waded in water to their
knees.
Cable Went Out Fast.
Under ordinary conditions the line is
paid out seven per cent. faster than
the speed of the vessel. This was in
creased during the storm to 10 per
cent. Even with this concession the
strain was terrible. AS the ship lifted
and lurched, the great drum around
which the strand was passing would
almost cease to revolve one moment,
only to resume with a rush the next.
rendering the life of the men in the
tanks a seeming, if not real, hazard.
On Friday, Dec. 10. the first section
of the cable, measuring 929 nautical
miles, was finished, and the vessel was
stopped to make the change to the af-
ter tank containing the second section.
This hazardous operation was success
fully carried out in a little more than
an hour and progress was resumed. AS
liiS kt5SSl grew lighter lHe TOliluR III
creased. The character of the cargo
and the ponderous deck machinery
made her particularly susceptible to
the swell.
Crossed Another Cable.
Saturday, the goth, was notable for
two things. the crossing of the VAN
couver- Australian cable at o'clock in
the morning and the receipt of the
first batch of news from San Fran
cisco.
From Tuesday noon to Wednesday
night the deepest water was crossed.
averaging 5000 fathoms
Thursday, Dec. rs. Christmas day,
was not a pleasant one to the people
on the Silvertown. and the celebration
of the day was postponed to a more
favorable time. The wind veered
around to the northwest and increased
it's velocity to that of 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 to the now
almost empty vessel. tossing and roll
ing in the heavy seas.
Made Fast to Buoy.
Throughout the day a gale blew, with
the enO OIL the QeSp Sed CdDic III olS IL
and with it the necessity of cutting
or buoying the end. An anxious night
was passed by all on board. No mem
Der of either staff attempted to sleep.
After o'clock in the evening, the Sill
vertown's speed, was reduced In order
to bring her to a suitable buoying
place towards daylight. 1t was with
difficulty that the line was made fast
to the cable and the end buoyed. Word
10, IN line a % and
as the 6-inch Manila hawser was cut
with the knife, it parted with a snap.
So great was the strain upon it that
friction caused it to take fire as II
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 force, but quickly righted IT.
self. The cable was safely buoyed in
$50 fathoms of water and the. vessel
proceeded to Honolulu, where she ar
rived at noon on Dec. 26. E. D. Moore.