American genius had not at that time asserted its supremacy in
mechanics and so the first cable had to be made in England; so Mr.
Field ordered one long enough to stretch from the west coast of Ireland
to the eastern point of Newfoundland. English capitalists subscribed
the money and the United States provided the vessel in which to store
and from which to drop the cable into the ocean.
Upon the first attempt to lay the cable, every thing went along nicely
for six days, and then suddenly the cable broke when three hundred and
thirty-five miles had been laid, and many said it could not be done.
Mr. Field, however, full of American pluck and determination, said “We
will try again.” A second attempt was made with two ships, the U. S. S.
“Niagara” and H. M. S. S. “Agamemnon.” Each ship carried half the cable
and they traveled in company to the middle of the ocean. There the two
pieces of the cable were spliced together and the ships started for the
shores in opposite directions. Again, however, when only a little of
the cable had been paid out--a little more than one hundred miles in
fact--the cable broke and both ships were forced to return to England.
In his third attempt the cable was finally laid clear across the
ocean and fastened at both ends. When tried it was found to work
successfully and Queen Victoria and President Buchanan were able to
exchange greetings upon the achievement of a wonderful work. The people
celebrated the event on both sides of the ocean, but in the midst of
the festivities, while a message was being flashed, something happened
to the cable--what, we have never been able to learn--and the cable was
silent, forever.
Nothing daunted, however, Mr. Field by his great courage induced his
backers to buy him another cable and the “Great Eastern” sailed upon
what was to be a most successful mission. Starting from the American
side with the greatest steamship then known in charge of the previous
cable, the other end was successfully landed at Hearts Content,
Ireland, on July 27, 1866, in perfect working order, and the question
of the ocean telegraph was solved.
[Illustration: HOW CABLES ARE REPAIRED
Here is a buoy which is anchored to the cable. The cable ship will pick
it up and haul up the cable to the surface for inspection and perhaps
it will have to be repaired.]
[Illustration: Three grapnels used for picking up a cable from the
bed of the ocean. On the left is a common grapnel. In the middle is a
special grapnel known as Trott-Kingsford. On the right is the ordinary
cutting grapnel. Note the knives on the shaft and the insides of the
prongs.]
[Illustration: In this picture we see a portion of a cable which has
been fouled by the anchor of a ship and badly damaged. Note how the
wires are bunched. The cable splicers will go to work on this and put
in a new piece of cable, after which it will be let down into the sea
again.]
[Illustration: The Western Union Cable ship “Minia,” fast in an ice
field.]
[Illustration: POWERFUL ENGINES NEEDED ON CABLE REPAIR SHIPS
Here are the powerful engines which are used for picking up a cable
which has to be raised from the bottom of the sea for inspection or
repair.]
[Illustration: In this picture we see men at work splicing a cable
which has been picked up out of the depths of the sea and found to be
damaged.]
[Illustration: THE SHIP WHICH HELPED IN LAYING THE FIRST CABLE