THE CELEBRATION
Engineer's Report--Jubilations--Banquets--Speeches--Honor to the
Engineer-in-Chief.
On landing at Valentia, the engineer-in-chief at once sent the following
startling but welcome message to his Board, which was at once passed on
to the press:
Charles Bright, to the Directors of the Atlantic
Telegraph Company.
VALENTIA, _August 5th_.
The Agamemnon has arrived at Valentia, and we are about to land the
end of the cable.
The Niagara is in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland. There are good signals
between the ships.
We reached the rendezvous on the night of the 28th, and the splice
with the Niagara cable was made on board the Agamemnon the
following morning.
By noon on the 30th, 265 nautical miles were laid between the
ships; on the 31st, 540; on the 1st August, 884; on the 2d, 1,256;
on the 4th, 1,854; on anchoring at six in the morning in Doulas
Bay, 2,022.
The speed of the Niagara during the whole time has been nearly the
same as ours, the length of cable paid out from the two ships being
generally within ten miles of each other.
With the exception of yesterday, the weather has been very
unfavorable.[42]
On the afternoon of Thursday, August 5th--as already described in The
Times report--Bright and his staff brought to shore the end of the
cable, at White Strand Bay, near Knight's Town, Valentia, in the boats
of the Valorous, welcomed by the united cheers of the small crowd
assembled.
Taken entirely by surprise, all England applauded the triumph of such
undaunted perseverance and the engineering and nautical skill displayed
in this victory over the elements. The Atlantic Telegraph had been
justly characterized as the "great feat of the century," and this was
reechoed by all the press on its realization. The following extracts
from the leading article of The Times the day after completion is an
example of the comments upon the achievement:
Mr. Bright, having landed the end of the Atlantic cable at
Valentia, has brought to a successful termination his anxious and
difficult task of linking the Old World with the New, thereby
annihilating space. Since the discovery of Columbus, nothing has
been done in any degree comparable to the vast enlargement which
has thus been given to the sphere of human activity.
The rejoicing in America, both in public and private, knew no
bounds. The astounding news of the success of this unparalleled
enterprise, after such combats with storm and sea, "created
universal enthusiasm, exultation, and joy, such as was, perhaps,
never before produced by any event, not even the discovery of the
Western Hemisphere. Many had predicted its failure, some from
ignorance, others simply because they were anti-progressives by
nature. Philanthropists everywhere hailed it as the greatest event
of modern times, heralding the good time coming of universal peace
and brotherhood."
In Newfoundland, Mr. Field, together with Mr. Bright's assistant
engineers, Messrs. Everett and Woodhouse, and the electricians,
Messrs, de Sauty and Laws, received the heartiest congratulations
and welcome from the Governor and Legislative Council of the
colony. While acknowledging these congratulations, Mr. Field
remarked. "We have had many difficulties to surmount, many
discouragements to bear, and some enemies to overcome, whose very
opposition has stimulated us to greater exertion."[43]
It was a curious coincidence that the cable was successfully completed
to Valentia on the same day in 1858 on which the shore end had been
landed the year before. Moreover, it was exactly one hundred and eleven
years since Dr. (afterward Sir William) Watson had astonished the
scientific world by sending an electric current through a wire two miles
long, using the earth as a return circuit. It is also worthy of note
that the first feat of telegraphy was executed by order of King
"Agamemnon" to his queen, announcing the fall of Troy, 1,084 years
before the birth of Christ, and that the great feat which we have
narrated was carried out by the great ship Agamemnon, as has been here
shown.
Mr. Bright and Messrs. Canning and Clifford and the rest of the staff,
as well as Professor Thomson and the electricians, were absolutely
exhausted with the incessant watching and almost unbearable anxiety
attending their arduous travail. Valentia proved a haven of rest indeed
for these "toilers of the deep"--completely knocked up with their
experiences on the Atlantic, not to mention their previous trials and
disappointments.
Then came a series of banquets, which had to be gone through. Soon after
his duties at Valentia were over, Bright made his way to Dublin. Here he
was entertained by the Lord Mayor and civic authorities of that capital
on Wednesday, September 1st. On this occasion Cardinal Wiseman, who was
present, made an eloquent speech; and the following account of the
proceedings from the Morning Post may be suitably quoted:
The banquet given on Wednesday, the 1st, by the Lord Mayor of
Dublin, to Mr. C. T. Bright, Engineer-in-Chief to the Atlantic
Telegraph Company, was a great success. The assemblage embraced the
highest names in the metropolis--civil, military, and official.
Cardinal Wiseman was present in full cardinalite costume. The usual
toasts were given, and received with all honors.
The Lord Mayor, in proposing the toast of the evening, "The health
of Mr. Bright," dwelt with much eloquence on the achievements of
science, and paid a marked and merited compliment to the genius and
perseverance which, in the face of discouragement from the
scientific world, had succeeded in bringing about the
accomplishment of the great undertaking of the laying of the
Atlantic telegraph. His lordship's speech was most eloquent, and
highly complimentary to the distinguished guest, Mr. C. T. Bright.
Mr. Bright rose, amid loud cheers, to respond. He thanked the
assemblage for their hearty welcome, and said he was deeply
sensible of the honor of having his name associated with the great
work of the Atlantic Telegraph. He next commented upon the value of
this means of communication for the prevention of misunderstanding
between the Governments of the great powers, and then referred to
the services of the gentlemen who had been associated with him in
laying the cable, with whom he shared the honors done him that
night. (Mr. Bright was warmly cheered throughout his eloquent
speech.)
His Eminence the Cardinal descanted in glowing terms on the new
achievement of science, brought to a successful issue under the
able superintendence of Mr. Bright. He warmly eulogized that
gentleman's modest appreciation of his services to the world of
commerce and to international communication in general.
Charles Bright was honored with a knighthood within a few days of
landing. As this was considered a special occasion, and as Queen
Victoria was at that time abroad, the ceremony was performed there and
then by his Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland on behalf of her
Majesty. Bright was but twenty-six years of age at the time, being the
youngest man who had received the distinction for generations past, and
no similar instance has since occurred. Moreover, it was the first title
conferred on the telegraphic or electrical profession, and remained so
for many years.
With Professor Thomson and other colleagues, Sir Charles Bright was
right royally entertained in Dublin, Killarney, and elsewhere, the
Lord-Lieutenant taking a prominent part in the celebrations. On the
occasion of the Killarney banquet, his Excellency made the following
remarks _à propos_ of the cable and its engineers:[44]
When we consider the extraordinary undertaking that has been
accomplished within the last few weeks; when we consider that a
cable of about 2,000 miles has been extended beneath the ocean--a
length which, if multiplied ten times, would reach our farthest
colonies and nearly surround the earth; when we consider it is
stretched along the bed of shingles and shells, which appeared
destined for it as a foundation by Providence, and stretching from
the points which human enterprise would look to; and when we
consider the great results that will flow from the enterprise, we
are at a loss here how sufficiently to admire the genius and energy
of those who planned it, or how to be sufficiently thankful to the
Almighty for having delegated such a power to the human race, for
whose benefit it is to be put in force. (Cheers.) And let us look
at the career which this telegraph has passed since it was first
discovered. At first it was rapidly laid over the land, uniting
states, communities, and countries, extending over hills and
valleys, roads and railways; but the sea appeared to present an
impenetrable barrier. It could not stop here, however; submarine
telegraphy was but a question of time, and the first enterprise by
which it was introduced was in connection with an old foe--and at
present our best friend--Imperial France. (Hear, hear.) The next
attempt which was successful was the junction of England and our
island, and which was, I believe, carried out by the same
distinguished engineer (Sir Charles Bright), whose name is now in
the mouth of every man. (Hear, hear.) Other submarine attempts
followed: the telegraph paused before the great Atlantic, like
another Alexander, weeping as if it had no more worlds to conquer;
but it has found another world, and it has gained it--not bringing
strife or conquest, but carrying with it peace and good-will.
(Applause.) I feel I should be wanting if I did not allude in terms
of admiration to the genius and skill of the engineer, Sir Charles
Bright, who has carried out this enterprise, and to the zeal and
courage of those who brought it to a successful termination.
(Applause.) It is not necessary, I am certain, to call attention to
the diligence and attention shown by the crew of the
Agamemnon--(cheers)--because I am sure there is no one here who has
not read the description of the voyage in the newspapers. The zeal
and enterprise were only to be equaled by the skill with which it
was carried out. I believe there was only a difference of twelve
miles between the two ends of the cable when it came to the shore.
There are some questions with regard to the date at which the work
was carried out to which I wish to call attention. It was on the
5th August, 1857, that this enterprise was first commenced under
the auspices of my distinguished predecessor, who I wish was here
now to rejoice in its success--I mean only in a private capacity.
(Cheers and laughter.) It was on the 5th August, 1858, it was
completed, and it was on the 5th August, more than three hundred
years ago, that Columbus left the shores of Spain to proceed on his
ever-memorable voyage to America. It was on the 5th of August,
1583, that Sir Hugh Gilbert, a worthy countryman of Raleigh and
Drake, steered his good ship the Squirrel to the shores of
Newfoundland and first unfurled the flag of England in the very bay
where this triumph has now taken place--(applause)--and it was on
the same 5th of August that your sovereign was received by her
imperial friend amid the fortifications of Cherbourg, and thereby
put an end to the ridiculous nonsense about strife and dissension.
(Applause.) Let the 5th August be a day ever memorable among
nations. Let it be, if I may so term it, the birthday of England.
(Applause.) Among the many points which must have given every one
satisfaction was the manner in which this great success was
received in America. (Hear.) There appears to have been but one
feeling of rejoicing predominant among them; and I can not but
think that that was not only owing to their commercial
enterprise--which they shared along with us--but also, I trust,
more to the feelings of consanguinity and affection which I am sure
we share, though occasionally disturbed by international disputes,
and by differences caused by misrepresentations or hastiness. It
must still burn as brightly in their breasts as in ours.
(Applause.) I trust that, not only with our friends across the
Atlantic, but with every civilized nation, this great triumph of
science will prove the harbinger of peace, good-will, and
friendship; and that England and America will not verify the first
line of the stanza,
Lands intersected by a narrow firth
Abhor each other,
but that they will, by mutual intercourse, arrive at the last line
of that stanza, and "like kindred drops, be mingled into one."
(Warm applause.)