Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

EARLY ATLANTIC CABLES. 287 ments asserted themselves, and was seldom visible again till all was over ; whilst Mr. Whitehouse was compelled to restrict his influence to the end of the cable at the Irish station, his health not permitting him to accompany the expedition. On the vessels'being fully loaded ready for the vicar of the parish for the success of the undertaking. The cable having had to be divided be- tween two ships, a splice between each length of cable was obviously necessary. The engineer-in-chief (Mr. Bright) desired that both ships should start laying from mid- iig. 9. -U.S. N.S. NIAGARA,” USED FOR LAYING HALF OF THE FIRST ATLANTIC CABLE. the start, “ send off ” fostivities occurred. These functions having been duly consum- mated, the “ Wire Squadron ” met at Valencia Bay in preparation for the work about to be embarked on. The First Start. The day after the rendezvous was occupied in landing the shore end in a little cove named Ballycarberry, some three miles from Valencia Harbour, with the aid of the two small steamers Willing Mind and Advice, be- sides several launches and boats. His Excellency the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland was present and made an appro- priate speech, followed by a prayer from ocean towards their respective shores. By that plan favourable weather for the splice could be waited for, the time occupied in laying the line would be halved, thereby reducing the chances of mishaps due to bad weather intervening, and the most difficult part of the work in deep water would be dealt with first. The electricians, however, laid stress on the importance of being in continuous communica- tion with shore during laying operations ; and their views prevailed with the board, partly, it would seem, on account of the novelty of being able to speak from headquarters to a ship as she proceeded across the Atlantic. It had, therefore, been arranged that the laying of