ELECTRIC A L INVENTIONS 2 1 5 



successful transatlantic cable was laid in 1860 by the famous 

 old steamer, the " Great Eastern" (Fig 8 7). Since then many 

 other cables have been laid across the Atlantic and across the 

 Pacific. 



FIG. 87. Laying the Atlantic cable, splicing the ends in mid-ocean. (Copied 

 from the Scientific American, February 14, 1857.) 



The following quotation from a contemporary account of the 

 laying of the first Atlantic cable taken from the Chicago Daily 

 Press and Tribune of Friday morning, August 6, 1858, shows the 

 spirit of daring achievement that flavored these early attempts : 



THE GREAT WORK OF THE AGE COMPLETED 



DISPATCH FROM CYRUS W. FIELD 

 QUEEN VICTORIA TO SEND THE FIRST MESSAGE 



TRINITY BAY, N.F., AUG. STH 

 To THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: 



The Atlantic Telegraph Fleet sailed from Queenstown on Saturday, 

 July 17. Arrived at mid-ocean on Wednesday, the 28th; made the splice 

 at i P.M. on Thursday, the 29th, then separated, the Agamemnon and 

 Valorous bound to Valentia, Ireland, and the Niagara and Georgian fof 



