THE AFRICAN CABLE Ixxv 



ugly trifle, as he met every thwart circumstance of life, with a 

 certain pleasure of pugnacity ; and suffered it not to check him, 

 whether in the exercise of his profession or the pursuit of 

 amusement. 



I. 



'Birkenhead: April 18, 1858. 



' Well, you should know, Mr. having a contract to lay 



down a submarine telegraph from Sardinia to Africa failed three 

 times in the attempt. The distance from land to land is about 

 140 miles. On the first occasion, after proceeding some 70 

 miles, he had to cut the cable the cause I forget ; he tried 

 again, same result ; then picked up about 20 miles of the lost 

 cable, spliced on a new piece, and very nearly got across that 

 time, but ran short of cable, and when but a few miles off Galita 

 in very deep water, had to telegraph to London for more cable 

 to be manufactured and sent out whilst he tried to stick to the 

 end : for five days, I think, he lay there sending and receiving 

 messages, but heavy weather coming on, the cable parted and 

 Mr. - - went home in despair at least I should think so. 



* He then applied to those eminent engineers, K. S. Newall 

 & Co., who made and laid down a cable for him last autumn 

 Fleeming Jenkin (at the time in considerable mental agitation) 

 having the honour of fitting out the Elba for that purpose.' 

 [On this, occasion, the Elba has no cable to lay ; but] ' is going 

 out in the beginning of May to endeavour to fish up the cables 

 Mr. - - lost. There are> two ends, at or near the shore : the 

 third will probably not be found within 20 miles from land. 

 One of these ends will be passed over a very big pulley or sheave 

 at the bows, passed six times round a big barrel or drum ; which 

 will be turned round by a steam engine on deck, and thus wind 

 up the cable, while the Elba slowly steams ahead. The cable is 

 not wound round and round the drum as your silk is wound on 

 its reel, but on the contrary never goes round more than six 

 times, going off at one side as it comes on at the other, and 

 going down into the hold of the Elba to be coiled along in a big 

 coil or skein. 



VOL. I. e 



