THE SUBMARINE CABLE 



the release wheel the wrong way, and the cable snapped 

 at once. 



The high character of Bright is shown in the matter 

 of his official report of this unfortunate accident to the 

 company. One can imagine what his feelings must have 

 been toward the man whose mistake meant so much to 

 him, for Bright's heart and soul were in the enter- 

 prise. But in this report, far from naming the man 

 or blaming him, he simply says, "On examining 

 the machine I found that the brakes had not been 

 released, and to this, or to the hand-wheel of the brake 

 being turned the wrong way, may be attributed the stop- 

 page and consequent fracture of the cable." It is 

 gratifying to know that the man who could thus restrain 

 his feelings was destined finally to succeed in this and 

 many other great undertakings. 



It was a sad spectacle presented by the "Wire Squad- 

 ron" a few days later as it crept back into harbor, 

 defeated, and disgraced in the eyes of the critics. No 

 enthusiastic well-wishers gathered there to encourage 

 it. Gloom was everywhere except in the hearts of the 

 "I told you so" croaking critics. Gloom and depres- 

 sion but not dejection, at least in the camp of the pro- 

 moters and stockholders ; for money was subscribed, 

 and seven hundred miles more cable ordered made at 

 once. 



A SECOND FIASCO 



The experiences of the first attempt were profited by, 

 and, among other important innovations, a self-releasing 

 brake was devised by Bright and a Mr. Amos which 



[37] 



