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378
The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph
·
Henry M. Field
165
"During
Sunday
the
sea
and
wind
increased,
and
before
the
evening
it
blew
a
smart
gale.
Now,
indeed,
were
the
energy
and
activity
of
all
engaged
in
the
operation
tasked
to
the
utmost.
Mr.
Hoar
and
Mr.
Moore,
the
two
engineers
who
had
the
charge
of
the
relieving-wheels
of
the
dynamometer,
had
to
keep
watch
and
watch
alternately
every
four
hours,
and
while
on
duty
durst
not
let
their
attention
be
removed
from
their
occupation
for
one
moment,
for
on
their
releasing
the
brakes
every
time
the
stern
of
the
ship
fell
into
the
trough
of
the
sea
entirely
depended
the
safety
of
the
cable,
and
the
result
shows
how
ably
they
discharged
their
duty.
Throughout
the
night,
there
were
few
who
had
the
least
expectation
of
the
cable
holding
on
till
morning,
and
many
remained
awake
listening
for
the
sound
that
all
most
dreaded
to
hear--namely,
the
gun
which
should
announce
the
failure
of
all
our
hopes.
But
still
the
cable,
which,
in
comparison
with
the
ship
from
which
it
was
paid
out,
and
the
gigantic
waves
among
which
it
was
delivered,
was
but
a
mere
thread,
continued
to
hold
on,
only
leaving
a
silvery
phosphorous
line
upon
the
stupendous
seas
as
they
rolled
on
toward
the
ship.
"With
Sunday
morning
came
no
improvement
in
the
weather;
still
the
sky
remained
black
and
stormy
to
windward,
and
the
constant
violent
squalls
of
wind
and
rain
which
prevailed
during
the
whole
day
served
to
keep
up,
if
not
to
augment,
the
height
of
the
waves.
But
the
cable
had
gone
through
so
much
during
the
night,
that
our
confidence
in
its
continuing
to
hold
was
much
restored.
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