Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
378
The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph
·
Henry M. Field
297
"Friday.--Yesterday
was
a
day
of
complete
success,
the
paying
out
in
every
respect
satisfactory.
The
wind
still
from
the
eastward,
but
inclined
to
draw
to
the
northward,
the
sea
entirely
gone
down.
As
Mr.
Canning
told
us
we
should
see
the
after
tank
emptied
at
eleven
o'clock,
ship's
time,
we
were
all
collected
there
about
ten
o'clock,
by
which
time
the
cable
was
down
to
the
last
flake.
Next
to
having
daylight
for
changing
from
the
after
to
the
fore
tank,
we
could
not
have
had
a
more
favorable
time--clear
starlight,
no
wind,
and
a
smooth
sea.
Looking
down
into
the
tank,
the
scene
was
highly
picturesque.
The
cable-watch,
whose
figures
were
lighted
up
by
the
lamps
suspended
from
above,
slowly
and
cautiously
lifted
the
turns
of
the
coil
to
ease
their
path
to
the
eye.
As
each
found
its
way
to
the
drum,
the
wooden
floor
of
the
tank
showed
itself,
and
then
we
saw
more
floor,
and
as
its
area
increased
the
cable
swept
along
its
surface
with
a
low,
subdued
noise,
until,
with
a
graceful
curve,
it
mounted
to
the
outlet,
where
it
was
soon
to
join
a
fresh
supply;
and
now
we
hear
the
word
passed
that
they
have
arrived
at
the
last
turn,
and
the
men
who
stood
on
the
stages
of
the
platform
of
the
eye
with
the
bight,
watch
the
arrival
of
the
cable
and
pass
it
up
with
tender
caution,
until
it
reaches
the
summit;
then
it
rushes
down
a
wooden
incline
to
meet
the
spliced
rope,
which
had
by
this
time
come
down
along
the
trough
leading
from
the
forward
tank.
This
operation
was
conducted
with
great
skill
by
Mr.
Canning
and
his
experienced
assistants,
Messrs.
Clifford
and
Temple.
At
eleven
minutes
past
one
A.M.
(Greenwich
time),
the
fresh
rope
was
going
over
the
stern,
and
the
screw
engines
going
ahead
at
thirteen
minutes
past
one.
A
watch
of
four
men
is
now
stationed,
fore
and
aft,
all
along
the
trough,
which
is
illuminated
by
many
lamps
at
short
distances
from
each
other.
A
lamp
with
a
green
light
indicates
the
mile-mark
as
it
comes
up
from
the
tank,
and
this
signal
is
repeated
until
it
reaches
the
stern,
where
it
is
recorded
by
the
clerk
who
keeps
the
cable-log,
in
an
office
adjoining
the
paying-out
machinery.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
