The telegraph manual: a complete history and description of the semaphoric, electric and magnetic telegraphs of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, ancient and modern.

HOLYHEAD AND HOWTH SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH. 611
Fig 5 represents the coiling of the cable in the hold of the
ship. This and the next figure have been copied from the
London Illustrated News, and they are excellent representations
of the subjects. I was present and witnessed the coiling of a
section of the great Mediterranean cable in the vessel at
Greenwich, near London, in 1854, and the scene represented
by fig. 5 was taken on that occasion. In like manner other
cables have been coiled in the vessel, proper care always being
taken to prevent twists or kinks of any kind. When the cable
is thus properly placed in the ship, it will pay out into the sea
without hazard, except when interfered with by storm or unforeseen causes.
Fig. 6 represents the paying out of the cable from the deck
of the vessel into the sea. The cable ascends from the hold
of the ship and passing between guide rollers, as seen to the
right in the figure, passes on to the break drum, and after encircling that some two, three or more times, as circumstances
require, it is conducted over the stern of the vessel and dropped
into the water, where it soon finds a resting-place upon the
bottom, far below the influence of storm and tempest, and
where it is supposed by philosophers there are no movements
of the mighty waters nor a single element to disturb its quiet
repose. The mechanism adopted for the paying out of cables
is not always the same, though in general principle there is
but little difference. Circumstances may require an occasional
modification of certain parts, yet every plan contemplates the
attainment of two essential considerations; first, the paying
out of the cable to avoid kinks or any kind of entanglement;
and second, to pay it out at a speed commensurate with that
of the vessel.
HOLYHEAD AND HOWTH SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH.
The most remarkable feat ever performed in the laying of a
cable was in connection with that from Holyhead on the
Welsh coast, to Howth on the coast of Ireland, on June 1st,
1852, by Messrs. Newall & Co. Several companies had been
projected to carry out the telegraphic connection between Ireland and England on the route above mentioned. Capital was
being raised and great arrangements were being perfected to
accomplish the gigantic undertaking. The distance across the
channel was sixty miles, and it was estimated that at least ten
miles plus would be required in submerging it. The length
of wire was insulated with gutta-percha by Messrs. Statham
& Co., at their extensive establishment in London. It was
then shipped to Messrs. Newall & Co., at Gateshead on the