'In connection with the laying of the Cable, we understand that the general body of the citizens are raising an amount by subscription for an exhibition of Fireworks. It is also contemplated partially to illuminate the city.'
Daily Gleaner, September 13, 1870
September 16, 1870
This was a day to be remembered in Jamaica, and indeed marks the first big step in the integration of the island into an international telecommunication system of which Jamaica has been a part ever since.
Daily Gleaner
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1870. The announcement early yesterday that the splice of the Cable had been made at Holland Bay, and that this Island was put in immediate communication by magnetic influence with the rest of the world, was the Signal for much excitement throughout the city. The Consulates and the Commercial Exchange hoisted their national Flags in honor of the event, and shortly after every variety of bunting was to be seen streaming from the upper part of the mercantile establishments. A great number of people gathered about the Exchange and other places where the least information could be obtained, and it was pleasing to observe the eagerness of everyone to do something in honor of the occasion. There was almost an abandon of business. |
- the submarine cables -
People in Jamaica were conscious of the importance of the international telegraph long before the island was directly connected by submarine cables to the rest of the world. As one reads the newspapers of the time one is immediately aware that much of the international news in them depends at various stages on the developing telegraph systems within and between countries and continents.
On Friday, November 2, 1866, for example, the Gleaner editorial column reported the arrival of the Steamer Crusader, which had left New York on the afternoon of October 24, and made
'a remarkably quick passage' reaching Kingston at mid-day
November 1.
The writer went on to note:
'We have received our customary files of New York papers, containing news from America to the 24th and from Europe per Atlantic Cable to the 23rd. The news from Europe is not of any particular moment.'
and a few months later -
The Gleaner
THURSDAY, FEB. 7, 1867.
Arrival of the Packet.
The Royal Mail Steamship Tasmanian, with the Mails of the 17th ult., arrived at the Company's Wharf at 5 p. m., yesterday.
The news by this arrival has been in a great measure placed before our readers, through the At[l]antic Cable despatches.
On Friday, November 2, 1866, for example, the Gleaner editorial column reported the arrival of the Steamer Crusader, which had left New York on the afternoon of October 24, and made
'a remarkably quick passage' reaching Kingston at mid-day
November 1.
The writer went on to note:
'We have received our customary files of New York papers, containing news from America to the 24th and from Europe per Atlantic Cable to the 23rd. The news from Europe is not of any particular moment.'
and a few months later -
The Gleaner
THURSDAY, FEB. 7, 1867.
Arrival of the Packet.
The Royal Mail Steamship Tasmanian, with the Mails of the 17th ult., arrived at the Company's Wharf at 5 p. m., yesterday.
The news by this arrival has been in a great measure placed before our readers, through the At[l]antic Cable despatches.
So the press regularly carried reports on the progress of the laying of submarine cables, especially in the western hemisphere.
1865-6
. . . . and in 1870 - Jamaica
Pall Mall Gazette - London - July, 1870
THE WEST INDIAN TELEGRAPH EXPEDITION ONE of the largest and best equipped telegraph expeditions that ever left these shores will in a few days begin to start on its labours . . . . no fewer than seven large vessels carrying between them more than 4,200 miles of submarine cable . . . .the united labours of three companies which have been working together . . . . The West India and Panama Company, the Cuba Submarine Company and the Panama and South Pacific . . . . no less than 4,700 miles of additional electrical communication, which . . . . will literally place every part of that vast continent within a few hours’ communication with London. At Kingston, the submarine line branches off in two directions. One goes due south under the Caribbean Sea . . . . where it joins the South Pacific lines . . . . the other branch from Kingston goes east and then south, passing south of Hayti to Porto Rico, thence to St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Antigua, Dominica, Barbadoes, Tobago, and Trinidad. |
the Cable/Telegraph Ship Dacia
The Dacia was launched in 1867, and converted for cable use in 1869 by Sir Charles Bright, initially for use on the West India cables. The ship was cut in half and increased in length by 40 feet to provide room for a large cable tank amidships, and was also strengthened by a broad iron belt on her sides from stem to stern.
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During World War I the Dacia was sunk on December 3, 1916, while moored off
Funchal, the capital of Madeira, by the German U-boat U-38, during an attack on the city. The cable ship had been engaged in diverting the South American cable into Brest, in France. Reports vary as to the fate of the crew - either there were no casualties, or a small number of Portuguese sailors went down with the ship. |
. . . . and a direct cable to Europe, 1898-9
'Links to Europe relied on foreign services, and at a conference in Barbados in 1890 two new companies were formed: the Halifax and Bermudas Telegraph Company, and the Direct West India Telegraph Company.'
History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications
History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications
Daily Gleaner, Tuesday, January 18, 1898
The Cable to England ARRIVAL OF THE " SCOTIA." ARRANGEMENTS COMPLETED. Yesterday was a red letter day in the history of Jamaica for the cable — the Direct Cable through Bermuda and Turks Island to Halifax — was safely brought into Bull Bay and there anchored off shore. This (Tuesday) morning connection will be made between the Bull Bay Cable-Hut and Windsor Forest and other arrangements such as the connection of the line to the office in Kingston, and the putting up of telegraphic apparatus in the office will, it is expected, be finished by the end of the present week and everything will be ready for the transmission of messages. On the 24th December last the "Scotia," which by the way is an old Cunard liner and was bought by the cable contractors for the special purpose of cable laying some years ago, left London under the command of Captain Cato; there were then on board Mr. F. R. Lucas, chief engineer of the Telegraph Construction Company. Mr. Rippon, representing the Direct Cable Company, etc. The boat carried 1.354 miles of cable weighing 2,500 tons. She arrived at Bermuda on the 3rd January and after laying the harbour cables there from lighters, and picking up Mr Peake, the chief engineer of the Direct Cable Company, left on the 8th January on its work of laying the main cable. "We had a very favourable passage across" said Mr. Lucas, "and beautiful weather all the way which was very fortunate. We arrived at Turks Island on the 13th January, and after establishing the office there, and taking tests of the cable, we left again on the 14th and this morning buoyed the cable at Bull Bay at 11 o'clock in the forenoon. We left Mr. Rippon the managing director of the Company at Bermuda. He is, I understand, coming on to Jamaica immediately. Mr. Anstruther, as you know, is the representative of the Direct Cable Company here. "There is no doubt" he continued "that the Direct Cable Cable Co. made a very careful contract with us and they have now got an excellent cable between Bermuda and Jamaica. Their interests have been watched and safeguarded by Mr. Peake a gentleman who you will remember carne out to Jamaica in the "Brittania" making the preliminary survey for the cable sometime ago. "The Company which I represent is, I may say, the original Cable-laying Company in the world, and we have laid the greater portion of the world's cables." Mr. Anstruther, who was also seen by a representative, explained that that evening telegraphic stores and apparatus were being landed, and said that the connection from Bull Bay would be slipped from its buoy and landed, would take place the first thing in the morning. The final test, he said, of the cable's trustworthiness would be made this (Tuesday) morning. In connection with this consideration of testing it would be interesting to be able to give a description of all the fine instruments which our representative was shown in the electrical instrument's' room. Mr T. Clark, the engineer in charge of the electrical portion of the undertaking, explained that he had instruments for testing the cable at any moment from the time it was commenced to be laid till yesterday when the final touches were given at Bull Bay. He showed our representative the three cable tanks in the ship from which one at a time the cable had been laid. The necessity of the three tanks is of course obvious when one remembers the weight of the cable. The electrical instruments were so arranged that by an attachment with the cable a message could be transmitted to any fixed station on the route. "Any hitch in the laying of the cable" said Mr. Clark "is at once notified by my instruments which are watched night and day. Have we had any hitch? No, it has been an eminently satisfactory voyage, and not a single hitch has occurred all the way. From Halifax to Bermuda the bottom was pretty level, the average depth being 2,800 to 2,900 fathoms. From Turks Island to Jamaica the bottom was rather irregular in places but the depth was only an average of 1,500 fathoms. The greatest depth we found was 3,400 fathoms. All these soundings had been made on the experimental trip of the 'Brittania' as you know such data is necessary beforehand to enable us to know what length of cable is required. The "Scotia", as we have observed, belongs to the contractors and leaves for London to-day alter completing its work at Bull Bay. We were informed that the Company would station another boat on the West Indian station in order to repair the cables when necessary. |
Daily Gleaner, Thursday, January 20, 1898
The cable str. Scotia which left here on Tuesday morning for Bull Bay to complete the laying of the new cable returned yesterday morning afternoon [sic] having performed the work. She left late in the day for Turks Island.
The cable str. Scotia which left here on Tuesday morning for Bull Bay to complete the laying of the new cable returned yesterday morning afternoon [sic] having performed the work. She left late in the day for Turks Island.
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Daily Gleaner, February 1, 1898
The Direct Cable Formal Opening One of the most interesting and significant ceremonies which have ever taken place in Jamaica was enacted yesterday at the office of the Direct West India Cable Coy. This was the formal opening of the new all-British cable which connects England with this island via Bermuda and Halifax. After many years of unwearied endeavour and knocking at the doors of the Imperial Government the promoters see the consummation of their hopes in the [vision] of the cable well laid down and a fine [ ] telegraphic equipment in satisfactory working order. There was an interesting gathering in the instrument room of the Company's office at 3 p.m. Mr. Rippon, one of the most genial of company's managers, received the company as they arrived. Among those who were present we observed: the Hons. S. C. Burke and H. Stern; Capt. Peploe Forward, Messrs. J. L. Wingate, C. E. deMercado, C. S. [James?], E. A. .H. Haggart, A. George, J. W. Branday, Dr. Ogilvie, Messrs. P. E. Auvray, W. Ford Holwell, G. Pearce, Wilson Hart, W. P. Livingstone, representing the GLEANER, W. Morrison, representing the News Letter, C. L. Campbell, representing the Budget, W. Johnson, and others. The instrument table was naturally the source of much interest and as the white strip of paper came gliding out of the recorder it was observed with great curiosity. At the other end of the table was the transmitting instrument before which sat Mr. Anstruther superintendent of the station. The West India and Panama Cable signals are received with a mirror galvanometer. But this method leaves no record, while it is very difficult to watch the motions of a spot of light and write out a message at the same time. The new Company, therefore, are using the latest instrument — the siphon recorder which writes a record in ink of the right and left deflections of the suspended coil that in it is substituted for the magnetised needle of the ordinary telegraph instruments. The operator, of course, must be able to read at a glance the signification of the wavy lines—" telegraphic shorthand"—made by the recorder on the tape as it issues from the instrument. Shortly after 3 o'clock Mr. Rippon stated that several messages had been handed in from the Government (Major General Hallowes) the Chamber of Commerce, and the Press. These would now be despatched at once. He handed the messages to Mr. Anstruther and immediately the "click click'' of the instrument knob began. Throughout the subsequent proceedings Mr. Anstruther was busy sending the messages off and in remarkably short period had finished the lot. TOASTING THE COMPANY. Champagne and other beverages were handed round and then the interest centred on Mr. S. C. Burke. The hon. S. C. .Burke said: I have been asked to ask you to join me in drinking success to the Direct West India Cable Co. (hear, hear). This is an enterprise which deserves success (applause). We have for years in this country been endeavouring both at the Merchants' Exchange and at the Legislative Council to induce the Secretary of State for the Colonies to lend his aid to this enterprise of laying a direct cable from Jamaica to England upon British territory. (hear, hear). And I am sure there is not a man in Jamaica who does not feel the importance of this cable. We wish it abundant success. A message to Her Majesty the Queen has just been despatched through the Secretary of State for the Colonies (applause) stating that the cable is now successfully laid and we wish success to the undertaking and to the shareholders of the Company. May God speed them in their great and glorious work (loud applause). The toast was enthusiastically pledged. Mr. J. Rippon, manager of the Coy., in responding said: l am extremely gratified with the very hearty welcome you have given us to-day. I hope we shall serve you satisfactorily for very many years to come and we shall be not only together in business, but also in friendship, because I believe if we can bring friendship and business together it sweetens both, I drink to the health and prosperity of Jamaica (loud applause). THE MANAGER AND EMPLOYEES. Mr. J. W. Branday proposed the toast of "the Manager and the Employees of the Direct West India Co." which was heartily quaffed. The visitors then inspected the instruments, and observed the transmission of the messages, and after many congratulatory remarks to the manager of the Company the formal opening of the line was completed. The names of the operators are Messrs. Farrant, Carless, and Waller. |