The Story of the Atlantic TelegraphField, Henry M. (Henry Martyn)
History
The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph
Field, Henry M. (Henry Martyn)
Transatlantic cables
"But it would not only be ungenerous, but unjust, that I should
for a moment forget the services of those who were my
co-workers in this enterprise, and without whom any labors of
mine would have been unavailing. It would be difficult to
enumerate the many gentlemen whose scientific acquirements and
skill and energy have been devoted to the advancement of this
work, and who have so mainly produced the issue which has
called forth this expression of your good wishes on my behalf.
But I could not do justice to my own feelings did I fail to
acknowledge how much is owing to Captain Hudson and the
officers of the Niagara, whose hearts were in the work, and
whose toil was unceasing; to Captain Dayman of her Majesty's
ship Gorgon, for the soundings so accurately made by him last
year, and for the perfect manner in which he led the Niagara
over the great-circle arc while laying the cable; to Captain
Otter, of the Porcupine, for the careful survey made by him in
Trinity Bay, and for the admirable manner in which he piloted
the Niagara at night to her anchorage; to Mr. Everett, who has
for months devoted his whole time to designing and perfecting
the beautiful machinery that has so successfully paid out the
cable from the ships--machinery so perfect in every respect,
that it was not for one moment stopped on board the Niagara
until she reached her destination in Trinity Bay; to Mr.
Woodhouse, who superintended the coiling of the cable, and
zealously and ably coöperated with his brother engineer during
the progress of paying-out; to the electricians for their
constant watchfulness; to the men for their almost ceaseless
labor (and I feel confident that you will have a good report
from the commanders, engineers, electricians, on board the
Agamemnon and Valorous, the Irish portion of the fleet); to the
Directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Company for the time they
have devoted to the undertaking without receiving any
compensation for their services (and it must be a pleasure to
many of you to know that the director, who has devoted more
time than any other, was for many years a resident of this
place, and well known to all of you--I allude to Mr. Brooking,
of London); to Mr. C. M. Lampson, a native of New England, but
who has for the last twenty-seven years resided in London, who
appreciated the great importance of this enterprise to both
countries, and gave it most valuable aid, bringing his sound
judgment and great business talent to the service of the
Company; to that distinguished American, Mr. George Peabody,
and his worthy partner, Mr. Morgan, who not only assisted it
most liberally with their means, but to whom I could always go
with confidence for advice."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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