THE INTERRUPTED CABLES.
South Australian Register 26 October 1888.
Respecting the recent interruptions to both cables from Port Darwin to Java, Mr. Knevett writes:
On 25 September the General Manager of this Company wired:— Singapore —The Sherard Osborne leaves here to-day with new cable for renewal and alteration off Bali and Lombok Straits of both Java and Darwin sections, with the object of strengthening the communication with Australia at an expenditure of about £25,000.
On October 1 this Company's Superintendent at Port Darwin wired: — Repairing ship at work for renewal. One cable interrupted at a time for intermittent periods of few hours;
On 10 October, this Company's Superintendent at Port Darwin wired :— Osborne been at work on old cable since 2nd; cable being buried found difficulty in picking it up. It parted on night of 2nd; on 3rd weather very thick; grappling unsuccessful.. Ship returned Banjoewangie morning of 5th to see if duplicate cable all right. Returned to ground again same day to resume work. Not spoken to her yet. This morning duplicate cable failed 41 miles from Banjoewangie. '' Ship supposed to have gone through new cable while grappling for old one. It is possible that she has Banjoewangie end on board".
On the 31th instant Port Darwin wired : — 'Last message received from Banjoewangie 3:24 a.m. Singapore time, line then clear. Called Singapore at 4:20 a.m., but unable to get him. Hope be through again before next week';
On the 11th, 4:26 p.m. Adelaide time: - 'Just spoken Osborne on old cable' and at 5:50 p.m. 'Osborne has now buoyed end of old cable. Hopes to pick up new cable to-night. Ship at work when new cable failed on morning of 10th';
Also on 11th advised: — 'There was very slight shock of earthquake felt in Darwin, 10 p.m. Singapore time on 9th. No particulars worth mentioning.'
On 12th 9:45 p.m Darwin wired: — 'Just got ship on new cable; he buoyed the Banjoewangie end of this cable this morning';
On the 13th, 5:30 p.m.: — 'Just got ship who says cable parted last night; now going to buoy and pay out from there; will be up to this buoy again about 10 p.m. to-night (Saturday);
On 14th, Darwin Java cable repaired 9.10 a.m. Singapore time;
On 15th 9:12 a.m.: - The duplicate or 1879 cable failed on 10th while ship at work on renewals of 1871 cable. Break was in the part about to be renewed. Ship now resumes renewal of 1871 cable and then proceeds with same work on 1879 cable. Hope all work finished during this week.
This he further explained on 15th, 1:44 p.m. — 'Already informed you Osborne was proceeding with fresh cable to strengthen both Darwin - Java sections by cutting and laying new lengths in Bali and Lombok Straits. This she proceeded to do, and cut in on 1871 cable. The duplicate cable failing on 10th she buoyed ends of 1871 cable, and proceeded to repair duplicate, or 1879 cable. This she has done, and now resumes work on 1871 cable. When this completed she will undertake the same repairs on 1879 cable. 'The break in 1879 cable on 10th occurred in a portion of the cable that ship has to renew;
On 21st, 12:10 pm — 'Not spoken ship on 1871 cable since Tuesday (16th). The 1879 cable failed this morning at 7:30 a.m., Singapore time, about 60 miles from Banjoewangie. We may get ship at any moment;' and also on 21st, 6 p.m. — 'Nothing further to report.' 'Do not think it necessary to charter steamer here, as our repairing ship is on the spot;
On the 24th, 6 p.m. — 'Nothing from ship. We are watching day and night on both cables for signals. There has been no message to-day, the 25th, but the intimation that there was no change. This will show you the work the S.S. Sherard Osborne has been on and every endeavour is naturally made by the Company's ships and officers to restore communication as speedily as possible as no traffic means no revenue or dividends to shareholders.
The Madras-Penang cable is also understood to be repaired, but no official intimation has yet reached Adelaide. If this be so, the S.S. Recorder will also be free to assist the S.S. Osborne after which the S.S. Recorder will take soundings for the proposed cable from Banjoewangie to Broome — Roebuck Bay, Western Australia.
This cable is now being manufactured and will be laid about January, 1889 should all go well. There is no doubt the interruptions in July were caused by volcanic disturbance and great difficulty has been experienced in putting in thorough repair and renewing portions of both the Darwin Java cables. It is thought the ship may have gone through the 1879 cable, causing this present interruption while repairing the 1871 cable and may speak with Port Darwin at any moment.
S. Knevett.
Agent to the Company.