In the bows of the Great Eastern August 22nd with the cable broken and lost, preparing to grapple.

In the bows of the Great Eastern. © National Maritime Museum, London

Repro ID: PX8276

Description: The attempt to lay a telegraph cable across the Atlantic, which began off the west coast of Ireland in June 1865, ended in failure. After a number of minor problems had been overcome during the early stages, the 'Great Eastern' had laid 1,200 miles of the line and was only two days away from its destination at Heart's Content, Newfoundland, when the cable snapped. This image shows the crew of the 'Great Eastern' during the retrieval operation to recover the broken cable.

Creator: Robert Dudley (artist), Day & son (engravers)

Date: 19th Century