2-982-396 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Celebration at Jersey of the Opening of the Channel Islands Telegraph, 1858. View of '...the scene of popular excitement on the occasion in the streets of St. Helier. Tuesday, the 7th of September was truly a grand day for Jersey, for on that day was opened the communication by the electric submarine line between this island and Great Britain...The streets were crowded with people...A procession accompanied by military bands paraded the town...the bells of the town churches were rung, and the fine band of the Royal Artillery...struck, up "God Save the Queen!"...the civic and other authorities...proceeded in processional order to the telegraph station, for the purpose of forwarding an inaugurating message to her Most Gracious Majesty...the Bailiff, the Crown officers, the Constable of St. Helier, and the Directors...handed the officiating electrician the message...Three minutes after the transmission of the message, a despatch from Weymouth announced its receipt, and its having been sent on to London!...the bands played the National Anthem, amidst the most enthusiastic shouts and cheering from the procession and the people...Three hundred telegraphic messages were sent from Jersey to Guernsey the first week after the laying down of the submarine cable'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.