Chapter V – Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin revisits a physically demanding but ultimately rewarding episode in Jenkin’s telegraphy work. Aboard ship and suffering from illness, he endured difficult conditions while dealing with the technical challenge of a cable falling sixty yards short of its intended landing point. The shortfall could have meant failure, but Jenkin and his team adapted, managing to complete the connection to the telegraph station. Despite pain and fever, he witnessed the success as the line became active. The first messages, including a thoughtful note from Miss Clara Volkman to Mrs. Reuter, were transmitted using a method devised by Mr. Varley. Though Jenkin was too unwell to fully celebrate, the achievement marked a key milestone in their mission.

His recounting transitions to the 1869 voyage of the GREAT EASTERN, a ship already regarded with reverence for its size and role in telegraphy. Jenkin expresses disappointment at not having the time to record more of its details, acknowledging the vessel’s iconic status in the world of marine engineering. He does, however, take care to document the personnel who made the expedition possible. Among them were respected names like Theophilus Smith and Leslie C. Hill, along with Lord Sackville Cecil and the seasoned Captain Halpin. Each of these individuals would contribute to the unfolding success of the telegraphic work that followed. Their presence underscored the scale and seriousness of the effort—telegraphy at this level was no longer experimental; it was operational and international.

The chapter’s power lies not just in technical accomplishments but in the human dimension Jenkin brings to his narrative. While the technical feat of bridging the cable gap matters, it’s the people—engineers, crew members, and message-senders—who bring the mission to life. Jenkin’s humility in sharing credit and his clarity in detailing the discomfort of travel makes the story feel real and grounded. The success was not without cost. Weather, sickness, and equipment shortcomings tested every part of the crew’s resolve. Still, the mission succeeded, and Jenkin’s understated pride shows through in the details he chooses to highlight.

He subtly links the hardships of that journey with the preparation for what lies ahead on the GREAT EASTERN, where the stakes would be even higher. That vessel represented a new chapter in telegraphy—a combination of scale, expertise, and engineering ambition unlike anything before. Jenkin’s admiration for the ship and its crew is clear. Although this chapter doesn’t delve into the GREAT EASTERN’s technical workings, it sets a firm foundation by showing how far telegraphy had progressed from modest starts to operations involving massive crews and ships. The reader is left with anticipation for what this next voyage will bring.

Through these events, Jenkin illustrates the evolution of cable-laying from tentative exploration to large-scale execution. These weren’t just professional milestones—they were global communications breakthroughs. He captures a sense of history being made not by accident, but through careful coordination and immense perseverance. The work was physical, intellectual, and emotional. Each mission was part of something larger: a project to connect distant lands with words transmitted in an instant. Jenkin’s involvement, though marked by personal trial, helped shape this transition into the modern world.

Even while limited by illness, Jenkin’s observational powers remain sharp. He records the subtleties of character among his colleagues and honors their roles without inflating his own. This blend of humility and precision is what gives the memoir its depth. The cable may have fallen short physically, but the mission’s success stretched far—across oceans and into the daily lives of those waiting for messages. Fleeming Jenkin’s account reminds us that progress is rarely smooth, but always built by those who choose to keep working through the storm.