The Burnside Returns from Rough Northern Waters
A US cable ship brings back tales of hard seas and the successful integration of Filipino labor.
The United States cable ship Burnside returned to Tacoma this morning after a six-week trip in the northern waters of the Pacific. The work of laying the Sitka-Puget Sound cable was considerably delayed by the rough seas and bad weather encountered during her absence. While the new machinery installed before the trip was generally satisfactory, repairs are needed for the grappling machine. The Burnside will remain in port for about two weeks to undergo these repairs and load 800 miles of intermediate cable. The Filipino laborers on board broke into the work very readily and are proving good hands in the handling of cable.
“The Filipino laborers broke in to the work very readily and are proving good hands in the handling of cable.”
This brief report highlights the physical labor behind the early subsea telecommunications infrastructure that connected the Pacific Northwest. It also offers a rare, albeit brief, acknowledgement of the presence and skill of Filipino workers in maritime operations at the turn of the century.
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