September 30th, 4 a.m.
They were all agreeably disappointed : the most unexpected , extraordinary , incredible , and improbable incident happened in time to keep up the general excitement to its highest pitch . On September 30th , at 3.47 p.m. , a telegram , transmitted through the Atlantic Cable , arrived at Tampa Town for President Barbicane . He tore open the envelope and read the message , and , notwithstanding his great self-control , his lips grew pale and his eyes dim as he read the telegram . The following is the text of the message stored in the archives of the Gun Club : -- `` France , Paris , `` September 30th , 4 a.m. `` Barbicane , Tampa Town , Florida , United States . `` Substitute a cylindro-conical projectile for your spherical shell . Shall go inside . Shall arrive by steamer _ Atlanta _ .