Well where weren't you trying to send the funds? Bitcoin cash wallet 1bitcoixxxxxxn has the same private key as the bitcoin cash address 1bitcoixxxxxxn. If you know who you weren't sending bitcoins to, then they have your bitcoin cash. You can ask for them back but depending where you sent them they may be gone forever now.
Why would it take over 3 hours for the transfer to happen when it normally took less than a second to transfer from one site to another?
If the bitcoin cash were going to a valid address, why would it not be instant? Why 3+ hours on saying " sending...sending....sending....." working nonstop for 3+ hours.
How can I tell if the cash was claimed or if its ended up locked up without an owner.
Some people say I need to get the private key to have a shot of getting the money back. The coins were always kept online wallets from various websites. Who would have record those private keys?
The last website to have held the money before it was transferred to the unknown?