The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1866-08-15
From the New York Tribune.
Cyrus w. Field and the Cable.

Cyrus w. Field and the Cable.
There is an unwritten history Of the con-
nec.ion of Mr.. Field with the Atlantic ca
bic that may have peculiar interest at this
time Mr.. Field desired to change his bust
ness, and looked around for some sphere for
his peculiar talent. He called one day on
Moses Taylor one Of our wealthy and pub
lic-spirited men, and proposed to open a
new line of railroad across the Isthmus, and
so create new line to California. This
new project was open, in the mind of Mr.
Taylor to serious objections. and. so far as
he was concerned, was abandoned. Soon
after Mr.. Field called again; he had now
a project, he said, that was not open to the
objections stated by Mr.. Taylor, and to
which MIR. Field asked attention. 1t was
to purchase the telegraph lines in the Pro-
vinces, and connect them with the United
States. The company held valuable char
ter from the New Brunswick Parliament.
1t was unable to carry on business, and the
whole franchise could be purchased at
small cost, and when put in complete re-
pair, would prove q valuable investment.
The charter was examined, and found not
to be satisfactory. But it was said if the
charter could be changed and amended, and
the lines put at a low price, the purchase
would be made. Mr. Field agreed to visit
New Brunswick, and obtain the changes
needed in the charter, and to do this it paid
81, 900 and his expenses. The desired al
terations were made. Moses Taylor, Peter
Hunt, and c. w. Field put in the sum Of
$1,000 each, and became the Company.
The success Of this line did not equal the
on tniv Of hn
seemed likely to be q failure The boats
to and from Europe. They did so for a
time. But the fog made the stopping at
times dangerous, and ships refused to call,
the line. Soon, Mr. Field met the company
with new suggestion. why not lay cable
across the Atlantic, and SO be independent
Of steamships aud steam companies? Mr..
Field was full of it then, as he has been ever
since. He won over his little company. He
obtained subscriptions to stock. lie crossed
the water on the one great mission that now
filled his soul, and to which he has since de-
voted his life.
Mr.. Field began the work Of raising mon.
ey in London. He had to stretch out his
hands and lift up his voice to gsinsay ing
people. He put coil Of ocean cable about
his neck, and went from banker to banker,
from capitalist to capitalist, working day by
day, never weary, never disheartoned byre-
fusals. Prosecuted or repulsed in one place,
he went to another. He gained his point
day by day till the first cable was sent down
to its ocean bed.
| The first failure was repaired, and the
second cable took the place of the last one
Weary and sad, but with strong faith in the
ultimate success Of the work, Mr.. Field
came home after the second attempt to lay
the cable. Few spoke words of cheer OF
hope. The little company who had raised
the infant $4,000 up to among the ffties
and the hundreds of thousands, had no more
/ they wanted cast into the depth of the sea
They regarded the thing as impracticable
and wanted to hear no more about the ca
BILE. But Mr.. Field told the gentlemen tina
he would never give it up-while he lasted
he would renew the attempt till it was a
success. Like Peter the Hermit he begar
the new crusade. Partly from pity, partly
from love Of the pluck Mr.. Field displayed
from one cause or another, quite liberia
subscription was obtained for the third at
tempt.
England was more obdurate than Ameri
i - No man wanted to see the face of Mr.
Field, and he was made to know that fact
Doors we're closed against him. Millionaire
would not hear him talk. Some thought hi
tongue like that of the charmer, and fed
from his approach. lie was regarded as al
enthusiast merely. But steadily Mr.
Field proceeded. He went where he wa
not wanted. He came at odd times and il
odd places-in the counting house and al
the country seat in the city home AND
in the mart Of trade. He gained his point
Some were convinced; some wanted to &c
rid Of the Importantly; some were willing
to throw away small sum because they
liked the persistency of the man; few
had their waning faith revived, and, lik,
the old hunter Henry Clay told Of, wer'
willing TO pick flint and try again. Blu
Mr. Field cared not for motives SO long al
he had funds, and the two continents were
united.
By the side Of Fulton, who started in hi
little boat up the Hudson, amid the jeer
of the multitude, who expected and wished
a failure by the side Of Goodyear, in pow
erty and reproach pursuing his marvelou
inventions to their completion by the sid
Of Morse, who, in the packet-ship on the
ocean, while conversing with Boston ply
sician, announced that he could send mes
sage around the world, and was laughed al
for his avowal, Mr.. Field will now take hi
place among the worlds benefactors, be
cause Of his success
The "water shoe" man, who has I
boat on each foot and slides himself ovel
the surface Of the water with q paddle, hal
made match to race on the Harlem river
in few weeks, with double scull boat
two and half miles and return, for So, 900