The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-08-16
Cyrus w. Field and the Atlantic
Gable.

connection OF Mr.. Field with the Atlantic
! Gable that may have peculiar interest at
this time. Mr.. Field desired to change
his business, and looked around sor some
sphere for his peculiar talent He called
one day on Moses Taylor, a wealthy and
public-spirited man, and proposed to open
a new line of railroad across the Isthmus,
and SO create a new line to California
| This new project was opened in the mind
of Mr.. Taylor to serious objections, and,
so far as he was concerned, was aban-
! doaed. Soon after Mr.. Field called again :;
he ha0 now new project, he said, that
was nor open to the objections stated by
| Mr.. Taylor, and to which Mr.. Field
| asked attention. 1t was to purchase the
| telegraph lines in the Provinces, and con-
| meet them with the United States The
| Company held valuable charter from
! the New Brunswick Parliament 1t was
unable to carry on business, and the whole
/ franchise could be purchased at a small
cost, and, when put in complete repair,
| would prove valuable investment. The
! charter was examined and found not to be
satisfactory. But it was said if the char
ter could be changed and amended, and
the lines put at 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 if paid 81 600 and his expenses
| The desired alterations were made Moses
| Taylor, Peter Cooper, Marshall O. Rob
erts, Wilson G. Hunt, and G. w Field
put in the sum of $1,000 each and be-
came the Company.
The success of .hIs line did not equal
| the authorizations of the new Company
! 1t seemed likely to be a failure. The
boats had agreed to stop at the telegraph
statious, to and from Europe. They did
so for a time. But the fog made the
| stopping at times dangerous, and ships
refused to CALL and SO business seemed to
! take its fight from the line. Soon, Mr.
| Field met the Company with a new sug-
| gestion, why not lay a cable across the
| Atlantic, and so be independent of steam
ships and 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. He
crossed the water on the one great mission
| that now filed all bis soul, and TO which
he has since devoted his life.
Mr.. Field began the work of raising
money in London. He bad to stretch
out his hands and lit up his voice to
! gainsayng people. He put 4 coil of
ocean cable about his neck, and went from
banker to banker, from capitalist to cap
atalist, working day by day, never weary,
never disheartened by refusals. Persecu-
ted 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 alter the failure of. the
second attempt to lay the cable. Few
spoke words of cheer and hope. The lit
tie company who had raised the infant
! $4,000 up to among the fftles and the
! hundreds of thousands, had no more they
wanted cast into the depth of the sea. =
They regarded the thing as impractieable
and wanted to hear 10 more about the
cable. But Mr. Field told the gentlemen
tAat he would never give it up-while
/ life lasted he would renew The attempt till
it was success. Like Peter the Hermit
he began the new crusade. Partly from
pity, partly from the love of the pluck
Mr.. Field displayed, from one cause or
another, quite "a liberal subscription was
obtained for the third attempt.
England was more obdurate than Amer
| ica No man wanted to see the face of
! Mr.. Field and he was made to know thar
fact Doors were closed against him. =
! Millionaries would not hear him talk
! Some thought his tongue like that Of the
| charmer, and fed from his approach. He
! was regarded as an enthusiast merel y
But steadily Dir. Field proceeded. lie
went where he was not wanted. lie came
| at odd times and IN odd places-in the
counting house and at the country-seat;
| ia the city home and in the mart of trade.
He gained his point. Some were con-
vinced some wanted 70 get 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 like tho old
| hunter Henry Clay told of, we're willing
to pick flint and try again. But Mr..
Field cared not what the motive so long
/ as he had funds and the two continents
were united.
By the side Of Fulton, who started in
| his little boat up the Hudson amid the
| ieers of the multitude, who expected and
wished a failure by the side of Goodyear
| in poverty and reproaoh pursuing his
marvellous inventions to their completion;
| by the side of Morse, who, in the pocket
! shin on the ocean, while conversing with
| a Boston physician, announced that he
could send message around the world 8,
! G.