The New York herald., 1879-03-08
THE ATLANTIC CABLE.
What the Energy of Five Men Ac.
complished for Humanity.
LINKING TWO CONTINENTS.
Preparing for the Twenty-hfth Anniversary
OF the Birth of the Project

| l
Twenty-Five years ago last night fivo merchants OF
New York met in dining room in Gramercy Park.
The dining room has become historical Fourfen
hgures. representing nothing In particular and
dressed i'll nothing worth mentioning, still caper
allegorically on the walls. Columbus and the ex.
plorers of old still look down with keen eyes from
the corners. An oaken table. laden with plate and
flowers. has replaced the green baize board whereon
these Ave merchants projected of the greatest
enterprises of the century, and agreed to invest their
fortunes not in lands houses, nor machinery.
but at the bottom of the sea. ~
Next Monday. in the dining room in
Gramercy Park, four Of those Ave merchants will
meet again. One OF them has made his last invest
ment. Tho rest will be honored by congress Of
some of the most notable men In America, assem-
bled to congratulate them upon the work they pro-
jected under the sea twenty-five years ago. Diplo-
mats and Judges governors and secretaries soldiers
and physicians. commodores and presidents Of col
leges will vie with each other in paying honor to the
persons who composed the original Atlantic Cable
Company. - e.ft 4r.
AT HOME.
Mr.. Cyrus w. Field will receive them his guests
He was found yesterday evening by HERALD ro-
porter busly intent the coming reception. His
eye is little dmmed with age. but 1t still Hash
with fire. In his hand was specimen card Of nvi-
tation which Tiffany had designed aud engraved II
is surmounted by the coat of arms of Mr. Ficld's
family-a shield. sable, bearing three shesves of
wheat, or, between chevron. argent. The crest is
hand and arm. gues. rising from clouds. argent,
and supporting globe. all of the heraldic tine
lures being beautifully printed in colors. The
escutcheon is supported on one side by
the British naval flag the other by the Stars and
Stripes; and at the base is embossed on a. silver
four the world that
together have their places in the four corners.
Europa sits. queen like, upon bull bronzed Asia.
with golden arnets, is borne on kneeng elephant
two brahmins beside her; Africa perches upon tina
hump Of a. camel. and America. with freer
aud leaves twine themselves round the medal.
lions and cable. coiled and twisted, weaves
sda is the date Of tSe BIRTH March
on the other the date Of the celebration, March TO-
1879. in tho centre is oblong card of invitation.
"NIr Cyrus w. Field requests the pleasure of -'s
company Monday evening. March 10. from nine to
twelve. Gramercy Park New York. February "a.
globe. and likenesses of the Ave merchants who met
therein, and Of their counsel Mr. David Dudley Field
eyes" said Mr. Cyrus Field, pointing to the card.
'the gray board in the armchair is Peter Cooper.
When the idea first took form in my brain. from
hints here and suggestions there. that the telegraph
might be made to span the Atlantic. my earliest
Thought to apply to my public spirited neigh.
So s Ss Ss
our president. Near him. behind the globe,
sits Moses Taylor. who was then IN the West
never forget how he received me. He heard me
through tor nearly hour without word. Then
Holding the map is MI. Marshall o. Roberts. whose
history has been succession OF great enterprises.
ns py the
He was one OF tho early promoters OF the Eric
Railroad. When gold was discovered in California
Isthmus of Panama and controlled largely the COM
merce with the Pacific. His whole course has been
marked by spirit of commercial daring which men
call rashncss until they its SUCCESS and then np
plaud marvellous sagacity. IL Joined us readily;
finally wrote to my friend Mr. Chandler White, then
living at Fort Hamilton. He was slow to yield to
argument but my enthusiasm was magnetic. and
my glowing descriptions at last carried him
but Mr. Cooper asked whetherf fve would not
do as well. No sooner asked than answered. Five
Chandler fell ut his post, another eminent merchant.
Mr.. Wilson g. Hunt. stepped into line immediately.
PICTURES.
Mr. Field then pointed to the pictures on his wall.
"Therc." said he, sis the history of the cable. The
hrst represented the bold and rocky mountains Of
valentia Oh the irish coast: The Agamemnon has
Just brought into harbor the cable Of
1853. The fishermen are dragging it
shore, while the Knight of Kerry stands CON-
fortably looking on from beneath an umbrella.
and children upon the rocks clap their hands. But
the next * Of cable Of sO The
Great Eastern looms up in the morning sky. All is
wild excitement on shore. The Albany rounds the
behind. And the Great Eastern glides calmly in,
among shouting sailors and cheering Peasants and
drops anchor in front of the telegraph house. having
| trailed behind her chain OF two Thousand
| miles and Joined the Old World to the New.
This time the was assured. But the smaller
paintings show the price at which it was obtained.
| Here beneath q lowering sky. ia the huge vessel
harpooning with gigantic Grapnols. for broken
| wire. Here the tars on deck splicing grapnel-
rope and buoyrope. Here arc the rockets exploded
| in honor of q recovered strand. "And this" said
| Mr. Field, ''portrays the most exciting moment Of
my life. We have hshed up the cable and are try
ing under the gas IL IL be dead or alive. We tele-
! graph through 1t to Ireland Will 1t answer We
| hold our breath. The spark flashes back. We are
saved
THE COMING GUESTS. t,
Tho visitor was next shown the extension which
Mr. Field has built in the rear Of his house. 70 be the
! supper room on Monday next His nephews house.
which adjoins Mr.. Fields will also be thrown open
the flags Of all nations The Western Union Tcle.
graph Company will run wire directly to tho house,
| aud messages of congratulation and good cheer
that amos. 0ah thousand guests will BE- cssne
| Tho notabtlcs OF Washington will be represented
| by Secretary Evarts; Sir Edward Thornton, the
ister; Judge Allen. the Hawaiian Minister. and
Justice Field of tho Supreme Court. From Phila-
deiphia will come Ex-Governor Hartranft, George w.
Childs and the venerable General Patterson, now
eighty-eght years OF age. Massachusetts whore Mr..
| Field born. will send ex-9overnor Rice Presi-
| dent Chadbourne and exPrcsident Mark Hopkins Of
Williams College. with many scholars and divincs.
| At the head Of the military contingent will be
| General Hancock. and Commodore Nicholson will
| lead the naval From Rhode Island Senators Burn
side aud Anthony will present themselves and from
Baltimore Mr.. John w. Garrett. Pilgrims from tho
Western States will also turn their faces TO the
Mecca of Gramcrcy Park, while tho brothers OF Mr..
Cyrus w. Field-Judge Field David Dudley Field and
the Rev. DIR. Henry M. Feld-will support the ponti6
of the ceremonies. In short the reception Will DO
ono of the most brilliant and notable events that
modern New York has ever seen.