The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-12-02

Field was very low and was not likely to
live many hours.
Sidney Dillon also called and spoke
with him for a short time. He confirmed
Mr.. Jesup's statement that Mr.. Field was
very low.
In the same house Mrs. Lindley, Mr..
Fields daughter, lies critically ill. Her
husband is at her side, unable to give
any attention to the affairs of his broken
irm and Frustrated by his double afflic-
ton.
A Remarkable Family.
Cyrus West Field belonged TO a notable fam
ly whose ancestry has been traced back to tho
limo of William the Conqueror. Zachariah
Field, the first of the family to come to this
country, arrived in Massachusetts, in 1890 or
1882. He was the ancestor Of the Field family
Df New England, whose descendants are now
scattered all over the United States.
David Dudley Field, the father Of the most
remarkable family of sons in American his
tory, was descend, d from the original zacha-
Eiah Field He was born in East Clifford, now
known as Madison, Conn, on May 20, 1881, and
died in Stookbridge, Mass, April l6, 1857. He
was the son of Captain Timothy Field, an OIL
Ger in the Revolutionary Army. David Dudley
Field was graduated from Yale college in Is ..
He studied theology with Rev. Charles Backus,
and was licensed TO preach in 1908. For forty
eight years thereafter he preached to congre-
cations at Haddam, Somers, Stockbridge and
Aigganum.
Cyrus West Field is the third son of the
elder David Dudley Field. lie was born in
Stockbrdge, Mass on Nov. 30, 1919, and has
therefore Just completed his I'D year. He
educated in his native village, and at the age
OF 10 came teSSew York to carve out his for
tuno. He obtained position as clerk in the
store of A. r. Stewart. Before ho was 2l years
old he had saved some money and had gon
into business on his own account. In q modest
way he began the manufacture and sale of
paper. Within dozen years he was at the
head of a large and prosperous business. In
1S53, having amassed n fortune. he retired
from active business and spent several months
travelling in South America.
The Ocean Gable.
When he returned tho feasibility OF estRb-
fishing II quick line of telegraphic commune
cation between America and Europe was sug-
Eested to him during conversation with his
brother Matthew. The FIRST project was to
build q lind line from New York to New
foundland messages to be carried thence by
fast steamers to the Irish coast, and so on to
London by other land and water lines 1t was
claimed that n message could be carried from
New York to London in this way inside of
eix days. Mr.. Field regarded the project with
Aisfagor at first, but finally entered into it
with enthusiasm.
For ton years or more after enlisting his
aympathies with tho Atlantic International
Telegraph companY's scheme, Cyrus w. Field
OH the ocean most of the time travelling between
New York and London, trying to get capital
and the governments to lend their aid and in
Guence. By the time the land line TO New
foundland had been built, Mr.. Field became
eonvinced that cable could be laid across
the Atlantic and direct communication main
tanned between London and New York. This
conviction WAS followed by determination
that tho cable should be laid, and Mr.. Fields
swn private fortune YVES stalied on the result
In Ttp,Ii Etna rot xtitt tt,pn fri de- aft
Auence who consented to join him in his pro-
ject, and among them were Peter Cooper,
Moses Taylor, Marshall o. Roberts and Chand-
icr White Each of these gentlemen and MIR,
Field agreed to put Sse0,0So into the project.
b. Mr.. Field 5 efforts the necessary legislation
u England and America was obtained.
Crowned With Success.
For thirteen years Mr.. Field then gave hii
sntire timo to the Atlantic cable. He made
scores of visits TO Europe, personally oversaw
the laying of the first cable, which parted In
anid-eeean and was lost, and was present
Ahen communication was finally established
Across tho ocean in 1858. This cable, too wal
broken In n few weeks but Mr.. Field was moi
discouraged. The outbreak of the civil wal
lelnyed the project, but did not dampen Mr.
Fields ardor. When the war over hi
went 10 work harder than ever, and this time
he not only enlisted an abundance of capital
but secured the cooperation of the United
Etates and English governments Both of the
governments loaned big warships to assist In
laying the cable, and the great work was
fnally accomplished July n, 1867, wher
communication was established by telegraph
between New York and London. Two cabloi
were laid in the effort to make one complete
and both are in operation today.
EIn 1875 Mr.. Field became interested in th'
development OF rapid transit in New Yorl
CITY, and WAS among the first TO lend his capi
tai for the building of tho elevated roads
After these wore in successful operation hi
made tour around the world, believing tha
hIs investments rested upon sound fnancia
basis. After he rsturned In 1881 he obtained
opneessiQns teR The Hawaiian government