Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-13
FIELD is AT REST
He Dies Surrounded by His
Family.
MS DEATH WAS UNEXPECTED
Brisf Sketch Of the Great Career Of One
Of Americz's Most Distin-
gusshed Sons

ths morning ~ hls country nome IN
Ardsley Park. Although he had been
III Tor weeks his death WAS unexpected.
Af. Field Was attacked AZ daybreak
BY one Of the violent spslis of delirium
when hsd occurred so frequently dur
ing ms sickness. Dr. Contant wAs at
once summoned from Tsrry town. but
hIs services were OF no avail, ard in
lees than three hours the aged imam
eier was dead Al the time OF his
deAsn there were present AZ the bedside
Mr. Fields three brothers. DAVID Dad
ley Field, the Rev. Hsnry NJ. Field and
Justice stephen j. Field; his daughter.
Mrs. Isabella Judson, and her two sons,
Cyrus Field Judson and Frank Judson.
Mr.. Field had been suffering from
physical and mental exhaustion
brought on by the many troubles which
have 0ycrtaken him during the past
year. For some days mrs mind wan
dered occasionally, but MS friends say
that the stories sent out about his hay-
ing lost bis reason were malicl0usly
baseless. The funeral services will be
held on Thur-day afternoon at the
rouse. The lnteTment viii be at Stock
fridge, Macs, on Friday. Mr.. Field
cied comparatively poor man.
Most Famous or . Famous Family
CYRUS ". Field Was perhaps the most
famous of the famous Field family.
he was great financier, a philanthro-
plst and a successful railroad operator.
But the work with which ms name will
always be most prominently connected
- the laying OF the Atlantic cable. that
wonderful enterprise which caused
John Bright IN bis great speech in par
hamen. 10 say of Mr. Field: Like
Cyrus of old, he freed the messengers
of peace from their bonds, gave llgnt-
ming wings to international speech anu
moored the new world beside the old. y
lt Mas when ne returned from MS
South American trip that his brother
Matthew suggested TO him the feas-
ibllity Of establishing . quick line OF
telegfzphIc communication between
America and Europe. The firet project
Was TO build land line from New York
10 Newfoundland. messages to be car
ried thence by fast steamers to the
frish coast, and 80 on to London by
ether land and water lines Ii WAS
claimed that q message could be car
ried 20 London in this way inside of six
dsys. Mr.. Fieid regarded the project
with disfavor At nrst, but finally
entered into It with enthusiasm. He
had been married on December 2, 1870,
10 Mary Bryan Stone Of Glniford, Conn.,.
and several children had been born TO
them. bus ne gave up the comforts of q
home life that he loved 70 plunge into
. scheme that nine tenths of the peo-
pie Of America and Europe regarded
a. Wild and visionary.
The Atlantic Cable
For ten years or more after enlisting
his sympsIhies with the Atlantic Inter
national Telegraph company's scheme
cyrus W. Field hardly knew what
home life meant. He was on the
ocean most OF the time travelling be-
tween New York and London, trying
TO get capital and the governments T.,
lend their aid and influence. Ry the
tin.e the land line 20 Newfoundland
had been built Mr.. Field became con-
vIncsd that a cable could be laid across
the Atlantic and direct communication
maintained between London and New
YORK. This conviction was followed
by a determination that the cable
should BE LAID. and Mr.. Fields own
private fortune was staked on the re-
sult.
Among the wealthy and influential
men who interested themselves IN the
cable project were Peter Cooper. Moses
TAYLOR, Marshall q. Roberts AID
Chandler White. Each of these gen.
tlemen aud Mr.. Field agreed TO pat
s200.0o0 into tho project. BY Mr..
Fields efforts the necessary legislat Oh
ia England aud An,eriess was obtained.
For thirteen years Mr.. Field then gave
bis entire time 10 the Atlantic cable.
he made scores of visits to Europe.
personally oversaw tine laying of the
tirst cable, which parted IN midocean
aud vas lost, and WAS present when
c0mmunicaUon WAS finally established
across Tire ocean IN 1855. This cable
too. was broken IN a few weeks, but
Mr.. Ft'ld was not discouraged ana
the great work Was finally ac-
comp ished on July q. 1867. when COM
muncahon was established by tele-
graph between New York aud London.
Two cables were Lard IN the effort to
make one complete, and both are in op-
Grafton today.
Mr.. Fteld Dad subscribed to one
fourth interest IN the stock OF the cable
enterprise, most of which. fortunately
for himself. he found il impossible 10
dispose of during the early days of pop.
uiar dlstrust OF the project When the
enterprise began 10 pay large dividends
Mr. Field reaped some of she golden
fruits OF his remarkable persistence IN
carving 0us what ne had undertaken.
He then enjoyed a few years OF rest
that be had richly earned.
wr. Ff.is aas Rspts rrss.is
Mr.. Fieid wsS one of the most ener.
setlc and enthusiastic promoters OF
rapid transit n New York city before
stages and horse ears. Of ham 10 is said
ground railroad vss abandoned ss toe
costly ne remarked. elf we cannot bs
n,oies cts be BIRDS re put hi.
money and energies at once INTO The
construction OF the sxistng elevated
system He vss also one of the hrst q
prove that buildings of great height
and u,s><ve construction, with every
eonvenience for aulck transportation
from top 10 bottom. and substantially >
i,reproof. ceuld ee erected and popti.
lated vfth tenants. tie erected hfs
fourteen story building ss 90 evidence
OF h,s faith. and every day some twenty
thousand people are n and out OF sss
building.
TIE elevated reads nearly proved d
y NJ Fields financisl rum kvsvy
i,sr renlensi ars tise great coup detail
o ! could IN fSS1. BY winch dr.
r a Ns~ ss1ueezed" out Of his Nan
hs,ssn "a l'ssy stuck. lie hss h~en A.