The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-07-15

Cyrus w, Field was remarkable mem.
Der Of one of the most remarkable of Amer
lean families. He was born at Stocybridgs.
| Mass, in 9, and did not share the ad.
vantage of college education which his
brothers enjoyed His schooling he OBJ.
tanned in his native village, and at the age
OF % went to New York, where he obtained
a situation as clerk in the dry goods store
of A. L. Stewart Il Co. in less than fifteen
| years he had amassed a fortune aud sought
temporary rotirem mt in a voyage to Sou h
| America.
On his return to this country one of his
brothers interested him in the subject Of
ocean telegrdphy. This daring spirit had
conceived the idea Of laying cable from
New York City to the Newfoundland coast
there to connect with the fast steamers to
Europe and thus open circuit whereby
messages could DO transferred across
the ocean in six DAYS Cv-
rus regarded the project with DIS
favor at first, but finally entered into it
with enthusiasm, and for ten yerrs or
more hardly knew what home life meant.
He was ON the ocean most Of the time
travelling between New York and London
I trying to. get capital and the governments
to lend their aid and influence. 1t is re-
! corded that he visited London more than for
ty times. BY the time the land line to New
foundland had been built he became CON
wheel that u cable could be laid
across The Atlantic and direct communica.
ton maintained between London and New
York. Inis conviction was followed by a
determination that the cable should be laid
and his own private fortune was stalsed on
the result. With him were associated such
men as Peter Cooper, Marshall o. Roberts,
Moses Taylor, each whom invested S2U0,-
OOO ON MIR. Fields representations.
The obstacles which Mr. Field encount-
cred would have been insuperable to a less
indomitable will, as the skepticisIn with
which the project at that time was regarded
was deeply rooted. He gave thirteen wears
of his life to the project. The necessary
legislation in England ana America
was obtained, and he personally
supervised the laying of the first
cable, which parted in midocean and
was lost He was ION the line" when the
first through communication was had I'm
1858, and when this line also broke he re-
turned undauuted 10 the third attpmpt
The civil war broke out and paralyZed the
enterprls' ?, as it did all others involving
great capital and international interests
But he only worked the harder II was not
until July, 1871, that final success was
achleVel by the successful laying Of two
transatlantic cables, whose p1rmanoncy is
attested by the fact that both are in use
to-day.
This event was the browning success OF
Mr. Fields life and the world rang with
his praises. Congress voted a god medal
to him and the thanks of the nation. John
Bright, in parliament, called him "the
Columbus OF modern times. who, by his
cable, had moored the new world alongside
Of the old" The Paris exposition, in
1864 gave him the grand medal, the high
est PRIZE at its disposal Other tokens OF
appreciation were many among them the
thanks OF the American chamber of COM
merce at Liverpool, with gold medal and
a decoration from King Victor Emmanuel
of Italy.