New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-13
MR.. FIELD WAS NOT INSANE.
THE REPORT THAT HE WAS DENILD DY THE
FAMILY-MR. FIELDS COURAGE.


FAMILY-MR FIELDS COURAGE.
The Rev DR. Henry NJ. Fi4d was seen by a
Tribune reporter in his Office Yesterday after
noon. just after his return from the deathbcd
Of his brother In reply to the reporters in.
quires, DR.. Field said
"-As to my brothers sanity during the last
months of his life have here telegram from
Stephen j. Field bearing on that point The
message says: Write evening papers that the
reported statement of DR. Coutant that Cyrus
W. Field was insane and has been for months. is
all false. No such statement was made to Mr.
Fields family, and DR.. Coutant authorizes You
to say that he never made the statements alleged
to the reporters to his being insane
My brother Cyrus, DR.. Field went on to say
was of highly nervous organization. When
his wife, 10 whom he was devotedly attached
diet in November. he became very much de-
pressed Then followed the death Of his daugh-
ter, Mrs. Lindley, and the terrible affair OF his
son so that he was confined to his home through
the effect of this series of shocks. | do not
think he went down town since the death OF his
wife, and he only left the house on sunny days
to take short drives He went to his country
place about May l. on the advice OF his ply
stefan. For short time he seemed TO improve,
and then. about two weeks ago. came the de-
cided turn for the worse; which called to his
bedside his three brothers. Stephen j.. David
Dudley and myself. We have been at Arsiale or
within easy reach Of it. ever since. Cyrus was
always Of an afcctionatc disposition and when
ever l entered his room during his final ill
ness he would look up and say. MY brother.
my dear brother Then his mind would wander
to the most thrilling scenes of his active life,
and most often he fancied himself upon the Great
Eastern laying the Atlantic cable. There was
nothing unusual in this, however. Such aberra-
tons are natural with all men Before death.
On Sunday DR.. CJutant spent the greater part
of the day with us; for my brother was exceedingly
low. Dr. Coutant, in departing, said my brothers
condition was in that peculiar pha-e when he
might die any time or live on for months Stephen
j. Field and went 10 bed about midnight, with
the instructions 10 o. awakened if the situation
became more grave. We got up at about this
morning, and at ten minutes before 0 o'clock he
died During all this time he was unconscious.
The nervous system which gave him that great
energy had burned itself out Besides his three
brothers, there were present, Of the family, Mrs.
William F. Judson and her two sons, Cyrus Field
and William Francis Judson."
AS 1t was, your brother left handsome
fortune, did he not?" asked the reporter
That | know very little about. The Wash
ington Building, at the foot Of broadway, is
heavily encountered, and to his affairs gen
orally, they were so hopelessly involved by the
wild speculations of Edward NJ Field that it
will still probably take several months before they
are aghtened out"
What disposition was made of your brother 5
medals, Dr. Field ~
Well, | do not know how many he had, any
further than that was given nm Oy the
United States Congress after the successful opera
ton of the cable, and another by the Paris Expo
sition, in 81. These, together with, think. SIN
paintings ilustra ting scenes during the laying
of the bile he gave to the Metropolitan Museum OF
Art about four months ago. Among Englshmen
Cyrus had many enthusiastic admirers. who had
great respect for his indomitable courage. John
Fright was one of these. He said Of my brother
He makes me feel uncomfortable. for he is
always successful and l am not And again he
referred 20 Cyrus In these words, in one Of his
speeches: Ny friend, Cyrus Field; the Columbus
of modern times who, by his cable. has moored
the New World alongside the Old"