New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-18

A BIOGRAPHY BY HIS DAUGHTER
CYRUS W. FIELD. His Life and Work Qslg-Ie9.,
Edited by Isabella Field Judson. illustrated
Pp. 332. Harper & Brothers.

Edited by Isabella Field Judson. illustrated
PIP 1872 Harper & Brothers.
This volume II not notable literary achieVe-
men,. is a valuable addition to the history OF our
country. In no other work is there given so com
plete and accurate an account OF the ways anu
means the exha usting labors, the triumph over the
most disheartcning dscouragements and the maj
successful laying OF the cable that now untes
Europe and America. Indeed the life story or MI
Fled could not be told without telling the story OF
the cable
In January 1854. Cyrus w. Field was asked by his
brother Matthew 10 have talk with Frederick y.
Osborne. Osborne was an engineer ana Telegraph
operator who had endeavored to connect ST johns.
n. F.. with the Geographic system OF the
United States. He had been acting under the
patronage of the Legislature OF Newfoundland,
which in 1852 Incorporated the Newfoundland Tele-
graph Company. BY the act Of incorporation CHS
borne obtained the exclusive right to erect tele-
graphic lines In the island for thirty years, and the
first work was connect 81: Johns with Cape Ray.
After the completion OF some thirty or forty miles
Of the line the company became discouraged, With
held the means for carrying on the work and CHS
borne returned 10 New-York where his company
had been formed. disappointed In spirit and beg
CARED financially. Mr.. Field very much inter-
estes in the narrative of Mr.. Osborne and in the
work he had done and what he had failed TO do.
The first interview followed by many others.
After Osborne had taken hts departure one even
ing. Mr.. Field stood n;ently studying large
globe in his library, the thought flashed across MS
mind, IF 1t were possible to connec; Newfouni-
land and the United States by submarine cable
why not Ire.ard with Newfoundland This thought
immortal.
Mr. Field al opened correspondence with
Professor Maury In Washington. and Professor
Morse. at Poughkeepse. He also consulted his
brother, David Dudev Field and Peter Cooper.
Twenty five years afterward Mr. Cooper tod how
the thought impressed him. 1t seemed to him that
in this idea to he the contamination Of the
prophecy that "knowleag. shall cover the earth as
the waters the deep ana inspired with that
feeling he with Wilson G. Hunt. Moses Taylor and
Marshall o. Roberts joined Mr. Field in what then
appeared to most a wild and Visionary scheme.
The faith Of Mr. Field however. was contagious.
The Legislature OF Newfoundland repealed the char
ter OF the Newfoundland Telegraph Company. and
gave a charter TO the New-York. Newfoundland and
London Telegraph Company. the frs sentence OF
which ran, at is deemed adv.sab,a - os'abl''1
line of Geographic communication between New
York and London by way of Newfoundland" on
Saturday evening, May G. 1854. the company was
organized. Oh the following Monday a. a. m.
the papers signed and sl.5oo,Ge0 subscribed.
This meeting lasted jus. fifteen minutes. Surely
this teleg~aphic dispatch OooDo per minute.
Then followed the persistent efforts 10 awaken
and keep alive tho interest Governments OF
the United States and Great Britai1 in the project.
In these efforts and in others made to restore tho
dropping spirits of those who were helping TO bear
the burden In the sanguine hopefulness which made
every failure aid to final success. Mr.. Fed
Justly earned the title given him by John Brish.
Of the Columbus Of the Nineteenth Century. But
Mr.. Fields cheerfulness received grievous
shock when the cable OF 1858 successfully laid
only 10 prove useless In the course of few weeks.
The very last message announcing that
the directors of the company their way to
Nalentia TO opcr the cable formally TO the public.
But the two continents had learned by months
experience the uses of electric cable The cloud
Of gloom and disappointment that enve.oped the
people on both sides OF the when that cable
became dumb is distinctly remembered by those
who were envcloped in Its shadow.
The fact remained that cable had been laid. and
that messages had been transmitted by IT, bui this
balanced by doub. TO the possibility OF per
mancHt success. Upon Mr. Field, whose faith never
wavcre and whose perse ycranca in the face Of in
credible difficulties was marvellous. developed the
tasl, of infusing his confidence into the minds
and hearts of his dshearterca friends ana
adjutofs and also OF enlistins new recruits in the
service who would bring capital and influence to the
AID of the enterprise In the mids OF this fight
with fate for the greatest victory o. the arts Of
peace came the Civil War in the United States.
While the Rebellion delayed 1t canno, he SAID to
have interrupted the efforts to bring together in
telligence and capital so to render tho cable
certainty The anxeties Of the war and the eager
for news stimulated the des.r. for te,esrdrhlc
communication. Meanwhile Mr. Field. in the words
Of DR.. W. II. Russell, composed land and
necessarily in behalf OF the enterprise his earnest
growing the difficulties that beset him null
tplied Many pages Of the book are devoted to in
terestng correspondence that passed between Mr..
Field and distinguished men both sides of the
Atlantic before success was finally achieved. The
doubts Of Mr. Gladstone and the hopes of John
Bright to the victory of the Union fully
pressed in their letters. Mr.. Field worked hard
for the Union he did for the cable. Financial
reverses that laid him under crushing burden OF
debt for years did not abate his energy. He turned
even the untoward Trent affair his purpose. and
convinced Englishmen that their Government had
spent in needless preparation for enough money
to have laid several Atlantic cables. When every
body almost persuaded. there came the heart
breaking failure of 1867 after mors than tnou-
sand miles of the cable had been laid. For a mo-
ment Mr.. Fields courage gave way, and he really
needed the hearty words OF hope which greeted
him in London OF the most dismal Christ
mas days OF h.. life.
The hearty words followed by deeds The
Ango-Amertcan Telegraph Company formed.
and in a few days the books showed subscriptions
Of 1900 900. Five months after the company
formed the cable manufactured and laid Then
followed the still more wonderful achievement OF
raising and completing the cable Of 1865. Thus after
ten years, lacking one month, Of the most strenuous
and exhausting labor involving thirty-seven voy
ages across tho Atlantic after failures heavy
enough to crush the life out Of any mortal, Mr..
Fed won his victory. Some of his contemporaries
called him Cyrus the Great. and future ages may
say that he better deserved the title than his
ancient namesake. the conQueror OF Babylon