Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-08-21
Fifty Years of Cables.

We Clip the following item from
the Sioux Falls Press of Sunday, Aug
ust Is:
FIFTY years ago today the first
cable message passed under sea. 1T
read: Europe and America are united
by telegraphy, glory to God in the
| toward men, Fifty years ago to-
morrow there occurred in New York
City d demonstration that never has
been surpassed. A writer in the
New York Herald describing it, says:
Bells and whistles were sounding all
night: artillery roared, the fire de-
partment paraded the streets, citizens
marched in shouting columns and
such great bontires- were built around
the city hall that the cupola took fire
and was burned
The only mistake in the above item
is that in reference to the burning OF
the cupola OF the famous old building.
The editor of the LEADER, then a
boy of y, was present at the great
celebration and left at midnight.
The cupola was set on fire by the vast
quantity of fireworks that covered
the entire front of the building ar
ranged to commemorate the event.
On the west front of the building
there was a. picture Of the U. S. Frig-
ate Niagara, and on the east front
picture of the British Frigate Aga
memnon and connecting them was
cable all done for fireworks display.
There were also fire pieces represent
ing Queen Victoria and President
Buchanan, and the message that had
been sent over the cable. The illum-
ination was one of the greatest ever
arranged up to that time. The cupo-
la caught fire in some manner from
the fireworks but it was not destroyed
and the great tire-bell in the cupola
sounded the alarm. There were no
bonfires at the city hall or even in
the park.
The writer when midway between
the city and Staten Island witnessed
another wonderful celebration which
was arranged to destroy the great
government quarantine buildings on
Staten Island which had been a men
ace to the health of the people since
it's establishment.
The Staten Islanders, or ''Sepoys'
as they were termed, made holes in
the big stone walls and thus gained
entrance to the grounds and after
overpowering the U. S. Marines on
guard, removed the sick and then set
fire to the great buildings which had
been the home of every sickness that
follows worlds commerce.
The steamboat on which the writer
was returning home reached the
quarantine wharf in time for those
on board to help save government
property. The sick had been carried
out on blankets and placed in safety
and at sunrise nothing but the great
white walls stood as proof that the
people were determined to remove
the pest after the government had
denied ever petition for removal
The excitement over the daring act
was terrific. 1t was called a 'sepoy
rebellion'' and the famous seventh
regiment was hurried to the scene OF
destruction. Those who preached
the walls and disarmed the marines
and defed the government were
never found out but the government
had to make new quarantine in the
lower bay out of ships and finally es-
tablish the present home for sick
sailors at Sandy Hook.
The item in the Press recalls those |
stirring times and when one looks |
back it seems but yesterday.
The writer has in his possession a
four inch piece of the original cable |
over which Queen Victoria and Pres
ident Buchanan exchanged greetings.
It was cut from the cable when taken !
up, and represents one of the most
important events in the history of the
world.
A second and third cable were laid
before permanent communication
was established and now there Is over
200 900 miles of cable in operation.