Evening journal., 1913-08-25
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How Cyrus Field Conceived
the Atlantic Cable Idea
BY Holland.

Some time in the late summer or
early fall OF the year 1877 called
by appointment upon Cyrus w Field
at his home, which was then directly
across Grammercy Park. New York
city from the home Of Samuel ].
Tilden
Mr. Field had just returned from
a trip to Europe. The maid who an
nounced TO Mr. Field that ! had
called returned with message from
him requesting me TO come to his
dressing room.
He was apparently getting ready
for some evening entertainment II
was just about dusk, IN fact twilight
was SO rapidly changing into dark
ness that Mr. Field lighted the gas
when entered. He said.
Il have talked with good many
men in this room while ! dressed be-
cause my time is so occupied that |
have TO make valuable every mo-
ment You will excuse me- J know,
while ! brush my hair and adjust my
collar and scarf"
Ills manner was quick and nervous,
and every movement betrayed GER
tain muscular agility which seemed
TO he in perfect sympathy with the
normal operations of his mind.
wanted to ask Mr. Field some
things about the early agitation for
and the original promotion Of the At
lantic cable.
"That idea came TO mo as quickly
as that" said he. swapping his fingers
TO indicate how suddenly the thought
had been impressed upon him.
There was q man whom ! knew
slightly who proposed TO sink telc-
graph cable between Newfoundland and
The mainland. think at Prince Ed
wards Island possibly at Cape Breton.
He came To see me because ! made
bis chance acquaintance a year or two
earlier aud had toid him how interested
/ was in Professor Morscs invention.
"tlc had some kind of financial slip
up SO that he was unable 10 complete
his plans and suspect that he came
to me for the purpose OF seeing whether
! would not assist him.
'lt was only a few hours after my
conversation with this man that Il sud
denly popped into my mind that IT il
We're possible TO sink telegraph cable
from Newfoundland 10 the mainland
why wasn't il possible 10 lay cable
from the east coast ol Newfoundland TO
the west coast OF lrelandy ! said to
myself. II is only about thousand
mules across from Newfoundland to Ire.
land. aud ! remembered having read
on heard that charts of the ocean at
that point showed that the main bed
of the ocean was comparatively level
couldn't get the idea out Of my
mind was completely carried away
hy il. Tho first thing 10 be done
was TO take 4 few friends who had
financial ability and plenty of cour-
age into my confidence.
My reading and experience show
me that an really great achieve
monts are only the contamination
of thousand and one little things.
I said 10 them 'If we can lay A
cable across the Atlantic from New.
toundland To ireland thar viii sim
ply be- The climax not only OF Pro-
fcssor MOrse's and Professor Joseph
Hcnry's teachings and experiments
In the utilization Of electricity for
carrying intelligible symbols for lonr
distances. but n would also repre-
sent tho achievement Of the great
men who charted the bottom of the
sea.
We'll. sir. do YOU know that haf
no more Than suggested the idea Il
my neighbor. Peter Cooper. and my
friend. Marshall Roberts. than the,
we're Instantly carried away with +
exactly as 7 was. n was agreed tha
We should have 2 meeting at Pete
| Cooper's house iusr around the cor
ner from where we are now. w
had Just four meetings They wer'
sufficient for these men 10 plede
their credit and their resources, ant
so almost In the twinkling of al
eye the Atlantic cable project wa
agreed to. and ! was authorized d
80 to Newfoundland to begin IN
necessary preparations for landin
place for tho cable there. 7 thin
there never was a finer eXemplifica
ton of courage and faith irfvolvin
great expenditure OF money and al
untried experiment OF colossal pro
portions than that shown by Pete
Cooper. Marshall Roberts and one o
two other gentlemen IN the fou
meetings in which Il was decided (
go ahead with the Atlantic cabl
project"
Copyright. 1918. by y. J Edward
All rights reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell Z
"The Real Inventor of the Mors
Telegraphic symbols"