Chapter XII

CHAPTER XII.

CYRUS W. FIELD.

Birth—Parentage—Early education—Goes to New York in search of employment—Obtains a clerkship in a city house, and in a few years becomes a partner—A rich man at thirty-four—Retires from business—Travels in South America—Meets Mr. Gisborne—Plan of the Newfoundland Telegraph Company—Mr. Field declines to embark in it—Conceives the idea of a telegraph across the Atlantic Ocean—Correspondence with Lieut. Maury and Prof. Morse—The scheme pronounced practicable—Mr. Field secures the co-operation of four New York capitalists—Organization of the New York, Newfoundland, and London Telegraph Company—Building of the line from New York to St. John's—A herculean task—The Governmental ocean surveys of the United States and England—Efforts to secure aid in England—Liberal action of the Government—Organization of the Atlantic Telegraph Company—A hard-won success in America—Passage of the bill by Congress—The first attempt to lay the cable—The expedition of 1857—The telegraph fleet—Scenes on board—Loss of the cable—Failure of the expedition—Difficulties remedied—The new "paying-out" machinery—The expedition of 1858—The second attempt to lay the cable—Dangerous storm—Failures—Loss of the cable—The third attempt—The cable laid successfully—Messages across the Atlantic—Celebrations in England and the United States—The signals cease—The cable a failure—Discouraging state of affairs—Courage of Mr. Field—Generous offer of the British Government—Fresh soundings—Investigations of the Telegraph Board—Efforts of Mr. Field to raise new capital—Purchase of the Great Eastern—The fourth attempt to lay the cable—Expedition of 1865—Voyage of the Great Eastern—Loss of the cable—Efforts to recover it unsuccessful—What the expedition demonstrated—Efforts to raise more capital—They are pronounced illegal—The new company—The fifth attempt to lay the cable—Voyage of the Great Eastern—The cable laid at last—Fishing up and splicing the cable of 1865—The final triumph—Credit due to Mr. Field.